Hiding in plain sight is a term everyone has heard at one point or another. What does it mean from a prepper’s perspective? How much can you really carry around while still looking like the average Joe/Johanna? In this article I list some of the most unusual ways that some basic survival gear, weapons, and defensive tools can be disguised in items you already wear every day.

This is not about concealing knives and firearms. It is a collection of ways hide small survival items hidden in plain sight. You will even be guided through how to create one of the most useful resources that most people never think to include in their gear!

Here are just some of the items that can easily be concealed or disguised:

Razor Blades:

Secret Compartment Money Belt

• a simple sheath and these are easily stored in a wallet
• Can be inserted into a slit in a leather belt
• Under the insoles of your shoe
• Sheathed and taped to the inside of a steel toe boot (helps with metal detectors and xray)
• In a hollowed out sole or heel of a shoe
• Encased in a faux gold plaque that are common for necklaces as engraved name plates
• Behind a fancy belt buckle
• Underside of a watch face
• Part of a brooch or inside your name-tag

Razor Wire:

• long “noodle beads” can be used to protect ones skin and turn this into a necklace
• Hollowed out heel
• Inside a hollow purse strap
• In a special groove inside a man’s ring
• In a belt
• Fishing Hook
• encased in tear drop earnings
• In/Behind pennants
• Backside of belt buckles
• Made into a Broach
• Embedded in the brim of a hat
• Inside a hair scrunchy (caution, best if used loosely over a rubber band bun)
• Hollowed out shoe heel

Small items like razor, wire or even maps can be hidden in special watches.

Fishing Line, Rope, Paracord:

• Simply sew into various items of clothing as a contrast stitch.
• Embroidery
• Necklace
• Bracelet
• inside hollow watches
• Woven into a beanie
• Braided into a belt

Survival Hiking Boot Laces – Wilderness Survival Emergency Fire Starter – 550 Paracord Laces with Ferro Rod Tips and Serrated Steel Striker Tools – Black or Brown

Fire Starter Rods:

• Hollow tips of shoelaces
• Dangle earnings
• Pendant
• Bracelets
• Inside a Hollowed belt
• Belt buckle
• Inside wallet
• Hollowed out heels
• Replacing sections of underwire in a bra.
• Fastened to a barrette

Black Powder vials:

• Worn as pendants
• Inserted into hollow chap stick or lipstick tubes.
• Inside the heel of a shoe
• Attached to your key-chain
• Inside empty travel sized hand lotion bottles
• Inside empty travel sized toothpaste tubes
• taped to the backside of a large belt buckle
• Simply slipped into a pocket/purse
• Disguised as ornaments on the outside of a purse

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Blow Gun Darts:

• Attached to barrettes and bobby pins
• Dangle earrings
• Pendants
• Broaches
• Inside belt-loops
• Part of the belt buckle
• Inside a hollow belt
• Inside the straps of a purse
• Replacing part of the underwire of a bra
• In your wallet
• On a key-chain
• Under the insoles of your shoes
• In a hollow shoe heel
• Decorations on a purse

TIHK Handcuff Key

Handcuff Keys:

• inside a slit on the back of your belt
• On a Key-chain
• Inside a hollow watch face
• Inside a pendant
• In a hollow belt buckle
• Inside the hollow heel of your shoe

This list could go on and on. As you can see there are a variety of things that can have various survival uses that can be incorporated into items that you wear every day. By creating these clothing items now and stocking your supplies, you can guarantee that if SHTF you are wearing your basic supplies. If you cannot get to your Bug Out Bag and your EDC has been compromised in some way, you want to be sure you always have something, literally, On you.

So, where do you start?

Start with the items you wear the most. For most people this is their shoes. This is also the option that can possibly be the most difficult to alter, yet carry the most supplies. This is why I have chosen to help you through this process today.

Different style shoes have different alteration options and limitations. If you primarily wear tennis shoes with thin soles, you may want to start with replacing the shoelaces with paracord and fire starter laces. Depending on how thin the soles are, you may be able to still store some supplies in the sole (such as a razor blade) or under the insole, inside the tongue, and even secured to the inside.

If you wear boots with some heels, chances are these heels are already partially hollow. You can buy boots that already have this secret compartment, or you can take on the challenge of creating it yourself. If you are creating the hollow yourself, you will need to secure the opening of the compartment so it isn’t easily damaged, removed, or otherwise tampered with. Detach the insole of the shoe near the heel to carve it out yourself. You may want to find a solid container that can provide the heel some of the support that may be lost in the hollowing process. If you want easier access to your compartment you can leave the insole dislodged. If you are hiding items you intend to keep more secure, you will want to glue down your insole. take heed to also secure or resew the insoles before gluing so that it can stand up to more scrutinizing inspection. Depending on the width of the heel, and the quality and composition of your insole, you may need to find a thin but sturdy material, or extra rubber so that it doesn’t dip down later. We do, after all, want these shoes to remain comfortable.

The other option is to put the opening of the compartment on the bottom of the shoe for easier access. This can be accomplished by carving out a perfect circle or square and preserving it, then hollowing the sole enough to fit in the supplies you desire to hide, or the container to fit them. These must fit very snugly and be lightweight enough as to not put pressure on the plug. Take the preserved piece of sole and attach it to something a little larger than it is if you need to make it more like a cork. Simply plug the hole. If it needs help staying put, and you don’t care about how it looks you can use glue or staples. Of course if you are quite handy and looking for an even more accessible and sturdy option… You can cut the end of the sole clean off, replace the inside with a box with a circle opening, and fasten threads to the removed heel and screw it back on. This would work best on heels that were already hollowed, made of wood, or women’s high heels.

Final Tip: Pack the heel in a manner that is least likely to damage the supplies and add padding as needed so they don’t make strange noises while you walk.

Disclaimer:

Some of the items in the list could possibly be illegal to conceal in the manners suggested in your locality. Please use discretion when choosing the items to include in your EDC wear.