There is a world of "country gear" out there that is green and doesn't all look like military kit. Take Ray Mears as an example, he wears nordic gear, in green, and doesn't look like the proverbial squaddie. Gear doesn't "have" to be bought from mountain equipment suppliers just because we become conditioned into doing just that. (I'm as bad as anyone by the way).
I'll post the site when I can remember who they are.
Agree with other posters' about being careful in some countries though. From experience, on expeds, we always used to "dumb down" the look, to soften our presence, and would recommend caution in your specific choices.
But green doesn't "have" to be military, that's all I'm trying to say.

you may find that most suppliers of military kit have olive green as an option, so you can look like an overgrown pongo cadet (matelot), if your really desperate try spraying or dyeing using farmers dye (used for livestock marking) , you might not end up with what you intended but at least it won't look to military. Most of them are harmless to animals and kit alike

Agree with the other Forces mates who've replied. Don't forget, issue kit is made to a price; the specifications have vastly improved over the last 10 years or so but you'll probably find it heavier and less flexible than the civvie equivalent. Also, many of the special features will be useless to real people! There's a reason civilian manufacturers make so much military coloured gear - the troops buy it because its better than the stuff they get issued with. A lot of military-type clothing is available in black - trawl the surplus stores web-sites. Best advice is go completely civvie on the visible gear, and grow your hair; get a travel rucsac with detachable daysac - or just strap your favourite daysac onto the rucsac! Enjoy the trip and don't get shot or raped!

Oh, and I like Ray Mears, but I do think he often looks like a wanabe squaddie!

Yeah agree with you, Shippers. But if Mr. Mears does so much survival - how come he looks a bit - you know - rotund shall we say.

Me thinks he does what everyone else does and stuffs his rucksack top pocket with mars bars and flap-jacks

Better to get shot than buggered to death methinks!

Just to expand on this topic further.

Don't underestimate people's abilities to "recognise" a 'real' squaddie when they see or meet one. There are inherently very difficult traits to hide such as gait, demeanour, confidence, stature etc, that a normal squaddie cannot mask without extreme difficulty. And even your average tinpot backcountry militiaman would recognise these things - even if he didn't understand exactly why!

Squaddies do certain things by force of habit, and wear clothes in a certain way, that normal civilian people just wouldn't do if they hadn't been part of that environment. (Think of those people that you sometimes see around who are "trying" to look 'like' a squaddie and you'll see what I mean).

There's also the eyes, yes the eyes which give a miriad of secrets away about you without even knowing it, and soldiers out-of-uniform can be spotted easily this way too.

Don't get too hung up on wearing normal green clothing, you probably won't look like a squaddie anyway.

More importantly I would suggest that you check with the Home Office for potential flash points or problems in certain regions before you even think about going anywhere. Your "ferang" face will attract as much attention as you could possibly imagine just by being in the wrong place to start with. Upload a copy of your passport, and travel docs, to a web based folder so that you can 'retrieve' it should the need arise, and make sure you know where your nearest embassy is in times of crisis. (A friend of mine was recently amazed when I pointed out that the US embassy in Siberia wouldn't touch him with a bargepole if he needed help - "but we all speak english the same" was his answer!!!!)lol

Anyway, I'm rambling on now so it is time for me to shut up.

Oh, and site is http://www.norrona.com for the norwegian stuff, and they'll send you a catalogue if needed.

Don't forget tea leaves, Craig. They can give away nearly as many secrets as the eyes.

Seriously though, some of what you're saying is faintly ridiculous and a little romantic.
Sure, you might be able to tell a squaddie in a boozer, but that's not to say it wouldn't be foolish to go into a place of unrest wearing combats all over! I for one wouldn't want to rely on the "squaddy radar" of the local fifteen-year-old militia man armed with an AK47. Think about riots ('Bradford Street Carnivals' ;) ) in the UK - people can't even tell the difference between coppers and ambulance drivers!

Don't mean to be too scathing.

I do like your ID about passport and docs on a web server. I would add to that that anyone planning to put this kind of data online ought to ensure it is properly password protected and well away from prying eyes. Stick it in your webmail folders somewhere, for instance.

For info, I eventually opted for a Berghaus 35+8 rucsac. It's bloody marvellous - shrinks down to *tiny* and expands to *yowj* as required. Also very comfortable and bright red.

Mmmmmmm, maybe I've been involved in things too long. Ridiculous I jest ye not! But I understand your point of view. As for the eyes, well, perhaps someone else might like to sport this topic. Perhaps someone from a slavic regional point of view, or an asian regional point of view.

. . . . and maybe I should get out more! titter titter . . . .

Hmm! I'm in the middle of this one - Forces mates can recognise each other PDQ for all the reasons Craig states (except maybe the "eyes" stuff!) and this probably goes for military & police professionals the world over. Your problem is with having kit which gives someone a reason to suspect you of being a mercenary or western spy or whatever, and once they've got hold of you an excuse for accusing you - that could be DPM clothing, military equipment, a map, a camera etc. etc. So don't attract unwelcome attention in the first place!
And it's not just in the 3rd world - I've heard reports of climbers in the Pyrenees wearing DPM gettting shot at. Maybe some Basque shepherd thought they were Spanish special forces.
Anyway, why court trouble. Be low-profile, merge with the tourist herd as far as possible and go for good quality civvie gear.
As for Ray Mears, see the threads on the Soapbox - a chubby survivor is a happy survivor (mind you, so's a constipated one apparently!)

to be constipated or to bleed like a stuffed pig. now that's the question

have to agree with henry about relying on the training, motivation and restraint of a half-cut sixteen year old with an AK and 1000 rounds of mis-matched ammunition who makes a living scareing the savings out of the local villagers.

play safe, grow your hair and look a right old state. and carry a big wedge of the local currency in the lowest denomination notes you can find - it makes being robbed a bit cheaper and it hurts less.

if you're wearing stiff boots(B2/3's)you can put your credit cards under the insoles.

i think i'd rather get shagged - it can only be as bad as having a poo backwards!

I always say I'm a student when I'm abroad anyway. Then you get less hassle to buy stuff.

The similar looking Lowe Alpine rucksacs are much better I reckon. Still not a patch though on the more up to date non military applications civilian rucksac designs available to buy.