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Lately I've been on a Zombie kick and I decided to make my own Zombie Survival Guide. I have already posted this guide in a few other places, but the reception of it has been... varied. Then it hit me, I should have posted it here first, I am SO stupid (smacks head). People please feel free to add on to this guide since I'm already working on a new version to correct some of the flaws pointed out by the other boards I posted it on. I'm not going to post all of it at once since it is kind of....... long.


Zombie Survival Guide
Daniel H@#&- Demented One
V. 1.2

          A common staple in many B-movies, Zombies are often depicted as taking over the world. Having watched many of those movies I have decided to compile my own Zombie Survival Guide after reading the one at Kuro5hin.org. This guide will be posted in many places I know of so that if anyone comments I will be able to make a better one later. To date I have not read Max Brook's Zombie Survival Guide, though I intend to. As for the debate I've seen on the Fast Zombies vs. Slow Zombies, this guide is written with Slow Zombies in mind, for if they are really dead bodies they would have series body control issues, and under the assumption that the outbreak is a large one that would last several years at least.

Preparation: (what you did for Y2K)
          If you are already preparing for a Zombie invasion, lets face it; you don't need this guide, and are probably a little crazy, like me. Preparing for a Zombie invasion is difficult as it doesn't have any true warning signs, unlike wars and storms. But if you live in an area with violent weather you probably have some sort emergency gear in your house or car, same if you are a hunter or nature enthusiast. This gear will be a great help when the invasion comes. More likely than not if you live outside of town or in a small town you will have most of what you will need to survive the first few days of the invasion, long enough to get what you will need to survive the invasion. If you live inside a city, I'm sorry but more likely than not you will be one of the first to go in the chaos of the invasion, so I suggest being careful. Also if you prepared for Y2K you’ll be set too,
          If you think that there is an invasion coming, or simply want to prepare this guide will cover the basics of what you will need for surviving. Weaponry and Armor, Location and Transportation, Supplies and Skills, Communication, and Zombies and People, are all covered in this guide. This guide doesn't cover everything unfortunately due to the many variables that can crop up, but if you read and are able to follow it, and able to improvise and adapt, you will increase your chances of survival substantially.

Weaponry: (a.k.a. the fun stuff)
          When the invasion comes you are going to need to defend yourself. Unless of course you just want to sit there and become lunch. Civilian or Military, Pacifist or Warmonger, you are going to want to keep those sharp Zombie teeth from your soft skin. While some will argue hiding will suffice, what are you going to do when the Zombies have invaded your hiding place and trapped you? Not to mention in the chaos of the invasion the lower element of society will be taking advantage of it, to loot and kill to their heart's desire.
          When it comes to weaponry you have to basic choices: Melee and Guns (including bows). Each has many advantages and disadvantages.
   
          Melee:
               Melee weapons don't need ammo, so they can be used much longer than guns. They can also handle multiple foes at the same time, and be used for more mundane functions as well. But melee weapons can break with hard use, and if you use one it means you must come in close range of the Zombies, bringing your soft flesh that much closer to their teeth.
                With melee weapons there are two additional categories: Blunt and Sharp. Blunt are common smashing weapons, and Sharp are cutting type weapons, the fighting style for each is different.
               Sharp weapons are for slicing or cutting, weapons like sword, machetes, axes, and knives. You will need to know how to use them properly otherwise you would end hurting yourself. Sharp weapons are often relatively light and require you to use more force to cut through Zombie flesh and bone, and they can get stuck within the body. Others like the hard to find real swords are heavy and hard to use but will cut right through a Zombie. They will eventually become dull though and need maintenance to prevent rusting. Sharp weapons are good for decapitating the heads and limbs of Zombies, don't try to stab or cut the torso in half, you'll either get your blade stuck in the body, or have half a Zombie creeping towards you on the ground. If your wondering if you should use a Sharp weapon ask yourself if you know how to use it, if you don't know how then don't use it.
               Blunt weapons are good for smashing Zombies and barriers. Blunt weapons are rather common items like bats, pipes, and sledge hammers. They are simple to use and don't need much maintenance aside from cleaning, but are typically heavy. Unless a Zombie is in bad condition a Blunt weapon wont typically remove a limb, so you want to attack the head or smash enough bones so that it wont be able to move.
               In a pinch anything will do as a melee weapon, power tools, furniture, even garden equipment.

          Guns:
               A gun will give you range and power, but they are loud and may attract more Zombies. They can be difficult to use and require ammo. You wont need to be close to zombie to stop it, but shots to body are useless unless your aim is good enough and ammo strong enough to remove limbs, so you want to stick to a head shot, that means one bullet per Zombie, hopefully. If you have strong ammo or a wide spread you may even be able to take down many at one time. Unfortunately after the first few weeks of the Zombie invasion, ammo may be hard to come buy, due to zombies or looting and hoarding by other survivors. Another option is a hunting bow, but I don't know much about them myself aside from the fact that they are quieter than guns. A nail gun would work to, and you could use it for fortifying anyplace you decide to hole up in, but the gas and nails for it are bound to limited too.

          I would suggest that you use a combination of Melee and Guns. You could possibly graft a blade onto a gun if you had the time and resources. But you should be realistic don't expect to find and know how to use military level weaponry.

          Other Weapons:
               You aren't limited only to the above types of weapons; they’re your basic two choices. If you have the time and know how there are other items you could make use of.
               Explosives: They can be dangerous and loud, but you may be able to take out many Zombies in one go and you can make fairly strong explosives in your own home. They may end up being more harmful than useful though. You should use them away from your base lest you attract more Zombies from the sound.
              Traps: More for marauding looters, traps for Zombies aren’t too big a deal, just a couple of pits, fall away bridges, or some trip wires. The pits should be used away from your location so that they don’t fill up with Zombies and form a bridge. The trip wires could be used inside structure to delay Zombies if they break in.
               Holy Artifacts: These may or may not work depending on the source of the Zombies. If you have the desire and the chance to find out safely go for it, but don’t depend on the Zombies being affected by holy objects, and keep other weapons at the ready.
               Magic: If the Zombies are supernatural magic powers may emerge but don’t count on it. Treat it like the Holy Artifacts.
               Vehicles: If you’ve seen “Death Race 2000” or played any of the G.T.A. games you know what I’m talking about. Just smash into the Zombies with your vehicle.
               Miscellaneous: Other things that depending on where you are or what you have you may be able to take advantage of.
                              Acid- Throw it in their face and destroy their senses.
                              Fire- Burn them up, may be a hazard to your location though.
                              Electricity- Shock them, might not work but worth a shot.
                              Robotics- Remote control items, and equipment.
                              Time- Wait for them to rot, or maybe starve.

          Remember, when it comes to weapons be realistic and keep it simple. If you don’t know how to use it then leave it for someone who does. You should also keep in mind how your gear will affect your speed and mobility and how you will carry it, if you’re taking on only one Zombie or many, and if its just you alone or if your with other people.

          Some good places to find weaponry would be places like museums, a hardware store, a pawnshop, heck even in Wal-Mart you could find some stuff. You should have something around your house that would work too.

-Myself, I intend to use a golf bag to carry the larger of the following Weapons:
.22 rifle
Handgun
[Fire?] Axe (possibly)
Machete
Baseball Bat
Shovel
Various Knives

Well here is the first chunk of the guide feel free to add your suggestions when you comment. Coming up next: Armor and Location. (note Armor suggestions would be very much apreciated)

Armor and Location (http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,113001.msg131445.html#msg131445)
 Skills and Supplies (http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,113001.msg131702.html#msg131702)
Transportation and Comunication (http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,113001.msg132070.html#msg132070)
 People and Zombies (http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,113001.msg132519.html#msg132519)

Ill be absolutely honest here, that's one of the most bizzare things Ive ever read, and I dont know what to say.

Sheez.   You really don't read much that is posted here, then, have you?

There was a book published on this subject!

Errrm...  http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Survival-Guide-Max-Brooks/dp/071563318X/sr=8-1/qid=1171675801/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-6446691-4556735?ie=UTF8&s=books (http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Survival-Guide-Max-Brooks/dp/071563318X/sr=8-1/qid=1171675801/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-6446691-4556735?ie=UTF8&s=books)

I'm actually reading through The Zombie Survival Guide right now as a matter of fact.

I'm also currently reading Make Love! the Bruce Campbell Way  (the director's cut trade paper back).

Wow, we're not typcial bad-movie fan fodder at all are we?  I have the same combo on my shelf plus the sequal to ZSG, World War Z.   Also on one of my shelves somewhere is Bruce Campbells' first book, "If Chins Could Kill" which I read a while ago.

All are a good lazy read.

Armor: (or, when you wish you were a turtle)
          I don't know about the rest of you but I would want something other than just a T-shirt between a Zombie bite and me. Because that's all it will take to make you one of them, just a single bite whether a quick little nip or a big chunk ripped out of your arm. If you get bit you're screwed.
          You will have to decide whether you want mobility or protection. Too much armor will weigh you down, making you slow. Not that bad if its just one Zombie, but if its hundreds of them it wont take them too long to find a gap in your armor, and then your best armored Zombie in town. But if you don't have any armor you could outrun the Zombies or climb to safety a lot easier and faster than you could with your armor.  It's a trade off mobility or armor. Fortunately there are many types of armor.

               Normal Cloths- T-shirt and Jeans offer no real protection for your soft skin but they are light and comfortable so you can move fast.
               Leather- Leather is tough and rather light so you would get some decent protection and be able to move fast, but it could get rather hot.
               Metal- Heavy but it cant be bit through, it is slow and cumbersome and can be difficult to get.
               Wood- Relatively light but bulky, better used as a weapon.

          Some possible armor includes:
                              A wetsuit- Tough but hot and covers most of your body.
                              Fire Fighter Garb- Heavy and strong, protects from fire.
                              Hazmat suit- Rather baggy though, could get caught on stuff.
                              Winter Coat- Hot but has bulk.
                              Sports Gear- Already is armor basically.

          You may also want to consider some form of headgear like a helmet or a mask, but they could restrict your sight. I suggest that you get good work or hiking boots for your feet, they're tough and comfortable. You may also want to consider some gloves.

          When dealing with the Zombies you should remember that you don't need to be bulletproof just bite proof. With the armor you would want to try and keep it rather tight so it doesn't get caught and keep your hair short for the same reason. When choosing your armor you should factor in how many zombies there are and their behavior like if they hide under cars or not, your location and its weather too, you don't want frostbite or a heatstroke.

-Myself I intend to get a tough leather jacket with a light metal mesh inside the lining, tough jeans, hiking boots, and shin guards under the jeans. Depending on the location I might go for some gloves and some sort of headgear.

Location: (everybody has to be somewhere)
          Sooner or later no matter how many pill you take or caffeine you drink you will need to rest. If you don't rest you will slow down and the Zombies will get you. You’ll start to hallucinate and eventually go insane from a lack of sleep. You will need a place where you can safely rest. If you choose wisely you take advantage of where you are to help keep yourself from being Zombie food. Location wise there are two basic categories, Urban or Rural.
               Urban means you decide to take shelter within a town or city. There will be many buildings to shelter in, plenty of supplies to scavenge and possibly other survivors. Unfortunately cities are where most of the Zombies will be, either searching for food or reliving their memories. You’ll be able to take shelter from the weather with ease and find plenty of materials to barricade yourself into a safe haven.
               If you choose Rural you will be hiding out in the countryside. There won’t be as much easy shelter or supplies, but there will be fewer Zombies to deal with, as there won’t be people to attract them. Unfortunately in the countryside you will more likely than not be going solo so loneliness may be a problem. If your lucky though there will be plenty of water and game so you shouldn’t starve, but if there is Zombie flora and fauna you are really screwed.

          Weather is another thing you will have to take into account. It can work both against you and for you. If you're in a hot weather location surviving outdoors will be simpler though food supplies will spoil faster. On the plus side the Zombies will decay faster, if they even can decay. In a cold weather climate you will have problems in the winter with surviving outdoors, but supplies will last longer due to it. Also any Zombies outdoors will likely freeze in place, and if you're on a small island you could drive across the ice to mainland.

          No matter if you choose to be in the country or in a town your will need a place to rest, regroup, and relax. To do so you will need some sort of base to act from, even if it is only a temporary one. You will need to know the layout and exits of wherever you choose to be. Like the weaponry you have many choices, but no matter which way you go there are two basic choices barricade yourself in a building or go hide solo in some mountains or caves.
               The mountains or caves are basically the same as choosing to go rural. You may have streams or caverns to hide in, but that's pretty much there is to it.
               If you choose to barricade yourself in some building you have a lot more choices. You could use a rural home, urban homes, work buildings, grocery stores, and military compounds. No matter which is used they will need to be protected somehow.

          Residential Buildings:
               House (Rural)- Depending on the area you may be able to get away with just boarding up the first floor, it all depends on how close to a town or city it is and what the terrain is like.
               Farm- A farm is largely self sufficient, but you will have to deal with animals and you will have to know how to use the equipment. Fuel will also be a concern along with the sheer size needed to farm and how to protect it. To be able to successfully take advantage of what a farm has to offer you will need several people.
               House (Urban)- You will need to board up everything and reinforce the walls on the first floor. You should remove the stairs and use ladders to go up and down floors. Simple tripwire traps and pits may be placed around the fringes of the building to delay the Zombies if the break in. You should also have your supplies protected and emergency gear ready to go at a moments notice.
               Apartment Building- Much like an Urban House, but it is a lot more secure on the first floor due to the brick construction. Stairs should still be removed for the first few floors. You will also need to clear out any Zombies already inside the building. This would work really well if you had a decent number of people.

          Nonresidential Buildings:
               Store/Mall/Grocery store- You'll need to block all ground entrances particularly the large plate glass ones. Preparing delaying would also be a good idea. If you choose one of these you will have plenty of supplies and water but you cant count on the power staying on forever so you will need to cook the perishables and collect as much water as possible. Taking advantage of any building supplies you can create more barriers and traps. And if you have a home garden center and supplies you could start a garden on the roof. I would not recommend it for the long run though.
               Church- Its on Holy ground so it may keep the Zombies away, but it may not work. You also has very few supplies unless an event was going to occur soon. The building structure is more often than not rather flimsy material.
               Hospital- Plenty of medical supplies and stuff to convert to weaponry, but many Zombies. There would also be very little supplies in the way of food, but the building itself would be pretty strong though the many entrances would be hard to defend or block.
               Military Complex- You have plenty of buildings and supplies not to mention many MREs that can last for several years. There is also plenty of equipment to choose from. But the complexes are rather large and protection is often just a chain link fence with razor wire, or a cement wall and razor wire.

          Others:
               Summer Camp- It's a bit like the rural house and farm combined, but you should be able to find many useful pieces of equipment particularly for outdoors. But like the farm it is rather large and hard to defend. You may even have to deal with Jason too, but if your lucky he'll be too busy taking out the zombies poaching on his territory.
               Small Island- A lot like the Mountains there would be few if any people, which means trade and company. But you may have to deal with Zombies in the water even if they can't swim; they could wash up on shore.
               House Boat- A lot like the small island you would have to worry about Zombies in the water and fuel for the engine. It's rather safe though since the Zombies would attract attention trying to get on. It can also work as a form of transportation. If you do have Zombies in the water just head for someplace with crocodiles or alligators or something that lives in the water and likes to eat carrion, that way you run a smaller risk of attack.

Next time its Supplies and Skills

why do you write this? I dont mean that to sound bad or anything, but what is your motivation? I dont get it

Like I said in the begining Lately I've been on a bit of a Zombie kick and after reading a brief zombie survival guide, I thought that it would be fun to make a more detailed one.

Also people could you please leave some suggestions for stuff or what you would do, I want some feedback so that I can make this guide better.

Zombie... flora? Flowers?

The attack of the undead tulips!!!

Havent you guys ever played resident evil2 Zombie dogs and plants.

Ok heres some more for the guide.

Supplies: (Did you think you’d go with only the cloths you’re wearing and nothing else?)
          You will need to have stuff to survive, it wont be like a video game where you can go through nothing at all. There are some basic things that you will need to have or get A.S.A.P. if you are to survive the invasion. Fortunately most of the supplies, you will already have at home.
               Canned food and Water- Of course this is a necessity. You have to take care of your body if want to survive the Zombies and your body needs food. Like most people you probably have some canned stuff in your kitchen, not much but it's a start.
               M.R.E.s- Meals Ready to Eat. They are long lasting, portable, and nutritious. If you can get a hold of a couple for emergencies they would be excellent to have.
               Duct Tape- It has many uses. You can use it anything from First Aid to Armor.
               Matches/Flint- Fire is good. It warms you, cooks your food, gives you light, and can even protect you, but be warned if it is not treated with respect it can harm you. You can even use fire to signal to other survivors if you so desire.
               Shovel- Very useful, can bury stuff, dig pits, and even whack Zombies if the need arises.
               Axe- Chop firewood, break down doors, and decapitate Zombies. It's another useful tool like the Shovel.
               First Aid Kit- There are bound to be non-Zombie injuries that this could easily take care of.
               Hammer and Nails- These are useful for barricading yourself inside a building and basic carpentry.
               Lumber- Same as the above.
               Radio- It's a source of information, and if the Zombies hunt by sound you can use it to distract them.
               CB Radio- You can use it to communicate with others and possibly link up with other survivors.
               Aspirin- Painkiller
               Cloths- Unless you want to run around naked....
               Blanket/Towel- Warm yourself at night and dry yourself when wet. Also you can impress others along the lines of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy".
                Fuel Stabilizer- Using this you can keep your fuel supply from going bad, making last longer and giving you that much more power.
               Knives- Useful for various tasks, a good knife in the Zombie invasion will be worth its weight in gold, and probably be in more demand than gold too.
               Weapon Harness- You will need some way to comfortably carry your weapons so they're easy to get at.
               Backpack- You can use it to carry your supplies.
               Extra Ammo- You will need to reload your guns sooner or later, and it's easier to reload than to steal a new gun each time you run out of ammo.
               Spare Weapons and Armor- Does it really need explaining?

Skills: (those useful abilities that you don't have)
          When society collapses and chaos reigns, those who survive will not just be the strongest but the most skilled. The more things you know how to do the better you will be able to handle whatever comes your way. You may survive even if you don't have any useful skills but it will be quite a bit harder for you. Some skills are mainly for urban areas and others are more useful out in the countryside, the mainly urban ones are listed first.
               First Aid- There are still going to be non-Zombie injuries that will have to be taken care of before they get worse and slow you down enough to be Zombie food.
               Lock picking- Knowing this will enable to get through locked doors quietly, instead of destroying them, that way they can be used again if Zombies attack.
               Basic Auto Repair- With this you could get yourself some form of transportation up and running instead of relying on being lucky enough to find working vehicles.
               Hotwiring- The keys most likely won't be in the abandoned vehicles you find, so if you want to get the vehicle running you'll need to hotwire it.
               Gas Siphoning- The pumps wont be working long after the invasion begins so you'll need to know where and how to siphon fuel.
               Basic Carpentry, Bricklaying, Welding, and Construction- These skills would be useful in fortifying your refuge and possibly making weapons and traps.
               Sewing- Useful for basic repair on your cloths and armor. If you need to stitch up a wound this would be useful to know too.
               Marksmanship- Ammo will be limited and all a Zombie needs is one shot to the head to take it down.
               Filling your own Ammo- Ammo will be limited so you may need to make your own.
               Hand-to-Hand Combat- If your weapons are out of reach this is your last defense.
               Gardening/Farming- Food in stores won't last forever, and if you've barricaded yourself inside one with a garden department, you'll have a way to provide more food.
               Traps (all sorts)- Useful for adding some meat to diet and possibly delaying Zombies.
               Plant Identification- Good to know when you're foraging for food, after all you don't want to end up eating Poison Ivy.
               Animal Skinning/Butchering- You don't want to waste anything if you can avoid it. Knowing these skills you can get the most food possible and Skins to cloth yourself with or trade.
               Climbing- If you know how to climb you can reach places where the Zombies can't get you, or take a safer route.
               Cooking- Again you don't want to waste food, or get poisoned. Also your food will taste much better.

          A good source of these skills is Scouts, and other Organizations like F.F.A. along with Ag. classes. You may also want to consider joining up with other people to cover what you don't know. Some skills will be used more than others but the more you know the better.

          On the Hand-to-Hand Combat, it should never come to that. You should always have a weapon on or near you at all times even when bathing. If you must go off for some alone time with a comrade have a third person stand watch, you don't want to be caught with your pants literally down when Zombies attack.

Next time you get transportationa nd communication

Especially not in a field of undead tulips!

Yeah that would be painful for the guys and might end up like the trees in Evil Dead 1 for the girls

I need to still get World War Z.  I just finished The Zombie Survival Guide this past weekend so I'm sure that World War Z will be to my liking.

Come on people I want to know what other would do, please give me some feed back.

Well heres some more of the guide only one more chunk is left after it.

Transportation: (on the road again)
          Know matter how many supplies you have stored away you will eventually run out. When that happens you will need to venture somewhere to gather more, and if you have something other than just your feet you can carry much more, faster. Also if you have some form of transportation you could get away from the Zombies if they find your base and besiege it in numbers too many to stop. You will want to keep in mind that many roads will be blocked with vehicles and Zombies.
          Depending on whether you choose to travel by land, air, or water, you have many choices, each with varying levels of danger. Ground is the easiest travel but the most dangerous, air is the hardest but fastest. Water seems like the safest but supplies are limited severely. Whatever medium you choose you have multiple forms of transportation.

          Land:
               Car- Basically an armored shell, you have good speed and plenty of room to carry stuff. Unfortunately a car is rather loud so it could attract Zombies and the roads will most likely be filled with abandoned or crashed vehicles. You will also need to worry about fuel and Zombies tipping the car over.
               Large Truck/Bus- Noisy and slow, a large vehicle like one of these would have much carry space and plenty of armor to keep Zombies out. Unfortunately they are not very maneuverable and if you came upon a crash you'd plow right into it. Fuel is also a concern
               Construction Equipment- Large and powerful, but slow with little carry ability constriction equipment could plow through almost any obstacle in its path. Unfortunately finding enough fuel would be difficult and the machines are very noisy.
               ATV/Motorcycle/Trike- Very noisy and not as fast as a car while being very open, these are more mobile and easier to conceal. Unfortunately they can't carry as much as a car, but are still pretty fast. Fuel will be a concern
               Bicycle- Light and human powered, a bike is quiet and very maneuverable, you can even pick it up and carry it around blockages in the road. Unfortunately it is only as fast as you can pedal and cant carry very much at all, and it offers no armor from hungry Zombies.

               Animals can also be used for land transportation.

               Horses and other Equines- Horses have plenty of endurance and can make great company. Although they can't carry as much as car they don't need fuel just rest and food. They can even be used as food in an emergency.
               Dogsled- A lot like the horses aside from only being useful in the winter time, dogs would also be loyal, act as an alarm system, and maybe even attack the Zombies. Unfortunately they can be very loud and that may attract the Zombies.

          Air:
               Aircraft- If you know how to use one you could use some sort of aircraft to quickly cover a lot of ground. You would have to know where to find one and where you would go with it, and fuel would be a big concern. You'd also have to hope there aren't any Zombies inside it or hanging on to the landing gear like a Gremlin. This includes Planes, Helicopters, and Hot Air Balloons.

         Water:
               Houseboat- Like I said in the Base section it can act as both a base and a means of transportation. Its large and slow, fuel is a must and it is very noisy.
               Motorboat- Basically just a smaller houseboat.
               Speedboat- Small but fast. Very noisy and can’t hold as much as the first two. Fuel is a major concern
               Sailboat- Wind powered so it quiet and you don’t need fuel. It’s fairly small though so it can’t carry much.
               Rowboat- Human powered so its quiet and doesn’t need fuel, but its very small and can carry much.
               Raft- Makeshift or rubber its range is limited depending on whether its human powered or motorized. It’s typically small so it can’t carry too much.
               Canoe/Kayak- Very quiet and small, they cant carry much but don’t need fuel.
               Others- Things like a submarine, naval vessel, or old galleons would be nice since they are well protected and typically well stocked. Unfortunately you need many people and the know how to use them properly.

Communication: (can you hear me now? can you hear me now?)
          Most humans, aside from being naturally curious and social creatures, will want to know what is still going on in the world, even during a Zombie invasion, and the post office's motto doesn't cover Zombie attacks. If you can communicate with others you can learn where the Zombies are and where it is safe. You can also learn if the Zombies have been totally eradicated. Even if you don't learn anything about Zombie locations, you can learn how to deal with them, or where more people are if you want to hook up with others. Due to the chaos that will insure during a Zombie invasion power will be lost and many forms of long distance communication will go down including the Internet, but there still are other forms of communication.

               Radio- Though its only one way, it is still a good source of information. Also if the Zombies hunt through sound you could use it as a distraction. Unfortunately they may end up going off the air due to destruction caused in the panic.
               CB Radio- One of these can be used to communicate with other people, you can pass along info or possibly hook up with others. The range will vary with location and the model of radio.
               Smoke Signals/Signal Fire- They cant carry as complex messages as other forms of communication but they are also quite a bit simpler to implement. They can be used to show that people are still alive inside a place, but they might attract Zombies.
               Flares- A lot like the above they can be used to "mark" a location. In a pinch they can also be used offensively.
               Messenger Birds/Animals-If you have the time, resources, and the know how, you could set up a large communication network with trained animals

          Communication will also help prevent raiding by other survivors, it will also help with monitoring Zombies, so that you aren't caught off guard, and it will allow for trade to re-emerge. While money will be largely useless, barter will be very popular. If you have the chance you should salvage some jewelry from a store, things like rings that are easy to carry. Weapons, vehicles, medical supplies, booze, and smokes will be in very high demand. If your feeling lucky you could also try pick-pocketing Zombies.


Well I should be able to fit whats left in another post you get People and Zombies next.

Well despite the fact that I have gotten almost no feedback here is the last part of the guide. Thanks alot.

People: (humans.... for the most part)
          Considering that there are over Six Billion humans on earth, odds are there will be other survivors than yourself. Humans are social creatures, so before long there will be many groups of people in various locations. You will have to decide if you want to go solo, form or hook up with a small group, or find/create a large community. There are various advantages and disadvantages to each, and each one functions differently.

               Solo- If you go solo you are very mobile and don't have to worry about other people, but you also don't have anyone there to bail you out if you get in trouble. On the plus side going solo is very quiet, so you wont attract Zombies as much as many people would, you also dont have any squabbling over supplies. The main disadvantage to going solo is that it would both physically and mentally lonely at times. You can go solo in both rural and urban areas If you know the location of a community or an immobile group you could base yourself near them, that way you could have trade, contact with others, and Zombies would be attracted more to them than to you.
               Group (3-15 people)- When you go the group route you do get more people, so you wont be lonely, but it will be quite a bit louder. A group can defend itself better against Zombie attacks, but will have problems like lack of supplies, and power struggles within the group. You also run the risk of little cliques forming and creating outcasts. Groups can function well in both urban and rural areas.
               Community (50+ people)- A community is very loud and immobile, you have a lot of people and there will either be plenty of supplies or no supplies. Communities will eventually lead to the rise of politicians, who might choose to impose martial law, corruption will be very possible. On the upside there are going to be plenty of people and it will be very well protected. A community will almost certainly have to be located in the remains of a town or city.

Zombies: (brrrrraaaaaaaaaaiiinnsss)
          Ah yes the Zombies, the whole reason for this guide. Like any war you should learn everything you possibly can about your enemy. Can they communicate? How do they hunt? Are they fast or slow moving? The more you know about them the better you chances of surviving are.

          Things to learn about:
               Behavior- You should learn how the act, what they do naturally. Do they relive the old lives or do they just wander aimlessly. What senses do they use to hunt? Are they fast moving or slow and shambling? Are they nocturnal, do they avoid water?
               Infection- How is the Zombie producing disease spread? Will you get it if they bite you, or if you ingest any of their fluids? Does magic or man create them? Are they demonic in nature? Are they actually dead bodies or are they just possessed/infected people? Another thing to learn about is if they carry any normal infections and diseases.
               Intelligence- Just how smart are the Zombies? Do they know how to call for more paramedics or use weapons, or are they just mindless wandering chunks of meat? Are they capable of working together or communicating?
               Durability- Just how much punishment can their bodies take? How strong are they? Are the capable of healing wounds or are they rotting where they stand? If they do rot, how fast are they rotting and will they "die" when they're done rotting?
               Weaknesses- How do you stop them, does dismembering or eviscerating them work? What about fire? Are they vulnerable to holy artifacts and holy water? What about silver and sunlight? Will they stop if they are shot in the head?
               Variations- Are they all the same or are there many types? Are there sentient Zombies? What about plants and animals, are there any Zombies of them?
               Amount- Just how many Zombies are there? Do they “run” in packs, or go solo?
               Powers- Do the Zombies have any special powers? Can their severed limbs act on their own? Can the bodies fuse together into a giant Super-Zombie?

          The most important and basic thing for you to learn is, how to stop them. That is the one thing you must absolutely learn A.S.A.P. Generally you should attack the head until there is no longer a head to attack. That destroys their senses that they use to hunt and possible destroys the brain as well. Zombies typically have very bad motor functions so inside your base you should use simple tripwires to slow them down, and you should also destroy the stairs and use retractable ladders when going up to the second level, preferably you should destroy all the stairs below the third story but that may not be feasible. Any elevators and escalators should be destroyed or blocked as well.
          If it’s possible you may want to conduct tests with any captured or lone Zombies. I suggest that you use volunteers like the Tobacco Institute scientists and members of Congress, I would suggest lawyers too, but they aren‘t really human and would probably end up defending the Zombies in a discrimination and abuse case. These tests could provide valuable information and create a pathetic sub-breed of Zombies while ridding humanity of these loathsome parasites.

END
          Well there you have folks, after reading all this you should be able to survive at least a year when the Zombies come. But lets face it if you had to read this guide to survive you be Zombie chow long before I am. Maybe I’ll see your rotting corpses as I snipe down Zombies while gathering supplies, or maybe not, but whatever the case if you come across me after the Zombie invasion feel free to spend a night or two and rest up before you head on your way again, I may even give you some supplies if your nice.

Aww, that's beautiful... :smile:

DarkAdmiral, I like what you are doing, but please let me correct some of the things you said.

Dogsleds can be equipped with wheels, so they can be used all year round, not only when there is snow on the ground. How do you think dogsled racers train their dogs in the summer?

Sailboats. Most sailboats, of any size, come equipped with auxiliary motors. That way they can be used when there is no wind, or you are out in one, and the wind dies down, you can get back to shore.

Canoes. Of course, it depends upon the size of the canoe, but they can carry alot. I don't have the exact figures, but they can probably carry more than most boats their size.

Looking for your next post on "People and Zombies."

I have seen a lot of Zombie movies, and there would be a lot that I would change.  The people in the movies last for so long, the they f-up.

The first thing I would do is stay in groups.  It seems like when people get separated they get killed.  A group of 5 minimum would be good.

Weaponry:

I would have to have a gatlen gun, a shot gun, a .45 caliber and a flame thrower.
The gatlen gun would be good for mowing down a huge group of zombies.
The shot gun would be good for taking on 10 or less.
The .45 caliber would be good for tight places.
The flame thrower would be good for anywhere.

Armor

I would have a motorcycle jacket, pants, boots, gloves and helmet.
This is light enough to move around in, yet thick enough to stop bite attacks.

Mobility

I would like to have a tank, but just in case they are all taken, I would settle for an Excursion with a diesel.
The Excursion would have a huge solid steel bumper on the front as well on the back.  There would be bars welded over the windows and an extra 100 gallon tank.

Housing

I would probally do the mall, just like "Dawn of the Dead".  There would be lots of room to move around in.  If the Zombies broke in, you would have a lot of room to hide or run to get out of the place.

Food

Everything that is bottled and canned.  No exceptions.

Not sure what else to put now, I am getting hungry for Brains!

(http://www.badmovies.org/movies/returndead/returndead5.jpg)

Finally some feedback.

JPickettIII:
I wouldnt go for a flame thrower, it takes some serious heat to destroy a body and until its destroyed you have aflaming corpse bumping into everything setting stuff on fire. I like the armor choice very good. No problem with the mobilty. Housing could be a problem read the comments on this guide (http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/4/18/153047/155) people go into quite a bit of detail.

BoyScoutKevin:
No ididnt know that dogseld could have wheels, but it seems like it would be fun. Though your mobily would be severly limited using wheels if you go cross country or through forests. I forgot that most sailboats today have motors, oops. And with the canoe I was going with overall carry abilty, but I know what you mean, for normal camping they can carry quite a bit. And the People and Zombies should be at the top of the second page.

What about white phosphiurs?  Or perhaps a sulfiric acid sprayer?

I will have to think some more.

John

Youd have to be able to create and handle a large amount properly but Sulfiric acid would work, it might take time though. White phospurus would be like fire but faster I bet.

Personally I like the Baseball bat idea, but after time a wooden bat would break and splinter, do you think duct tape would prevent that?

A big, sturdy, golf club is better

For armor, you could probably get by with heavy leather.  However, also consider that people who do SCA and actually beat on each other with wooden poles (as swords) often have armor.  The most common type is steel sheet, but I have seen very lightwood kydex armor.  That would be exceptional at protecting you from bites.

I wonder if a steel claw hammer (solid all steel type) would be a decent weapon.  I suppose it depends on how fast the creatures are.  As it stands, the best melee weapon I would have is a double-edged axe that is all steel.  My choice for a firearm would definitely be a shotgun, with a .45 pistol for backup.

Here's a picture of that axe:

http://www.starfireswords.com/web-pages/products/steel/l-dax.php

A hammer would work but it has little reach so probably best as a last resort weapon. The ax looks like it would work well in open spaces, but if you miss the zombies head you could be thrown off balance, all assuming that it is a real battle ready ax and not a display or prop one.

It is definitely a real axe.  Were you to sharpen it (it does not come with a sharp edge) it would be a very dangerous weapon.  I'd guess it was made from 5160 steel or one of the other spring steels you often see used for real swords.

Bit is it "real" or real for re-enactments, there is a difference and a good freind of mine has been suckered into getting what he thought were "real" combat ready swords, but were actually real replicas for medieval festival re-enactments.

Good point and the Starfires are intended for re-enactments.  However, years ago I did know somebody who took a sword by them, sharpened it, and proceeded to do stuff like chop down trees.  He would often hit things wrong, but never managed to break it - so I assume that they are pretty tough.  The axe is certainly stout in all the right places.  If they used a spring steel and did not over-harden it, then it will be pretty hard to break.

Certainly not so tough as something like a Busse American Kensai though, but in a pinch I would have to use it against a big mob of zombies.

Ok then it would probably work, but Id keep a back up weapon like a shovel or baseball bat handy.

Out of curiosity what would ya do if you were bit? I've considered trapping myself in a meat locker, or armoring myself up and becoming a Zombie hunter's worst nightmare.

Are we limited in the discussion at hand to weapons that exist today?

If not, I would submit that a monomolecular line would be an ideal anti-zombie weapon.   (ie, Heinlein's Sinclair molecular chain --  You know, one of those scifi invisible molecular chains that you swing from some sort of grip, that will cut anything it hits without slowing down.)  You would then have a weapon that never runs out of ammo, can't get stuck in a zombie (thereby allowing you to be overrun), and can be swung continuously in a wide arc.     If you're all alone, you could probably defend yourself successfully for hours, on strength of desperation and switching hands very carefully between waves of attack.

True, you'd have lots of chunks and partials (ie, hands, biting heads) trying to get your ankles.  You'd have to stomp through that sh*t, or steadily retreat.  In enclosed spaces you'd have a hard time.  But with a little room to maneuver, you could probably manage to make them even slower to try to catch up to you... you could even swing it in a tilted arc, if you were really careful, and manage to run while fighting.

Problem with an axe is that it's heavy, and you'd get tired.  You'd definitely want to fight only long enough to be able to successfully run, with the axe.  Although I agree it's a fine choice, much more serviceable than, say, a claymore or something larger.  Or a mace, which might just totally not work.

I think the one problem with a monomolecular wire would be weight.  However, the general idea of a weapon like that is sound.  If so, I vote for a lightsaber.  When not on it is small and light, you can thrust or slash with it, and it will go right through a body.

If bitten huh?  I guess the first thing I would try is dumping some sort of acid into the wound in hopes of burning out the contaminant.  If that would not work, well, I could cause a distraction for the rest of the group at some point to go out in a final zombie-chopping or blasting mission.

All hail the mgihty Andrew. I never expected the webmaster to post in my topic.
I also didnt expect anyone to continue this topic.

I like the idea of mono wire, but Id string it across a corridor or something in a building so that it would slice the Zombies like cheese if they broke in, Of course Id have to mark so that humans would know its there. Normal wire set up to trip Zombies would be good too, to delay them as you escape. The lightsaber would be the uber weapon for pretty much ANY close combat. But if it comes down to any kind of weapon I'm hoping to end up going werewolf, and hopefully being immune to Zombie bites. That or I hope to gain control of Hellfire. Although I wouldnt pass up the Grim Reaper's scythe (maybe I'll be lucky and my guardian angel will be the angel of death).
A mace would be a bad idea if you had something like a hammer avaible, it does the same thing and is much mroe useful. The same with any full auto weapons. I am intrigued though by the idea of wrapping a baseball bat in ductape, but I have no idea if it would help or not.

If I was bit I'm not sure what I'd do, depends if I"m solo or not. If I was solo I think I'd take a look at how the other side lives and get a bullet proof helmet and an abestos suit.

I like the idea of the wire tripping Zombies or slicing them, but myself I'd just build a pit for them to fall into on the main entryway.
I understand the helmet but why the abestos suit?

On the baseball bat some (2) people Ive talked to said it would maybe hold it together longer but woulod maybe make it so that it wouldnt produce much sound if hit against something, silence it basically. Not for hard swinging hits of course but like if it fell on the floor.

On anotehr note I found this topic on another site and one of the people said that he would git a giant metal sphere/ball cage and travel in that, if the Zombies attacked. I could see that working like a giant hamsterball, until he did what my hamsters did and roll of a high place.

I just had the mental image of a zombie tripping on other zombies.  :teddyr:

Yeah that would proably happen until the formed a high enough ramp and the other zomvies just go sledding off them.

Question for the maker what should we do for fast ones?

Find an airship/blimp or armored vehicle and haul ass for a both gender military base and hope they let you in.

Yeah you dont want to end up in one like the one in 28 Days Later.

Why a blimp?
And whats an Airship?

An airship is another form of blimp, I think it has a frame inside.
As to why youd want one I have no idea.

A blimp or airship combines the longevity of a balloon and the landing any capabilities of a helicopter and the controll of an airplane. Basically you can land anywhere, control your destination, and stay in the air longer, it is essentially a flying, well floating anyway, fortress.

Correct, you must have read "The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks. If you had to travel by air the blimp would be the way to go, for land you should use a bike or dirt bike and water you should use whatever your comfortable with within reason and with caution.
The guide is very well done but there are a few things I dont quite agree with especially the tight clothes being the best armor, leather or maybe some football gear would be able to keep the Zombies from getting a bite at you right away, and would not noticably affect your overall speed.

You did a great job on this "The Zombie Survival Guide" ... DarkAdmiral  :thumbup:

why not just find a boat?  Zombies can't swim.

You have to know how to use it properly and sooner or later you will have to make land fall to find supplies, Also if its shallow water the Zombies could capsize the boat among others things.

Has anyone read the Z War bok that this author wrote? 

I was looking at it on the shelf yesterday but have too many books to read before I buy another.  It looks good though...

Yeah Zap, I have both of the Max Brooks Zombie books.  Z-War isn't funny, and in fact is quite a well written [in my opinion] account of the different stages of the zombie holocaust we have survived.

Basically he sets it out like a war correspondant, writing about his different interviews with different people involved in various countries and various areas of expertise.  I haven't finished it yet [been reading it off and on for the last few months] but some of the middle parts, about the initial outbreak, are actually quite terrifying.  What's good is that it's subtle, and as you read and learn more about what happened, the more the whole horrible story becomes clear.

It's not a classic book by any means, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I have searched my local Barnes & Noble twice now for World War Z and have yet to find find it. What category would it fall under?

It's in sci fi/fantasy.

How about an old tank or armoured car for a land vehicle.
The only problem is the tremendous gas you'd waste
But you could use it as a fortress if it's out of gas.
And yes you can buy these things if ya know where to look.

But what do you do when your "fortressl" is covered in Zombies and youve run out of food and water?

Wouldn't the easiest thing be to let one of the zombies bite you, and then you'd be a zombie and you wouldn't have to worry about things like tanks, food, water, shelter, medications, weapons, fuel, etc.


It would be so easy.



Sooo easy...



...soooo...





...brains..?







...brains...








BRAINS!

(http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/images/zombie_bunny.jpg)

*Backs away slowly*
Ooookaay, time to meet my good friend Mr. Chainsaw and his girlfriend Miss Blowtorch

I wonder if that suit is flammable

Yikes! or maybe, Eeww!!

Definetly an Eeeewwwww!

What I want to know is why now has said diddly about using a shovel!? Think about it people if you get one with a long straight handle you can use it as a walking stick, a bludgeon, you can sharpen the edge and use it as a blade, and of course as a shovel. Then you can play Whack-A-Zombie, and then bury the remains.

Okay, your best bet is to train yourself for ANY type of distropic future scenario, (they're all the same), have a bookbag or something ready in advance, have the proper gear in your residence at all times, and work out and diet EVERY DAY!!!!  Make sure you know people who suspect the end is near and set up a meeting place, preferrably one of their homes.  Get together practice your skills and get ready.  Once humanity's demise comes, find any survivors you can at the first sign of zombification, once you have a large enough group, move to an abandoned farm with some resources or a military base.  You can then build a community that might eventually be able to lay siege to a larger zombie territory.  You then use that area to build up your community until the zombies rot away, or your resistance destroys them.  This is Patient 7, hoping you will join my resistance community against any and all zombies, mutants, machines or any other crazy things you can think of.  :cheers:

Sorry, I forgot about aliens and giant apes, yeah.

I have recently heard news that scientists are trying to create live bacteria from scratch.  We all know what this means.  We build larger and larger organisms until people realize we can manipulate DNA, then we try and improve human DNA to make us immortal and impervious to pain.  There will be a mistake and our flesh will still rot, and drive people insane.  They can turn us into them by biting us and sending a virus into our bloodstream that manipulates our DNA!!!  This can also lead to a planet of the apes or mutant style ending too.

"... Church- Its on Holy ground so it may keep the Zombies away, but it may not work. You also has very few supplies unless an event was going to occur soon. The building structure is more often than not rather flimsy material."

Weeeell, that might be right for America, but if you live in Europe a church might be amongst the safest places you could get into period!

No, I'm not talking about some supernatural reason, I'm an atheist myself, but have a look at your average European MEDIEVAL church, the kind you find all over the place here!

Back when they were built they sometimes literally were meant to be used as as a sort of community safehouse during times of conflict which, in the olden days, happened quite often. Add to that the general Gothic style (no, not white facepaint but architecture!) and you have:

Several-meter-thick stone walls. Literally. (1m ~ 3feet). Thick, oaken wood main gates and few additional entries (maybe added in modern days) that can be easily blocked up with all the wooden banks. No windows on ground level - they're usually built high in the walls. (http://www.sinzig-info.de/open/M/qHsFag - check the church of my old hometown as an example). The tower offers a great view of the durroundings, often even enhanced by the church being placed on a high spot.

me personly im kinda crazy too about the zombie attack i all ready have a rifle, quick mix concrete, a truck, and a job at the airport

I think I'd be pretty good and prepared if a a Zombie invasion ever happened..
heres my list of things I would have.. ((and some I do have..))   like the guns and sword.. 


Weaponry:
M1911  .45 caliber handgun 
Thompson M-1 sub-machine gun
Mossberg 590 shotgun
Katana.
Metal baseball bat
Flat head shovel
Hatchet

Armor: 
Motorcycle protective gear
Its light enough to move around in and thick enough to stop bite attacks.
I know so cause I have all the gear head to toe

I recommend this for bite prof body armor
http://www.metricbikes-superstore.com/images/th_38554_4.jpg
http://www.metricbikes-superstore.com/images/smxbionicmesh.JPG
http://www.metricbikes-superstore.com/images/356708_red.jpg
http://www.metricbikes-superstore.com/images/07astars/th_TRACK-PANT-RED.jpg
http://www.metricbikes-superstore.com/images/2007_Alpinestars_Tech_3_Boot_Black_Red.jpg

Supplies:
2 rolls of duct tape
Zippo / lighter/ matches
First Aid Kit
CB Radio
Radio
Painkillers
Backpack
Extra Ammo
Blanket & Towel

Food:
Anything that is bottled and canned or  m.r.e's  No exceptions.

Useful abilities that I have:
marksmanship
basic Auto Repair
cooking
Lock picking
Hot wiring
Gas Siphoning
basic welding and construction
a bit of sewing
climbing

Mobility:
2007 Jeep Wrangler with a hard top..  with some kick ass armor plating all around it..  kind of death race stile..

Housing / Location:
Screw staying in one place for vary long..   I would keep moving around staying far from big towns as much as I can. a little sleep here a little sleep there. having 2 people doing look out duty
If need be to stay at a place for more thin a month it would be at a military base or military supply store 

People:
3 other people with me at the lest..    going solo is a bad idea..

Sit on the roof. Zombies (unless provoked) are too lazy to look up :smile:

Several large sheets of thick plywood, some boxes of 3" wood screws, and a cordless drill with extra batteries . . . seal doors and windows in minutes!!

I live in a two story house with only one access to the upstairs.  Throw down the plywood, screw it in, and I am sealed from all zombie intrusions . . . with portable ladders to lower when I need to go forage for supplies!

You've got great descriptions and ideas on your guide! I don't have alot of info to hand out and it's probably been discussed before, but this is what I came up with a while ago:

1: Don't just look for the movie-style baseball bat or bladed weapon to arm yourself if you don't have a projectile (although they are preferred). Keep in mind the fact that almost anything can be used as a weapon. See a wooden fence nearby? If you have a few seconds, tear a chunk of wood from it and go for the head. Removable shelves, medium-sized electronics, floor fans... If it's solid, has some weight and you can easily swing it without wearing yourself out easily, it can be used.

2: Bundle up, but not too much. Too little clothing, you're as easily accessed as popcorn chicken, but too much will make you as mobile and agile as a drunk man with his pants around his ankles. A couple layers of leather should do the trick. The stronger clothing you wear, the harder it will be for them to reach your skin when they bite or claw, giving you more chance if you do get caught in the shuffle. Adding lightweight gloves to the list might not be a bad idea as well. And It will probably make you look like a moron, but helmets can save your life in this situation for the same reason as thick clothing. Preferably, use full-headed motorbike helmets that usually have shatter-resistant visors (just make sure it isn't occupied by a beheaded owner first, just in case...).

3: It might be a good idea to wear a filtering mask of some sort, such as surgical masks, gas masks, or even a cloth. Whatever disease causes the zombification process may be airborne, plus it might help ease the stench if you're down-wind of a shambling of zombies, which may give you more focus on surviving.

4: Not every shambling body is a zombie. If you hack away at everyone you see, you may dismember someone who might have helped you, or you may even be mistaken for a crazed zombie if someone were to see you. On the flip side, freshly dead/infected zombies may be mistaken for living people, depending on lighting conditions, the way in which they were assimilated or possible lack of sleep (both theirs or your own). Who knows? They might have given up recently, gone stupid and gave themselves to a zombie or maybe bitten vampire-style in their sleep, thus having no defense wounds or numerous claw marks to make them look disfigured. Make sure they speak recognizable words (unless they're foreign :wink:) before you sing your praises when you see a non-decomposed stranger.

5: The local supermarket such as Walmart or the like may be a good place for food supplies and maybe guns and ammo in the hunting supplies section, if there is one. Just be wary of zombies already there looking for a good bargain on human meat.

Zombies, zombies!  The only survival guides I find are about zombies and most recently, vampires!  Come on people!  We need a survival guide against another threat!  Aliens!  There is a good chance that the exist and might want to kill us!  We need a real stragedy to fight against them!

Anyways, interesting survival guide for attacks against zombies.

I have a mostly-finished werewolf survival guide, and a roughed-out alien invasion survival guide.  Just need to get around to finishing them.

REALLY??!!  :buggedout:  Awesome!  I can't wait to see it.  The werewolf guide should be good, I never even thought about those as a threat!

Id have a shot at survival, as long as I was at work, or in a position to get to work I would have access to:
AR15 (modified M-16)
Riot Shotgun (Mossberg 590)
Glock 40 cal. and plenty of ammo for all.
Food
Water
Secure location
Tons of rooms
Communication via radio

still need a katana though  :wink:

Dear Puppet Master,
I followed Your tutorial with interest. I' m thinking along this lines for years and rigged up an emergency kit, that also covers Zombie situations.
For the protective cloth. I found two items that might be nearly ideal. The first is a so called Sharksuit. It is in fact a chainmailsuit, like the old knights used, covering the hole body, made from stainless steal. It protects, as prooven, against shark bites and is used by skubadivers. I don't think zombies can bite harder than sharks. So it might be good protection, even so it is quite heavy.
The second seems to me even more ideal. It's a protectifsuit for people working with chainsaws and similar devices. It looks like a normal worksuit, but has a Kevlar lining. It is light and stops prooven even a chainsaw, so I think zombies won't bite through and it also gives cover against the zombie saliva, witch seems to me be the most plausible source of infection. I will wear a motocross helmet with it gives cover for the complete head and has a brought visor. Further I placed signs "Living Human" on breast and back, to minimize the risk of being shot by another surviver.
An other Item I chose as well as tool as as weapon is a mountain- or climberspick. It is light, most parts are alloy, but You can use it very efficiently on obstacles and human crania. Oh, yes, You should ad a rope to Your equipment. It might come handy in fast exiting a building and a lot other things.

Definitely on to something there.. Plus they'd lack the agility to climb up.  When I first saw Shaun Of The Dead, I was thinking that if there was a way onto the roof they should try to quickly scrounge some blankets, ammo and food and head up there.  In case zombies got up the stairs that takes them to the roof they should put something heavy over the top and block it off.

You're a postal worker?

The one thing I will say, which OP mentions, is the best gun for zombies is probably a 22 rifle.  It's reasonable accurate out to 100 yards, will penetrate a human skull at a decent distance, is very quiet and light, and you can easily carry like 10,000 rounds in a backpack.  Not to mention, it's an excellent round for foraging small game, like squirrel, rabbit, etc - if you're good with one, you can even take deer and other mid-sized game.

For portability, I might suggest something like this:

(http://forums.coueswhitetail.com/forums/uploads/monthly_01_2008/post-1816-1199490962.jpg)

It's the Ruger 10/22, cut down to a pistol size.  Still has a 10" barrel, a built in bipod for stabilized shots, and is small enough to easily carry on your person with a sling or oversized holster.  You can also get 50 round magazines for it, which is nice.

That is the one funny thing about zombie survival stuff.  Most of what the zombie survival guys (there's a sizeable community - we have a group called the Zombie Squad here in St. Louis) look into or are prepared for translates pretty well into a far more likely government/social breakdown scenario..  So, there is some slight possibility of such prep actually being useful.  If nothing else, you'll get some good camping gear and weapons out of it.

You wont believe this!
I'm working for security at a chemical plant so it is totally naturally that I'm concerned with any kind of emergency plans and also naturally I'm concerned about a zombie outbreak at my plant. You see, chemical works are nearly endangered as secret military facilities. So I made a zombie alarm plan. It took me nearly a week, but was as far as I know, quite clever. I would concentrate the survivors in the lowest basement level of the parkinghouse. So that intervention troops can use radical weaponry, with little risk of collateral damages. Further this space would be easy to defend even with improvised arms.
But . . . believe it or not!
They laughed about it!
They even canceled my order for H&K MP5s, 10.000 rounds of ammo, bite protected suits and a load of K-rations!
But I tell You. Who will have the last laugh when I entrenched in my make shift bunker and they stand outside begging me to let 'em in? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ! . . . . .

One further tip to the SUV enthusiasts. Don't forget to deactivate Your airbags! For example. You're going to plough down a horde of, lets say, zombiefied boy scouts and on the first impact Your airbag inflates . . . it would ruin the hole scene . . .