When we think we know all we have to know, it's time to question ourself. I was thinking of the pure basics I have stumble upon when I was a kid. This manual (ofcourse it has been edited since then) was one of my favorite. I remember it was first posted in THE textfiles archive (if one can remember). Good luck with it kids!





  1. Try to have a plan on where your going and able to meet someone or be with someone while you are sneaking out.
  2. Plan how you're going to get out and where you are going to go and how long you will take (do this during the day when no one is watching). Do not write this down on paper, as it can be evidence to your parents. Mentally, try to plan out;
    • fencing, terrain, lighting and hiding spots where you will be going
    • blind spots from the windows of nearby houses
    • naturally occurring things, such as weather and moon phase
    • time you are departing
    • method of exit from home - must be quiet
    • path taken to destination
    • path taken back home
    • method of entry in home
    • Stay away from the main streets
    • estimate of how long all this will take
    • excuses, backup plans, things you'll need, etc.

  3. Prepare physically and mentally for your big night. Eat 2 hours before and drink one hour before. 15 minutes before departing, get dressed up, but no earlier or you will risk being discovered by your parents. Also, at about 15 minutes, have an energy gel - they are like goo and contain caffeine usually and complex sugars. Pack all the stuff you'll need, but make sure you don't get weighed down too much by it. Dress in an appropriate color;
    • Black: Rarely found in nature, actually a poor choice. Only good for asphalt and parking lots.
    • Slate Gray: Good for concrete and other urban settings.
    • Navy Blue/Midnight Blue: Matches the general color of the night, allowing verstality in most settings.
    • Olive Drab/Military Green/: Good for both dense and thin green foliage, in suburban settings you will probably find yourself hiding in bushes and grass hills often, this would be a decent choice.
    • Khaki: Good for dead foliage and desert settings.
    • White: Good for snow, a white outfit with a few digital black and grey specks works best.
    • Brown: Good for crawling through big areas with only dirt and no plants.
    • Fire escape ladders sometimes work, depending on your house's siding. If your parent's sleeping area is 10ft or shorter, don't swing the ladder down the window. Do it earlier in the day, or slowly lower it to the ground. Rope also works well if you tie notches in it and tie it to a very heavy-weighing object such as a bed or dresser.

  4. Make a clean exit out of your house. Everyone's house is different, so you will have to figure out a few things for yourself. Leave a screwdriver or butter knife in your window to hold it a crack open if that is where you exited from, and bring a front door key just in case. If you sleep on a second floor, consider getting a roll able fire escape ladder. Put some stuffed animals under your covers to make it look like it's your body. Leave your door as it normally is to avoid suspicion from your parents - and do not lock it! In case they do figure out that you are missing, leave a note saying you are fine and not to call the police.
  5. Quietly step outside and breathe in the cold, moist night air. Take a moment to appreciate the crickets and far away traffic and airplanes, look at the moon with the thin clouds floating by and the stars. This helps create the right attitude and teaches you to be silent as a ninja and become part of nature for a while, not against it.
  6. Start sneaking around. Now that you have gotten out of your garden or front lawn, it's time to rock and roll. Stay low, stay quiet, and stay alert. Watch your back and walk quietly.


Okay, now some extra tips that could be usefull:

If you are a teen and your room is in your basement use the farthest window from where your parents are upstairs! if you are upstairs they take too long to open and close and cause a lot of noise. But if you have to use windows, soundlessly lower a crate or a stool for a high ledge. If you have a wood wall, or a smooth brick wall, get a partner you can trust to help you get in and out.

If your parents come to check on you because you have gone out before, lay pillows, stuffed animals, or other blankets to form a your shape in your bed. In case they look in closer, add the top of a dolls hair that is the color of your hair.

Use fabric softener on your clothes in the laundry to make them quieter.

The human 2D theory states we humans are 2D creatures, and we look for each other on the level we dwell on (ground level). So, if someone is looking for you, hide either on a roof top or ditch, as they are at different levels. But don't hide in trees. If you are sighted there, you will have nowhere to go and a long fall if you are considering jumping. You can also throw a rock or something to create a distraction(don't crack your wrist or elbow, they'll hear this first and look over).

If you hide on a rooftop, do not go to a house that has lights on, stay low, and make sure you have more than one escape route. Some rooftops are more steep and slanted than others. Don't approach a skylight, or get in the path of the moonlight towards a skylight.

If you hide in a ditch or hole, stay in there until you think your pursuer is gone. Do not keep peeking out. If you are in a greatly populated area, you might need some cover, like leaves or something that is the color of the ground around you.But you will have to risk someone falling in.

People can spot you because of shape, silhouette, shadow and color. Eliminate all of those by dressing accordingly, sticking to dense shadows and moving slowly.

Rely more on your brain and techniques than your gear.

If you think someone sighted you but are not sure, get into a crawling or squatting position and freeze! You want to use the darkness to hide you. You will also be harder to see if you are still.

It helps to be physically fit, your endurance and flexibility probably being more important than your strength. It is always better to run than to stand and fight.

You can tell if a car is coming even before you see it. Listen for the sound or if it's around a bend, you might see the headlights light up the street or even the fog in the air.

This can be a year-round hobby as long as you dress accordingly. Keep in mind that with all the running around, you probably will be sweating and dry-mouthed within the first 10 minutes. But, uncovered arms can be easy to see. If you rest for more than 5 minutes, you might end up getting cold again.

In suburban areas, you may find yourself hiding behind a car or bush, checking if the coast is clear, and sprinting to the next cover, and repeating the process. So always stay alert.

Consider wearing civilian clothes to be able to play it casual if you have to. A Forest Green or Navy Blue plain sweatshirt, dark ball cap, and dikies Navy Blue dress pants or green dress pants work great. Black jeans might sound like a great idea, but they do not blend in with the natural color of the night and will make you look like a robber (even though you are not) to most people because of a stereotype caused by movies.

Carry a change of clothes, preferably casual and lighter colored (khakis and a polo shirt may work). If you work (or worked) at a company that is open late and has a uniform shirt (such as a retail chain), then bring that (although your story may be checked with the company). Also, bring a construction hat and reflective vest to look like a worker - if you look old enough. Just try to look like you belong wherever you are.

Carry extra money with you just in case you need to call home in an emergency or in case you need something to eat.

Record your own snoring to a cellphone/or a digital recorder, so your parents think you are asleep.

Source: How to Sneak Out of Your House at Night - wikiHow