Cabelas Safari wear withstand hot iron?

[Naplesdave66]

Hi all,
gearing up for first safari. Bought some Cabelas safari shirts off of eBay. They are a cotton/poly blend. Have they held up well for you guys with the safari laundry service in your experience?

 

[The Engineer]

The only Cabelas safari shirt I have experience with is the Serengeti. So far I have used the same shirsts on 5 safaris and they have held up quite well. I really like the Serengeti but Cabelas no longer stocks them.

 

[Naplesdave66]

Do you happen to know if those Serengeti shirts ate 100 percent cotton or a blend?

 

[The Engineer]

My Serengeti shirts are 100 percent cotton. The reason I really like these shirts is they are a heavy cloth (IE a bit thorn resistant.), have two zipper pockets behind the breast pockets, and have 4 large caliber cartridge loops inside the left breast pocket which is great when hunting with a double rifle. The loops are too large for anything but a DG cartridge.

 

[rookhawk]

The TAG safari shirts (availabe in Zim and online via Texas) and the Salty (Zim) shirts are cotton and much more breathable than the other options. The older cabelas safari shirts (usually green or tan with the shoulder patch) were iron tough but they were so damned hot. The Orvis Bush Shirts are very durable but also crazy thick.

For comfort, I really like the African made bush shirts as they are cheap and cool. Going another route, the modern merino wool t-shirts in the USA are also the right colors and very cool and low-odor. (first lite, sitka, kuiu, icebreaker)

Another very, very good bush shirt that is highly collectible and no longer made are the Willis & Geiger ones. You can find them on ebay. Some days they are $35, other days they go for $300. They were the world's finest, good enough for Edmond Hillary and Ernest Hemmingway.

Postscript: to answer your question about hot irons, ALL of these can take a hot iron in Africa without damage.

 

[Naplesdave66]

10-4. Thanks!

 

[BeeMaa]

I have 2 of the Orvis Bush Shirts and really like them, no problems with an iron. Our PH liked it so much he got one for himself when he was in the US. I just looked on the Orvis website and it's not showing that they are making them anymore. Damn it!

 

[buck wild]

If you are concerned, try an iron on them before you leave.

 

[rookhawk]

I have 2 of the Orvis Bush Shirts and really like them, no problems with an iron. Our PH liked it so much he got one for himself when he was in the US. I just looked on the Orvis website and it's not showing that they are making them anymore. Damn it!

For my fellow cheapskates, you grab an old orvis catalog and you find the SKU of the bush shirt or something else you like they don’t sell anymore. Then google any Orvis Outlet center and give them a phone call. Give them the SKU and your size/color preferences and have them search all the outlets in the nation. They generally will turn up several at different outlet centers. Outlet price is about $30-$50, new I think they are $100 or more at retail stores? I think I have 5-6 of them because they came in 2XL tall for the giants out there.

 

[Doug3006]

I’ve worn Cabela’s shirts on several safaris and they’ve held up great. Bush camp irons and everything. I have some that are pure cotton and others that are 65/35 cotton/ polyester. No difference in holding up. The pure cotton are a little more comfortable.

 

[Berettaco]

I second @rookhawk recommendation for Tag shirts - wore them last trip, super comfortable, dry quick when wet and thick enough to help with the thorns

 

[CoElkHunter]

Ironing hunting clothes? What's the purpose? They are to HUNT in.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Ironing hunting clothes? What's the purpose? They are to HUNT in.

One must look ones sharpest while sporting old chum. Tally Ho and all that!

 

[rookhawk]

Ironing hunting clothes? What's the purpose? They are to HUNT in.

If your clothes aren’t hot ironed in Africa every single day, larvae lay on them and burrow into your skin. Ironing kills the maggots and is essential.

 

[CoElkHunter]

If your clothes aren’t hot ironed in Africa every single day, larvae lay on them and burrow into your skin. Ironing kills the maggots and is essential.

Great point! I had NO idea having never hunted there. Thanks!

 

[rookhawk]

Great point! I had NO idea having never hunted there. Thanks!

Yep, that’s why the guys are asking about if they are pure cotton. Many clients go to Africa with synthetics and wake up to put on their nicely laundered shirt that has been melted into hard plastic!

 

[wesheltonj]

Not a fan of the TAG, button placket on the sleeves are too short, to easily roll up the sleeves while wearing.

Prefer Boyt shirts which are also no longer made.

 

[CoElkHunter]

If your clothes aren’t hot ironed in Africa every single day, larvae lay on them and burrow into your skin. Ironing kills the maggots and is essential.

On a side note, what about "bed bugs" in the average accommodations? Sleep in your permethrin treated hunting clothes or spray the bed sheets?

 

[Naplesdave66]

The TAG safari shirts (availabe in Zim and online via Texas) and the Salty (Zim) shirts are cotton and much more breathable than the other options. The older cabelas safari shirts (usually green or tan with the shoulder patch) were iron tough but they were so damned hot. The Orvis Bush Shirts are very durable but also crazy thick.

For comfort, I really like the African made bush shirts as they are cheap and cool. Going another route, the modern merino wool t-shirts in the USA are also the right colors and very cool and low-odor. (first lite, sitka, kuiu, icebreaker)

Another very, very good bush shirt that is highly collectible and no longer made are the Willis & Geiger ones. You can find them on ebay. Some days they are $35, other days they go for $300. They were the world's finest, good enough for Edmond Hillary and Ernest Hemmingway.

Postscript: to answer your question about hot irons, ALL of these can take a hot iron in Africa without damage.

Thanks, very helpful.

 

[wesheltonj]

. . . Another very, very good bush shirt that is highly collectible and no longer made are the Willis & Geiger ones. You can find them on ebay. Some days they are $35, other days they go for $300. They were the world's finest, good enough for Edmond Hillary and Ernest Hemmingway. . .

You have watch out on those shirts some of them are really Lands End.