Proper hunting clothes for a safari

[matt85]

me and my dad went to cabelas to check out optics and clothes about 2 weeks ago. he picked up a set of binos and a range finder while I just picked up a range finder. when we looked at the clothes we were pretty disappointed with both the selection and the quality.

can you guys recommend some quality hunting clothes that are both durable and practical?

thanks
-matt

 

[blackdog001blackdog001]

You don't state specifically what clothes you looked at while in Cabelas, but I can tell you their safari shirts in tan cotton and their 7-pocket trail pants have served me well on a variety of trips over the past 20 years.

 

[CAustin]

I agree with Blackdog as everything I needed for my hunts came from Cabelas. The seven pocket pants are great.....I also got a pair that the leg bottoms zip off to convert into shorts. Your hunting shirts from the US are fine but I also bought three Safari shirts from Cabelas.
A good pair of boots is a must. You may well be walking on rocks so consider the best you can afford.

 

[Royal27]

this is SO personal... I ended up buying my stuff from Tag Safari online and really liked it. I wanted 100% cotton and light weight and it worked out great. I never even wore the long sleeves I brought.

Had it been a colder time of year I might have wanted something different though.

 

[SCJagter]

I have done all my hunting clothing shopping at Cabelas just love the prices and the quality but you have to be a smart shopper, and you might have better luck online since that is where I did my shopping(I don't have a store close by)

Just a heads up the "safari" stuff they sell isn't a nice quality at all so steer clear that is me saying nicely it is junk.( It may have been different in the past but I just bought 4 shirts the (2) 65/35 shirts and (2) Serengeti shirts 2 months ago and sent it back disappointed)

Remember there is probably better stuff clothing wise and brands out there but Cabelas doesn't break the bank and if you get it right their stuff can last a long long time. I own and use all the links below on a regular basis in Africa and at home, so don't just buy something to use in Africa... Buy something you will get continued use out of.

Here are the links of stuff I have purchased to give you an idea...

Pants (I love these pants they are tuff and well made and not expensive and have useful pockets): http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Legendary-7-Pocket-Hiker-Pants/1323177.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&N=0&fsch=true&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=7+pocket+hiker&x=0&y=0&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products&Ntt=7 pocket hiker&WTz_l=Header;Search-All Products

Shirts (depends on where you are hunting thorns can be a problem but also its is a trade off with the heat) you can almost be certain you wont need the long sleeves just take a light pullover or jacket(but just to be safe take 1 or 2 long sleeves if you want) :

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Casual-Clothing/Mens-Casual-Shirts/Mens-Short-Sleeve-Casual-Shirts|/pc/104797080/c/104746680/sc/104263380/i/104064480/Cabelas-High-Terrain-Short-Sleeve-Shirt/1759706.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/mens-short-sleeve-casual-shirts/cabelas/_/N-1100835+1000002949/Ne-1000002949/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104064480?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104797080%3Bcat104263380&WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104797080;cat104263380;cat104064480

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Upland-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Shooting-Shirts|/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104665680/i/103955580/Cabelas-Vented-Back-Shooting-Shirt/731395.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/mens-shooting-shirts/_/N-1101010/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_103955580?WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104797080%3Bcat104748480%3Bcat104665680&WTz_l=SBC;cat104797080;cat104748480;cat104665680;cat103955580

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clot...797080;cat104748480;cat104665680;cat103955580

I even use fishing shirts: just not in clear water blue or sunlight)
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Casual-Clothing/Mens-Casual-Shirts/Mens-Short-Sleeve-Casual-Shirts|/pc/104797080/c/104746680/sc/104263380/i/104064480/Cabelas-Signature-Series8482-Short-Sleeve-Angler-Shirt-150-Regular/1155128.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/mens-short-sleeve-casual-shirts/_/N-1100835/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104064480?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104797080%3Bcat104746680%3Bcat104263380&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104797080;cat104746680;cat104263380;cat104064480#tabsCollection

If you can wear camo(depending on country and personal preference etc) here is some camo clothing: I use Realtree MAX-1 And just roll up the sleeves:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Shirts|/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104431680/i/104046480/Cabelas-Silent-Weave8482-Bowhunters-Shirt-ndash-Regular/1176322.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/mens-lightweight-camo-shirts/_/N-1100951/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104046480?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104748480%3Bcat104431680&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104791680;cat104748480;cat104431680;cat104046480

Camo Pants: Also in Realtree MAX-1

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Hunting-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Clothing/Mens-Lightweight-Camo-Pants|/pc/104797080/c/104748480/sc/104431680/i/104017680/Cabelas-Silent-Weave8482-6-Pocket-Pants-150-Regular/1176314.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/mens-lightweight-camo-pants/_/N-1100950/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104017680?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104748480%3Bcat104431680&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104791680;cat104748480;cat104431680;cat104017680

 

[Velo Dog]

Most of my hunting garments have been from the 2nd hand store.
But I do have one Cabela's "Serengeti shirt" that I bought new, and so far it has survived 4 safaris - no complaints.
My hunting coat is a surplus Czechoslovakian army issue / waterproofed heavy canvas, somewhat looks like the USA Army issue coat (M-65?) but brown color instead of USA cammo pattern (I paid $13. for it plus shipping, through Sportsman's Guide mail order).
Most all my other outer hunting garments are medium weight green cotton fabric, shirts and pants just a bit over sized (2nd hand store).
I do also have a heavy green 100% wool sweater that has served me well here and over seas both (2nd hand store).
I never let anyone wash this swaeter.
It only gets washed by dunking it in a cold creek or hanging it in the rain for a couple days here in Alaska or nothing.
My boots on the other hand are Courtney from Westley Richards mail order.
Proper hunting boots are worth their weight in gold and I would never buy those 2nd hand (although I did exactly that, back when I was a kid).

 

[matt85]

thanks guys, the local Cabelas didn't have any of the clothes you guys are talking about or if they did we couldn't find them and the employee's there didn't know where they were.

my boots are Red Wing work boots as ive worn most of my life.

-matt

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

thanks guys, the local Cabelas didn't have any of the clothes you guys are talking about or if they did we couldn't find them and the employee's there didn't know where they were.

my boots are Red Wing work boots as ive worn most of my life.

-matt

Wear whatever you'd normally wear hunting for the same expected weather. If camo is not allowed where you're going, where whatever you would have worn before hunting camo became so important here in the U.S.

Boots on the other hand, I think deserve scrutiny. The quieter the better with regards to the stalk. Terrain however and overall comfort for the expected amount of walking needs to be considered too. Usually the tougher boots that you'd want in hunting the Rockies are terrible for noise. But those really soft soled ultra quiet boots aren't going to be kind to your feet if your climbing a lot of those rocky outcroppings.

 

[Royal27]

Wear whatever you'd normally wear hunting for the same expected weather. If camo is not allowed where you're going, where whatever you would have worn before hunting camo became so important here in the U.S.

Boots on the other hand, I think deserve scrutiny. The quieter the better with regards to the stalk. Terrain however and overall comfort for the expected amount of walking needs to be considered too. Usually the tougher boots that you'd want in hunting the Rockies are terrible for noise. But those really soft soled ultra quiet boots aren't going to be kind to your feet if your climbing a lot of those rocky outcroppings.

+1

Beat me to it Phil!!!

In Zim I went with the Russell's and they were very quiet and I loved them. A couple of days though we were on really rocky grouns ans my left big toe hated me for the next several days. If I had to do it all over again I would do exactly the same thing though as I would have rather been extra quiet than extra comfortable.

 

[brushmore]

What are people's opinions on wearing shorts vs long pants? Is it a bad idea considering thorns and insects?

 

[billc]

I myself like long pants over shorts but we have only hunted in july and aug.Was anywhere from 55 to 85 degrees.There is so many stickers and thorns to go through it is not a place for shorts to me.
I have some pants from cabelas that are like jeans but in camo.They worked great for me and I always had long sleeve cotton shirts on.I know alot of people just like the plain tan or green cloth but I like the same camo i hunt elk with.

Just my thoughts but no need to spend a bunch of money on clothing if you already have some camo.A good pair of worked in boots and your good to go.

This is all based on hunting SA for plains game.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

What are people's opinions on wearing shorts vs long pants? Is it a bad idea considering thorns and insects?

Well last year when I went for my evening shower, I found a tic in the vicinity of the umm......well I'll let you figure it out. So unless it's real hot, I'll be avoiding shorts as much as possible.

 

[sestoppelman]

I prefer long pants, though my boy wore shorts on our trip this summer every day. Cabelas stuff works fairly well, but for me at least don't hold up very well. The best shirts I ever had were sold by LL Beans years ago. It was a rip stop shirt and wore forever almost. My Serengeti shirt from Cabelas lastest 3 trips but is now getting pretty religious. I have been wearing the same 3 pairs of pants since my first trip in '85 and they still work, a few holes here, and loose thread there but still doing it. Boots; I really like my Danner Jackals, verrry light, quiet enough and holding up well on 3 safaris.

 

[brushmore]

OK, the story about tick is probably all I need. I hate ticks. Several years ago hunting here in Pennsylvania during the early season I ended up on a regime of antibiotics because of a strange rash from a tick bite and lyme's disease was the concern. Don't even want to think about what those buggers carry in Africa.

 

[billc]

The ticks are out for sure.We had a few on us but that eland I took was covered in them.I treated my cloth witha spray I bought at dicks.It worked at home here in pa during spring turkey and seemed to work ok over there also.

 

[matt85]

i will wear long pants but different boots might be a consideration. my boots are tough but arent exactly quiet.

as for wearing what i wear here... when i hunt in WA its between 5F and 30F so all my hunter gear is for cold/wet weather. i have no idea whats proper to hunt with in warm weather.

-matt

 

[Royal27]

I wore shorts and will do it again. Legs got scratched pretty good, but I enjoyed that too. And, shorts are certainly quieter. Only cold weather will make me wear pants, really cold.

I read another thread last year about Phil's, uhm, issue and treated by shorts, pants, and shirts with Permethrin and didn't have any tick issues. Treated my gaiters too for that matter. That stuff works!

 

[billc]

Royal thats the stuff I was talking about it works great.The shorts maybe quieter but leaving a blood trail with cut up legs is not for me.LOL

 

[Royal27]

i will wear long pants but different boots might be a consideration. my boots are tough but arent exactly quiet.

as for wearing what i wear here... when i hunt in WA its between 5F and 30F so all my hunter gear is for cold/wet weather. i have no idea whats proper to hunt with in warm weather.

-matt

Tennis shoes would be better than your mountain hunting boots. We over think the boots. My PH was wearing sandals when I shot my buffalo. Not flip flop type, but still sandals. Light and quiet is what you want.

 

[Royal27]

Royal thats the stuff I was talking about it works great.The shorts maybe quieter but leaving a blood trail with cut up legs is not for me.LOL

I can always find my way back to the truck. Just a reverse blood trail!

This ended up being the good leg, and it ended up worse too. This was about half way through day one.