I hope the members here can point me in the right direction.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good African game hunting Vest(or jacket)to buy?

These are some of the features that come to mind as useful.

1 Shooting pad
2 Bigbore ammo pocket
3 Made with tough material
4 Roomy, intelligent design
5 Pockets well thought out.

Anyone have a good Vest they have used for a while and enjoy?

What would be the best color? Olive? Tan?

Thanks,

Lance

There is a very nice one for sale from SCI made by Boyt. It is listed as the SA500 and comes in green (actually olive), and Khaki.

It has quilted pad on both shoulders, shell loops on both sides at the waist, that will hold up to 500NE, flat flaped pleated pockets at the bottom. Made of 100% cotton twill, and sells for $63.00

They also have the safari jacket made by the same people, and comes in the same colors, it also has everything the vest has but has breast pockets as well. It is $80.00 it is SA600

My choice would always be Green! Khaki, shines too much if in the sun, and looks white !

1-800-550-2698 Boyt
Safari Club International spring catalog

I think that there is an African vest called the Texas Safari Hunting Vest that may fit your requirements. Go on line and check it out. I currently have one in Tan. Boddington uses it as well.

I've got the Texas Safari Vest and the Cabela's Worldwide shooting system jacket. Ended up using both on different days in my one Namibian hunt.

PH didn't like the exposed brass when I put shells in the loops on the vest, Said they shone and scared game. Ended up using the jacket more than the vest.

The Cabela's product also comes as a vest.

I also have the Texas Safari vest and like it very much.

Just took a look at the Boyte jacket. Very classic looking and on special for $49.00 right now it seems, along with most of their safari range of clothes.

Boyt link

I have a shooting jacket/vest made by "Pro Cam-Fis". No idea who they are!

It is olive green and similar to an older US Army jacket, but made for sporting purposes. A lot of the PHs in Zimbabwe used to use the old green US army jackets (not camo) which appeared unusual until it was pointed out to me the tree trunks are very dark or black in most cases.

The jacket has sleeves which zip off to make it a vest but I have never used it that way and don't notice it and you wouldn't know they come off from the outside.

It has a rain proof hood which zips away but the jacket is just cottom. Zipper front with studded storm flap.

Pockets - a set of four pockets at the front bottom on each side. A had warmer at the back, a straight velco closed pocket, a straight pocket (no velco) and a flapped velco closed plastic lined pocket.
- On the LHS above that two small utility pockets (say for a compass or pocket knife) and above that a notebook sized pocket.
- On the RHS front the same four pockets at the bottom, then two verticle zipped pockets with a storm flap.
- A pocket on the sleeve.
- Inside two large "game carrier" type pockets, one velco, one zipped. One small breast "wallet" style pocket.

The main problem? It takes a long time to find anything in all the pockets!

I took it with me to Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa in August and September, and didn't use it until Addo Elephant Park where it actually was slightly cool/cold. But use it a lot otherwise, where my Goretex lined shooting jacket is way too hot.

This jacket would make a good jacket/coat, or a shooting vest - as required.

Might try to post a photo.

Thanks for the info gentlemen - I was considering that Cabelas jacket/Vest.

I like the looks of the vest & jacket from Boyds too.

I'll check them out closer but i think the cabelas system vest is going to be the choice. - in green.

I bought a jacket/vest combo from Gary Neeses Outdoor World at the SCI show last year. It has all of the features you are looking for. I used it in Argentina in March and it has become my "go to" jacket for hunting.

Bought Cabela's vest four years ago and it still seems great. Will buy the coat this year, though, because I have more use for that.

Another vote for the Texas Safari Vest. I used one on my last safari in Tanzania this last August. Called the guy up in Houston and told him I was leaving in a few days. Sent me one in a couple of days. Its a good vest.

Thanks,
HOOT

I bought the Boyt Safari Vest. Then I took it to a local tailor and had the collar removed and made into more of a V-neck configuration.

Used it in Mozambique this month, but it was unusually cool while we were there so no problems wearing additional clothing over a shirt.

It works well and I like it a lot. It'll go with me next time.

Good Luck.

Mike

Check out the vest NitroX mentioned at http://www.cam-fils.com (found it by google). The last item is the zip of sleeve shirt/vest for $180.

I use a suede made-in-Namibia kudu zip-up vest mainly for warmth in the early morning of July or August. Use a separate gun belt for ammo, knife and sometimes gps. Depending on where you are in Africa and who you are with, you're not likely to need to carry more, but check with your PH. Never needed to wear a jacket for more than the sometimes very cold ride to where you start tracking.
Regards

Tried that site and all it had was other porn sites!

Typo on the web site. It should be www.cam-fis.com

Gary,

Thanks for the correction.
Regards, Tim

Texas Safari Hunting vest all the way.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Carney:
Check out the vest NitroX mentioned at http://www.cam-fis.com (found it by google). The last item is the zip of sleeve shirt/vest for $180.

Yep, that's the one, except my is forest green and I don't wear a little red scarf with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Sniper:
I found a link you might want to check out

www.bestvests.com

That jacket looks nice, and the zip off sleeves is a plus! However, I don't like those pockets on my gun shoulder to hang up my rifle when mounting it fast! Of course that pocket could be unstiched when the jacket was new, so it wouldn't be a different color where it had been! For camera man it is perfect the way it is!

I use a Filson Surveyors vest and find that it works just fine. I also wear it daily at home so I know where everything fits.

I hope no one minds me saying that if you need a hunting vest, you are carrying too much stuff.

I don't mind. I learned a long time agowhen we would be out on a lrrp that you can bring it back if you don't need it; but, you can't use it if you don't have it.

Agree with Bryan, one instructor's mantra at Nha Trang was "if you can't eat it, shoot it or detonate it, you don't carry it" We learned on first mission that was BS. Get the vest, carry what gives you confidence.

SFC E7
33 days and counting

Not to be argumentative, but taking a lot of gear may be a good idea when you are age 20 and in the best condition of your life, but it may not work out so well for a fat guy in his mid-50's. (And believe it or not, fat fellows have been known to hunt Africa. )

I will second the too much gear comment. And add that I have found any vest at all to be too damned hot besides.

I got to throw in one more aside: I am 65 and not nearly as svelte as I was once was, however, I still carry my own gear; as I told my ph last month if we bombburst for any reason I want to have everything I need to get back, in my hands.
cheers, all!