I can clearly see the usefullness of shorts, and use it extensivly when weather permits, both sailing, climbing/trekking and for general outdoor use.

On my one and only trip to South Africa so far, I tried shorts one day, but the PH and the tracker was loughing their ass off.
They asked if my legs were broken and if I still wear plaster castings

Needless to say my legs were white as virgin snow decorated with light blue veins.
I defenately saw the humor in it, and decided there and then to stick to my long pants.
The Outfitter and all the PH´s used shorts and gaiters and seem to be very comfortable in them.

In one of Saeeds buffalo-DVD´s the PH use shorts and canvas deckshoes without socks.
So I guess it is more or less a matter of what one is used to, more than what is practical ??

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Magnum hunter One, other guys who never wear shorts,

Guys who do wear shorts,

Out of curiosity, where you all from? I wonder if the shorts thing is limited to those of us who spend, or spent some time at the beaches or in really warm weather.

Corrally to the above, I wonder where the longs wearers are from. Mid America, Northern Latitudes?

Its odd to wear long pants when engaged in a outdoor activity in summertime around here.

JPK

I think Norway counts as "Northern Latitudes", yet I and most men I know (of all ages), wear shorts on their free time when it's hot in the summer. Especially when doing some kind of physical activites.

I personally start wear shorts as some as it's reasonably mild in the spring, and often long into the fall if weather permits.

As I have had to wear long pants in some very hot areas of northern Africa, due to local Islamic fundementalist beliefs in for example Sudan and Mauritania, I can say that long pants can be worn, but I much preferred shorts, and switched to shorts as soon as possible when I could.

I've never minded getting slashed by thorns now and then on my legs while hunting in Africa, and can't imagine any good reason for going over to wearing pants. I do like short gaiters to keep grass seeds out of my shoes/boots though.

quote:

Originally posted by WPN:
If short britches are better, why don't the black guys cut off the legs of their britches?

Shakari mentions the very real cultural aspect, but I'd also add that most of the trackers are "issued" a pair of cover-alls as their "uniform", and they don't have the luxery of having several pairs. Thus if they cut off the legs on their cover-alls, they wouldn't have a long legged version for when it's colder. Or so I've been told by several local trackers.

ErikD,

What is "hot" to you all? Here in the summertime we run in the mid 80's up into the 90's with an occasional foray over 100.

I have hunted with trackers in shorts and short sleeves. They were probably wearing the shorts for the same reason we white guys were. And just like us they probably prefered being cooler than looking like someone else thinks they should.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
ErikD,

What is "hot" to you all? Here in the summertime we run in the mid 80's up into the 90's with an occasional foray over 100.


JPK

Was 111° yesterday, looks like 115° today. Have not worn long pants for weeks.

In my part of the woods a comfortable summer temerature start at about 70 F./ 22 C
Hot..... I guess it depends, but i say it´s hot when it reach 86 F / 30 C,
then I start to frequent my fridge looking for cold beer
But again... I live by the coast close to the sea, and we usually have a breeze blowing even on the warmest days.
Wich by the way, is good for mee as a sailor

I like shorts best but wear long pants if the terrain calls for it. I also utilize the zip off pants and as previously stated, wear shorts with sweat pants over them till it warms up.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
ErikD,

What is "hot" to you all?

JPK,

I start wearing shorts when it reaches around 65 degrees fahrenheit. And I consider a 72 degree day nice and warm. When it reaches 82 degree, I consider it a hot day here at home (I don't have the nice west coast breeze the Arild does).

However, as the body adaptes to heat/cold reasonably well after a while, I found after a couple of months that temps from around 105-115 fahrenheit was OK while I was in northern Africa. I guess my blood thinned or something. The downside was that it took quite a long time to get my body hardned to the cold when I returned home after a year.

Going the opposite way, my body adapted to the cold very well back when I was patrolling our Russian border way back when. I often didn't wear gloves unless it was below -14 fahrenheit, as I was used to it often being around -30 fahrenheit. Nowadays, I've become "soft" and start freezing a lot quicker...

Okay, I will rattle a few chains here...

How many of you have been in Muslim countries? I will never forget the guys laughing at me and some Ozzies in the mall under the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. We were all wearing shorts. How many Muslims have you seen wearing shorts? Same number as the pictures of fat men in Nazi concentration camps: zero. I would guess you will never see a tracker wearing shorts if he is Muslim.

I think it is a cultural issue as much as Indians (from India) who wear running shoes with business attire when others would wear a pair of Johnston & Murphy slip ons. We think they look stupid; they don't care.

Now on to a question I don't see in this thread: what about tetse flies? Forget the shorts in those areas.

I concur with Fred338; the Cabelas zip off pants are the best of both worlds. I had them on this morning coming back from a salmon fishing trip in Alaska. As the plane landed in Phoenix, I just zipped them off and bingo, I had shorts in the 110 deg temperatures.

quote:

I don't know about anybody else, but I wear shorts all year round, every day except at work.

Further to my earlier comments about shorts on safari, I must admit that, like you, I wear shorts most of the time. In winter I wear longs but only because I hate the cold and I welcome the warmer weather by breaking out the shorts asap.

And I don't see it as some sort of posing, macho thing - just what makes me comfortable.

I've lived all my life where the ice in our arroyos does not break up until it hits 100°F. A hot day starts at anything over 115°F, and "unbearable" begins at 120°F. I have fair skin, blue eyes and red hair (now gray) and I actually get ill when exposed to the sun's direct rays for too long. I'd get blisters as big as silver dollars if I wore shorts and short sleeve shirts during our warmest days --- and I'd be no cooler.

I stay coolest when wearing long sleeves and pants (100% cotton) in a light color and a broad-brimmed hat. I keep my shirt's collar up to protect the back of my neck. When I perspire the cotton gets wet, and when it evaporates it's like wearing my own personal swamp cooler.

I've never enountered such temperatures in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana or Zambia, because I've never been there in the Southern Hemisphere's summer. Shorts and short sleeves would be fine in their winter, I guess, but I prefer to stay covered -- and warm in the mornings and evenings.

Bill Quimby

Bill, you need to have your thyroid level checked. IF you feel a psychiatric consult is needed, I have some friends who might be able to help. Didn't you give me some advice 2 years ago on Namibia lion hunt? Dress warmly,

This spring I started wearing shorts when the overnight low was no longer below freezing. In the mornings I wore shorts and a down jacket. But by noon the down jacket was no longer needed.

I spent most of December in Edmonton is shorts
Its all god until zero and wind blows, as long as the torso is good. 500grains has it down, shorts with light down jacket or windstopper fleece is the ticket!

I used to train year-round at marathon running,
doing 10 to 20 miles per day at 6 to 7 minutes per mile routinely, and doing the Norwegian (or was that the "Flying Finns?") fartlek/speedplay with chains on my shoes for traction if necessary, even when living in Alaska.

I always wore shorts if the temp was above 32 degrees F. If the temp was 20F to 32F, then nylon, cotton, or Goretex pants went on over the shorts. From zero F to 20F some light polypropylene longjohns were added. Below zero an insulated athletic supporter was added to prevent frost bite of the private parts.

What does this have to do with this silly discussion?

Absolutely nothing.

Notice I am wearing long breeches on Botswana Kopje Top. There was frost on the long grass that morning, and 70 F in mid afternoon. Delightful. In the Okavango I was better protected by the long breeches from those nasty tsetse bites.

All the trackers and skinners and community escort guides wore long pants or coveralls. It was winter, July-August.

All 5 PH's I ran into in the field wore shorts, an affectation of what? Macho?

Tarzan wore shorts.

Just another bit of cultural difference or "nostalgic affliction" from the time when soldiers wore shorts in Africa. Military issue related tradition. Manly, eh?

"Bill, you need to have your thyroid level checked. IF you feel a psychiatric consult is needed, I have some friends who might be able to help. Didn't you give me some advice 2 years ago on Namibia lion hunt? Dress warmly, Steve "

Steve: I take Synthroid and have my thyroid levels checked quarterly. No need for a shrink yet ... as far as I know. I don't remember giving advice about Namibia unless it was to warn people about a certain outfitter who had a reputation of releasing caged cats.

Try it. Loose-fitting, long sleeves and pants of light-colored cotton will keep you coolest when it is truly hot (115 to 125F). Exposing your skin to the sun only compounds its effect. If Lawrence of Arabia were still around he'd tell you the same thing.

Bill

no self-respecting Texan would be seen in short pants in this state unless he were vacationing at the coast. real men wear Wranglers. and boots. and belts. and hats.

quote:

Originally posted by kweber:
no self-respecting Texan would be seen in short pants in this state unless he were vacationing at the coast. real men wear Wranglers. and boots. and belts. and hats.

I thought that was the "Brokeback Mountain" uniform?

And I know I'm not the only one now that's confused about what really represents the "Cowboy way".

Option "A": wearing shorts such as most (usually tough) men in Africa and Australia.

Or option "B": Wearing cowboy gear like the "guys" in Brokeback Mountain...

Hmm. Not a difficult choice IMO!

I like wearing shorts, but when in the company of females, long pants are a must. I just hate being the center of attention.

Have to admit that, once a teenager, shorts were a no-no because of "style" and Michigan cold. After living in the southwest (TX, NM, etc.) for awhile and getting into my 40s, I started wearing shorts. Now in Colorado, semi-retired, and in my 50s, as soon as it hits 60 degrees, I'm in my shorts...fair skin and all. (Just wish I could wear them while teaching.)

Ok I confess I'm an old fat man(290lbs and 58). Ilive in south Texas and wear shorts 8-9 months a year. I've been to Africa exactaly once! That was close to thirty years ago. I hunted with three PHs. Two wore shorts one pants. I have hunted south and central Texas for over 20 years. When it's hot I wear shorts. Like one PH said, with shorts on you look where you put your legs. I do and tend to get a few more scratches, but less cactus than pants wearing buddies.The hottest hunting that we do is whitewing doves. We start around 2-3 and it is often around 1055. More and more are begining to wear shorts. capt david.
BTW I also wear chuka/deseart boots on any hunt where I know it won't be freezing or wet.

Down here in the FL panhandle, we wear shorts year round. June-Sep, it's not the 95* temp that gets you, it's the 90% humidity.

RIP--20 miles at a 6:30 pace pretty impressive

quote:

Try it. Loose-fitting, long sleeves and pants of light-colored cotton will keep you coolest when it is truly hot (115 to 125F). Exposing your skin to the sun only compounds its effect. If Lawrence of Arabia were still around he'd tell you the same thing.

I concur.
When I was in TZ and on NZ in the summer time I tried to go in shorts but were baked. I then resorted to loose clothes that covered all. On top of that a big green fly-fishing hat with neck protection and plenty of water to rehydrate. With this outfit I felt cooler than ever since the evaporated moisture were caught between the skin and clothes and not blown away by the wind. I will definately wear long shirts and trousers when ever I am in a hot climate. It is just a temperature regulation, just as it is when it is cold outside. I use the same amount of clothing on warm winter days (-15°C) as on those chilly days (-35° to -45°C) but only adjust the physical level of activities.

That I have red beard does not make sunbathing easier either... guess who was called "Usama" in TZ when dressed in local male kanga and entering a christian village... Very "amusing" to know that 500 villagers instantly regarded any mzungu with beard as the known terrorist... Needless to say, I did not stay long shopping there...

/Daniel

quote:

Originally posted by VFR1:
Down here in the FL panhandle, we wear shorts year round. June-Sep, it's not the 95* temp that gets you, it's the 90% humidity.

RIP--20 miles at a 6:30 pace pretty impressive

VFR1,
I lived in Tallahassee for 3 years and 8 months. That 90% humidity was hell! Hell, I was there.

BTW, my best 10 miler was 5:24 pace. My first 26-mile-385-yarder was 6:36 pace. But I was just an also-ran then and ever after. However, I did it all in shorts.

It is clearly time to post this again, in an effort to forestall those who insist on baring their legs in the bush - despite all reason, logic and bloody, fevered experience to the contrary - from prevailing upon the as yet untried, unstung and still sanguinated among us to do the same. Stewart Edward White's views on the wearing of shorts on safari (this from "The Land of Footprints," ca. around about 100 years ago):

"In passing I would call your attention to "shorts." Shorts are loose, bobbed off khaki breeches, like knee drawers. With them are worn puttees or leather leggings, and low boots. The knees are bare. They are much affected by young Englishmen.

I observed them carefully at every opportunity, and my private opinion is that man has rarely managed to invent as idiotically unfitted a contraption for the purpose in hand. In a country teeming with poisonous insects, ticks, fever-bearing mosquitoes; in a country where vegetation is unusually well armed with thorns, spines and hooks, mostly poisonous; in a country where, oftener than in any other a man is called upon to get down on his hands and knees and crawl a few assorted abrading miles, it would seem an obvious necessity to protect one's bare skin as much as possible.

The only reason given for these astonishing garments is that they are cooler and freer to walk in. That I can believe.

But they allow ticks and other insects to crawl up, mosquitoes to bite, thorns to tear, and assorted troubles to enter. And I can vouch by experience that ordinary breeches are not uncomfortably hot or tight. Indeed, one does not get especially hot in the legs anyway. I noticed that none of the old-time hunters like Cuninghame or Judd wore shorts.

The real reason [that Englishmen affect the wearing of shorts] is not that they are cool, but that they are picturesque. Common belief to the contrary, your average practical, matter-of-fact Englishman loves to dress up . . . . I am not criticising the spirit in them; but merely trying to keep mistaken shorts off you."

Amen.
Jog in shorts. Safari in breeches. Ski naked.

I`m sure I own a pair of jeans.. It`d take me a while to find them. I`ve worn long pants maybe 3 times in the last 18 to 20 months, even when its hovering around 0C I still wear shorts, it`s never that cold once the sun is up and shining here. Everyone else in whatever country they reside in can do what they like, IMO. When in the sticks, I wear gaiters.

For me its wear sweats or fleece in the morning while driving. Strip down to shorts and short sleeve shirt to hunt. Even if its cold, the weather and I warm up quickly.

I also wear soft soled Teva sandals - no worries about seeds or pebbles in my socks or shoes.

quote:

no self-respecting Texan would be seen in short pants in this state unless he were vacationing at the coast. real men wear Wranglers. and boots. and belts. and hats.

Huh????

mrlexma,
Might I inquire where a gentleman can find a pair of puttees?? I don't think I'll be trading my shorts in any time soon and I so want to look fashionable in the bush...you know, starched, regimental, and the stiff upper lip thing!
Mad dogs and Englishmen...and a few other quirky individuals!

I'm with the Boston lawyer on this one. Shorts wearers must have had less experience with poson ivy, poison sumac, stinging nettles, tstse flies ad infinitum than me.

quote:

I`m sure I own a pair of jeans.. It`d take me a while to find them. I`ve worn long pants maybe 3 times in the last 18 to 20 months, even when its hovering around 0C I still wear shorts, it`s never that cold once the sun is up and shining here. Everyone else in whatever country they reside in can do what they like, IMO. When in the sticks, I wear gaiters.

Shorts rule...unless you are scared....!

quote:

... I'd also add that most of the trackers are "issued" a pair of cover-alls as their "uniform", and they don't have the luxery of having several pairs. Thus if they cut off the legs on their cover-alls, they wouldn't have a long legged version for when it's colder. Or so I've been told by several local trackers.

In light of that comment, may I suggest that in the future all AR members take a few extra pair of shorts in smaller sizes to leave with the trackers, instead of say, inexpensive knives?

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
mrlexma,
Might I inquire where a gentleman can find a pair of puttees?? I don't think I'll be trading my shorts in any time soon and I so want to look fashionable in the bush...you know, starched, regimental, and the stiff upper lip thing!
Mad dogs and Englishmen...and a few other quirky individuals!

I say, old chap, carry on old bean, just carry on. One must press onward, old man, and continue shopping until one finds such puttees as one may find.

Cheerio!

What a bunch of Americans.

These countries are all ex British colonies. The white boys all grew up wearing shorts at school, (Later the military made it ok for men to where them too.) shorts have a place in the colonial wardrobe to this day because of this. South Africa, Zim, Kenya, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand...all will wear shorts,

Its also the style of hunting I reckon as well, hunting in these countries is much more physical more walking, more climbing around etc, so shorts are more easy and comfortable as well as cooler, whereas in America the hunting seasons its cold and your sitting in a treestand freezing to death.
Plus shorts seem to be seen over there as uncowboylike or something.

Anyway, these countries people where shorts hunting because its practical, and because they got used to them because they had to wear them as part of their school uniform.

It's Americans who wear long pants in Africa.

If you can't pull off shorts then your probably less manly than you think.

I live in the Mojave Desert, I wear combat boots, jeans or BDU type pants and a long sleeve shirt every day I am at work.

On the weekends I wear shorts, a long sleeve t-shirt and combat boots.

In Africa I wear the same thing I wear here on the weekends. But to be honest I haven't been since 2008, when I lived in Djibouti and haven't been on Safari since 2005.

Aside from the obvious reasons like heat and not getting caught on thorns - it's easier tearing skin than fabric it seems.

The long trousers getting caught up on the knees when stalking is an irritation. Stalking is certainly easier without the hindrance of long trousers.

You will see that locals generally wear extremely loose fitting long trousers and maybe if we did the same we would also find them more comfortable.

I've hunted with plenty of trackers who wear short trousers or long trousers cut off, but I will agree that they are in the minority.

I find the ideal the rugby shorts type of design that we like here, elastic waistband, short leg (makes taking a leak for most of us easier than longer trousers ) and they are light and there is no need for a belt to get in he way of an ammo belt. Works great. If it is cool I start out with a jacket but generally if I need to start walking I lose it immediately unless it's really windy or unpleasant.

I too think the idea of pulling up the gaiters over the knees is great. I've lost skin on stalks and burnt blisters in the Kalahari on the hot sand.

Choose whatever you like. Take both on your first trip and soon you will discover what you prefer. Just make sure you have shorts in the backpack with the tracker to change before your photographs.

By the way, I've had bad luck with zip offs wit the zip getting caught right on the knee when moving and I think they need to make the shorts part of the zip offs shorter. Just check that before you hunt in a pair as that is really unpleasant.

I didn't even take shorts to Africa the two times I went. For whatever reason, I wouldn't dream of hunting in them, though I wear them occasionally when recreating - one can't swim easily in jeans. I sometimes wear them on the weekends when loafing or just cruising around town. But when it's time to work outdoors and hunt, I switch to long pants and don't look back. I hunt where brush is thick and pokey, snakes can pop up basically any time, and sand and loose seeds are just looking for a way into your shoes to ruin your day. It makes good sense to me just to avoid all those troubles by wearing long pants. I like good heavy jeans in the cooler months and some of the lighter work wear in the warmer months. Even during the monsoons when we actually get humidity I prefer to be in long pants out in the desert. I just don't see the appeal of shorts, but do see downsides. They're just not for me and the way I hunt.

Shorts are quieter than long pants. PHC was totally correct about that. Especially when it comes to people without a lot of experience in moving through African bush. The trackers are generally experts at moving through brush as they have lived their entire life there, and, to work as a professional they have to be the best of the locals.

Even then, read enough books about Africa and you will read stories of how the trackers shed all their clothes when trying to escape from an enraged elephant or other dangerous game. Losing their clothes helps them to move quicker and quieter through the thorns and thick brush of Africa.

I have used shorts during my two Safaris, except when hunting at night. I will probably use longs on my next trip, as my skin tears much easier now that I am an old man.

As for South Texas, much of Africa has "wait-a-bit" thorns, that will grab and hold you fast, especially if you are wearing "quick dry" polyester-type shirts/pants. It is similiar to trying to force yourself through a blackberry
patch.

If you decide to hunt in shorts, make sure your legs are conditioned and you have a tan and/or bring plenty of sunblock.

Getting a sunburn on your pasty white legs, on top of mosquito bites, tsetse fly bites, and thorn scratches is not a way to enjoy your hunt.

I always used a combination sunblock/mosquito repellent. That seemed to work well even with tiny spider ticks and mites.

BH63

I think it is an affectation of the PHs. It's part of the macho costume and I am fine with that. I followed suit on my first couple of trips and wore shorts (when in Rome) and didn't mind the scratches; they healed almost overnight. But I suffered when i had to crawl a hundred yards. (Didn't have gaiters as per Shakari's suggestion.) Then I switched to light-weight cotton long pants and long sleeved shirts and was cool enough and reduced my exposure to sun and bugs and gravel. Snakes--I don't think longs would help much. I noticed that Johan Calitz always wears longs.

Another thing: By and large, the heavy lifting, digging, chopping, climbing and tire changing is done by the trackers in coveralls anyway. Those are the circumstances where a person might get chewed up a bit. They seem to be better adapted to the heat anyhow.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
I like shorts because of the heat. And I think thats the primary reason. For example, on a couple of cool mornings - call it 70* - I was comfortable in shorts but the trackers were bundled up like I would have been if it was 50*.

When it got warm - 90*+ - the trackers were comfortable in coveralls and I was sweating in shorts. Even at 100*+ the trackers were comfortable in shorts while I just wasn't going to be comfortable until it cooled off in the evening.

My thoughts,

JPK

JPK is correct, the trackers all are over dressed compared to most client hunters in Africa. There is a reason for this. Most if not all local blacks have malaria and that condition makes people feel cold even when not down with a recurring bought with the disease that sends them to bed for a few days.

I too like shorts but if in particularly thorny bush I like long pants. The main reason, for me, is I don't particularly like the thought of getting vaccinated by the same thorn that just stuck a tracker in front of me. AIDS is rampant in Africa, and I simply do not like to take that chance! Buffalo and elephant are enough danger for me but my double rifle will take care of that.

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