15 April 2006, 23:25
kayakerWhy Cotton Clothing in Africa?
quote:
Teesav Khaki's and regulation boxer rugby shorts for me, thats the way we dressed for school and up to grade 7 and we never even wore shoes to school!
Amen to that, I don't know any local who wears longs except on winter mornings and nights on the highveld, Karroo, kalahari, E.Cape etc.
About cotton....In most of Southern Africa, hunting is in the dry season in winter , so moisture management is of little concern.
I do a lot of paddling, climbing etc and often there the cold air or use goretex/Triton type breathable material makes moisture wicking and expulsion crucial unless you want to freeze your balls off with cold sweat under impermeable layers when you stop activity. In certain sports and environments, yes, cotton is a literally a killer but hunting in Southern Africa in winter (unless you decide to get soaking wet at night and not change!) is the way to go for day time wear, its comfortable and durable.
In fact many folks I see with mositure managing clothes use them incorrectly too...
PS Teesav is THE brand for kakhi shirts..I have some that are pushing 10 years of service with a motley collection of buttons and they feel like old friends! I see no need to for synthetics in the SA bush unless you fancy crotch rot!
Nothing like bare feet either! lekker!
16 April 2006, 02:26
Pete Equote:
Originally posted by billrquimby:
As someone who grew up in Yuma, Arizona, in 110-130F temps before air conditioning I speak with authority when I say that everyone is missing the real reason you should wear cotton in hot weather.
Cotton holds the sweat your body gives off and cools your skin. Damp is good when it's so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk (something people sometimes actually did when I was a boy in Yuma).
Forget the dumb practice of wearing short pants and shirts with short sleeves the colonialists launched in Africa. You will feel cooler if you keep your skin covered with cotton and encourage the process of sweating. Man-made fabrics just won't keep you as cool.
Bill,
I think you'll find that synthetics keep you coller and dryer as they allow the sweat to evaporate quicker..The faster the sweat evaporates, the more effective the cooling...Cotton feels damp and clammy simply because its not wicking the sweat away as effectively as synthetics..Thats why the new generation garments like Under Armour use synthetics and are so effective..
The trouble I find with sythetics is getting the other properties I want ie both hard wearing and quiet,
Regards,
Pete
Pete E, Backpacker magazine looked into this and found that to keep cool on a long desert hike, cotton is the route to go.
16 April 2006, 05:30
billrquimbyUse what works best for you. I'll continue to cover up with lightweight, light-colored cotton when the temps hit 50°C.
BQ
16 April 2006, 05:38
bulldog563quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
Teesave make a great product except for the built in obscelescence of stitching on the pockets and buttons.....
I'm (along with help from my old buddy & clever bugger Peter Lang) currently trying to work out a design for a short sleeved safari jacket come shirt that I can have made over here. Kind of a' la Stewart Granger which should be even better as it'll all be double stitched and have things like bino pocket, padded shoulder fronts and discreet bullet loops etc. If I can get it right they should last really well and be even better than the teesave stuff.....and hopefully, at a reasonable price!
I have been looking for something like that. Who currently makes a good Safari Jacket with padded shoulder, cartridge loops, bino pocket and very well made?
Shakari,
When do you think these will be available?
16 April 2006, 06:22
T.Carr Beretta JacketCabela jacket 1Cabela Jacket 2Orvis jacketTAG jacketI have a genuine Willis & Geiger safari jacket in XL if you are interested, it's in like new condtion.
Regards,
Terry
16 April 2006, 06:52
bulldog563Thanks for the links and the offer Terry, unfortunately XL isn't my size. I like the look of the Berreta Jacket.
16 April 2006, 09:16
BaxterBpoplin, man the best of all worlds. very light and does wick moisture, wears well and feels good to boot. Only bad side is they do show wrinkles, like linen but hey if someone else is ironing your clothes, whats not to like?/ Columbia made them for a while and i bought half a dozen for 5$ at the discount store inPOrtland... good stuff for warm weather... _Baxter
quote:
Originally posted by bulldog563:
Thanks for the links and the offer Terry, unfortunately XL isn't my size. I like the look of the Berreta Jacket.
One in Medium here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8406...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1quote:
Originally posted by billrquimby:
As someone who grew up in Yuma, Arizona, in 110-130F temps before air conditioning I speak with authority when I say that everyone is missing the real reason you should wear cotton in hot weather.
Cotton holds the sweat your body gives off and cools your skin. Damp is good when it's so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk (something people sometimes actually did when I was a boy in Yuma).
Forget the dumb practice of wearing short pants and shirts with short sleeves the colonialists launched in Africa. You will feel cooler if you keep your skin covered with cotton and encourage the process of sweating. Man-made fabrics just won't keep you as cool.
Bill Quimby
Bill,
It was 117 here today. I wear cotton shirts, too.
Keith