This is getting silly, I know, but what's wrong with plain old jeans for an African hunt? I've been told canvas is just too noisy. Denim ain't.

Absolutely nothing - except perhaps sartorial elegance - I had a lot of Texan and Oregonian (if that's the right expression)clients last year in the Selous and most of them wore denims.......

you can't do that go back and read some of the old threads you will plainly see that you have to spend several hundred dollars on special clothing plain old jeans as worn by ordinary humans just will not work

Steve: Thanks. This Oregonian even wears Levis to work.
Butchloc: Oops! You're right. Back to the Orvis catalog for some $90 Zambezi cloth trousers and look even more like a bloody tourist ...
Bill

Ah, so I was right about calling you guys Oregonians?

Think yourself lucky, a pair of Levis here cost us about US$90 - which is why we all wear cotton shorts or trousers (pants ro you yanks!) from Trappers Trading that cost about US$10 a pair.....

I've only been on two safaris, but I found nothing wrong with denim. I've read that traditional "blue jeans" are easier for critters to see because of the UV light they emit, so I just got myself some brown Wranglers and called it good. I liked hunting in them so well while in Africa that I now wear them for most hunting here in the states too. They're probably not the greatest for really hot season hunts or those in humid climes, but for most of my hunting they've turned out to be great. But then I'm a jeans kinda guy...

Steve: Yup. We're Oregonians. At $90 a pair for Levis, sounds like they would make good gifts/tips.
Desert Ram, I'm a jeans guy, too. Next thing I know, maybe I'll find out I really don't need the cordura boxers in Mossy Oak from Cabela's either ...

Denim is OK, just not blue, I wear blue jeans everyday too but please not on safari. If you shop at WalMart look in the mens section and check out the Dickies work pants. They are Carhart colored denim and cost about $16. I cut the Dickies label, and the hammer loop on the left side off, and they work great. They are not as heavy of fabric as Carhart but wear well, a little more tan than the Carhart brown. I guess I have some pretty classic and nostalgic ideas of safari and I am sure there are a lot of folks that do too. My safari photos with me in a pair of jeans in them is not it for me. On my first safari, I had a great PH but one day he wore a pair of blue jogging shorts, gym shorts. I never said anything but all I could think of was how crappy they would look in photos. Next time, I'll get his size and take some shorts to him. Of course you can wear what you want but.....

Bill,
I do the wear em' and leave them routine. Most of the stuff I take on trips are better left for someone else and leaves lots of room for the trikets and junk we all find to take home!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
This is getting silly, I know, but what's wrong with plain old jeans for an African hunt? I've been told canvas is just too noisy. Denim ain't.

Usually jeans are not comfortable for extensive hiking, but of you are not going to do a lot of walking they should work out fine for you. I cannot even get away with jeans for deer hunting.

Bill, I agree with 500grains as to the discomfort of jeans for long hikes.

Also, I find jeans to be way too HOT in warm weather!

Just a couple of thoughts to bear in mind.

Guess its all in what you're used to. Personally, I wear jeans everywhere I can and always hunting even if under a cover-all. Too hot, uncomfortable, etc... not if you're used to working in them. If someone isn't comfortable in whatever then by all means wear what IS comfortable for you. For me though, that would be jeans! I have a pair that got snagged pretty good on some thorns last trip. Everytime I wear em the memories come back as fondly as when viewing the photos or trophies.

Yep. I wear jeans for at least 16 hours a day on average, so I guess I'm used to them. I don't mind walking in them, over hill and dale. In fact, all of my hunting pants are denim, though most are camo. Like I said, if I was to hunt in 100+ temps in a humid climate, I'd think of wearing something else. But on my two winter safaris, and all my hunting here at home, jeans have served me very well.

I wear jeans a lot at home, but not usually for hunting. They just don't have the right fit for hard hiking (big steps, stepping over things, etc).

I would never have been comfortable in Tanzania wearing jeans either. Way, way too hot for this guy. Light breathable cotton or synthetic with lots of room for airflow was the only thing for me.

Cheers,
Canuck

I wore Carhardt Heavy Duty Shorts the whole time. Thorns and scratches are the tattoos of the African Big Game Hunter.

I wore sweats in the truck in the morning over my shorts, but I wore shorts the whole time once the sun was up. Growing up in So Cal I guess we learn from an early age, long pants just chafe, and prevent ventilation to your most vital ogans.

quote:

Growing up in So Cal I guess we learn from an early age, long pants just chafe, and prevent ventilation to your most vital ogans.

Learning is one thing....living in a climate where your legs never see the sun is another. Skinny, lily white legs are not something you feel much like advertising when you finally do make it somewhere warm.

Light or medium weight cotton trousers are more comfortable and cooler.

NitroX, what you said.

I used to hunt in shorts almost irrespective of the weather, but as my beard develops a higher concentration of experienced and tattered bristles I find the I wear longs when it is cool.
Also in the scrub thorn I find my legs are not as tolerant to having layers of skin torn off as they used to be.

As for blue jeans chafing -- these guys
http://www.gussetclothing.com/

Make very comfortable jeans, in the USA. The only brand I wear anymore -- that, and paying more than $2 for a pair of malaysian made levis stikes me as insane.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
This is getting silly, I know, but what's wrong with plain old jeans for an African hunt? I've been told canvas is just too noisy. Denim ain't.

Actually you'll be surprised just how noisy denim can be. I certainly was. I only wore mine one day. There wasn't a chafing or comfort problem. All the noise came from the cuffs of the pants (I was wearing straight legged relaxed fit) I also agree that blue gets you spotted more easily. Sure seemed that way anyhow. That was the only day I wore them after that experience. I was thankful for the daily laundry. I saved the jeans for the plane ride.

For Namibia I bought Wranglers in brown and grey. Worked fine for me.

I don't like jeans for hunting. They are too stiff and binding for hiking, too hot in hot weather, never dry out if they get wet, no insulation when it's cold.

I like them for casual wear, or work, but when outdoor performance matters, I prefer something else. Light cotton cargo pants work well in the summer, and insulated cargo pants do the job in the winter.

I have hunted with jeans for many years and it still works well. I have also done long hikes in jeans, but I am used to them. It is also true what some members said, it is noisy, takes long to dry and they can become very hot.

I have changed to wearing Snipers camo the last couple of years. I do not care much for the camo, the material is very tough and it have a brushed finish that makes them a lt lot less noisy. The only problem is that it takes a couple of washes to het them soft and the long pants get very hot in the warmer months. I prefer to hunt with short pants and shirts.

But there are always a pair or two of jeans for back up.

I wear jeans virtually every day because I'm able to at work. For hunting I have long preferred the protection of Filson Doubletin pants for cool weather brush hunting and Filson Safari Cloth shirts and pants for hot weather environments. The Safari Cloth line is great as they offer shirts in the same fabric and in a dark green color which I prefer to camo. I personally don't care for shorts when I might encounter brush. Cabela's has a few alternatives that are similar to Filson's offerings at less cost.

Magnum Hunter1,

Greg Williamson appreciates your Dickies purchases very much. Greg is an outstanding big game hunter and has taken many new top 5 record book African and North American species.

I could never wear denim of any color to hunt in since they are just too restrictive in the thigh movement while stepping over things like large rocks or logs. They also tend to make one sweat when its warmer making it even worse. I like the light weight camo garments of a cotton/poly blend for lightness and breathability. When its colder I wear a pair of lightweight silk long underwear and it keeps me comfortable all day.

Woody

I've worn (blue) Levi or Wrangler jeans for work every day for the past 38 years. For the past 40 years, I've worn them successfully (except Mtn lion) hunting every species that Colorado and Montana have to offer . This includes backpack and horseback hunting. I've worn jeans on successful spot and stalk bow hunts for elk. This past season on opening day of Pronghorn Antelope season, I walked 19 miles (GPS measured) in my Levis. I wore jeans on a backpack Dall sheep and caribou hunt in the Mackenzie mountains in Canada several years ago. On my two hunts in Africa, I wore cut-off jean shorts (both blue and tan) or regular Levis if it was too cold for shorts. I've never been chaffed or felt restricted or in any way impaired while hunting in jeans. I also play golf at least 100 days a year, and wear jeans if its too cold for shorts. Shame on me!

I wore jeans for the majority of an elephant safari in Zim during May of 05. Never again. Too damn hot. Sweated my ass off (literally). Too noisy in thick brush. Next time I go, it will be in good old olive rip-stops. JMHO.

the sniper stuff is comfortable and not to hot.

www.kznhunters.co.za is an agent for them. You can see the pictures of them.

Those US military summer cotton ripstop woodland camoflauge pants are only 5 bucks in just about every military surplus store in the world, and they are perfect. If it gets too hot, just cut them off right in the field with your knife and carry on. At 5 bucks a pop, I don´t even bother to wash them, I just wear them for a week or two and throw them away. They seem to turn eareth colors by themselves after a few days anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by murkan mike:
Those US military summer cotton ripstop woodland camoflauge pants are only 5 bucks in just about every military surplus store in the world, and they are perfect.

Generally one does NOT advise taking military camo gear to most African safari destinations.

I wear jeans. Practical and quiet.

Wore jeans on my safari with no problem!!! Plan to wear them again on next one. Africa heat does not hold a candle to central Texas heat. Work everyday here in them and have for the past 30 years.