The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Clothing for Namibia - what do you think of 5.11 Tactical?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I was wondering what you would think of 5.11 Tactical Series clothing (pants, shirts, etc.) for Namibia in May. I can get either 8.5oz 100% cotton canvas or 7.4 oz. nylon canvas. Appears to be very rugged and available at a good price. I also have Multi-Cam camoflauge pants and jacket, but didn't know if that was "allowed" in Namibia. Any other suggestions for clothing? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | ||
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John I like the 511 clothing quite a bit and wear it all the time. I have worn the cotton pants and shirts in Zimbabwe, California and Texas durring the warm/hot times of the year. I wear the Nylon pants and shirts when it is cool and might rain, as they dry out fast. I also wear the shirts quite a bit with jeans as I really like the big chest pockets. They will hold airline tickets, pasport etc as well as a light weight handgun. They are vairly rugged as well. Heck, I am wearing 511 shorts right now.  DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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We use the 5.11 as uniforms and wear it daily. My experience with it is that the pant legs are baggy and the material noisy. Maybe that is because we have ours dry cleaned and pressed, but I wouldn't wear it hunting. "There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark | |||
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I have only been to Namibia one time so I am not an expert. Most folks on this forum favor cotton over synthetics because camp staff may not take care with your laundry. Also, the bush is rough on your clothes so I did not put a lot of money in my clothes and then left almost everything for the camp staff. Just my two cents worth!! John | |||
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I loved them there and in Zim. The back pockets of the pants easily hold a water bottle. The built-in knee pads are also nice. ............................................. | |||
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I pay so little attention to what I wear that I look like hell more often than not. I didn't even know that people go to great pains to select their hunting clothing until I started viewing posts on AR. Here's what I look like normally:  I'm the guy on the right with the big smile, Jaco is the one with the "glad this is all over" face. As you can see, some sort of BDU type pants I bought on sale, the same shirt I've been wearing for 15 years (it is cotton) and pair of cheapo Steiners where normally I put my cigarettes. I use the thigh pockets for my cigarettes and some sort of folding knife. I've got a desert boonie hat for really sunny days, you can see it in the bed of the bakkie. My clothes have been washed so many times they make no noise whatsoever and I doubt if a steam iron could put a crease in them. My wheezing is undoubtedly louder than my clothes. I am very attentive to colors however, campfire dirt being my favorite shade. _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | |||
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Anybody have the source for the 5.11;s you are talking about? Thanks Larry Sellers | |||
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Best place I've found them, which also includes TONS of extra free goodies with your purchase: http://www.lapolicegear.com/5tase.html?gclid=COSzm56H8o8CFQUsPAodUCzdLw The nice thing is that they also do free shipping BACK to them if the item doesn't fit. Can't beat that. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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You can also get them from brigade quartermaster | |||
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I am a big fan of the 5.11 trousers and have worn them on all sorts of hunting trips, including African safaris. Get cotton instead of nylon. I don't like their shirts for safari, however, since they are too heavy and hot to wear. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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What sort of shirts do you like? The other manufacturer that I'm looking at is Woolrich Elite - a little pricier, but appears to be lighter weight. http://www.backyardoutfitter.com/ProductPages/Shirt4902.htm _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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Filson feather cloth shirts are the best for hot weather, IMO. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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You will be getting some hot weather in May in Nam, so bear that in mind. Heavy cotton is the best as it will protect you from the thorns, I wear a wicking hi-tech t-shirt under the cotton, works for me....... I like Filson and Carhartt. Just wash it plenty before you take it. Dark green, grey or brown works well in thornbush country. Camo is legal in Nam'(don't wear it in town) as long as it isn't a miltary pattern, you'll notice Wink's PH is wearing a SA pattern called Sniper Africa. Take a insulated wind proof parka for early and late rides in the truck........the wind chill can be a bastard. Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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I wore LL Bean Adirondack jeans in green and khaki. They are comfortable and only cost around $20. | |||
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John, The Africans can and will screw up almost any clothing you take. I'd suggest cabela's inexpensive cotton green or dark khaki shirts and pants. You only need about three sets. If you are going to tour, I'd take and wear about six sets of clothes. Be sure to layer and take a light sweater (my favorite is Dutch Army surplus wool and cotton blend), a light jacket (cotton not microfiber), and a booney hat to protect your face and neck. Shop the Goodwill store in your area. I have had bleach on my dark brown pants which made pretty good camo. I have had to leave in a hurry and not get a day's worth of clothing back. Don't spend a great deal on clothing. Boots and socks, that is another story. Get good comfortable quiet boots and good wool socks. Kudude | |||
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I'm hoping that the German hosts and their staff will know how to properly launder clothing  Actually I'm looking seriously at the Woolrich clothing line.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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I wear the 5.11 pants for work and I don't like them much due to the too deep rear pockets (for rifle mags) and my wallet riding down on my thigh. The extra material in the knees (for kneepads) tends to weigh them down a bit and I find myself having to "hitch my skirt up" when I need to climb or step high. Go with the cotton as a friend got the nylons and his house staff burned them even after he told them NOT to iron them. I think they are over rated and over priced. I'm even less impressed with the Woolpoor (ever looked for ANYTHING 100% wool in their catalog??) as it seems to be just a knockoff that's more expensive. JMHO | |||
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Surplus camo BDU's - $20.00 at Army/Navy Four dark cotton shirts - $20.00 for all 4, brand new, at the local thrift shop. Underwear? It's hot why are you wearing underwear? Socks, this is actually important. Cabela's Cool-max $9.00 a pair.I doubt even the most through staff will iron your socks. Four pairs should do it. Shoes. Bought my "kudu boots" in Grootfontien last trip. $35.00. Perfectly designed by people who actually wear them all the time in that environment. Canvas shoes are great also, good ones are made in RSA and cost about $25 in Namibia. The money I didn't spend on clothes was spent on trophy fees. | |||
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I've always taken Filson lightweight, all cotton pants. They worked well and I can't seem to wear them out! Cabela's has some nice safari style shirts and pants too. I've always used 100% cotton and never regretted it. Oh, and in Tanzania they did indeed iron my socks. Leave the camo at home, you don't need it. Just get medium to dark brown or sage green colors and you're good to go. A medium weight down jacket was something I also found quite valuable in the early morning, late evening hours. | |||
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I wear Wranglers, tan shirt like a Dickies or a chambray work shirt..whatever, a pair of Roper lace up boots by Roper or tennis shoes. and always a pair of gators. But then I got a lotta friends in low places!  I see no difference in Africa and South or West Texas... Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Let see...I pack the two oldest pair of olive colored dockers and pair of green work pants...you know like mechanics where except in green. I did buy a couple of those cabelas safari shirts cause the pockets are nice...I also died a couple of old dresshirts tan and replaced the buttons on them but that's it. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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The 511 stuff is not loud if "water" washed, ie not dry cleaned. I like Filson stuff, however I wore some of the Filson featherweight shorts on one of my Safaris. I discovered that they were so thin that they would quickly be totally wet, and cling to the skin. As the day cooled off I became cold. I did not have this problem when I wore the thicker 511 cotton shirts. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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I've worn the 5.11 stuff and Walkabout as well and like both of them. Walkabout is a little lighter. Convertible pants is the way to go with either. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
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Lightweight inexpensive cotton in light brown, dark grey, or faded OD. The rocks and thorns can be pretty hard on clothes and cotton is much better in terms of the heat as well as laundry. Just look at what the PH's and trackers wear in all the photos you see. Not a lot of camo. | |||
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I wore jeans (brown Wranglers) and the cotton/poly trail shirts from Cabela's in both Namibia and RSA with pretty good success. Throw in a good jacket for cool mornings and evening beers around the fire and you're good to go. _____________________ A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend. | |||
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Filson has great products, as does Long Grass. I refuse to wear or use anything with the word "tactical" in it, i am so sick of "tactical" penlights, "tactical" socks, 'tactical' everything, all marketing hype! | |||
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Crap - what am I going to do with my "tactical" condoms now? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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Are they camo? if so, I'll take em! QUOTE]Originally posted by JohnCrighton:
Crap - what am I going to do with my "tactical" condoms now?[/QUOTE] | |||
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Well, I got some Woolrich Elite lightweight pants today and the normal weight. Pretty big difference. I liked the way they fit me very well and they seem well-made. The Elite shirts (long sleeve) are quite heavyweight and appear to be tough and will help with the cold in the AM and rides. Lots of UV protection as well. Still working on deciding about under-wear (compression, Underarmor, knockoffs, etc.) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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Filson I bought a couple sets of Filson Safari Cloth pants and shirts in green and khaki a few years ago before the company was sold. I've heard their quality has suffered since. Can't say because I haven't bought any since but the articles I have will probably last forever. Good stuff. I also have a pair of their Double Tin trousers that I use while busting brush bird hunting. Those things could become heirlooms. www.filson.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________ | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Clothing for Namibia - what do you think of 5.11 Tactical?
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