Forums.NitroExpress.com

UPDATED for 2014

Unless you want to waste money do not buy your shooting clothes at Walmart. Bass Pro is not much better. Little more than Wal Mart in camouflage.

TAG is OK except the buttons tend to break easily.

Cabela's is Ok.

Woolrich and Red Head are OK.

On the Cabela's on-line store you can get a wide selection of khaki and green and what I call zambezi brown in their Safari line, reasonably well-made with free shipping for orders over $75.00. Four outfits are sufficient for a 14 day trip. Any more and your outfitter will complain that you have too much baggage. They have tall sizes with extra-long sleeves.

The safari line shirts come with plenty of pockets. All your crap that you need to carry with you daily will fit in its own pocket so you can always find it quickly and not leave camp without a protein bar.

The Cabela's safari jacket comes with four wide deep pockets with buttons on the flaps over them and a map of Africa silkscreened inside just in case you get lost.

The best place by far to carry your binoculars is on a lanyard under your left arm with the nylon strap passed round your neck. The strap will chafe your neck which is most important when you return home and want to show the scars of manliness. Carried in a reverse man-bra style sling in the center of your chest they will just bounce around until they drive you crazy. If you end up running they will probably smack you in the mouth.

The right hand lower pocket of the shooting jacket is the best place for handy cartridges. Unless you are left handed of course. Or if you a prefer a cartridge belt. Or a wallet. Or one of those things that goes on the stock. Maybe just put them wherever you think is best.

The leather belts and holders from Murray are very nice and not overpriced.

Since there are no more gun boys to constantly take the cartridges out of a leather belt and dry them you'll just have to do it yourself. Otherwise the dampness of your body will produce verdigris on the cases and they will stick and look really gross. But this takes a while so you probably don't really need to worry about it that much.

If you don't want leather and opt for nylon remember that it hardly ever rains in southern Africa from May to September anyway. Nylon is bad. It makes too much noise. Velcro is bad. It makes too much noise. Nylon with Velcro makes way too much noise. You might think that Nylon belt with velcro closures on the pockets looks cool at the store but your PH will glare at you every time you rip something open.

Cartridges are expensive. Keep four or five handy and the rest in the box where they won't rattle around.

Save your Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski glasses from getting wet, scratched, damaged, lost, or anything else and leave them at home. Buy some cheap Bushnells and leave them behind in Africa when you return.

Cigars, matches, notebook, and other supposedly useful stuff should be left in camp. A compass is fun but not entirely useful without a map. If you normally live in the northern hemisphere be prepared to be a little confused when referencing the position of the sun.

It should be considered in poor taste for a hunter to actually carry a measuring tape.

Carry a pocket camera and a GPS. If you are obliged to wear glasses, then bring extras but leave them in camp. Lock your money and other personal items in your travel gun case.

Your PH should have a first aid kit. Carrying a military style bandage (field dressing) is never a bad idea.

A camelback is not a bad idea. It will provide you a couple of extra pockets for things and the party won't have to stop every time you want a drink.

Wear a strong leather belt, with a reasonable hunting knife on it. Don't use it to cut biltong lest you look like a rookie. Bite and twist. Be in shape for your hunt.

A whistle in a pocket is probably not a bad idea. So is a headlamp with a strobe. Avoid using the whistle in non-emergencies.

Now, one thing more. Have your stuff organized. There is nothing more annoying than to have to wait on a man in the early raw morning, while he rushes round in the murk looking for his crap. It is a bad way to begin the day.