Any Tips on safari outfit?

Burton · Aug 11, 2013

I like the idea of the W&G (or something similar) "resurrection" but really wonder if people would really be willing to pay the price needed to produce the quality. W&G had slick advertising and a lot of great stuff and is gone. Fortunately I have tons of the stuff that will last me through my lifetime.

Oldsarge · Aug 11, 2013

W&G didn't go out of business, it was shut down by echelons above reality even though it was running well over $400M/ year in sales. Yes, people will pay the price for the quality especially if it is, as you say, slickly packaged. I have no doubt that such a company would be wildly successful. There are enough people out there who understand that you can pay for something good up front or you can pay for crap over and over and over . . .

Mojave Jack · Aug 12, 2013

Oldsarge said:
That's why I say if some enterprising financial type gathered together enough sub-contractors making W&G quality merchandise for the same purpose and gave it a new name that had something like the same ring, it would make a fortune. Use a retro illustration of, say, a couple of guys in a canoe in the Canadian wilderness with a Grumman Goose flying over head and maybe a streamlined steam engine puffing along on tracks next to the river and call it Venture & Dare'. If the quality was up to standard someone would rake in the bucks.

It seems like that's what JL Powell was trying to do, but seems like they've also turned into a high-priced Banana Republic. Some pretty decent stuff, like the Kenya Pullover they're currently offering, but whose going to wear a $168 linen shirt in the bush? Don't get me wrong, I want that shirt! But I wouldn't pay that and if I did, it would never see the field. I can't speak to their quality, since I've never purchased anything from them, but if it's gone the way of Banana Republic then it's all shirts with sleeves cut so poorly if you lift your arms the shirt pulls out of your trousers, plus 7 or 8 extra inches of material around the midsection. Of course, we could follow modern fashion and wear our dress shirts untucked, like every other schlub on the street...

OK, rant over. Back to our original programming already in progress...

wellofsouls · Aug 12, 2013

Oldsarge said:
W&G didn't go out of business, it was shut down by echelons above reality even though it was running well over $400M/ year in sales. Yes, people will pay the price for the quality especially if it is, as you say, slickly packaged. I have no doubt that such a company would be wildly successful. There are enough people out there who understand that you can pay for something good up front or you can pay for crap over and over and over . . .

I don't believe W&G were doing that well - I think Avedon said he aspired to doing 80-100 million a year once the company hit its stride - it was still solidly profitable in the 20-40 million a year neighborhood though. Still not profitable enough to make it worth keeping, apparently. Requiescat in pacem.

As for the OP's original question, the best intersection of affordability, practicality, and tradition is at Tag Safari. Other than that, just start haunting online auctions and get Filson and Willis and other stuff that strikes your fancy. But if you want classic stuff and one-stop shopping, check out Tag.

Oldsarge · Aug 12, 2013

I definitely second Tag Safari. Made in Africa by Africans. It doesn't get any more authentic than that.

Memnon · Aug 12, 2013

Mojave Jack said:
It seems like that's what JL Powell was trying to do, but seems like they've also turned into a high-priced Banana Republic. Some pretty decent stuff, like the Kenya Pullover they're currently offering, but whose going to wear a $168 linen shirt in the bush?

They did the same thing with their former bush shirts and jackets, making them out of linen which wouldn't last two days in the bush-

..and ghastly overpriced. Shows they had no intention producing authentic goods designed for their intended purpose.
Even Orvis seems to have gotten away from the safari stuff. For a while I thought they were going to be the successors to W&G. Kevin's might have some decent tihngs, though.

Story · Aug 13, 2013

Anyone have any experience with these?
http://www.electricchair.com/product/german-wwii-tropical-dak-low-boots/

wellofsouls · Aug 15, 2013

Don't know if anyone's watching but there seem to be several safari jackets on ebay now - Filson and Ralph Lauren and Hunting World - at fire sale prices. No connection to me. Maybe they're on the outs now. I know the wool plaid stuff is sky high thanks to all the urban lumberjacks.

L. C. Lawrence · Oct 27, 2013

Safari clothes

So sorry I missed this conversation... Tag has some nice things though somewhat mixed in quality, I love them. I wear a mix of TAG, Ralph Lauren, Barbour and others in the field...
Someone else mentioned not wearing "expensive" clothes in the field but I find quality holds up... and what are you saving it for? To wear where?
Gun-wise you can manage quite well in Africa with a nice .375 H&H bolt action... I found a lovely one used, Steyr-Mannlicher. Yes I'd love a nice double... 470. NE would be nice. So would the man to match it.

Always more fun with others but I often end up hunting alone... Africa, South America, here at home. Some outfitters can book you with others. A mixed bag... Do recomend that you get some hunting done here first, particularly if you plan to use the antique guns. I thought I saw were you were in LA? There should be plenty of game to try. Or come to Texas you can try some exotics and take care of that hat band. Nilgai in South Texas is as close to African safari hunting as you can get and a lot of fun.

I'd post a couple of pictures if I could figure out how... URL has me flummoxed

Memnon · Feb 18, 2014

Looks like Lands End has re-released a few W&G items, including the Hemingway Jacket-

http://www.landsend.com/shop/search?Ntt=willis+geiger

The prices are actually pretty reasonable, comparable to their prices in the 90’s. They say the quality and detail is exactly what it was before, but still I wonder. They’re supposedly made in Sri Lanka, and the single review for the bush poplin shirt is pretty harsh. Still, at least they didn’t bury the brand for good. It beats having to pay 3-4x the original price for a used item on eBay…

MPicciotto · Feb 18, 2014

I wonder if the shell pockets and shoulder padding are functional or only decorative? I wouldn't hesitate to spend the money if those were real features, then I could enjoy wearing the jacket when I'm shooting. But if they are decoration then it's just unnecessary weight on the jacket.

Matt

Oldsarge · Feb 18, 2014

The shell pockets look functional and on the original that I own the shoulder padding is only functional for a given value of 'functional'. A bit of quilted cotton over one's shoulder can hardly be considered a 'recoil' pad, especially when there is no pocket behind it to hold an insertable PAST or similar style. If one is shooting heavy calibers in situations where they are needed the recoil (and the muzzle blast) aren't even noticed, anyway. But the weight of the padding is minimal so I don't feel like a complete idiot wearing it to the range. At least it doesn't have one of those damned fool belts to get in your way.

Baggers · Feb 21, 2014

Perhaps it's just the way the model is wearing it, but it looks badly proportioned in the shoulders. And the originals did not have a drawstring waist, just two pieces of elastic placed between the front pockets to shape the waistline while letting the back drape cleanly. I still have mine, but I'll probably never fit back into it.

Mojave Jack · Feb 25, 2014

And those cargo pants look as though they're cut like skinny jeans. Seriously, who can move in a cut like that?

DeaconKC · Feb 25, 2014

I've had a couple of these over the years and they are extremely comfortable:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...s&Ntt=safari&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

Icthruu74 · Feb 26, 2014

I was a fan of the original Cabela's safari shirts. Especially as they were available in "tall" sizes.

I'm currently considering taking one of my remaining shirts to a local tailor, in which case I would request leaving off the right breast pocket and adding 'Swiss tabs'. And depending on my current mood I might add a double thickness of material on the right shoulder as well.

Baggers · Feb 26, 2014

Mojave Jack said:
And those cargo pants look as though they're cut like skinny jeans. Seriously, who can move in a cut like that?

Hi Mojave, it's been a while. Good to see you're still kicking.
I looked at the pants but wasn't impressed at all with them. I don't remember the originals ever looking like that. However I began rethinking the jacket and despite the bad review got nostalgic and ordered one along with a shirt. They're supposed to arrive Friday. I'll compare the jacket with my nearly 30 year old original and report back. If they turn out to be worth the investment, great. If not, I'll ship them back.

Renault · Feb 26, 2014

Icthruu74 said:
I was a fan of the original Cabela's safari shirts. Especially as they were available in "tall" sizes.

I'm currently considering taking one of my remaining shirts to a local tailor, in which case I would request leaving off the right breast pocket and adding 'Swiss tabs'. And depending on my current mood I might add a double thickness of material on the right shoulder as well.

I have a couple of those old Cabela shirts! They are nice. I like the fact that they have buttons and NO Velcro! If there's one thing I abhor more than camo, it's Velcro!!!

Mr. Godfrey · Feb 26, 2014

Renault said:
if there's one thing I abhor more than camo, it's Velcro!!!

Especially on grey shoes!!!

I like the old Cabela shirts too and my other favorites are a couple of old camel trophy shirts I have.

Mojave Jack · Feb 27, 2014

Baggers said:
Hi Mojave, it's been a while. Good to see you're still kicking.
I looked at the pants but wasn't impressed at all with them. I don't remember the originals ever looking like that. However I began rethinking the jacket and despite the bad review got nostalgic and ordered one along with a shirt. They're supposed to arrive Friday. I'll compare the jacket with my nearly 30 year old original and report back. If they turn out to be worth the investment, great. If not, I'll ship them back.

Thanks, Baggers! Yep, still prowling around the desert.

Looking forward to your review, too, BTW. I'm not sure how much time I spend on eBay searching for the Cabela's original Serengeti shirts, but it must add up to a lot. THe new Serengeti II is not comparable in any way, especially in the usefulness of the pockets. Like Icthruu74, I need tall sizes, and they seem to be eliminating medium-tall bit by bit in all their styles, as well. [huh] I like the original Serengeti especially in the summer, since it has a square hem and can be worn with shorts without looking like a complete schlub.

For the jacket, I also love the Cabela's Safari Jacket, and snag those when they come up, too (except the camo version; I'm in complete agreement with Renault's position on camo.) I currently have three. My oldest one, which is getting a bit ragged and is used only for the field, and one each of the stone and British khaki versions which are daily wear. I'm not as crazy about the new stone version with the green facing, so I keep watching eBay. Soon I'll have a whole closet of them stored against the day they finally wear/run out!

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