Equipment Outfitters

Headgear

It’s ironic that in eras gone by, when comparatively little was known about the harmful effects of the sun, hats were everyday wear. Today, however, it’s still unusual to see people wearing sunhats unless they’re on the beach.

The best hats for the harsh African sun have a full crown and a wide brim to keep the sun off your face and neck. An adjustable under- chin cord will keep your hat on in the wind and a fabric sweatband will absorb perspiration.

The most hardwearing fabric for hats is felt, but it’s also one of the hotter and heavier fabrics — most felt safari-style hats (with zebra or mock-leopard skin hatbands) are aimed at image-conscious tourists. While they do have ventilation eyelets and an inner veil, these do not provide much airflow in very hot weather — and unless the sweatband is made of an absorptive material, it will not live up to its name. Such hats are, nevertheless, usually well styled and attractive and provide good protection from the elements.

Cricket hats, with their white uppers and green under the brim to reduce the glare, have proven their worth outdoors. In dusty environments they do tend to get soiled but are washed just as easily. As they’re designed for active wear they tend to stay in place. The combination of firm brim and floppy crown is a winner, and the thin fabric is able to breathe easily.

Straw hats are not that long lasting, but they’re cool and let lots of air circulate. Good air flow through the crown translates nicely into lowered wind resistance, which makes these another practical option.

Baseball caps may be very trendy

Especially when worn backwards

But under a hot sun they provide little protection. Traditional European hats do not fare well in Africa, and you would do better to wear a traditional conical Xhosa or Basotho hat than a flat English cap or deerstalker. The Panama hat, designed in and for the tropics, works well for most lovers of outdoor life, but it is somewhat refined and looks better worn with a white linen suit than with khaki shorts and sandals.

Jackets and Jerseys

The most popular jacket among campers is the nylon windbreaker with a drawstring at the hood and waist, elasticised wrists and a white towelling lining. They are machine washable and come in several attractive colours. Most are showerproof if not actually waterproof, and offer excellent protection against the wind without being too hot.

For high altitudes, a good padded jacket made from Ventex or Goretex is ideal. Both materials are quite waterproof yet the weave allows the jacket to breathe and so avoid annoying condensation. The hoods are usually double layered and fold up into the collar, with a zip or Velcro to keep them in place. (If the hood is too thin, there should be space for a warm balaclava to be worn underneath.)

European-style waxed jackets made from natural fibres (and usually in natural colours) are quieter than the artificial fabrics, which is important if you want to get close to game. They also do not produce the static associated with synthetics.

Voluminous ponchos may be great for rain forests but they restrict arm movement, so you do not see many of them around. A good waterproof jacket should be adequate in a relatively dry country such as South Africa — as long as you do not plan to rely on it for long periods in extravagant downpours.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
What Gear Camping Hikers should make preparation for Outdoor Traveling

• Backpacker: Winter Outdoor Survival Skill Part 1
• What Gear Camping Hikers should make preparation for Outdoor Traveling continue...
• Motorcycle/ Motorbike Get Geared Oversuits
• Outdoor Hiking Clothing and Footwear for the Walker
• The right Boat Gear Storage Aboard
• Motorcycle/ Motorbike Trail Riding
• Get Geared Motorbike / Motorcycle Ride Gear Motorcycle Visor care & Leathers Suit
• Traveling by Car, the taste of Adventure
• Motorbike Trail Raiding Tips
• Deciding which Holiday to take, Enjoy all the Extremes of Freedom