Wool safari shirt?

[ssssnake529]

I'm looking for a lightweight tropical wool shirt.

Button up, with "swiss tabs" on the sleeves so they can be rolled up, and decent size pockets.

Pretty much, I'm looking for the Triple Aught Overland Shirt, but in a lightweight wool rather than cotton.

http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/Apparel/Shirts/Overland-Long-Sleeve-Shirt

Does such a shirt exist?

[Jonathan Hanson]

Not that I know of. A true tropical-weight wool would make an excellent warm-weather shirt.

Lost Worlds makes a bunch of high-priced safari shirts in exotic fabrics, but even they don't offer tropical wool.

[Capt Eddie]

I bought two Wool dress shirts from Sierra Trading. They are not the style that you are looking for > But for the money they will do me just fime. They are $127.00 english made dress shirts. Sierra priced at $27. I think I got a great deal. RTK is the brand. The wool feels smooth as my silk shirts. If you do not care what people think. Try one of these shirts. I would wear it to the Amazon in a minute.

[ssssnake529]

I bought two Wool dress shirts from Sierra Trading. They are not the style that you are looking for > But for the money they will do me just fime. They are $127.00 english made dress shirts. Sierra priced at $27. I think I got a great deal. RTK is the brand. The wool feels smooth as my silk shirts. If you do not care what people think. Try one of these shirts. I would wear it to the Amazon in a minute.

Those are nice shirts. Sadly, none in my size. Will keep my eye out.

[Ray Hyland]

Those are nice except that you need to dry clean them. But I guess for that price you can just sink-wash on the road and hang to dry and hope for the best.
The plaid one is kind of cool.

[Capt Eddie]

I will admit, mine will never see a dry cleaner. Hand wash and flat dry is the best it can hope for. When I get through wearing them I hang them up outside. There is no deoderant smell when I bring them back in the house.

[amocaT]

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/new-us-military-wwii-wool-fatigue-shirt-olive-drab.aspx?a=490289

[Jonathan Hanson]

Sold out . . .

[Flounder]

Through the retail store where I work, we'll sell hundreds of wool pieces from Icebreaker, Smartwool, and a host of others. Some of these pieces are seriously premium products. Just as an example, we've found that even the best $89 woolen t-shirts wear out way faster than their $20 synthetic or cotton counterparts. Fine wool garments are great, they just don't always hold up well. I'm well aware that Mackinaw wool blankets can last centuries, but by the time you thin out your wool to 120 grams per, it gets pretty delicate.

[ssssnake529]

Part of the problem with wool underwear is that it is knitted, not woven. Woven wool fabrics tend to be more durable than knitted fabrics. A good worsted wool woven fabric, such as is used in tropical weight suiting, can be very durable, even in the lighter weight fabrics. When I was younger, I had a shirt similar to the one I was asking about. It was army surplus (but made by a tailor for an officer, not general enlisted man army issue.) It was comfortable in both hot and cold weather, lightweight, and durable. It was extremely well made. I think that I will just get one custom made. I know of a number of custom shirt makers that will likely be able to make one for me to my specifications.


Through the retail store where I work, we'll sell hundreds of wool pieces from Icebreaker, Smartwool, and a host of others. Some of these pieces are seriously premium products. Just as an example, we've found that even the best $89 woolen t-shirts wear out way faster than their $20 synthetic or cotton counterparts. Fine wool garments are great, they just don't always hold up well. I'm well aware that Mackinaw wool blankets can last centuries, but by the time you thin out your wool to 120 grams per, it gets pretty delicate.

[Jonathan Hanson]

Agreed. I had a pair of tropical wool trousers from the original Banana Republic that outlasted many, many pairs of cotton khaki trousers. And the fabric was as cool as cotton, yet never needed pressing. You do need to keep it away from moths, however . . .

[Flounder]

Part of the problem with wool underwear is that it is knitted, not woven. That is an excellent point. A few of the woven pieces we've sold failed as frequently as the knitted pieces, but I'll admit that was less about the wool and more about the execution of the fabrication. With that, I contend it's really tough to find people who can do wool properly. Must be a lost art.

[squatch]

Maybe try Pendleton woolen mills? I have some light weight wool western style shirts, LOVE THEM! May have something close to what your looking for?

[The Wizard]

Do you know about What Price Glory? They have stuff for the World War 2 reenactors. Check this shirt out. http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=3894&bc=no

[ssssnake529]

Do you know about What Price Glory? They have stuff for the World War 2 reenactors. Check this shirt out. http://onlinemilitaria.com/shopexd.asp?id=3894&bc=no

That looks great. (If only they had my size.)

[The Wizard]

What is your size?

[ssssnake529]

What is your size?

17 neck, 34 sleeve.

[TangoBlue]

Neat site. The 17x35 won't work? I always like my sleeves a little long... stand up straight and point at things a lot.

[The Wizard]

I had the same problem. I did as TangoBlue suggested and ordered the 17 X 35. Luckily, when I was buying a new suit I asked if they knew a place that would taylor shirts and they did. I cost an additional $40.00 to get the sleeves shorten but I really like the looks of the shirt.

[The Wizard]

L. L. Bean offers a Wool Field Shirt but it has a button down collar that to me ruins it for expedition wear. So, I contact L. L. Bean customer service and sent them this email: "For years I have been wearing your Cotton Poplin Field Shirt on camping and 4-wheeling trips throughout the western U. S. . If I have one complaint it is that it does not come in a dark khaki shade. Although these shirts have served me well it would be nice to have a 100% wool shirt for those early fall trip. I would purchase your Wool Field Shirt but the button down collar is a complete turnoff for me. I just can't imagine Roy Chapman Andrews wearing a button down collar in the Gobi. Please consider changing the pattern of your Wool Field Shirt to that of your Cotton Poplin Field Shirt. And also consider offer your Cotton Poplin Field Shirt in a dark khaki." If enough p[eople contact L. L. Bean we might get a "Wool Safari Shirt".

[Jonathan Hanson]

Interesting. RCA aside, I much prefer button-down collars on field shirts - they don't flap around in the wind.

[ZachDiesel]

Neat site. The 17x35 won't work? I always like my sleeves a little long... stand up straight and point at things a lot.

This had me cracking up. Well played sir. I know it's not a wool safari shirt but I thought I'd add my two cents. I do a ton of traveling and outdoor stuff and my favorite shirts by far are a pair of Patagonia "good shirts". They're rip stop organic cotton and have been sink washed dozens of times on the road. They hang dry within an hour and are super durable. Between those and my carhartt rip stop cargos I have awesome gear that will last for years (as long as I keep the gut at bay)

[Mike S]

I have several shirts that are silk/wool and they are lightweight and wear like iron.