Yes, I think having a vest with pockets gives convenient access to essential items (especially when away from the vehicle, lodge or tent. My old vest is tattered; can't be repaired again, so I am off shopping. Choices include vests of 4 to 32 pockets. Made me wonder what all those pockets are for? What do you carry in your vest on safari?
KhakiF

Tissues, lip moisturizer stick, sunscreen, sunglasses, glasses.
Nothing else. We always have a small backpack with other "essentials" which we rarely use - but provide a feeling of "security" ;-)

We wear vests for the long-haul flights in case the hand luggage is too heavy we have the vests as back up.

Regarding 32 pockets: these must be small pockets which might not be useful for lenses etc.

I personally think a vest with 6 - 8 pockets is more than one needs.

SV

These vest were originally designed for photographers... thus the name "photog-vest." They needed pockets for everything, especially rolls of film, lenses, etc. Allowing them hands-free and easy movement.

Personally I found my vest too heavy/cumbersome and nowadays hangs somewhere in the closet... don't use, but have loaned it to friends (beats me why they need... but!).

The copies of this vest are now made of lighter weight fabric and various number of pockets. If you really don't need 32/pockets... why bother.

My very lightweight, 6 pocket vest is hanging alongside Sandi's in the closet...

... and the pockets multipy

How can you tell if someone is a tourist in Africa?

They were those ridiculous looking vests.

I love my Buzz-Off lightweight vest from Exofficio. I wear it every day on safari. I wear the small men's size as it doesn't come for women. And it's on sale now. See:

http://www.exofficio.com/product_det...7-6cca723758a4

"How can you tell if someone is a tourist in Africa?

They were those ridiculous looking vests."

I don't wear them on the actual safari, just on the flight there so that I can carry as much essential gear as possible with me. If it is not on my person, there is no guarantee it will get there.

My luggage goes missing about 5% of the time when it is checked, so a vest or any device to take it with me is great.

On a standard game drive, how much stuff does one possibly need for a few hours? I have a couple of those cargo kind pants that have 3-4 pockets that can hold sunglasses and few other essentials.

I doubt you can fit in lenses into one of those vests. I wouldn't place them in it even if they did fit ............ A camera bag/case is definitely a better option. You could possibly place the lens cover in that vest for sure!

Khakif
i love this thread of yours!

here are some ideas: (well i have never owned one)
1)You look really important 'cause everybody is wondering what are all these pockets for
2) that's how a newbie looks pro
3) somebody must find it sexy
4) Safari goers must have heard about the "handicap principle" (sociobiology)
5) i can imagine, in the old days, a pocket for ASA 25,64, 100, 400, 1600 there goes 5 pockets. now the filters another set of 5 pockets + lens tissue + polaroid sun-glasses +plaster + lip balm + a small recorder + a notebook etc'
and finally a pocket for the orientation map: "sun-tan lotion in pocket D5"...

My kids wore their vests on the plane and on safari. That way they could carry: sunglasses, small binoculars, gum, snacks, wet wipes, kleenex, small camera and an MP3 player. This way they could access what they needed on their own without bugging anyone else.

I carry many of the things I might carry in a handbag -- chapstick, sunscreen tube, tissues, hand wipes, gum or hard candies, a bit of cash, extra photo memory cards, glasses, lens caps, all the little jingly jangly things one doesn't want to lose in a larger daybag. We use them to carry passports, credit cards and cash if the tent doesn't have a sufficient lock up. Its a lovely hands free way of carrying quite a few things.

My old vest is now buried in the fashion graveyard. RIP!

Sandi/SV/LyndaS: Agreed, I mostly wear it (fully packed, pockets bulging) from check-in to boarding, but not on safari. Too hot, and heavy and makes me look like a stuffed sausage.

Sandi – Multiplying? That explains. Maybe it started off with 8 pockets and grew to 32! LOL

MrsAK: I look back at early safari pictures and I DID look ridiculous, and in a crowd of khaki, you couldn’t tell women from men…the vest was a shapeless equalizer. Oh no, that was me with the red face – combination of hot flashes and overheating.

Seriously, I do carry a jacket/windbreaker for cold winter mornings/evening and I also pack a fleece vest (reads layering). I’m going to have our tailor sew in buttons and make a “button-in” liner with multi pockets” for preboarding needs.

Seems we safari ladies are much alike in what we carry. My needs: One large sized pocket for FUD/tissues/hand wipes/a plastic zip-shut baggie; one small pocket for lip balm (reaching for it constantly); one med pocket for sunglasses…I’m good to go. In fact, usually carry the bush stop kit in the pocket of my cargo pants and the lip balm in my pants pocket. Now I really don’t need the vest at all.

Aby: Sexy does not come to mind…a pall of khaki, red faced and swollen with stuffed pockets. My husband is a handsome sight in his khaki gear though – hence the screen name KhakiFever.

Khakif
Your statement "Seems we safari ladies are much alike in what we carry" made me think of "similarities" and common interests.

I have figured out safari is the only way of holidaying where you can travel with friends who are ALL very individually different. On safari there is no discussion about where to go for dinner, what to do during day light, which museum shout be visited.
Safari routine keeps all that out of question

SV

Khaki,

I have not been on many safaris, but I think it depends on the type of experience you are trying to achieve. Do you want to have amenities to boost your experience or enjoy the essence of nature by stripping down to the bare necessities? In my case I would avoid the vest altogether.

So you prefer naturist safaris, Kudu22? They seem to be particulary popular in Namibia.

I suppose you could also wear nothing but the vest.