Thread: Worth Getting a Swanndri?

There was an awesome comparison of wool v fleece on here somewhere not too long ago, tested when wet and time to dry etc..... with surprising results!!

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-water-105492/

Found it....... This is well worth a read

It sounds like getting wool would be worth grabbing, the less bulk the better for me otherwise i'll be sweating out in the bush.

I know that 30-30 cartridges left in a swanny pocket and that swanny was way too close to the chimney in Owen's Hut in Pureora Forest will explode and absolutely stuff the pocket area....it wasn't my swanny but I was there and it give us all a fright....a new hut rule came into being that day.

Go to the warehouse,go to mens wear section and find polar fleece that you like look of.go hunting. I couldn't find a " big dog" coat in my size down here so bought a " butchers coat" instead....very similar,full length fleece with heavy nylon fabric on rear. Great on cold day but way way to hot ,got Mrs to put full length VIP in it so can open right up dump heat.next level great now...can buy something VERY similar from warehouse with full length zip... You don't have to spend a ton of money to be warm and comfortable.

I found an older waist length swannie in an Op shop by chance. It's not super thick, which is actually a bonus as I dont over heat in it. I always debate whether to take this into the bush or my fleece equivalent. I always go for the swannie. It's actually lighter (by 40g I think) and I reckon it breathes better and generally feels more comfortable. I'm not sure about a thigh length swannie however - I also have one of those, but very hot and quite heavy. I only use that if I'm hunting from the car for a few hours.

You haven't lived until you have had had fly eggs hatch on your swanny. Or have one freeze stiff while wearing it.

For the modern, "Swanny" means a hooded full length long armed original version. They are where the term layering came from. You wore shorts and a black singled (cotton in the summer and wool in the winter) as a bottom layer and filling your sugar sack pack was the top layer - a swanny.

Fortunately we have moved on.

or Thar wear one every day in winter to keep warm - bloody heavy after 15 waist deep river crossings - used to bring them up and wrap belt around but bottom always got wet and then you had to dry them in the hut- they were what we had but now we definitely have much better as you have said

ihave the ridgeline swanni coupled with one of those pighunters capes -us coasters knew them asa oilskins worn by bushmen with leggings and a shearers singlet or vest it worked and bugger me ya want rain the coast lays the bastrd on in spades .
anyhow back to my rig -cheap and cheerful but its kept me quite coasy on many a sodding windy rainy day in the rakai riverbed or the godforsaken lake ellesmere ,both of which can get colder than a sperm whales snatch in the blink of an eye .

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

I have the Swandri Reidston (a more athletic cut than your typical XO swanny), and a range of Swazi fleece tops (the Hoodie, Microshirt) for bush hunting central north island. The Swandri is way too heavy (over a kilo for a small), bulky and ended up sewing the gap between the sleeve and button down cuffs - as it let the cold in. In temperatures 10 degrees plus, it's just too warm. Went to the Swazi Hoodie, and used this a few times, performs way better as a fabric (ventilates), but again got too hot.

The Swazi micro shirt is the bomb. Had it for 6 years, it will not die, use it all year hunting the bush, the perfect outer layer. Even makes it on my mountain trips. Have just bought another one in fluro orange for the roar. Looked at Alpha Fleece and it just isn't gonna cut it in the rough,Game on.

I’ve got the micro rattler had it for years it’s the dogs bollox, I run hot when out and about and this is just right for me

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Go to the warehouse,go to mens wear section and find polar fleece that you like look of.go hunting. I couldn't find a " big dog" coat in my size down here so bought a " butchers coat" instead....very similar,full length fleece with heavy nylon fabric on rear. Great on cold day but way way to hot ,got Mrs to put full length VIP in it so can open right up dump heat.next level great now...can buy something VERY similar from warehouse with full length zip... You don't have to spend a ton of money to be warm and comfortable.

Can you put up a photo of the butchers coat with full zip please?got stuffed shoulder that makes it hard to pull on and off,love the coat itself though and be great to be able to dump heat when need be.

Originally Posted by The bomb

Can you put up a photo of the butchers coat with full zip please?got stuffed shoulder that makes it hard to pull on and off,love the coat itself though and be great to be able to dump heat when need be.

Will see if have one.

In my own experience, wool is the better fabric. I've a bunch of textiles but my Swandri bush shirt has become my go to. I'll admit that when new it was a bit scratchy but now it's worn in I find it a great all rounder. Twinned with my HE skins in all weathers it suits me well. I particularly appreciate that even when soaking wet it keeps me warm...and dry, the water repellence is excellent. I know there's a lot of new technical fabrics out there but ther ole bushshirt delivers...and it's tough...and quiet

I still have my blue and black check mid thigh pull over swannie with a hood that my mum bought me when I went dairy farming in 84. They are a bit thin ( well those ones anyway), but pretty warm. I used to sleep in it when working on a farm in Waitaki valley in Winter. The new plastic stuff melts as others have mentioned.

Yeah, the Swandri is definitely more at home in the South Island climate.