Swanndri Bush Shirt

[Pandabean]

After seeing a Bush Shirt at our recent meet I fancy treating myself to one, seeing as it is bonus month next month.

I have read a few things about them on here and just got a few questions.

How is the sizing on them? I am a small on the Bison Bush Shirt and there is plenty of room on that. Sometimes I border between small and medium.
Are they as good as people claim they are?
Is there much difference in the ones made in China to the NZ ones or is it just perception? Can you still buy NZ made ones new?
I was looking at them on Bush Wear...(so many nice things on their website) Has anyone ordered from them before?

 

[Dave]

Ive had a swanndri bush shirt for about ten years. Its very durable. If I was gonna buy one today, I'd be looking on www.trademe.co.nz
as they often come up.

 

[Bardster]

If you have a bison bush shirt, why would you bother? I have both (2 swannies and 1 bison) and the bison is far better quality, being of a thicker material and tighter weave.

 

[Dave]

If you have a bison bush shirt, why would you bother? I have both (2 swannies and 1 bison) and the bison is far better quality, being of a thicker material and tighter weave.

Thicker and tighter than the bush shirt, or the ranger shirt? Never seen a bison bushshirt up close, but it must be pretty thick, if its thicker than my original bushshirt. Is it as hardwearing?

Some people seem to prefer the grandad collar on the bison. Persoanlly I like the swanni collar, turned up, with my jacket zipped up to the top. Keeps me neck warm. I wouldnt wear the bushshirt in public, where-as the bison wouldnt look out of place. Are Bison a british cottage manufacturer then? Im All for that.
Too many companies seem to move manufacturing to China these days, to lower manufacturing costs without passing on those savings to customers.

There's a thread here:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67935

 

[sandbender]

"...How is the sizing on them? I am a small on the Bison Bush Shirt and there is plenty of room on that. Sometimes I border between small and medium.
Are they as good as people claim they are?
Is there much difference in the ones made in China to the NZ ones or is it just perception? Can you still buy NZ made ones new?
I was looking at them on Bush Wear...(so many nice things on their website) Has anyone ordered from them before?

By 'Bush Shirt' you mean the hobbit type garment?

I usually choose garments sized to fit a 42" chest and wear..

a Bison Guide Shirt sized as 'large'
and a Swanndri Bush Shirt sized as 'xl'

The bush shirt is large if worn with only a woolpower 200gm top beneath, but is still comfortable, I can also wear my Guide Shirt underneath it and that works well and keeps me warm and toasty on cold nights.

Yes, they are very good.

Mine is an old one, made in NZ, I cannot comment on the chinese version, there is no reason why it shouldn't be just as good.

I have ordered items from Bush Wear before and the service was very good.

The wool used by Bison in the Guide shirt is superior to the Swanndri Bush Shirt, however the wool (or the way it is put together) in the Swanndri Bush Shirt is superior to that used in the Swanndri Ranger shirt which would be Swanndri's equivalent to the Bison Guide Shirt.

If Bison made a Bush Shirt type shirt out of the same materials as the Guide shirt, I'd buy one.

 

[Pandabean]

The bison shirt is great and I do love it but there are a few niggles with it such as the sleeves not rolling up and for some reason it doesnt feel as warm as it should be on some occasions, probably due to the collar as that is where I feel the cold.

Sandbender thats the one I mean, not the ranger one. I agree if Bison did make one I would also consider it
The bush shirt does look great, nice and warm. I take it it has merino wool on the inside as well?

 

[Bardster]

Ask Roger, i am sure he will get one made as yes they are made in the uk

oh and sorry about the confusion over the models

 

[bullterrier]

If you checked out the link Dave posted, you can see some great (!) pics of me in one of my swannies....
As far as I know, there is no difference between NZ or Chinese swannies - I have never heard anyone here comment on the difference, and I live in a pretty rural town, where no one looks twice at anyone in a bush shirt, in the pub or the supermarket queue - so it would probably be a topic of conversation round here.
Sizing - I measure my chest to be 40 ins, and a medium fits, but I wear a large, so I can wear a jumper underneath - it's outerwear after all. You look like a sack of spuds anyway! If you hover between a small or medium, then medium would be a startpoint.
Are they any good - yes. Hardwearing - they will outlast a fleece and they resist sparks from a fire. I slid down a steep bank a@@@ over t@@ carrying a deer out once. Ripped my Swazi fleece shorts to bits, swannie unscathed.

 

[MikeLA]

After seeing a Bush Shirt at our recent meet I fancy treating myself to one, seeing as it is bonus month next month.

I have read a few things about them on here and just got a few questions.

How is the sizing on them? I am a small on the Bison Bush Shirt and there is plenty of room on that. Sometimes I border between small and medium.
Are they as good as people claim they are?
Is there much difference in the ones made in China to the NZ ones or is it just perception? Can you still buy NZ made ones new?
I was looking at them on Bush Wear...(so many nice things on their website) Has anyone ordered from them before?

Got mine from BushWear ..... no problems

 

[salad]

Just to put another wool shirt into the pot, have you looked at the filson wool jac shirt . Thats what I use and mine is warm soft and bomb proof, I love it

 

[Pandabean]

Bullterrier, thanks for the info, I just read in some places that the quality of the ones being made in China were not as good as the old NZ quality ones. But that could be the ranger shirt I am thinking of.

Got a few more questions for you .

Do you throw a poncho or something over the top for when the rain starts?
Also, bit of a silly question if you sit round the fire with it for a few nights and come back home with it will airing it, since it is wool, remove some of the smokey smell? Its the kind of thing I could wear around the house in winter as it does get a bit chilly in our house but the other half wouldn't be happy with me for some reason.

Would you wear a ranger shirt underneath it for extra warmth?
How windproof is it, is it quite a dense weave?

I am sure I could get away with wandering the streets with it on when going to town in the winter. Or I could be mistaken for a hobo and weirdo but who cares. I have seen some werid sights in town though.

I may pop down to their shop in Perth if I have time and try them on or give them a call.

 

[Shewie]

Also, bit of a silly question if you sit round the fire with it for a few nights and come back home with it will airing it, since it is wool, remove some of the smokey smell?

I've not got the Bushshirt but my Ranger Extreme does a good job of loosing the smell, much better that my ventile which permanently smells like smokey bacon, not a bad thing I suppose

 

[sandbender]

Bullterrier, thanks for the info, I just read in some places that the quality of the ones being made in China were not as good as the old NZ quality ones. But that could be the ranger shirt I am thinking of.

Got a few more questions for you .

Do you throw a poncho or something over the top for when the rain starts?
Also, bit of a silly question if you sit round the fire with it for a few nights and come back home with it will airing it, since it is wool, remove some of the smokey smell? Its the kind of thing I could wear around the house in winter as it does get a bit chilly in our house but the other half wouldn't be happy with me for some reason.

Would you wear a ranger shirt underneath it for extra warmth?
How windproof is it, is it quite a dense weave?

I am sure I could get away with wandering the streets with it on when going to town in the winter. Or I could be mistaken for a hobo and weirdo but who cares. I have seen some werid sights in town though.

I may pop down to their shop in Perth if I have time and try them on or give them a call.

The ones from China may be rubbish or may be just as good, I think there is a tendency for some to automatically presume the former.

If it is raining heavily, yes, a 58 pattern poncho.

I wear a Bison shirt underneath it.

It is fairly windproof, the forester shirt is not.

Yes it benefits from a good airing.

 

[bullterrier]

I'll try to give my opinion on some of those questions.
Rain - they are fairly shower proof, but not waterproof. If you are going to be somewhere where you need to be careful about weather eg the hills or mountains, then a waterproof layer is vital. There is always the risk of hypothermia - in those cases I would have a decent waterproof jacket rather than a poncho; I have never got on with those things! Swannie bush shirts are at their best on the farm, forestry work etc, camping, but I would not hesitate to wear mine up in the Ranges, as long as I took a waterproof coat, in case it all went to poo.
Windproof? A bit - think of it more like a tough fleece top.
Cleaning or airing? They are tough - was or air it as you like (or don't bother!) If you go BIG then any shrinkage will not matter. And allow you to wear whatever you like underneather for extra warmth.
And something else to consider - the zip front Mosgiel. I have one as well as an over the head Bush Shirt. I probably wear the Mosgiel more as it's easier to just chuck on when you leave the house, and regulate temp when moving. And it has hand warmer pockets. So all in all probably a more practical (and better??) garment. You can also unzip the hood, so it looks like a normal-ish coat for town - in green it would be really good. They are better at being a blanket too, as they open up.
Don't get hung up about any notion of the over the head style being more traditional, or bushcraft uniform etc - when my father in law (who spent years in the bush as a deer culler and forestry worker) saw my Mosgiel he was very impressed, and made several " I wish we'd've had those when I was a lad" type comments. So give the slightly more expensive Mosgiel a Serious Consideration.....

 

[Filterhoose]

Also, bit of a silly question if you sit round the fire with it for a few nights and come back home with it will airing it, since it is wool, remove some of the smokey smell?

The smell is the best bit

As you know I have the swanni bushshirt. I also have a three year old swanni shirt. Never washed and smells great.

Windy

 

[CBJ]

The smell is the best bit

As you know I have the swanni bushshirt. I also have a three year old swanni shirt. Never washed and smells great.

Windy

when you pull the hood up and lie down in the dark then raise up slowly with a red torch in your mouth there great for scaring Pandabeans

 

[Pandabean]

I'll try to give my opinion on some of those questions.
Rain - they are fairly shower proof, but not waterproof. If you are going to be somewhere where you need to be careful about weather eg the hills or mountains, then a waterproof layer is vital. There is always the risk of hypothermia - in those cases I would have a decent waterproof jacket rather than a poncho; I have never got on with those things! Swannie bush shirts are at their best on the farm, forestry work etc, camping, but I would not hesitate to wear mine up in the Ranges, as long as I took a waterproof coat, in case it all went to poo.
Windproof? A bit - think of it more like a tough fleece top.
Cleaning or airing? They are tough - was or air it as you like (or don't bother!) If you go BIG then any shrinkage will not matter. And allow you to wear whatever you like underneather for extra warmth.
And something else to consider - the zip front Mosgiel. I have one as well as an over the head Bush Shirt. I probably wear the Mosgiel more as it's easier to just chuck on when you leave the house, and regulate temp when moving. And it has hand warmer pockets. So all in all probably a more practical (and better??) garment. You can also unzip the hood, so it looks like a normal-ish coat for town - in green it would be really good. They are better at being a blanket too, as they open up.
Don't get hung up about any notion of the over the head style being more traditional, or bushcraft uniform etc - when my father in law (who spent years in the bush as a deer culler and forestry worker) saw my Mosgiel he was very impressed, and made several " I wish we'd've had those when I was a lad" type comments. So give the slightly more expensive Mosgiel a Serious Consideration.....

Does the zip have any wool behind it to stop any heat being lost through it? I was thinking with the over the head style there would be less chance of the zip going wrong.


Windy we were being polite at the meet but I may as well come out and say it since you talk about smell. There was a bit of a whiff.

Craig, maybe we can come up with something seeing as you are getting one. Hmm.... some ideas floating in my head.

 

[johnnytheboy]

Has anyone tried out the stone creek bush shirts? http://www.bushwear.co.uk/styles.php?ProductID=111258&ClassID=158 I noticed them in the new bushwear catalogue! bushwear also have the swandri shirts as well http://www.bushwear.co.uk/index.php?ClassID=158 so I might pop in and compare them on quality, the stone creek one is defo in my price range and I'm allergic to wool so if the quality in terms of weight etc is comparable it might be an option!!

 

[EdS]

They are ok but over priced and over rated. Especially the ranger shirts

 

[Jackdaw]

I have owned both NZ made and Chinese made Swanndri bush shirts and ranger shirts and have not noticed a difference in either quality or wear. Both are fantastic. I prefer the ranger over the bison shirt due to the full collar that I can turn up when it gets cold. You just can't do this with a grandad collar.