The Safari Jacket, Explained: Fit, Fabric and How to Wear It
Four pockets, epaulettes, a belt and roll-up sleeves, each for a reason. How a safari jacket should fit, how to wear it, and the one we carry.
The safari jacket is one of the few pieces of clothing that was designed entirely around use. Four pockets, a belt, shoulder straps and roll-up sleeves, each for a reason. Get a good one and it becomes the jacket you reach for on every trip, every cool evening and every day outside.
The quick answer
A safari jacket is a lightweight cotton jacket with four flap pockets, epaulettes, a belted waist and roll-up sleeve tabs. Wear it open over a T-shirt or field shirt, belted for a sharper line, or layered over a sweater when it turns cold. Choose a lightweight, washed cotton so it breathes in heat.
Anatomy of a safari jacket
The design came out of East Africa, built for long days in the sun by guides, hunters and travelers who needed their gear on their body rather than in a bag. Here is what each detail does.
Epaulettes
The shoulder straps aren't decoration. They keep a binocular strap, rifle sling or canteen from sliding off your shoulder.
Four flap pockets
Two on the chest, two cargo pockets at the waist, all with button flaps so nothing falls out when you bend over.
Belted waist
Cinch it for a cleaner silhouette and a little extra warmth, or leave it loose and let it hang.
Sleeve tabs
Button tabs hold rolled sleeves in place, so you can go from cool morning to hot afternoon without carrying anything.
The one we carry: TAG Safari
TAG Safari jackets are made in Africa from lightweight 5 1/2 ounce cotton that's garment washed and pigment dyed. That means they feel broken in from the first wear and soften further with every wash. It's a jacket built for real use: cross-stitched epaulettes, two flap chest pockets, two cargo pockets, a full button front, a belted waist and functional sleeve tabs.
Choose your color
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TAG Safari jackets
TAG Safari Jacket for Men, 4 Colors$110All four colors in one place
TAG Safari Jacket for Men, Moss$110Moss
TAG Safari Jacket for Men, Stone$110Stone
TAG Safari Jacket for Men, Olive$99Olive
TAG Safari Jacket for Men, Khaki$99Khaki
TAG Safari Women's Safari Vest$123For her: the same idea as a vest
How a safari jacket should fit
TAG cuts its jacket generously, on purpose. It's meant to layer over a shirt or a light sweater and to move freely when you're walking, climbing into a vehicle or raising binoculars.
| If you want | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Room to layer | Your usual size | Fits over a field shirt or light sweater |
| A trimmer, belted look | One size down if between | Less blousing at the waist |
| Broad shoulders or chest | Your usual size | The cut already allows for it |
How to wear a safari jacket
On safari or in the field
Over a long sleeve field shirt, sleeves rolled and tabbed by midday. Neutral colors (khaki, stone, moss) are the traditional choice for game drives.
Traveling
Four pockets means passport, phone, sunglasses and boarding pass all have a home. It packs flat and doesn't need ironing after a day in a bag.
Around town
Open, over a white T-shirt with jeans or chinos and leather boots. Belted and buttoned, it reads more like a field coat. Olive and khaki are the easiest to wear in everyday settings.
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Build the rest of the kit
TAG Safari Men's Long Sleeve Shooter Shirt$88The shirt to wear under it
TAG Safari Men's Trail Long Sleeve Shirt$76Lighter trail shirt
TAG Safari Hippo Leather Belt, Brass Buckle$189Made in Africa, like the jacket
Stetson Buckthorn Cotton Safari Hat$43.99Cotton safari hat for the sun
Born Men's Brock Moc-Toe Chukka Boot$150Suede chukka for town
Caring for a cotton safari jacket
- Wash cold and hang to dry. Garment-dyed cotton keeps its color best out of the dryer.
- Expect the color to soften gently over time. That lived-in look is part of the appeal.
- Empty the pockets first. Four pockets hide a lot.
Safari jacket questions, answered
What is a safari jacket?
A lightweight cotton jacket designed for hot climates, with four button-flap pockets, shoulder epaulettes, a belted waist and sleeve tabs for keeping rolled sleeves in place.
How should a safari jacket fit?
Comfortably loose, with room to layer a shirt underneath. TAG Safari jackets are cut generously, so if you're between sizes, choose the smaller size.
What do you wear under a safari jacket?
A T-shirt or a long sleeve field shirt in warm weather, or a light sweater when it's cool.
Is a safari jacket good for travel?
Yes. It's lightweight, it packs flat, and four pockets keep your passport, phone and essentials on you.
What color safari jacket is most versatile?
Khaki is the classic and pairs with almost anything. Olive is the easiest to wear around town, and stone is the coolest in strong sun.
Ready for the real thing?
Shop the TAG Safari JacketShop the story
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