Any ultralight backpackers out there?

[wscottmac]

A question for serious, long distance backpackers who also wear the kilt.

-- Any of y'all done long distance backpacking w/ a USA casual?
You guys know the drill: we look for the lightest possible gear, make ultra light alcohol stoves out of pepsi cans.... all to save ounces.
For a sorta-traditional looking tartan kilt that's decent for hiking, my USA casual is awesome: 11oz P/V, machine washable, sewn in pleats, etc. But, it's still kinda heavy (compared to, say, hiking shorts), and has a high waist.

My Stillwater is awesome, but it's very heavy. I wouldn't consider it for more than day hiking.

I've had a SportKilt before. The fabric was ultra light, washable. the kilt was very comfortable, but it was made very poorly (in my opinion)-- elastic in the back, hemmed lower edge, weird, double front apron, crappy pleating, etc. I see Seamus now has a "Hiker" version in an even lighter fabric... (anybody tried this?)

I've usually just worn Patagonia baggies when backpacking. Want to start wearing kilts, but trying to justify the extra weight (my USA Casual is about 4x heavier than the baggies....)

Thoughts? Experiences?

[James MacMillan]

Back in my younger days, before my body rebelled, I did a lot of hiking in a light weight wool blend casual kilt.

If I were to try it now, I would go for one of Rocky's USA Kilts.

[Kid Cossack]

Paging Andrew Breecher, paging Mr. Andrew Breecher, comment in "hiking section" please!

http://www.breecher.com/

[bikeolounger]

A friend once commented that her brother would only put something in his pack if it had two or more uses. Presuming that a shelter and sleeping bag were not held to that rule, I asked her if he carried matches. Did he use the used matches for toothpicks, or for tinder?

Unless one wears "North Fasachi" for looks rather than function (cognizant that their stuff is very good), or is over-concerned about one's sartorial excellence on the trail, I would think a SportKilt hiker would suffice. If you want a specific tartan, the SK may be offered in it. It isn't as pretty as a Matt Newsome kilt, but I would think the concern is function, not beauty.

That said, if you REALLY want to get goofy about going light weight, why wear anything at all?

Not much help, I suppose, but had to wonder.

[Moosedog]

Lo these many years past I was an ultralight backpacker. Now I'm an untraheavy couch potato but I still sew gear.

I don't know of an off-the rack kilt that I would consider the perfect backpacking kilt...I would pick a box-pleat in PV. Sewn-in pleats, length maybe an inch or two shorter than usual (use selvedge to avoid chafing the top of your knee--a hem can be deadly sometimes.) Use velcro or a self-belt in 1 inch polypro webbing for low bulk under waistbelt, also cutting it lower (depending on whereyour packbelt hits) is probably good. Make sure to accommodate the shrink in waistline during a distance hike.

I have made hiking kilts from taslan nylon--basically any light, quick-dry woven synthetic that has a tumbled or softened feel works fine. But they are not quite as durable, nor do they hang as well as a broken-in P-V kilt.

Moosedog

PS I own a SK hiker model and although comfy and very light I am suspicious about its durability, the fabric looks rather snag-prone. But I have not used it heavily, just my hunch.

[dpseadvr]

I race on the SEAL adventure racing team and we do the Primal Quest among a ton of other 500 mile plus races I have not raced kilted ...yet, but can't imagine that the weight would be that big of a deal if you got a SK the others I wouldn't hike or race in. t SWK would be way to heavy and thick and USA are to nice and heavy.
You are going to tear it up any way so the SK it is budget minded and light weight your not going to be in a fashion show so dose it matter if it is hemed or anything.
As far as weight savings save weight on your pack or tent they weigh the most all the other stuff is cheesy to cut weight bring a real tooth brush and the weight you save with the can stoves waste to much heat and take way to long to heat anything up.
Ditch the boots and get some trail runners and you have saved at least a lbs or 3.
Just my 2 cents worth

[The Wizard of BC]

Don't anybody faint. I'm going to do something I rarely do.

Have you ever checked out a Utilikilts Spartan? Think of a pair of Boxers ring shorts without the crotch. Total weight of about 2 oz.

I would never wear one as they are not my style at all, but you ultra-light guys cut ounces for fun. I can't think of a single other thing that would suit your ideal any better.

[Alan H]

I by NO means am part of the ultralight movement in backpacking but I do backpack a couple of times each summer for 4 - 8 days at a time. This past summer I took my USA Kilts casual out for a spin and loved it. It's light enough, it closes with velcro so there's no nasty buckle to dig in under the hip pads, and at the end of the trail I just drop the pack, yank off my boots and wade into the lake. Once I'm done with that, an hour laer, it's try enough to wear again. It's not impervious to douglas fir pitch, but even that came off after two washings and a bit of scraping when I got back.

I'm sold.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ht=backpacking

[cavscout]

I'm thinking along the same lines Steve. The Spartan would be veeeeeeery light. The only "easy" improvement in weight would be to sew the outer apron to the under apron so it would not open and cut the excess under apron off. You could replace the metal button snaps with plastic ones maybe. I bet the elastic in them is the heaviest thing though as wide as the waist band looks. One trip through a briar patch though and it will look like ....well, you know. My choice would be a PV material and sacrifice a few ounces of Raman Noodles to compensate

[The Wizard of BC]

If I'm not mistaken there are not actual aprons on the Spartan. I think you pull it on like shorts.