Warm Weather Kilting

**LANCER1562** · 30th March 17, 04:46 PM

Good afternoon to the Rabble,

My wife and I are taking a short vacation in Florida the first week in May and I'm wondering if my 13 oz wool Kerr Modern kilt would be too warm or would I be better off taking my SWK in Stuart Black?

**kiltedcontractor** · 30th March 17, 05:45 PM

I've been in Florida this past week (leaving tomorrow ). I have been alternating between my black utilikilt, green utilikilt and sport kilt. Black by far the warmest, sport kilt the coolest. Temps here in Orlando area have been in high 80s . Today hit 90. My green utilikilt was far more comfortable than any shorts I've worn in the past.

**LANCER1562** · 30th March 17, 05:56 PM

We will be in the Palm Bay area. I don't own a Utilikilt and my Sportkilt is in storage out in California where I used to live before moving to Colorado Springs.

**jumary** · 30th March 17, 06:06 PM

I used to live close to Palm Bay. In the first week of May, it will probably just start getting humid. It seems to happen at all once down here in the beginning of May. You will probably also see big thunderstorms most afternoons, which might make a kilt uncomfortable. It probably depends on whether you are comfortable with high humidity.

**dcommini** · 30th March 17, 06:47 PM

When I lived in Central Florida I used to go out in the middle of Summer wearing a snowsuit just for fun. Of course, that was when I was still in gradeschool.

It really just boils down to how tolerant of humidty you are. I've worn a GK in Florida in December (a few years ago, so it was still in the 80s and humid) and I was ok, granted even though I had 8 yards of material it wasn't all gathered up like with a smaller kilt. I also wore my sport kilt, and was still ok.

If you have any kind of canvas kilt I would avoid it. I have an ACU material kilt and wore it once when I lived in TN, and only once because the high humidity gave me terrible swamp like conditions.

I've noticed that the lightweight wools sometimes help with the moisture, so you may be ok. But I would still pack some shorts in case you can't handle.

**Tarheel** · 31st March 17, 04:16 AM

I remember May in Florida to have tolerant evenings that would be great for kilt wearing. I would consider the humidity during the day, but if the breeze stops, the mosquitos may be thick at night. Enjoy the trip either way you decide.

**Manu** · 31st March 17, 04:51 AM

South Floridian Here! The truth is, there is nothing you can wear in Florida in May, other than your birth suit, that you will be able to walk around outside and be comfortable or not sweating. I wore a 16 oz kilt earlier this month before humidity levels went up. I wore Lewis hose and a collar shirt no tie. I was pretty comfortable. In May it will be considerably hotter and wetter. Just be sure to wear the kilt with hot weather appropriate clothing and you will be fine.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 31st March 17, 06:33 AM

I would suggest the 13oz wool, or a USAK casual in PV if you have it. I find that the acrylic of the SWK's seems to keep me warmer.

I am also in the Melbourne area, so if you would like to get together for a pint, let me know!

KCW

**Todd Bradshaw** · 31st March 17, 10:53 AM

I've never been to Florida, but most of our reasonably local highland games around here tend to be held during the summer. Typically that will put us somewhere in the 80-90 degree range with pretty high humidity. Whether 13 oz. wool or 16 oz. wool, the kilt really is not the part of the wardrobe that makes you hot. It's open on the bottom and the swish creates pretty good airflow underneath. A 16 oz. kilt is certainly heavier than a pair of cargo shorts (for example) and will rise a bit higher if it fits you properly, but I really don't find it much warmer, if at all. Certainly not enough to abandon the idea of wearing it. Plus....hot weather or not, you'll look cooler

.

**Barb T** · 31st March 17, 04:38 PM

I TOTALLY agree with Todd. I wear a 16 oz band kilt for parades and competitions here in the summer when it is hot and humid. But it's not the kilt that makes me sweat. The hot part is actually the kilt hose, the part of the kilt under the belt, and the tie under the collar around my neck, none of which change with kilt weight. The advantage, to my mind, of medium weight tartan, is that it is smoother and less itchy. Other than that, it's a wash, especially if you wear a pair of bike shorts under your kilt, as I do.