Kilt hose for hiking

[Tenmiles]

I'm not sure if this is the most appropriate forum for this question (Mods: please feel free to relocate thread if you deem necessary)...

Does anyone have any suggestions for kilt hose that are nice and thick and suitable for hiking/backpacking?
Some hose I've seen are clearly way too thin; I'm looking for something nice and beefy (which hopefully won't break the bank), but perhaps not necessarily hand-made, top-of-the line, heirloom-quality.
Something that I could trust a couple of pair to get me through a week of high mountain backpacking without proving to be an utter mistake.

I'm interested in all suggestions!
Thank you in advance!

[auld argonian]

Well, I've often thought about trying a pair of these but still haven't gotten around to picking up a pair.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Footw...3Bcat103897080

…..big link….yow….

Having suggested that, I note that at least one notable forum member who resides in Scotland has pointed out that they don't usually wear the kilt when they go out "into the bush", opting instead for clothing more suitable to the purpose like moleskin trousers and the like. This hasn't stopped many a forum member from venturing out into the "outback" in a kilt but based on my own experiences, I'd certainly bring p*ants along as a back up. I'm the first one to point out to the folks who ask "aren't you cold?" that a kilt is gonna be warmer than any trousers that I own but I've been caught in soaking rains and have had to trudge along in a thoroughly soaked wool kilt and the weight can slow ya' down a little bit. This being Xmarks, I expect the usual series of refutations…."Nonsense….I walked the entire Appalachian Trail in Winter in a soaking wet military weight MOD kilt and I never had one problem…". Well…whatever floats yer boat….

Best,

AA

[ChuckTN]

Since I'm out hiking, I'm not too worried about doing the THCD thing, so I usually wear good snowboard socks by Smartwool and others. They come up high enough to complete the look, have a decent footpad, and I can generally get a coordinating color. You can probably find these on sale about now.

[Hipbilly]

I have some House of Cheviot Bowmore shooting socks, and they are THICK. I like how cushioned they are, but they're almost too warm for anything past March...
You can also do the Tobus thing, and get some WWII Leggings.
Here's the both of those together:

[tripod]

For protection and support why not try puttees. If you're hiking they can also form part of your emergency kit.

[Richrail]

I love the Glenbeg Kilt Hose from Buyakilt. Nice price, thick and fit great. http://buyakilt.com/glenbeg-kilt-hose

[brewerpaul]

Thorlo sock company, famous for their running socks, makes an over the calf military sock that is pretty comfortable. I have run in Thorlo socks since the early 80's and won't use any other sock. This includes multiple marathon and ultra marathon runs with no blisters ever. I have a pair of the military socks and they work well when paired with a thin polypro liner sock. They come up high on the calf so you can have the traditional look you may be seeking. Below is a link to Thorlo.

https://www.thorlo.com/socks/ms/305

[Dughlas mor]

I think chuckTN and brewerpaul have the right idea. I would look for a dedicated hiking sock that is tall enough to pass for kilt hose. I used to do a lot of backpacking, and I always swore by my Thorlos, though Smartwool is good too. Always wore a thin, moisture wicking liner sock underneath as well.

[Tenmiles]

These are great suggestions!


Those Cabela wader socks are not a bad price; I don't see why I can't grab a pair of those to see how they do.

Those snowboarder socks from SmartWool are pretty, well... "loud".
They do have some over-the-calf hiking socks as well, but now we're probably pushing the upper edge of what I think I'll be willing to spend, at about $25/pair.

House of Cheviot socks are way out of the budget at this time, though someday I would like to get at least one pair from them. I DO like Tobus' style though!

Puttees are an interesting idea. I've always liked the look.

The Glenbeg hose also come in around the upper end of my budget, but hearing the words "thick" and "great fit"" is promising.


Ah Thorlos.... there was a period of about a decade when I, too, wore no other socks but Thorlo. For everything.
They're still among my favorite, but having fallen on tighter times, I could no longer afford to keep my sock drawer exclusively filed with them; but they'd definitely be within the budget for getting several pair while outfitting myself for a trek this summer.
I guess it didn't occur to me to check and see if they made very tall socks, but now that I think of it, I'm not surprised.

[auld argonian]

Those skiing and snowboarding socks look like they'll be tall enough but they are, for the most part, decorated a little oddly.

I toss out one of my favorite sources for a lot of things, including socks. http://www.sierratradingpost.com

A few years ago, I managed to hit this site at just the right time and scored about a half a dozed of the Bridgedale soccer socks that have been perfect as kilt socks…another forum member subsequently took my recommendation on this but he expressed the opinion that the socks that he received were sub-standard so caveat emptors…Sierra is basically an overstock outlet but they do sometimes sell seconds (they clearly indicate that the item is a second if that is the case). So check them for Smartwool, Thorolo and Bridgedale.

Best,

AA