Help from the hikers

[robthehiker]

I'm looking for some advice from the hikers on the forum. What type of kilt do you recommend for multi-day hikes? And, um, underneath... recommendations?

[RobertParker]

Probably depends on where you hike. Most of the places I hike end up having a considerable amount of brush and under growth, so kilts are just not practical. If it's relatively open, groomed trails, then I'd just say whatever you like and don't mind getting dirty.

[Arlen]

I agree that it depends where you are hiking. (Even if it is a multi-day hike.)
I have fairly tough legs and good hose, so I don't mind going through brush or thorns or nettles particularly. And if I am I make a point to wear one of my casual kilts.
If I am hiking in inclement weather I'll wear one of my tanks.
If I were really expecting to get terribly scratched up and messy it'd be my denim unionkilt.

Find a kilt that you are comfortable in and you think will go well against the area you are hiking in.

I'd probably recommend a medium to heavyweight Acrylic kilt so that you have warmth and good pleats when you need them, but it can get a bit dirty and work hard without you worrying.

[MuffinMan]

Now I just own Alpha Kilts, so I can talk about different styles, but you also ask what to wear underneath. When I take long backpacking sessions, I don't go anywhere without BodyGlide. It looks like deorderant but its for friction of our big ole thighs and any place you chap. Since I do alot of this with the Scouts a good pair of hiking underwear makes to end of trail quite pleasant.

MM

[McNulty]

Similar answers like from Arlen and Muffinman. I'll wear my WPG hose 'cause they are the hardest wearing, one of my SWK standards, and underneath I'll wear my REI midweight polypro boxers. The boxers rinse out easily and dry fast plus they are great to wear in any weather. If the SWK kilt gets really dirty I'll wash it when I get home.

Indy and I on one of the trails near the home in Colorado. Temp 70's humidity 20-25%


Nulty

[Spc. Scott]

I have to agree on the Bodyglide. That stuff is great.
I generally wear an AK when I'm hitting the trail. But most of the local trails are fairly well groomed or just plain walked on a lot.

[robthehiker]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice.

The trails I hike are typically fairly clear and well-defined. To give you a sense of the terrain, here are a couple of pics from a 3 day 100 km hike I did last year. It's Killarney Provincial Park.

Oh, those things I'm wearing in the second picture are called "shorts".







Right now I have 3 kilts I could wear: a medium weight wool (Ferguson tartan), an SWK heavyweight (black Shadow tartan) and an SWK economy (Blackwatch). I think a casual kilt may be a good addition...

[thanmuwa]

The trails I hike are typically fairly clear and well-defined. To give you a sense of the terrain, here are a couple of pics from a 3 day 100 km hike I did last year. It's Killarney Provincial Park.

Wow that place looks beautiful, almost as nice as it's namesake!

[Pleater]

This year seems to have brought out a lot of realy lush stinging nettles, and they seem to have really strong stings too.

I would find moving over uneven ground in woven trousers tiring - it does actually take more effort to be enclosed in trousers than to go freely in a kilt.

At least my heart rate is higher - so I assume the rest of me is also working harder.

Ordinary hose unrolled over the knees seems to work fairly well where the nettles are overhanging the path and I need to brush past them, but in really wild country I would be tempted to wear close fitting leggings of some elastic material I could do yoga in, but to cover up with a kilt in order not to scare the wildlife and other walkers.

You really need to know how much your skin will have to take to decide how much protection, and of what sort, you will need on the hike.

[gseven1]

I prefer a good utilikilt. They wear really well, and hold up under a beating. The only problem that I've ever encountered is that they don't dry out very quickly, but that typically hasn't been too much of a problem.