Winter kilt

[Tiny]

Ok I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on my next kilt. The issue is its starting to get colder here and I know its gonna be down right chillie soon. I'm looking at either the heavyweight or the standard from SWK. what i need to know is will I be warmer this winter in the wool or will the acrylic be warmer?

Also I tend to hang around smokers, with the acrylic will i need a fire extinguisher in my sporran for safety sake?

[Chas]

Tiny - I think this X Marks thread will tell you everything:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/page/material_chart.php

Regards

Chas

[Tiny]

thanx I knew I had seen that somewhere on here before. so would the SWK heavyweight be wool acrylic blend?

[RB51]

As I understand it, the heavyweights are 100% wool, but I stand to be corrected.

Laurie

[wildrover]

Tiny - I think this X Marks thread will tell you everything:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/page/material_chart.php

Regards

Chas

Yo Chas...could we get 100% wool added to that table?

BTW guys...plastic of any kind will at least "bead" if a spark hits it. A small area will melt, may burn through a layer, may simply harden under the contact area, or light and spread. Cotton, depending on the weave and how fuzzy it is, may smolder, light and spread, and may leave a hole depending on how large/hot the spark was. In general, natural fibers and flame-retardant synthetic fibers will be more resistant to fire, and do not burn as slow as plastic-derived fibers (I don't see anyone wearing a fiberglass kilt any time soon, tho ). I never, ever wear synthetic clothing when I weld...only cotton, with a leather outer layer, for exactly the burn/stick/fuse-to-flesh risk. Plastics are also at risk of melting or hardening when exposed to high heat, including paint strippers (aka heat guns, and some overly hot hair dryers), campfires, stoves, ovens, candles, fabrication sparks and slag, hot drill bits, and a horde of other hot items. If you plan to wear your kilt around anything particularly hot (like a campfire), maybe you're better off with a natural fiber.

Wool also remains insulating when wet, and will become relatively wind-proof as well. Cotton is a nightmare. Some synthetics are fine in the cold & when wet, others aren't. I have base layers in both, and all my "technical" outerwear is synthetic of one sort or another...just choose what's appropriate, and take appropriate care of it.

-Sean

[vorpallemur]

Yo Chas...could we get 100% wool added to that table?

BTW guys...plastic of any kind will at least "bead" if a spark hits it. A small area will melt, may burn through a layer, may simply harden under the contact area, or light and spread

There are bunches of flame proof plastics. Nomex and related polyamides are best known but there are others. Yes, they'll decompose if they get exposed to high enough temperature, but so will anything else.

I don't think a nomex kilt would be very practical, mind you.

[Oddern]

There is no doubt. Wool is the best and warmest materials. 16 oz wool will keep you nice and warm. In addition, wool is flame retardant in itself.

[Heming]

Wool is warmer. Acrylic will melt and fuse onto your skin if exposed to an open flame.

[McMurdo]

OK what I'm going to say is from experience, for me anyway I need something that will keep me warmer than a SWK would provide. Of course a Canadian winter might be a wee bit colder than yours in Maine, but I would think that if there are differences they would be minimal. I wear a 22oz Gordon Highlander Kilt from What Price Glory, and have found it to be perfect for winter wear.

[Tiny]

OK what I'm going to say is from experience, for me anyway I need something that will keep me warmer than a SWK would provide. Of course a Canadian winter might bea wee bit colder than yours in Maine, but I would think that if there are differences they would be minimal. I wear a 22oz Gordon Highlander Kilt from What Price Glory, and have found it to be perfect for winter wear.

That looks great and the price isn't too painful either. Maine winters can be bitter cold, lucky for me I live on the coast so its a lil less severe. I may have to look into the Gordon for Christmas time. it really is too bad there arent more places offering the heavyweight kilts.


P.S. I Love the Aran sweater in this pic.