My first real kilt experience was almost 50 years ago when in school cadets. We had an annual camp in mid winter, rain sleet, living in trenches, you name it. First year I wore standard army battle fatigues, they wicked up moisture from undergrowth, chafed and were plain horrid. The next year I was kilted, what a revelation, no chafing, no wicking and in the trenches I had about 8 extra layers of heavy wool so had 8 extra blankets, I was warm despite continous drizzle and wind, it never got through all those layers but the kilt did get rather heavy. No wonder the highlanders loved the thick wool wrap and not trousers.
Bill Sides