I just got one from REI a few days ago, and I'm itching to try it out hiking, as soon as it stops snowing and the temperature climbs a bit.

I did notice the complete lack of anything around the waist/hip area that might chafe under a hip belt from a heavy pack. That should be a big plus for the trips I have planned for this summer, and I'm definitely not one of those ultra-super-extreme-lightweight hiker types. I want a damn kitchen sink at 13,000 feet.

As for the old right/left : left/right controversy....

I have seen women's jeans that zip on the same side as men's. Do you think the girlies worry about that?

This argument is fine for traditional Highland attire - because there is tradition for it.

See, no one out there knows the difference anyway. I saw a guy on St. Paddy's Day wearing a ladies' kilted skirt - almost mid-calf length. No one said a thing. Joe Average doesn't know there is a difference. Only we here at forums like this even care. And I'd just love to see anyone try to tell a woman she can only wrap her skirts in the opposite direction that mens' are supposed to....

"Oh! My! God! Billy Ray, look at Jim Bob! He's wearing a backwards-wrapped skirt! Cross-dresser! It's LEFT to RIGHT, you silly poof! I KNEW you were faking when you said you liked beer and hockey! Freak!!!"