Some of you might find this interesting – even helpful. If you find it a bore, I'm certainly not offended if you start to read it and then move on.

I wear a kilt full-time, and my collection is comprised of 20 kilts – traditional, traditional style, and non-traditional. Now I'm not saying this with the intent of bragging, or as promoting the wearing of a kilt full-time. For me it makes sense, and the short answer is comfort. The long answer to my need for comfort is the fact that my spine is a mess, and I suffer from a neurological disease called peripheral neuropathy. The latter has symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis, except that it damages the peripheral nervous system rather than the central nervous system. I had back surgery 8 months ago to remove 2 discs in my lower back. I still have 9 herniated discs left and will probably require at least 2 more surgeries. The peripheral neuropathy has affect my sensory, motor and autonomic nervous systems. Autonomic damage has destroyed the nerves to many of my sweat glands and limited my heart's ability to regulate my pulse rate. Consequently heat is a real problem for me – dangerous, even life threatening. Sensory damage does not allow me to completely sense how my feet are placed, so I must walk with a cane to prevent falling due to loss of balance.

So, in building a kilt collection, my disabilities take top priority. Having all traditional wool kilts is not in my best interest because of heat and my inability to regulate my body temperature.

Here is my collection:

5 wool tartans – 1, 13 oz 8 yarder; 4, 16 oz, 5 yarders
3 traditional style canvas – 10 oz army duck
1 Amerikilt (digital desert camo – estimate 7 to 8 oz)
3 Utilikilt Workman's – 12 oz cotton duck
1 Utilikilt Denim – 12 oz
3 Utilikilt Mockers – 8.5 oz polycotton
1 Utilikit Original – 8.5 oz polycotton
1 Utilikilt Original – 8.5 oz 100% cotton
2 Utilikilt Original – 8 wide whale corduroy – estimate 9.5 to 10 oz)

I use some general rules on what I wear out of this collection based on temperature (including heat index as well as wind chill factors). Consequently, being free to select any one of these 20 kilts is usually not an option except when temperatures are within a certain range. Kilt hose are out of the question above 80 F.

So here as a rule of thumb is the number of kilts I have available based on temperature:

up to 30 F – 5 kilts
31 to 35 F – 9 kilts
36 to 40 F – 11 kilts
41 to 45 F - 13 kilts
46 to 60 F – 14 kilts
61 to 65 F – 19 kilts
66 to 80 F – 20 kilts
81 to 85 F - 15 kilts
86 - 90 F – 9 kilts
91 – 95 F – 7 kilts
96 – 100+ F – 6 kilts


Again, these are guidelines I've established for myself based on experience. I take into account the temperature range for most of the day, whether I'll spend the majority of time inside or outside. Also occasion can be an exception. If I need to dress up, and will be spending the majority of time inside, a wool traditional with hose and flashes are in order.

I hope you found this somewhat interesting. Regardless of which kilt I may be wearing, I do wear them with pride, and always try to leave the people I meet with a favorable impression of men that wear kilts.

Darrell