5yds-v-8yds

[Robbie]

Offer noted, acaig. Favourite locale is the Pitlochry area, where there are several 8-12mile foothill walks - due to damage from an old skiing accident that's about as much as the knees can take in one day, but that might be a bit far for you to travel for such a relatively easy-going short hike. However, willing to consider alternative locations - only stipulation is must be midge-free!

It'll probably be sometime after Easter before I venture into the hills again, once the weather warms up and gets a bit more settled (wimp) - no, actually the real reason being kilts absolutely hate getting wet through.

[bubba]

Oh Robbie! What would your ancestors say!

[Robbie]

About what - the bad knees, an intense dislike of midges, or wet kilts?

I'm sure that in heavy rain my ancestors sensibly either took shelter or wrapped themselves up in their great kilts and waited until it went off - and the areas where the midges are worst are the least populated areas of the country!

As for a wet kilt it's harder to imagine a more uncomfortable garment for walking in - the wool soaks up the water, increasing its weight several fold, and if you're walking any distance the bottom of the heavy wet pleats swinging across the backs of your legs will rub them raw.

[Graham]

Robbie, I'm interested to know if there is another kilt fabric which you consider to be better in wet weather.

Would you say a blend, or poly visc?

[al' Sporrano]

I do enjoy hillwalking in a kilt andperhaps you mioght let me know when you are going out walking, if you may want some company for the day.

ALAN CAIG

Alan,

Maybe we can organise a hillwalking meet? It's something we can aim for. Arrangements to suit everyone are often a problem, but something to which we can give thought at least.

Al

[bubba]

Robbie, The midges are a force of nature. Not much to be done but the wet wool is another thing. Spray on water and stain repellent works.

[Robbie]

I've only got practical experience of traditional wool kilts, but I have heard that those made of a viscous mix or other man-made fibres tend to loose a lot of the sharpness of the pleats when wetted and dried out.

I have always been taught that as wool is a natural material, it needs to "breathe" and should not be sprayed (sealed) with rain/stain repellant, apart from any risk of the chemicals in the spray reacting adversely over time with the natural oils in the wool.

The best rain kilt is a 16oz or heavier, as the heavier tighter weave tends to shed rather than absorb moisture. However, the lighter 11/12oz wool generally used here for 5yd kilts is a much better weight for hiking. Obviously, the best idea is to avoid getting it wet in the first place, but when hiking most people tend to pack a short rain jacket which doesn't cover the kilt and often makes the kilt wetter by shedding additional water on to it.

If you get a wool kilt wet, the best thing to do is, as soon as practical, hang it up and let it dry naturally - the pleats tend to stay sharp and any creases will come out by themselves either during the drying process or as a result of body heat the next time it is worn.

Midges are really only a problem here in July/August/early September, and its actually only the pregnant females which bite, seeking blood to feed their developing eggs. However, it's quite possible to have several thousand midges per square metre in certain areas, and although some repellants are highly effective, you are very vulnerable in a kilt!

[John in Texas]

I liked reading the info on the midges., although Im not sure how nay we have here in west Texas.
However, there is a lot of chiggers.

On my military & camping gear I use a product called "Sawyer Permethrin Tick repellent"

It is actually a long lasting pesticide that is sprayed on your clothing & gear, but not the skin. It lasts for weeks on end , and actually kills ticks, chiggers, mosquito's etc. that come into contact with it, plus acts as a repellent as well. I would think it would be good for treating a kilt & hose/socks before going for a hike.

When in the outdoors, I always treat the tops of my boots and the cuff of my pants & socks with it. I also spray my sleeping bag & tent with it. Works great.


John

[Robbie]

Thanks, John, although I'm glad to say we don't have chiggers here and ticks are not a major problem either, although if you're unfortunate enough to be bitten by a deer tick there is the possibility of contracting lyme's disease (incidentally, named after the town of Lyme in Connecticut, where it was first identified).

Midges are tiny flying insects related to mosquitos but, I'm glad to say, carry none of the diseases associated with them. However, most people suffer an adverse reaction to the bite and as they "attack" en masse, the results are generally extremely unpleasant. Repellants on clothes have no effect as midges only go for exposed skin, and are extremely efficient in detecting the sq.millimetre of skin you missed when applying repellant. Obviously a kilt is no barrier to flying insects so the risks are high (in more ways than one)!

[Martin]

I do enjoy hillwalking in a kilt andperhaps you mioght let me know when you are going out walking, if you may want some company for the day.

ALAN CAIG

Alan,

Maybe we can organise a hillwalking meet? It's something we can aim for. Arrangements to suit everyone are often a problem, but something to which we can give thought at least.

Al

I also enjoy walking in my kilt. Please let me know if you arrange any hillwalking meets. I'm a long way from you but can travel.