Kilting in the cold

[Graham]

Some members here are experts at this. It won't be long before the winter will be upon us. It doesn't go below 0 deg.C here (well, rarely) but it gets chilly (I know, not a patch on Canada).

My question is this, what kind of kilt do you find the most comfortable in cold weather?
I refer to material (pure worsted wool/ blends etc), weight and perhaps accessories such as woolen kilt hose.
What are you really warm and snug in?

[Chris]

Graham, I've worn my kilt outdoors a few times in some pretty cold weather, i.e., -15C, mainly as an experiment. Most times havebeen in a medium weight kilt and once in my new heavy weight kilt.

With the medium weight I was quite comfortable in hiking boots, regular wool kilt hose, kilt (with cotton underwear), sweater and medium weight fleece pull-over.

In the heavy weight I wore shoes, regular kilt hose, cotton underwear, undershirt, cotton sweater and down filled vest. The vest was warm but didn't look good with the kilt.

I think that the key to staying warm in a kilt is keeping your ankles and upper body well insulated. I found that the ankle height hiking boots kept me feeling musch warmer than shoes (in my opinion they also look better).

A solid coloured fleece pull-over looks really good with a kilt, especially if it has a drawstring around the bottom which will allow you to seal in the heat while giving a nice clean look. They come in numerous weights and colours, and some are also wind-proof.

Next time I venture outdoors in my kilt in cool/cold weather this is what I will wear:

- hiking boots;
- heavy wool kilt hose;
- heavy weight kilt;
- cotton boxer brief underwear;
- cotton long sleeve t-shirt or sweater (on really cold days add a layer consisting of long sleeve thermal undershirt);
- windproof fleece pullover (weight depending on how cold it is); and
- if it's really cold, a toque will really keep you warm (but looks a little silly with a kilt).

[Canuck]

Some members here are experts at this. It won't be long before the winter will be upon us. It doesn't go below 0 deg.C here (well, rarely) but it gets chilly (I know, not a patch on Canada).

My question is this, what kind of kilt do you find the most comfortable in cold weather?
I refer to material (pure worsted wool/ blends etc), weight and perhaps accessories such as woolen kilt hose.
What are you really warm and snug in?

Graham, I've been wearing a kilt all winter (In Canada) In my neck of the woods it's gone down to -20C. Now I have been wearing my denim kilts mostly, Blundtstones and wool ankle socks bare calfs and knees. I found it was a couple of days that I was a bit put out. My wife gave me long underwear for Christmas but I only put them on a couple of times.
I have worn my traditional kilts(I have 3) and they were just dandy with kilt hose. I was comfortable in that. The beauty of a kilt is it's like mitts rather than gloves. The skin to skin contact actually keeps you warm, but if you isolate like gloves or pants you get cold. I haven't had any of the colds or flu like symptons this year that I have had in the past since wearing a kilt.
My leather kilt has also been good in the cold climate too. Also it helps not to consume alcohol as that affects your body temp.
All the best
Robert

[elijah]

Some members here are experts at this. It won't be long before the winter will be upon us. It doesn't go below 0 deg.C here (well, rarely) but it gets chilly (I know, not a patch on Canada).

It depends on how cold it gets. In moderate cold, I've worn the Bear Kilt without much discomfort (say 30 degrees Farenheit and above). Any colder than that and I'm whipping out my 22 oz. Worsted Wool kilt from http://www.whatpriceglory.com. I intentionally ordered it about an inch longer than my normal kilts to assure that it would keep me warm during the Winter. I wear kilt hose as high as I can and I'm left with maybe one inch of skin exposed. I don't really feel cold that way as long as I bundle up on top.

[Hamish]

Hi Graham,

I appreciate the fact that it does not get as cold here in the South of England as it does in North America, but we've had a few days recently when the temp. has not risen above 32ºF and the northerly wind has cut like a knife. In such conditions, I wear much the same from waist to knee as I do at any time of the year.

My concessions to winter weather are that I invariably keep my kilt hose up to the standard 2" below the knee (or thereabouts), instead of rolling them down to the ankles as I might when 'casual' in the summer. Also, I'll wear a T-shirt under my regular shirt which, in itself, will be thicker and long-sleeved. I might wear a scarf, and certainly a pair of gloves as I suffer Raynaud's Condition in my fingers.

If it is particularly cold, I will probably opt for a woollen kilt rather than a cotton-based Utilikilt or any of the other American casual kilts I have. "Commando" applies no matter how cold it gets!

I cannot remember the last time I wore a hat because of the cold - I just do not like them!

Coincidentally, the forecast is for sleet here tonight! Most other areas of the UK have had some snowfall this year, but we've not seen a flake yet!!

[richardljohnson]

Weather in my area of Texas can swing from a high of 82(degrees) one day and 2 days later a high in the low 30's with a high humidity and wind that can cut through a parka. I have several kilts which are in the heavy range but I find that the midweights are as comfortable as a heavy weight in this type of weather. I still haven't found anything to help with the wind but on calm cold days it seems the heat just 'stays up there'. You can see by the picture that I went out walking the 'terrors' in a snow storm and still had fun with them and this WAS a 'natural' day also. I know, I was probably crazy but what the hell. It was me, the dogs and a great snow storm. My wife decided I was crazy and went back inside after taking the picture.

[Donnie]

Graham;
I've been out every morning to feed the horses in 20 to 30 farinheit. Just a light weight wool kilt, synthetic kilt hose, shirt and fleece. The humidity seems to effect me more than anything. I'm originally from Louisiana (the deep south). I believe it feels colder there than here in North Carolina! It's all in how much water is in the air!

[Rob]

Graham;
I've been out every morning to feed the horses in 20 to 30 farinheit. Just a light weight wool kilt, synthetic kilt hose, shirt and fleece. The humidity seems to effect me more than anything. I'm originally from Louisiana (the deep south). I believe it feels colder there than here in North Carolina! It's all in how much water is in the air!

Donnie,

You are right there. Humidity does affect how cold you feel, as does wind speed.

When it gets hot, humidity also affects how hot you feel. I have felt much hotter in England in temperatures in the 80s (with high humidity) than I have in Death Valley (California) in temperatures over 120, but with very low humidity.

Temperature on its own doesn't tell the whole story.

Rob

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Rob and Donnie,

You are both so right! Several factors influence how cold it actually feels.
I’ve been in my kilt in the 20 F (-6C) in November with a sharp wind and felt fine. For one thing I was prepared with several layers; t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, wind proof fleece jacket, insulated hiking boots and heavy wool socks. Yet on a spring day in April with the temp around 45 F (7 C),
light wind, and steady drizzle as being the coldest day I
have experienced in a kilt. The cold just seemed to chill to the bone.
I have learned to be prepared for all kinds of weather.

[Graham]

Thanks lads for the interesting info. It's interesting that when committing to wear a kilt - it doesn't stop there, everything else that we wear tends to change, it's all gotta fit in with the kilt! (as it should be of course).

Thanks for the detail from the "chill experts". Our winter here would not be near so severe as Canada ( you hardy bunch) so I don't see I'll have a problem.

I like my 16oz 8 yard wool kilt, but for driving long distances it's not too comfy, it's a lot of woolen folds under your bum when driving!!

I'm going to stock up on more pairs of warm kilt hose, or rugby socks.