Backpacking kilt

**Tobus** · 25th October 11, 10:49 AM

My backpacking kilt is a brown Utilikilt Workman:

I probably wear it higher up above my hips that most people tend to wear a Utilikilt. But it actually works very well with the hip belt on my frame pack. If I wear my kilt (or trousers, for that matter) down on my "jeans waist", the hip belt on my pack is above it. And that seems to be annoying to me. So I prefer the front buckle of my pack's hip belt to be laying on top of my kilt. You can see above that the lower buckle of my kilt belt (it's a double-buckle belt) is just below my hip belt buckle, and the top kilt belt buckle is behind it.

My usual load-out is around 40 pounds.

I find the plethora of pockets on the Workman to be indispensable for long hiking. It saves me from having to constantly grope in my pack's outer pockets for stuff (which is always awkward).

**Alan H** · 25th October 11, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

My backpacking kilt is a brown Utilikilt Workman:

I probably wear it higher up above my hips that most people tend to wear a Utilikilt. But it actually works very well with the hip belt on my frame pack. If I wear my kilt (or trousers, for that matter) down on my "jeans waist", the hip belt on my pack is above it. And that seems to be annoying to me. So I prefer the front buckle of my pack's hip belt to be laying on top of my kilt. You can see above that the lower buckle of my kilt belt (it's a double-buckle belt) is just below my hip belt buckle, and the top kilt belt buckle is behind it.

My usual load-out is around 40 pounds.

I find the plethora of pockets on the Workman to be indispensable for long hiking. It saves me from having to constantly grope in my pack's outer pockets for stuff (which is always awkward).

Old Skool....you and me bro. I still prefer an exterior frame pack over an internal frame. Now, if I were to go snow camping on XC ski's, that'd be different.

Those are some serious gaiters, BTW.

BTW, I usually take a small cordura fanny pack and sling it 'round the front for "stuff" when I'm hiking, since my kilt has no pockets.

**Tartan Hiker** · 25th October 11, 12:13 PM

I have made a number of hiking kilts and I'm a huge fan of mil-spec camo in poly/cotton blend. Like Alan H I like the Rev-K style with velcro fastenings. I also use a velcro patch in the kilt pin location. Like Tobus said, I make mine high-waisted, almost like a tank, so that the waist belt of my pack rides totally on the kilt rather than straddling the waistband edge.

This is one of the greatest advantages of kilts over shorts. In addition to the freedom of movement, the high waist prevents that dreaded problem of the pack belt pushing your shorts down as you walk.

And here's my Ranger crew from a couple of summers ago with their self-made work kilts.

**Alan H** · 25th October 11, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

I have made a number of hiking kilts and I'm a huge fan of mil-spec camo in poly/cotton blend. Like Alan H I like the Rev-K style with velcro fastenings. I also use a velcro patch in the kilt pin location. Like Tobus said, I make mine high-waisted, almost like a tank, so that the waist belt of my pack rides totally on the kilt rather than straddling the waistband edge.

Bold added by me.

Good point. I like this idea a lot. OK, now I have to re-make my backpacking kilt!

**Tobus** · 25th October 11, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Old Skool....you and me bro. I still prefer an exterior frame pack over an internal frame. Now, if I were to go snow camping on XC ski's, that'd be different.

Those are some serious gaiters, BTW.

BTW, I usually take a small cordura fanny pack and sling it 'round the front for "stuff" when I'm hiking, since my kilt has no pockets.

Honestly, I don't know why the "in crowd" is so dead-set on internal-frame packs. I've watched friends struggle to try to cram everything in there, only to end up with serious issues in the field from odd-shaped items that simply won't go in there. I've seen them try to strap stuff to the outsides of their delicate packs, only to have tabs ripped off and serious damage done.

Nah, I'll take an external-frame pack any day. Just can't beat it for versatility. I've even found some really cool tips and tricks that involve removing the top portion of the frame, or using the main portion of the frame for rigging up field-expedient chairs, shelter supports, etc. The accessibility of the frame really offsets any drawbacks that people claim to have with external frames.

Anyway, yeah, I love my WWII-era canvas leggings. I hike through some serious cactus, cat's claw, yucca, huisache, and all manner of thorny stuff that would shred my legs without protection. These are not hot like leather, and they don't snag like other woven materials. They do take some time to put on and take off, but I think they just look "right" with a kilt where more modern gaiters don't.

I'm not sure I could deal with using a fanny-pack like a makeshift sporran. Sporrans don't really bother me when I'm knocking around town or a Highland Games, but when I'm doing some serious hiking, I really don't want that weight on my front side. It tends to hinder my motion and makes me hot. Not to mention, the weight of it can push my apron out of shape (or make it cling to my front) and cause weird rubbing/chafing issues with this particular kilt when hiking. So I prefer to use the pockets on the sides and rear.

The only thing that bothers me about the pockets is that if I stuff 'em too full, I end up brushing the sides of the pockets with my hiking staff or trekking poles as I stride. As you no doubt can appreciate, little things like that can become very annoying and even become a hindrance when you're hiking all day long and trying to cover some ground. So I have to make sure my pockets are not stuffed to capacity. But usually it's not a problem, since I don't really need THAT much stuff close at hand all the time. I can use my pack pockets.

**RAF** · 25th October 11, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

My backpacking kilt is a brown Utilikilt Workman:

practical and good looking - well put together and yet very natural. Happy trails! I like those gaiters also. You said they were WWII - where do you get them? Army Surplus store? Online?

**Spartan Tartan** · 25th October 11, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

My backpacking kilt is a brown Utilikilt Workman:

I probably wear it higher up above my hips that most people tend to wear a Utilikilt. But it actually works very well with the hip belt on my frame pack. If I wear my kilt (or trousers, for that matter) down on my "jeans waist", the hip belt on my pack is above it. And that seems to be annoying to me. So I prefer the front buckle of my pack's hip belt to be laying on top of my kilt. You can see above that the lower buckle of my kilt belt (it's a double-buckle belt) is just below my hip belt buckle, and the top kilt belt buckle is behind it.

My usual load-out is around 40 pounds.

I find the plethora of pockets on the Workman to be indispensable for long hiking. It saves me from having to constantly grope in my pack's outer pockets for stuff (which is always awkward).

Tobus, you look like a total BadA$$! What a great look. I might just have to get a Utilikilt now just for hiking. Seriously.

**Woodsman** · 25th October 11, 07:27 PM

Just got back from a short weekend backpacking trip where I finally got to try out my Elkommando. The kilt was comfortable and my external frame sat well on my hips without any rubbing on my tail end. The garment is smooth and lined around the hips. The upper 50's F temps during the day were ideal. I would like to get a warmer material for colder trips. I can't wait to go again -maybe an XMarks kilted backpacking trip sometime? I will look for those WWII leggings though because I did scratch up my calves.