best kilt for hiking

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Graham,

I have type of rain coat for you. I'll post the
link below.

I also think we should ask Bear what
kind of kilt he made for Haiku. He is hiking the
Appalachian Trail which is no small feat
at 2,174.1 miles. I would love to hear both
of their takes on this. I think I will make a
suggestion on Haiku's journal to give us an update
on how his kilt is doing. I'll post it here if he
answers it.

http://store.yahoo.com/scottishlion/piperscape.html

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I assume you refer to your own kilts, do you do any tartans in that cotton duck material, or are they all plain?

A cotton duck tartan would have to be a printed material... which I just can't do. Therefore, we do the solids. There are a few guys that can tell you all about the "Victory Kilts" and their quality. The one that I did was tested in the Olive Green, and was absolutely fantastic. Great color for hiking too!

As for a Poly Viscose Kilt in the real cold and wet... been there, done that too. IT held up WELL to the wet (when treated) but just didn't cut the cold winds like a guy needs... even in an 8.5 yard bunch. It was just too thin to be rugged, much like a thinner wool.

[Kiltedmusiclover]

I posted some questions reguarding his kilt and hiking for Andrews(Haiku) on
his guest book.
I will post his email here and on the Haiku's
Hike thread.

" The kilt is holding up, though there's a little wear beneath my belt
pouch where it rubs (460 miles of hiking will do that, I suppose). The pleats are
holding up better than I'd have thought, with only a little problem on the
leftmost pleat where the apron attaches to the pleats (Bear sews the apron
directly to the first pleat, which may be how he does four-yard kilts;
on my
traditionally eight-yard wool kilt there's a very deep pleat there from the
apron before the regular pleats begin). As for chaffing, the first problem I
encountered was yesterday, where driving ice and blowing wind caused a little
rubbing rash on the outside of my left leg just at the hem of the kilt.
After a few miles (this was my 33-mile day) I had to keep hitching up the waistband
of the kilt to keep it from rubbing. That's the first time I've had any
problems with rubbing, and only because of the extreme weather. I've had a
little problem when it gets very hot, and I'm "hanging low" and sweating, with
chaffing on my inner thighs. I'm going to try Body Glide, an oil-free lube, to
see if that helps on hot days. Otherwise I'm very happy with the kilt - it's
warm even when wet, the breezes are beautiful, and the girls like
hiking behind
me. =)

Andrew/Haiku"

I forgot to ask him what type of material his kilt
is made of.
Bear can you shed some light??

[Blu (Ontario)]

I have used a 3M scotchguard spray product with positive results. Although it doesn't make the wool waterproof, rain does have a tendancy to bead and roll off. Important also to spray between all of the pleats. Just a thought.

Any concerns about damaging the fabric?

Don't think so... I've used it on my oldest kilt (going on 4 years now) with no problems. The can says it should not be used on carpet or plastics, suede or leather. Can be used on silks, dry cleanable fabrics, etc. The label recommends that one should first test a hidden area for color fastness before making the needed application.

[Kilt'n'Khuk]

I have done a little (very little) winter backpacking. But this is my personal opinion... not to be taken as dogma... If I were to hike in cold damp weather in a kilt, my first choice would be a four yard 16 oz. wool kilt... second choice heavy synthetic and then third, cotton oilskin (but that can't feel good against bare skin). 100% cotton is not a good insulator when it gets wet.

[mman]

What fabric is considered best for hiking in a kilt in cold/wet weather?

Here's a quote from a 1936 article on Scottish outdoor walking that I posted to WDP's site a while back. It recommends a traditional wool kilt, or ,a s a second choice, a tweed kilt:

"For men there is no dress equal to the kilt for Scottish out-of-doors, especially for cross-country or path-walking in the high places. It guarantees warmth to the vital parts of the body when sitting or standing, is difficult to wet through, and leaves the limbs free. Heather was not made for trousers.1 The sporran also is convenient as an extra pocket. If you have no tartan of your own there is nothing against you wearing a tweed kilt, and you can have it waterproofed if you like. Women should wear a thickly pleated skirt - that is, pleated in the same generous fashion as a kilt. If, at the same time, you can acquire, and learn how to wear without impeding yourself, a thin plaid, you are secure against the worst that Scotland can do."

(I'm guessing that "the worst that Scotland can do" [in terms of cold/wet] is worse than the worst that Australia can do.)

The entire article is here:

http://bubl.ac.uk/org/tacit/tac/tac05/hillwalk.htm

[Rhino]

Interesting that in 1936 plain kilts seem to be acceptable. They sound like a traditional choice after all.
Cheers Rhino

[Graham]

Yeh Yeh, I know, you don't like tartan....

[Graham]

For men there is no dress equal to the kilt for Scottish out-of-doors, especially for cross-country or path-walking in the high places. It guarantees warmth to the vital parts of the body when sitting or standing, is difficult to wet through, and leaves the limbs free

That's what i like to hear, a big "Amen" to that!

Thanks for all the info, I guess trial and error with the kilts I have will be the best test.

Andrews(Haiku) walk was amazing, I didn't know it was so far. I did look at the link from Bear's page. I wonder what kilt he wore too.

Nelson: thanks for the idea on the raincoat, I'll see if anything like that is available here in Oz.

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Graham,

I'm going to post the question under the Bearkilts
to find out what Andrew's kilt is made of.
Good luck with the raincoat.

By the way, I didn't get to post this under your
latest pics but the scenery in your photo's
is breathtaking.