Backpacking In A Belted Plaid - A Question Revisited

[Sir William]

I reiterate my point from the other thread, in terms of a pack. Or, if it's just an over-nighter go 18th C. highlander style: carry your meager rations in a haversack and the "pockets" of your plaid.
....

I agree with Brian. First, if you're going to wear a belted plaid to backpack and camp in, go the full measure and do it "authentically" with minimal gear. Less gear and less weight will virtually eliminate the problem associated with extra fabric in the rear. Carry a haversack for food, and a small snapsack or single-strap knapsack to carry your cooking and eating gear. My "mess kit" consists of a small pot (less than two cups), a spoon, and a metal cup. I heat water for tea in the cup, fix my meal in the pot and eat it out of the pot with my spoon. I carry a spare shirt and pair of hose which I use to sleep in which avoids the problem of sweat from wearing during the day making me chilled at night.

Personally, I either go "period" or "modern" when I backpack/camp. However, I find that I take less junk along when I go period.

[TheOfficialBren]

Whatever floats your boat, mate. :-)

Either way POST PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

[Clockwork]

Great news! Maybe this will be useful for future reference; my idea did work. I tried it on a towel since I don't have a great kilt.

After laying it out like a great kilt would be before pleating, I first did a regular pull.







Then, I did a tuck instead of a second regular pull.







And voila; now you have a box pleat! Now repeat the for the additional box pleats.








(I ran out of towel)

You could, in theory, start with either an overlap or tuck for the first pull. Of course, it may be a bit more difficult to pleat to the sett or stripe. I personally don't care what it looks like in the end, as long as it functions.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
-Jake

[Clockwork]

I agree with Brian. First, if you're going to wear a belted plaid to backpack and camp in, go the full measure and do it "authentically" with minimal gear. Less gear and less weight will virtually eliminate the problem associated with extra fabric in the rear. Carry a haversack for food, and a small snapsack or single-strap knapsack to carry your cooking and eating gear. My "mess kit" consists of a small pot (less than two cups), a spoon, and a metal cup. I heat water for tea in the cup, fix my meal in the pot and eat it out of the pot with my spoon. I carry a spare shirt and pair of hose which I use to sleep in which avoids the problem of sweat from wearing during the day making me chilled at night.

Personally, I either go "period" or "modern" when I backpack/camp. However, I find that I take less junk along when I go period.

That would be ideal, and if it can happen, then it will. The only thing I differ on is being at one extreme or the other, either period or modern. I much prefer to mix and match accordingly to what I feel will serve me best.

Whatever floats your boat, mate. :-)

Either way POST PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

I most certainly will oblige to this request . I should have a portable solar charger by that time keep my phone charged (happens to be my only camera). Maybe a tripod and waterproof cover too.

Cheers,
-Jake

[Guinness>water]

Clockwork,
go for it buddy! I wore a greatkilt out deer hunting/camping last year. I didnt wear a backpack so cant really talk about that much other than if I had worn a pack, I wouldnt use the hip belt (Infantrymen never do anyway).

I found it to be much more comfortable than pants. I was warmer and could move around soooo much better. I used it as a blanket when I went to bed and as a shawl when standing around the camp fire. It was great!

About the pleats, I have read and believe it to be true that the great kilt wasnt "pleated". To put it on, I hold it against my shoulder with my chin, put my belt on and then pull the inner and outer aprons around to front. Leave the back how it is, not pleats but bunched. I can put it on in this fashion in under a minute and do believe this is how a Highlander would have done it as they werent too concerned with looks anyway.

[Woodsheal]

About the pleats, I have read and believe it to be true that the great kilt wasnt "pleated". To put it on, I hold it against my shoulder with my chin, put my belt on and then pull the inner and outer aprons around to front. Leave the back how it is, not pleats but bunched. I can put it on in this fashion in under a minute and do believe this is how a Highlander would have done it as they werent too concerned with looks anyway.

I agree that highlanders back in the day did not pleat their plaids on the ground, in the manner of us modern reenactor types! They either used the method Guinness describes, or the theoretical drawstring or belt-loops. The period image I posted above could be interpreted as simply the bunching of the material in back, as opposed to purposeful box-pleating....

[Clockwork]

That certainly makes sense; it's quick and easy to throw it on and be done with it. I believe that form follows function, and that would be justly so in that case. However, I'm looking at this with a backpack in mind, and the box pleats seem like a good idea for doing so. Hopefully, I'll be able to test at least the wearability of a modern backpack with a belted plaid in a few weeks.

Cheers,
-Jake

[TheOfficialBren]

I agree about the drawstring/beltloop thing. It seems very plausable.

Clockwork, you might consider wearing the "fly" portion of the plaid tucked into your belt. This way you can carry a backpack.

Are you an accomplished hiker?

[Sir Didymous]

The belted plaid that I took to using for reenacting has a look very similar to box pleats, but in honesty it's just the result of a drawstring. It was a gamble on the accuracy I was willing to take in exchange for the simplicity of wear.

[Clockwork]

I agree about the drawstring/beltloop thing. It seems very plausable.

Clockwork, you might consider wearing the "fly" portion of the plaid tucked into your belt. This way you can carry a backpack.

Are you an accomplished hiker?

Nah, I've never had the means (time or money, or both) to do any really lengthy excursions. It's been more of a weekend thing, but I am hoping that will change this coming year. I do like true camping though; actually being alone in the wilderness with what I have as opposed to going to more luxurious 'camp sites'. I want to try using the great kilt for a couple weekend trips in various conditions so I can get an idea of not only what to expect with it, but to see if it really could work as well as I'm envisioning it. I've been wrong about things and this may be another instance of that, but I guess I won't know until I try. Either way, I'll be left with newfound knowledge from first-hand experience, and in the end that's (to me) what matters most.

And good call on the "fly" plaid bit; I'll be trying different configurations to find what works best and report back.

Cheers,
-Jake