Kilts in a hot climate

[TheOfficialBren]

I live in Southern California, near Los Angeles, so for me, summers are quite hot. P/V for me in the heat. I plan to order a 13oz wool for our mild winters...maybe 16oz. What IS the real difference? I haven't worn either before.

[EagleJCS]

I live in Southern California, near Los Angeles, so for me, summers are quite hot. P/V for me in the heat. I plan to order a 13oz wool for our mild winters...maybe 16oz. What IS the real difference? I haven't worn either before.

Not much. My personal kilt was a 16 oz (Locharron - recently sold to dadgad). My band kilt is a 13 oz (unknown maker). There's a slight difference in the feel (a.k.a. 'hand'), and maybe a 1/2 pound or so (probably less) in total weight.

I'll agree with the Texans that a kilt is really not that uncomfortable, even in high temps and humidity. We get similar weather up here in the Ohio River Valley, but not for as long. It only gets uncomfortable around the waist, where there is no air movement - but you get that with trousers as well.

Last summer, we did a band gig on a day with 108 F (ambient) temps - it was hotter on the pavement, and about 85-90% humidity. Short sleeves, cotton kilt hose (white 'piper hose'), no ties, no waistcoats, don't recall if we wore our Glens. We were in the shade most of the time, with plenty of water to hand. The waistband of the kilt was almost soaked when I got home. Let it lay open on the bed in the guest room (that's where it's 'stored' most of the time anyway) and it was dried out within a day.