Long Distance Hiking

**ratspike** · 8th December 14, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

No one has mentioned the option of making your own yet. Start with the X Kilt instructions available elsewhere on the forum. Use some milspec camo in light poly/cotton and you'll have a garment that you made yourself that will last for years of hiking.

This. I've sent several kilts out to ultralight hikers and GORUCKers, and the fabric choices were always 50/50 nylon or poly cotton ripstop. It tends to be around 6.5oz, so not terribly heavy, it breathes well and dries pretty quickly. These fabrics tend to be mil-spec, as mentioned, so they're very durable. The feedback I've received on the fabric has been hugely positive for this type of use.

**California Highlander** · 8th December 14, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

Listen to Andrew! :-) He knows what he's talking about. I second the PV over Poly decision...I find anything over 70degrees F is too hot for even the lightest of 100% poly kilts (think Stillwater's budget line).

No one has mentioned the option of making your own yet. Start with the X Kilt instructions available elsewhere on the forum. Use some milspec camo in light poly/cotton and you'll have a garment that you made yourself that will last for years of hiking.

Agree with what you say, but I think you mean to substitute "acrylic" for "poly" above. PV=Poly Viscose. Good in hot weather. Acrylic, not good in hot weather or around open flame.

Stillwater has acrylic or wook kilts. No poly anything.

**Riverkilt** · 9th December 14, 07:15 AM

Ummm....our Scots ancestors hiked and did most everything in wool kilts....takes a lot to damage a solidly built wool kilt.

I've also enjoyed shorter hikes in RKilts leather kilts...bulletproof on the trail. Higher cost for sure for wool or leather but the VALUE is there and the utility on the trail.

**Andrew Breecher** · 9th December 14, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Bo On The Go

@Andrew Breecher, There are some things one must carry 2 of. Shave the weight some place else, but a fresh change of clothes is a must.

If that's what's important to you, then go for it. Always hike your own hike, and don't let anyone else tell you what to do. My experience is that after a few hundred miles most hikers go through their packs and throw away anything they can to make it lighter, including pieces of their packs.

You get to do laundry in town every week or so, so the most extra I ever carried was a pair or two of additional socks.

**Andrew Breecher** · 9th December 14, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Tartan Hiker

No one has mentioned the option of making your own yet. Start with the X Kilt instructions available elsewhere on the forum. Use some milspec camo in light poly/cotton and you'll have a garment that you made yourself that will last for years of hiking.

I wouldn't suggest anything with cotton in it. While cotton is just fine for day-to-day wear, and even for an overnight or weekend camping trip, if you might be hiking in weeklong rain in 35 degree weather you don't want a fabric that doesn't keep you warm when it's wet. Even when soaking wet, my PV kilt kept me warm. Cotton will actually pull the heat from your body when it's wet.

**Andrew Breecher** · 9th December 14, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Ummm....our Scots ancestors hiked and did most everything in wool kilts....takes a lot to damage a solidly built wool kilt.

I've also enjoyed shorter hikes in RKilts leather kilts...bulletproof on the trail. Higher cost for sure for wool or leather but the VALUE is there and the utility on the trail.

I agree 100% - wool would be a great option. I think it might get pretty hot in the mid-Atlantic states when you're hiking in 100 degrees and 90% humidity, but so is everything else at that point. A 4-yard 13 oz wool kilt wouldn't be the worst thing you could wear at all, but it is definitely more expensive than some of the other options.

**Tartan Hiker** · 9th December 14, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by California Highlander

Agree with what you say, but I think you mean to substitute "acrylic" for "poly" above. PV=Poly Viscose. Good in hot weather. Acrylic, not good in hot weather or around open flame.

Stillwater has acrylic or wook kilts. No poly anything.

Acrylic is 100% polyester (actually polyacrylonitrile). So "poly" = "acrylic". PV is a blend of polyester and "viscose", which is the European term for rayon (which is made from cellulose).

**Tartan Hiker** · 9th December 14, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Andrew Breecher

I wouldn't suggest anything with cotton in it. While cotton is just fine for day-to-day wear, and even for an overnight or weekend camping trip, if you might be hiking in weeklong rain in 35 degree weather you don't want a fabric that doesn't keep you warm when it's wet. Even when soaking wet, my PV kilt kept me warm. Cotton will actually pull the heat from your body when it's wet.

I totally agree, Andrew. If cold weather is anticipated then PV or wool would be the way to go. I like it better than wool because the threads are smaller yet stronger, making for a tighter weave that is more resistant to snags and tears.

In cool/wet weather I will always go for PV or wool. The problem is that finding either in a weight and color for kiltmaking in my experience is very difficult. I wish PV was more readily available, but it's just not. Of course both can be mailordered if you're serious.

**Tartan Hiker** · 9th December 14, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by brewerpaul

I would agree that if you have the sewing machine and abilities making your own is a good way to go. Rockywoods and other fabric stores have performance fabric of all types. I run and hike in a variety of kilts from a Stillwater acrylic Economy kilt to ElKommando kilts. The one I like best for hiking is the one I made of quick dry nylon. The main reason I like it best is that I made it to fit like a traditional kilt should, high up on the kilt waist. The ElKommando and I would think other sport type and even USA economy level kilts fit at the jeans waist and with your hiking experience Im sure you know how a pack strap will ride on shorts or pants. To me this is annoying and Im always pulling my shorts/pants back up. I find the same with the ELKommando. A kilt with a traditional waist fits nicely under the pack strap and seems to stay up nicer. I can cinch my pack strap around my wasit and the kilt stays up no problems. I do like the ElKommando because of the side cargo pockets but those could be put on a kilt you make yourself. Below is a couple photos of my running/hiking kilt I made with quickdry nylon.

This is exactly why I make all my own hiking kilts. Having the pack belt on the kilt rather than above it is a huge comfort booster.
And I've also used light nylon (Army digital camo ripstop) which is great if the weather is warm.

**Benning Boy** · 9th December 14, 12:23 PM

There was a time when nyco fabric was all the rage amongst the outdoorsy set. That's a 50:50 blend on nylon and cotton. The US
Army used it for a long time in things like field jackets, field pants and such -- not the everyday fatigue uniform, which was all cotton, although later some of the woodland camoflage BDU uniforms were nyco. Tighty woven nyco is light weight, very wind proof and doesn't soak up water too badly on misty, drizzly days, although it does get as wet as anything else in a downpour. I used to have my field jackets pressed and creased, and the nyco fabric seemed to stay fresh looking in garrison for a long time when done that way. One General even asked me how I did it, he wanted the division honor platoon to look as sharp. However, after prolonged wear in the field, in mud and rain and snow, the nyco defaulted to the rumpled look. It's harder to find nowadays than poly-cotton, but I'd consider it for something like a hiking kilt with the edges of the pleats sewn down to keep them sharp.