My knees aren't the issue.

[mikethemoose]

So I was doing a little volunteer work laying wreaths across veterans graves as part of Wreaths Across America. It may be Northern Colorado, it may be 5000ft in elevation, it may be freezing cold in December, but darn it I'm wearing my kilt to honor these warriors as I'm placing wreaths on their graves. (What Price Honor replica regimental black watch kilt with the extra heavy weight BTW)

Anyway, of course, lots of other volunteers notice; And the number one comment. "You knees must be cold." I'm of course thinking "Sure my knees are a tad brisk but that's not where the real battle against the cold is going on"

I figure this is some sort of awkward politeness in order to not discuss more sensitive matters, but clearly curiosity overcomes them. So I was just wondering if any of you have had the same sort of conversation with those overly concerned about the warmth of your knees while wearing a kilt.

[Jock Scot]

Frankly, in seventy something years of kilt wearing I have never had a conversation of that kind. Mind you, I suspect that where the kilt is worn outwith its natural surroundings, then conversations may differ a tad.

[McMurdo]

These conversations do come up here in Canada in winter. Wearing a 22oz wool military kilt helps the cold. The other day someone asked me the same thing. My answer is to turn it around and ask them how cold their knees are, when they say yes they have cold knees I generally respond with something like We are in Canada in December, everyone's knees are cold.

As for me if my head, hands and feet are warm I'm comfortable baring -40 degree temperatures.

[jhockin]

I’ve often had folks, both men and women, ask if I’m not cold, in a kilt. I usually tell them that the knees don’t seem to feel the cold, as other parts of the body ( such as nose, or throat); or, I’ll point out that while they ( in denim jeans) are wearing a couple yards of denim, I’m wearing 8 yards of heavyweight wool. It’s not rocket science, that 8 yards/ meters, of heavy wool, are much warmer than 2 yards of cotton.

For when the temperatures get colder, I wear kilt-johns.

Check post #3, in this thread:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ns-kilt-42146/

[Braw Cathairneach]

These conversations do come up here in Canada in winter. Wearing a 22oz wool military kilt helps the cold. The other day someone asked me the same thing. My answer is to turn it around and ask them how cold their knees are, when they say yes they have cold knees I generally respond with something like We are in Canada in December, everyone's knees are cold.

As for me if my head, hands and feet are warm I'm comfortable baring -40 degree temperatures.

Temperatures often dropped to -40°f by the Thanksgiving Day Holiday at our family home, 59° 43’44” N / 157° 16’38” W. Sometimes down to -50°f. I once remember that a downriver landing once recorded -70°.

I don’t mind occasionally reminiscing about the good old days. I never, never, ever, want to experience that kind of cold again. As a recently minted septuagenarian, I thank God for domiciling in the Mojave Desert. 😊 I do not know as for others, but give me heat. My admiration to all’ya’all that kilt up at sub-zero temperatures.

[OC Richard]

We don't have these problems in California, but it seems to me that the knees don't suffer as much from cold because there's not much meat there, it's basically skin over bone.

The meaty places, the calves and thighs, are covered with wool in Highland Dress.

I wear shorts as my year-round daily attire and sometimes when it's "cold" (our definition of which would make Canadians laugh) people will say "aren't your knees cold?" and I'll say that my knees never get cold, it's my upper body that needs the layers.

BTW I think you mean What Price Glory, who sell Indian Subcontinent-made reproductions of military kit.

[Theowulf]

A worthy activity, sir. My grandfather would have been 100 on Christmas Eve; we did a little memorializing, too.

I guess I prefer awkward attempts at communication to awkward staring, lol. That seems to be the alternative. Maybe you make a friend out of it!