Looking for a heavyweight kilt for hiking in the winter

[Kitfoxdave]

I currently backpack in a Sportkilt Hiking Kilt with a "Buchanan Ancient" tartan. I had worn it last winter but that was quite mild. The wind tends to cut right through it which chills everything beneath. I'm looking for something far heavier and warmer to wear this winter. Preferably in a Buchanan Muted tartan as my current pack is in that tartan. That is affordable and durable enough that I won't have to worry about it getting wrecked by the trail, and won't mind if it does.

Celtic Crofr does a casual kilt and others in a "homespun"
Poly / wool blend that seems to be quite warm for its weight... can be machine washed... they are in MN... maybe have a chat with them?

[Dukbrand]

Celtic Crofr does a casual kilt and others in a "homespun"
Poly / wool blend that seems to be quite warm for its weight... can be machine washed... they are in MN... maybe have a chat with them?

I have contacted them. Thank you for the information.

[OC Richard]

Tomo is correct, it's wise to check the ex-hire sections of major UK Kilt Hire shops.

Be aware that that market is seasonal.

Around the New Year is when the Kilt Hire shops begin stocking up on the tartans reckoned to be popular for the big Wedding Season in the coming Spring, and divesting themselves of the tartans reckoned to be unpopular.

It's also the time they divest themselves of anything else that might sit un-hired. For example let's say they've been hiring a certain colour of kilt jacket, but now they don't have enough remaining to kit out a wedding party. These few odd ones will get put up for sale.

I picked up a few very nice tweed kilt jackets that way.

Another thing to be aware of is that "in the old days" all the Scottish-based Kilt Hire shops stocked high-quality kilts and jackets by established UK makers, but recently very low-cost Kilt Hire shops have appeared who hire Pakistani tat.

It's easy to distinguish between the two sorts: check their hire prices.

It obviously costs much more to stock hand-stitched kilts made from 8 yards of quality UK-woven 100% wool than it does to stock cheap Pakistani acrylic machine-sewn kilts, and the higher price of the high-quality kilts will be reflected in higher hire costs.

If you check the hire prices of a dozen different Kilt Hire shops, and also take a close look at the photos, the difference will become obvious.

Another thing is that there are shops in Scotland who sell new Pakistani tat kilts as "ex-hire", hoping to trick people into thinking they're getting a bargain.