Looking for a heavyweight kilt for hiking in the winter

[Troglodyte]

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.

All the advice so far given is sound, and well-worth following for finding a suitble kilt.

But, speaking from experience, I would urge you to consider one of the older (pre-amalgamation of the RRoS) military kilts that has been made in the dense super-heavyweight cloth.

The older ones (certainly those of pre-1960 that are cut with a high rise at the waist) are usually shaped for a better fit, and the high rise covers and protects both the small of the back and the easily-chilled kidneys, etc. The inner lining is a cream-colour woollen cloth, rather than cotton.

The slightly hairy texture adds to the insulation qualities and repells rain, and mud-splats brush off without a trace when dried.

I believe it can get a bit chilly in your part of the US in winter, and breezy too, but I have long kept a WWI era army kilt for exactly the same use as you describe as my preference for winter use here in Scotland - when our usual sub-tropical climate gives way to Arctic conditions.

The great thing about army kilts is that they are available in a huge variety of sizes and usually retain their sizing label - the older ones have their size given in imperial measures, along with their date of manufacture and the date of the style used. The tell-tale sign is the pale green top-edge binding.

Check out British eBay (ebay.co.uk rather than ebay.com) as listings are often invisible on other versions of the platform - there seems to be a regular supply of this kind of thing: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146059280753 but finding your size might involve playing a waiting game.

[Dukbrand]

but finding your size might involve playing a waiting game.

I'm 6'5" tall, I might be waiting for awhile. Is ebay the only place for military kilts?

[Liam]

Have a look at the What Price Glory kilts....
Page 1 - WhatPriceGlory.com

[Liam]

Have a look at the What Price Glory kilts....
Page 1 - WhatPriceGlory.com

I checked their site and they are out of stock.... too bad .... they used to have a large range of sizes....

[OC Richard]

Have a look at the What Price Glory kilts....
Page 1 - WhatPriceGlory.com

I bought one of those once, and returned it immediately.

In photos they resemble traditional military kilts but in person don't resemble them in any way.

First, they're crudely made on the Indian Subcontinent.

Second, the fabric doesn't resemble actual UK kilting cloth in the slightest. Even 9 or 10 ounce UK-woven wool has more substance. The fabric has a thin flimsy feel, like those plaid shirts from India. Somehow they've found a way to make thicker fabric equally flimsy.

Oddest of all is the fabric's waxy feel, I can't think of another way to put it into words.

Thing is, in my younger and far slimmer days I owned a couple actual military kilts, and over the years have examined a hundred or so others, so I'm quite familiar with their fabric and construction.

Also several years ago I had House of Edgar make me a military-spec kilt from their MOD weight cloth, which was very close to the vintage military kilts I'd worn.

[Liam]

OCR... everyone is entitled to their option. I have had a WPG kilt for years. I only wear it in Winter because of the warmth.
After reading your lengthy comments regarding it, I did a search of what others here at the forum think. ....very different opinion.

[Steve Ashton]

"An important thing to remember about army kilts, is that they are made to NATO specification, so will withstand the rigours of combat - or that's the idea."

The last time the kilt was worn in Combat was 25th of May 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk.
Since, the kilt has been totally ceremonial. Today's MOD kilts are designed and manufactured, not to NATO spec. but to British MOD spec., for parade.

[Troglodyte]

"An important thing to remember about army kilts, is that they are made to NATO specification, so will withstand the rigours of combat - or that's the idea."

The last time the kilt was worn in Combat was 25th of May 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk.
Since, the kilt has been totally ceremonial. Today's MOD kilts are designed and manufactured, not to NATO spec. but to British MOD spec., for parade.

You are right about the military kilt being mainly ceremonial, and that it has long since been abandoned as combat wear, but you are mistaken about the NATO specification of its manufacture.

The NATO number given on the maker's labal is there to show that it conforms to the relevant NATO garment specification, which is to a minimum standard. Indeed, all British Army clothing (including the ceremonial-only dress uniforms such as those worn by the Household Cavalry) are made NATO specification - whatever that may be. Whilst the kilt and dress uniforms are no longer ideal for combat, they are still made to active service standards.

Additionally, the manufacturers are obliged to show their processes and quality controls meet NATO (and therefore MoD) standards, so that they can produce to the stipulated specification. NATO spec' can be seen as something like ISO spec' for military needs.

Britain has been a member of NATO since its formation, and MoD specifications (in order to comply with Britain's NATO obligations) are conseuquently the same as NATO. How could it be otherwise?

It is easy to verify. The NATO number shown on the maker's label in the kilt has a corresponding manufacturing standard of quality - which shows the kilt is made to NATO specification for the army-issue kilt. This number also shows that it meets MoD standards as you would expect. The MoD publish detailed information on this, which is an aid to both manufaturing suppliers and surplus-buyers alike.

I believe you are only partially right about the date the kilt was last worn in battle. Officially, the Highland regiments had been de-kilted (for combat roles) and modernised during the 1930s, but records show that various elements and units failed to return to home base or receive the replacement issue before hostilities involved them in live action. I understand a unit of the Camerons went stright from one overseas posting to another without returning to the UK, and their kilt replacements failed to reach them before they were in action against the Japanese in the Far East a year or more after the date you mention.

[Dukbrand]

Have a look at the What Price Glory kilts....
Page 1 - WhatPriceGlory.com

I contacted them to ask wen they will be back in stock. Unfortunately they are discontinued.

[Troglodyte]

I'm 6'5" tall, I might be waiting for awhile. Is ebay the only place for military kilts?

There are many army-surplus outlets in the UK, but eBay is probably seen by more people than individual websites - which is why there is a good range of listings by surplus sellers.

You height might limit the options available, but if you were to look for 195-196 on the size label (the corresponding metric size for 6'5") you could be lucky - it's often the above and below average sizes that make it to surplus sales.

Be sure to check you waist and seat (breech) in metric also, as the three measurements are given on the kilt.

It is worth remembering that military kilts are made with a high rise at the waist (often higher than a large portion of civilian kilties like to wear them) and longer at the knee, so you might get a good fit with a height measurement slightly shorter - say 6'3" or 190cm. It is unlikely you will find a pre-1960 kilt made for your height.

An important thing to remember about army kilts, is that they are made to NATO specification, so will withstand the rigours of combat - or that's the idea. So, as hard-wearing action clothing, there is no better kilt. And the current model is made with the military roll pleat (a bit like a box-pleat) which has the edge turned back to meet the edge of the previous pleat so as to make a neat, flat pleated section - comfortable for sitting and driving.