tights ?

[macwilkin]

myself, I'd put jeans on before I'd put tights on.
traditionally, kilted highlanders wore kilts all winter. I remember being required to wear shorts all winter in elementary school in Scotland. Is that still the case?
four winters of trench warfare, and the only real changes in kit would be greatcoat and hat. There's little literature on the cold vs non-kilted soldier. There's some on anti-frostbite salve for knees invented by the VC with bar doctor.
Some pictures of Red River valley, Alberta, settlers with kilts in winter.
Doesn't really tell you much, does it?

I understand Scotland has colder winters than it did in my childhood. I remember them as brighter because the "rain" was white and reflected light as opposed to the usual grey. But then I'm photophobic anyway, like the Douglas thing.

There is some evidence that Highlanders stationed in North America during the French & Indian War wore Native American wool leggings under their kilts (these leggings are knee-high with braided "flashes" to hold them up); there is a picture of such an outfit in Stuart Reid's "18th Century Highlanders" by Osprey Publishing.

And then of course, George VI on his visit to Scotland in 1822 reportedly wore pink or flesh-coloured tight under his kilt! ;) (NOTE: TOUNGE FIRMLY PLANTED IN-CHEEK!)

I've worn my kilts through many winters with just traditional kilt hose, and really, I've never been that cold -- the knees are all bone anyway. :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd