Lightweight and cool kilt for backpacking

[Shay]

Mountain Hardware sells a Mountain Kilt- a couple people here have said it's a little skirtlike, but you may want to check it out.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/acti...layStyle?id=39

[Andrew Breecher]

Mountain Hardware sells a Mountain Kilt- a couple people here have said it's a little skirtlike, but you may want to check it out.

It's a lot skirtlike - the only kilt-like thing about it is in the name. It wraps once around the waist, with the aprons crossing in the front, but with no pleats at all, so it hangs smoothly all the way around. It is, in essence, a short, khaki sarong. In this photo the men on the ends of the line are both wearing the Mountain Hardwear "kilt." Most of the others (except for me, in the brown tartan and red shirt) are wearing Sport Kilts. All of these people are long-distance hikers.

However, I've seen people wear them and be happy and comfortable, so if it floats your boat, go for it!

Andrew.

[Alan H]

Y'all have got me thinking. I'm going to have 4 yards of canvas material left over when I make my "contemporary kilt". maybe I should turn out my version of the ideal backpakcing kilt.

I have to say that I seriously like the idea of a kilt for long-distance hiking. I just haven't tried it.

Yet.

[Andrew Breecher]

Y'all have got me thinking. I'm going to have 4 yards of canvas material left over when I make my "contemporary kilt". maybe I should turn out my version of the ideal backpakcing kilt.

The problem with canvas is that it's cotton, and as every backpacker knows, "cotton kills" - that is, when it gets wet it stays wet, and when the temperature drops the cotton gets cold. Wool is traditionally a great outdoors material, because although it takes a long time to dry, while it's wet it remains warm, holding in your core temperature. Poly/viscose material works the same way, remaining warm while wet. It also dries while you wear it; usually I found it dry an hour after it stopped raining. I wore my P/V kilt through blizzards (three of them), rainstorms (too many to count), hailstorms (generally only last half an hour or so), river fords (deep enough to make all men equal), bitterly cold, and blisteringly hot weather. I certainly wasn't any colder or warmer (respectively) than anyone else I was hiking with, and I convinced several others to change to the kilt (mostly the Sport Kilt, because of its non-existant wait time, and cheap price).

In terms of weight, a kilt is always going to be heavier than shorts, or even trousers. There's no way around that. But worn weight distributes itself very well, as opposed to carried weight, or weight on your feet. I'm always amazed at how many people fret about how much weight they have in their pack, and then wear five-pound hiking boots. I'll never hike in anything but running shoes. And a kilt.

Andrew.

[Bill]

Andrew that is a spectacular picture! Does make me homesick for the mountains (lived for ten+ years in Wyoming never more than 15 miles from a mountain range and bliss). Sigh.

Bill

[boyd32450]

Have you checked out Utilikilts' new synthetic "Spartan" kilt. It may be just what you are looking for.

[James]

Though wearing a regular weight kilt for walking-whilst it might feel heavy to the hand-once on it never feels heavy. Too the close weave makes it waterproof when it rains.

However it is well to wear it no longer then the top of the kneecaps-otherwise there can be the effect of dragging upon one's stride.

However wilst a traditional kilt is ecellent for the British/European hills with their ample rainfall-the thought of a wet canvas or lightweight kilt fill me with horror-for it would be so uncomfortable-dangerous too. However there might be other arguments in a drier country.

James

[Riverkilt]

Hey Roy, I'm with Andrew. I hike a lot in my SportKilts...they're light weight and readily available... The new construction options offer a more kilt-like look than the ones I paid for. I was impressed...

Ron

[Shay]

I got the supplex skirt, and at least at this weight, it's way too light for a man's kilt. The whole thing, down to my ankles, is about 10 oz*- great for me, (and they do make a men's macabi if you care) but if it were shorter I'd be pulling a very rugged and outdoorsy Marilyn Monroe at random gusts of wind.

Still, if you could find the fabric in a heavier weight, (or think the pleats would hold it down) it dires nicely as advertised, since my son spilled juice on me and I had to spot wash it- cleans up nice too.

*Yes, I managed to fold into the pocket as advertised and weighed it on our food scale.

[James]

A major question must be the prevailing weather-here in the UK much of my walking seemed to happen when it was raining-just stopped or just about to start.

For this I found a regular kilt [not sure of the actual weight-16-18oz] ideal: the rain tended not to get through-even when for days on end: and wool when wet is much warmer than cotton. I tried walking breeches-much less comfortable and really needed waterproof overtrousers-so rain outside condensation in.

Also if walking for several days in rain-breeches could chafe horribly.

Too when walking in braxcken/heather, even on dry days the legs could get wet from dew-residual water-and it is easy to change socks.

The windchill/wicking effect made cotton/jean type garments an absolute no: a real killer on the hill.

However if the prevailing weather had been hot and sunny-then maybe a light cotton kilt would have been the answer.

I suppose the only real answer would be a chain of porters carring a range of kilts to suit the weather of the moment. However there is no real answer-for so much depends on the moment-for the weather changes so much in the hills: and I cannot comment upon the USA-but for here in the UK the kilt is certainly the best all round option.

James