but baby, it's cold outside....

[Blu (Ontario)]

The goal of wearing kilts full time above the 40th is certainly noble if possibly a bit idealistic as our climate swings from tropical to sub-arctic every 6 months or so. I have worn my heavyweight 8yarder in -35degF and blizzard conditions. Frankly it was damm cold! Calm winter days 0degF to 32F are fine... fall and spring are good too... but it's important to let a bit of common sense be your guide on those really bitter days. I am not and never will be a full time kilt wearer... I'm too much of a pragmatist for that. (As men, we still have the option of wearing trousers any time we want.) Probably not what you wanted to hear but that's my take on the subject.

cheers,
blu

[Dreadbelly]

Blu, you need one of those 22 ounce wool military kilts from whatpriceisglory.com :razz:

A blizzard would be a balmy delightful day.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Blu, you need one of those 22 ounce wool military kilts from whatpriceisglory.com :razz:

A blizzard would be a balmy delightful day.

Hey Dread... you realize of course that your stomping grounds is where our guys go in the middle of our winter to play golf!

Yah, I've looked at those military kilts... the fabric looks a bit prickly for my taste!

bbbbblu

[Dreadbelly]

Hey Dread... you realize of course that your stomping grounds is where our guys go in the middle of our winter to play golf!

Yah, I've looked at those military kilts... the fabric looks a bit prickly for my taste!

bbbbblu

Bbbbbut those kilts, as I understand, have some sort of lining, so the itchy parts wouldn't rub you. I think.

In the winter here, where I live, we get ICE STORMS. We get some snow and such... But the ice storms are the real *** kickers. Sub zero temps, 40 to 60 mph winds, and shards of razor sharp ice blowing down from the sky. Below zero, with wind chill, and shards of ice. Not a friendly place for kilt wearing or golf. We get 5 or 6 inches of solid encrusted ice coating everything... NAS-TEE.

Last winter, had to go out and get some food. Power was out because of an ice storm. While I was out, more of the storm blew in. Coming home was hell. Got a nasty gash on my face from an incoming ice shard. I was beat up three ways to Sunday from being pelted with golf ball sized sleet in 50+ mph winds.

And I did it all kilted, wearing my USAKilts Philabeg. Security guard for my building said it was the ballsiest thing she had ever seen.

When I got in the door, all my dreadlocks were frozen solid and sticking out.

And never once did I think about wearing troosers.

[Archangel]

Bbbbbut those kilts, as I understand, have some sort of lining, so the itchy parts wouldn't rub you. I think.

In the winter here, where I live, we get ICE STORMS. We get some snow and such... But the ice storms are the real *** kickers. Sub zero temps, 40 to 60 mph winds, and shards of razor sharp ice blowing down from the sky. Below zero, with wind chill, and shards of ice. Not a friendly place for kilt wearing or golf. We get 5 or 6 inches of solid encrusted ice coating everything... NAS-TEE.

Last winter, had to go out and get some food. Power was out because of an ice storm. While I was out, more of the storm blew in. Coming home was hell. Got a nasty gash on my face from an incoming ice shard. I was beat up three ways to Sunday from being pelted with golf ball sized sleet in 50+ mph winds.

And I did it all kilted, wearing my USAKilts Philabeg. Security guard for my building said it was the ballsiest thing she had ever seen.

When I got in the door, all my dreadlocks were frozen solid and sticking out.

And never once did I think about wearing troosers.

let one of the golfers rent your place and come up here for a walk with us mid-January. Picture we'd look like something between the three wise men and Sav's t-shirt.

arggh, can't believe I'm really inviting Dreadbelly to visit.

[Dreadbelly]

let one of the golfers rent your place and come up here for a walk with us mid-January. Picture we'd look like something between the three wise men and Sav's t-shirt.

arggh, can't believe I'm really inviting Dreadbelly to visit.

The bad part was, it was kinda sunny when I started. It was about 30 degrees. I thought I could make it to the store before the storms started again. Power was out in the store too, but they had a genny and were selling emergency supplies.

Right as I was about to open the door to the store, a gust of extremely cold wind gusted and the sky started turning black as sackcloth.

It takes me 10 whole minutes to walk to the store, and a little longer to get back because the return trek is uphill. It took me a full HOUR to get home that day. During that time, temps went below zero, windchill set in, and all hell broke loose.

I don't ever want to get caught in something like that again. I couldn't see a foot in front of me face.

[Archangel]

The bad part was, it was kinda sunny when I started. It was about 30 degrees. I thought I could make it to the store before the storms started again. Power was out in the store too, but they had a genny and were selling emergency supplies.

Right as I was about to open the door to the store, a gust of extremely cold wind gusted and the sky started turning black as sackcloth.

It takes me 10 whole minutes to walk to the store, and a little longer to get back because the return trek is uphill. It took me a full HOUR to get home that day. During that time, temps went below zero, windchill set in, and all hell broke loose.

I don't ever want to get caught in something like that again. I couldn't see a foot in front of me face.

so for comparison, Blu, Robert, help me out. That would be every day this past January well into February. The difference would be that the temperature would start at -10C and get down to -20, and we haven't started counting the windchill. I think if you wore a kilt in that, you wouldn't be able to pee for about an hour after, if you get my drift.

[bubba]

I wore kilts all last winter with no problem. My knees got a bit chilled a time or two but otherwise was plenty comfortable enough and I'm just a bit south of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

[MacConnachie]

I wore kilts all last winter with no problem. My knees got a bit chilled a time or two but otherwise was plenty comfortable enough and I'm just a bit south of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

I figured someone would bring them up. Keeping the knees from becoming two bony icicles is my biggest challenge when wearing kilts on cold days. The best thing about being in a pipe band? The pipers won't generally play if the temperature outside is less than 40 degrees F., because it plays hob with the condensate in the pipe bags turning quickly to moisture of a consistency that makes it hard to keep the pipes tuned. However, this past St. Paddy's Day, we marched in 35 degree F. weather, and the saving grace was that the wind had quit blowing and the snow falling by step-off time, to the point that with the sun coming out, it wasn't too bad.

As to colder days (end of January, Rob't. Burns Nicht, for instance), the previous advice about wearing a warm cap, coat and gloves definitely applies. Scurrying from the warm house to the warmed-up vehicle to the warm venue is also key. Walking around outside when it's much below freezing is something you must plan for in advance. If the need arises, stopping in a sheltered doorway to rub the knees is a good idea. And if you wear ghillie brogues with the kilt? Galoshes or rubber overshoes are definitely in order, even with wool kilt hose. Otherwise, you're just courting an opportunity to make yourself miserable.

The coldest parade I've been in? It was about 17 degrees F., with a north wind blowing up the street and up you-know-where, on a very snowy and cold St. Paddy's about 4 years ago. The pipers were waiting patiently indoors at the first post-parade venue. I was the ONLY kilted character in that rather brief, and VERRRY cold parade.

If one MUST stand in one place for very long in cold weather, keeping the knees together -- with a bit of the kilt's under apron caught between them -- serves to keep the knees, thighs and other parts from experiencing a strong cooling effect, particularly if there is a breeze a-blowin'.

[Raphael]

As long as you keep your torso warm, you should be okay. your knee cap is all bone anyway, and can be kept warm if you are constantly moving