Kilting in the cold

[arrogcow]

Never been in a wind that caused the air pocket to be eliminated (during the winter - spsring/summer winds different story), but that's because I wear the my heavier kilts. however even if it was, it would only be marginally colder than air whistiling through your legs while wearing jeans.

As for coats. The two I wear come to mid calf, so what ever length that is.

Story from last winter. My wife and I were coming home from somewhere late one night. A snow storm earlier that week was causing us to park at the local highschool about 1/2 mile away. I dropped her off at home, parked, walked home, then walked back to the car when I realized I had left a 4 pk of Guinness in the car, then back home. I was wearing my PK, Long coat (it is cashmeire), sweat shirt, Kilt hose, hiking boots and a hat. Watching the news that night (shortly after we got home) I was informed that th Temp was 7F and with the wind chill was well below 0

[Lee]

My personal cold-weather record, here in Ottawa, Canada, is -32 C (minimal wind-chill effect, mind you).
I found my 8-yd wool 'tank' quite comfortable, with 3/4 length leather coat, standard kilt hose, and 8" leather boots. Much warmer than any of the dress pants I would have worn in my previous incarnation.

Lee

[Wompet]

I've gone regimental snowshoeing in 10 oz. sport-kilt in 20 F temperatures. And for that I have had to dress light up top to keep from overheating and sweating, because the kilt is so warm.

I would tell my friends and coworkers in southwest Texas this, and they wouldn't believe me. So last January I had my one brother take a picture of me kilted outdoors with the temperature at 20 F. I had on my 13 oz 4-yd kilt, lightweight wool socks, insulated boots, gaiters (to keep the snow out of the boots), t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, jacket, light gloves, and head-wrap. My brother was dressed similarly, but with pants. All I felt was a cool breeze against the back of my knees. He was ... a little colder. After the photos, he went back inside and I took my dog for a half-hour walk.

I have one thing that concerns me more when I'm wearing a kilt versus pants in the winter: postholing. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, that's when you take a step, your foot breaks through the crust, and your leg follows it down like a fencepost into its hole.

[Andrew Breecher]

I'm worried about postholing in the Sierra this coming spring, but not too worried. I know many people who hike through the snow there in shorts, so my kilt and tall gaiters won't be so out of place. Actually, what I'm much more worried about is reflected snow sunburns while wearing a kilt....

Andrew.

[Freedomlover]

My question is this, what kind of kilt do you find the most comfortable in cold weather?
I refer to material (pure worsted wool/ blends etc), weight and perhaps accessories such as woolen kilt hose.
What are you really warm and snug in?

I hike the Blue Ridge Mountains year round and when the temperature falls below 40F the best choice is, by far, wool, and the more the better. I have a variety of "modern" kilts in all sorts of materials and they are just the thing for warm weather but none of them are habitable when it gets really cold. 24+ feet of fine wool gets it done. Last winter I hiked the Art Loeb trail up Cold Mountain (yes, the one the movie was named for, which is 10 mile from my home) with the temperature at the top -5F. No problem. Of course heavy gauge kilt hose and good upper body and head covering are essential to retain core heat.

[Andrew Breecher]

Wool kilt hose are necessary as the temperature approaches freezing. I generally wear them below 50°F, but not always. When I hike in the cold I'll wear knee-high gaiters to keep snow out, and accomplish the same as kilt hose. If I'm backpacking, I'll just wear the gaiters; if I'm only out on a day hike I might wear kilt hose beneath the gaiters.

I've worn a four-yard PV kilt in 0°F weather, and it's fine as long as you're moving around. Then again, in that temperature you'll be cold no matter what, so it doesn't matter much if you're wearing a lighter or heavier kilt. Get inside by a warm fire, you nut!

Andrew.

[Owl of Oban]

Wool kilt hose are necessary as the temperature approaches freezing. I generally wear them below 50°F, but not always. When I hike in the cold I'll wear knee-high gaiters to keep snow out, and accomplish the same as kilt hose. If I'm backpacking, I'll just wear the gaiters; if I'm only out on a day hike I might wear kilt hose beneath the gaiters.

*snip*
Get inside by a warm fire, you nut!

Andrew.

Many thanks Andrew for the gaiter link. I'd been needing to find a pair for this winter and here you've done all the work for me!
Planning on doing a lot of snowshoeing and cross-country this winter and these along with my 8yd-16oz tank should just do the trick. :-D

And yes, nothing better than letting the snow melt off your beard by a roaring fire, a little of the Oban single malt swirling about in a glass.

Cheers!

[Southern Breeze]

Wool kilt hose are necessary as the temperature approaches freezing. I generally wear them below 50°F, but not always. When I hike in the cold I'll wear knee-high gaiters to keep snow out, and accomplish the same as kilt hose. If I'm backpacking, I'll just wear the gaiters; if I'm only out on a day hike I might wear kilt hose beneath the gaiters.

I've worn a four-yard PV kilt in 0°F weather, and it's fine as long as you're moving around. Then again, in that temperature you'll be cold no matter what, so it doesn't matter much if you're wearing a lighter or heavier kilt. Get inside by a warm fire, you nut!

Andrew.

Off topic but still useful.Gaiters are also useful when doing yardwork and you want to protect your legs-opearating a string trimmer,edger or around shrubbery,tall grass or anything that can stick,cut or scratch.REI is where I get mine.
I'm heading toward my first winter kilted and I've gotten a lot of good info here.