You might want to re-think the UK for hiking/backpacking. UK's are made of mostly cotton and cotton doesn't work to well in nasty weather. If you only go out in nice weather, then it would be fine. But if you're backpacking and the weather turns on you, I don't think the UK will offer you the protection that wool or PV would. And for what you pay for some of the UK models, I think you could get two casuals in PV from USAKilts.