Alternative to Hiking Trousers

[Cavebear58]

OK guys. You've a lot more experience of this so give me some pointers...

I have always wanted to wear the kilt for moderate day walking in a variety of temperatures. I bought a WPG but found that, even in the bitter cold in Edinburgh last year, I was SWELTERING.

So, I invested in a Kinloch Anderson in a 13oz. This is still a little heavy for dress events, but at least I'm not moving around too much in it. (You've guessed right - I'm not a dancer!) Fantastic heirloom for the kids I shall have one of these days (heck at 50 there's life in the old feller yet, though they may not be out of nappies before they inherit it)!

But I still don't have something that is a good substitute for my shorts (in the summer) and jeans/tracksters (in the winter).

Price IS an issue - I want something that can be thrown around, climbing stiles and sitting on the ground - and really don't have any spare dosh right now. Besides, if I would normally spend no more than £15 on a pair of shorts, why spend a £100+ on a budget kilt?

I'm toying with a basic off the shelf PV kilt but can't decide which supplier to go for. PLEASE bear in mind I'm in the UK and really don't want to deplete the ozone layer buying something from Pakistan, imported to the US and then exported again, nor do I fancy paying the duty that these things always attract.

So tips, ideas, solutions, please?

Thanks, Graham.

[Spartan]

Sport Kilt makes a microfiber hiking specific kilt for $79.50 US.

http://www.sportkilt.com/departments....cfm?afid=1003

[McNulty]

I realize that you may not want to go this route, but SWK has the product you are looking for, at the right price, but they are here and you are there. I have several SWK standards that I use exclusively for hiking out here in Colorado because of their versatility. They hold up well and I can use them for all but the coldest, snowiest days.

Late Spring in Colorado


Late Fall in Colorado


Late Spring in Arizona


Summer in Colorado


Nulty

[Riverkilt]

Utilikilt just made a foray through the UK. The Utilikilt Survival is my favorite for hiking.

I believe the folks at Union Kilts there in the UK make similar contemporary kilts.



This is the black UK Survival, I'm hung up on a high ledge coming down Cathedral Wash into Marble Canyon.



Here's the basil on the trail into Havasupai. What I really like is the ability to carry water in the cargo pockets. Having the weight of the water lower - not on my back- and hanging free of my leg motion, really helps here in the high desert where hiking means packing a lot of water.

Ron

[caig]

I often wear a 4 yard 13oz wool hillwalker kilt from Hector Russell, or a 6 yard 13oz wool from Geoffrey (Tailor) of Edinburgh and both work very well. The hillwalker is a little light in a wind !!

I also have a 6 yard polyviscose in camouflage from Geoffrey (Tailor) which is excellent in the summer.

[siva011]

ebay.uk might turn up some deals that would be shipped from the UK (ie no import fees). Of if you go the pakistani route it would be direct to UK and not Mid-East to US to UK.

If you were in the US I would also recommend SWK, but you would pay higher shipping and maybe import fees.

Do you have a price limit on import fees in the UK? ie don't pay import on less than x amount?

[thescot]

I have a very handy 5 yd in 13 oz which I wear a lot in the summer time. (I am very hot natured, too.) It's not bad at all. But it is wool, and I am not about to be getting it muddy or anything.

As for knocking around, SWK has the low end kilt that sells for about $30 US or less, I think that's about £20 or so. You can't beat it mucking out stalls or something, it's very light, and you can wash it. Heck, at that price, you can buy several and save on shipping.

[The Barry]

I would recommend either SWK or UK.

As stated before, UK is now in, well, the UK. For my money, SWK is the way to go, but you might find an alternative in a kiltmaker that is based in or has an office in the UK.

[macwilkin]

Post deleted.

[Macman]

Have you checked out Union Kilts, Graham? They're on your side of the pond and I think Alex and Hamish own some of their product.