Shorts versus the kilt

[GDub]

On hot Northern California days (of which we've had none since October!), I'll usually wear my camo UK and flip flops. Hell, if it's even close to warm around the homestead I'm in my camo and flops--rarely shorts, unless I'm doing some dirty work out in the garden. The camo UKs are 100% cotton, very lightweight (much lighter fabric than the other models), and they don't wrinkle like crazy after 10 minutes of wear. Likewise, USAK PV casuals and semi trads are very comfy in the heat. I've played a lot of hot summer gigs in my USAKs--they are the sh*te!

[CDNSushi]

Agreed -- I too wear a kilt to be comfortable. That means forgoing the heavy, wool traditional and grabbing the light, cool 4-yarder. It also means not wearing heavy hose, and leaving the wide kilt belt at home too (waist gets ridiculously sweaty). I also keep the sporran contents light.

My preferred summer attire is actually my Utilikilt with a T-shirt, and some sandals. Regular socks and shoes if the occasion calls for it... Kilt hose if I'm doing outdoorsy stuff.

Here's me during a somewhat rainy, summer hike through a forest (here in Japan) last year. Everything is layered so I can adapt to changes in temperature quickly. That, perhaps is the key to anything:



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[artificer]

I do have to 'own up' to (rather a staggering number) of cargo shorts. Ever since I chopped off an old pair of BDUs that had finally given up the ghost 'round the knees (through all layers) I was hooked. It took a few years more before they were really available commercially, but once they were I was as hooked as an idiot pan fish that's been thrown back three times and keeps going for the same hook.

In my defence, the cargo pockets are immensely helpful as the dad of a small child.

As I break down my wife's resistance, I plan on replacing more of my shorts with kilts

[O'Callaghan]

I wear different weight/fabric/yardage kilts depending on the weather. As for hose, I wear football (soccer) socks, as I tend to regard 'proper' hose as overpriced, and I'm not averse to pushing them down if my legs are too hot. In the comfort of my own home I don't wear any socks atall in hot weather.

I don't like shorts much, but I fail to see how they could be cooler as they offer less ventilation, all else being equal. OTOH, if you only ever wear an 8yd 16oz wool kilt, then perhaps shorts might be cooler than that.

Until recently I didn't own a kilt belt, but I just bought two of them (identical, one black, one brown). One of my kilts (FC 13oz, although most people think that weight is not accurate) is a bit too large, and I was thinking that wearing a belt would help hold it up, but it is one of my lightest weight (thinnest!) kilts, and I hadn't thought about a kilt belt making me hotter. I was thinking of wearing this to an event in August, when it is sure to be hot, but probably I should try this combination out to see if the belt might make me too hot around the waist.

[OC Richard]

4 yard casual kilt, belt and sporran, flip-flops

that's what we in SoCal called zorries in 1960's.

I think the people of the Land of Oz call them thongs, which means a very different thing here! (Something worn by an "exotic dancer"...)

Ditch the belt and I'm with you! I hate wearing a belt over the kilt.

[toadinakilt]

I vastly prefer my Xkilt over shorts, even though I have 4 or 5 pairs of shorts. Shorts get bunchy when you're squatting down, and are constrictive.

[wildrover]

Sounds like I need a lighter kilt, to go with this big 'un ...and some lighter hose, too.

[Rob Wright]

Today I returned to the middle school where i student taught at. It was Filed Day, the morning was spent with all the students going around and competing against each other. I went so I could harass, I mean cheer on, the students I taught. I wore my Douglas Modern tank, a white 100% linen shirt, hose, belt, and sporran. Temps reached 90F by the time it was over and the humidity was in the mid 20's. I used SPF 70 sunscreen and had my golf umbrella that I used.
The only part of me that got hot was where my belt was, the two aprons and the belt made things a bit...toasty.

Here are a couple of pics after Field Day to give you an idea of my ensemble. The movement of the pleats actually created a nice airflow.





Rob

[Downunder Kilt]

O C Richard, glad you brought up "the thongs". Here in OZ flip flops are called thongs (notice the plural term). As in your country, if your wearing a thong (singular) you wouldbe, to my way of thinking, high stepping with a wedgie.

[artificer]

I just got back from a chum's birthday party. It was about 90*f here today, with ~60% humidity. I wore my 8yd pv, and even in the un-air-conditioned flat I was as cool or cooler than the rest.