Wind and casual kilts

[John_Carrick]

I have never really had a problem with a 16 Oz wool kilt, apart from on the deck of ship, where I had to resort to keeping my back to a wall or railing or sit or walk like the Duke of Edinburgh with your hands behind your back.
I have had some problems with Heritage of Scotland kilts. One 5 yard kilt that was supposed to 13Oz does a Marilyn in modest wind speeds and the 8 yd PV kilts blow everywhere and show everything with very little provocation.

[Spartan Tartan]

I used to live in OKC as well. In fact, I lived there couple summers ago when we had 100+ days of 100+ temps...and of course, lots of wind.

I have tried SK and USAK. If you are talking about doing athletics of any sort, I would pick the USAK with the teflon coated finish. They launder very well and are much better fitting and looking than SK (to my eye). Certainly, they have the benefit of being made to your measures which ensures a better fit.

However, if you are seeking a lighter kilt due to heat then that is another matter. During the previously stated summer, I wore a USAK 5 yard kilt. It was much heavier weight than their casual or even SK. But, you might be surprised to know that I was never "hot" due to the kilt. There are other threads here that discuss this particular topic as well. My experience is that the warmth under the kilt is related to the AMOUNT of material not the weight of the material. After experiencing this first hand, I quickly dumped my non-wool kilts. Anything else is just too light and does not feel right to me.

My 5yd kilt (no kilt pin) never gave me a problem when walking around in the wind. Of course, you must bear in mind that you are kilted and NOT wearing pants. There is nothing you can wear or do that will keep the kilt permanently down. You do have to be aware of what is happening and be prepared to grab your kilt. 40mph winds (not unusual for gusts of that type in OKC) are going to raise any kilt. The sporran will help in the front, however be mindful of the pleats in the rear.

And my 5yd kilt is the knock-about kilt. I don't worry about it. I have/do hike in it. I do go to the pub with little to no concern. And, if I decided to throw a caber, I would use it as well. Price is an important factor, but for the cost of a hand-made (machine sewn), tailored kilt made to your specifications, at the price point offered by USAK, there really is no comparison. I recommend getting your kilt in the 5yd wool.

[Hiburnicus]

You could try attaching some lead fishing weights around the bottom edge of the kilt....I have a casual kilt and have had these problems in heavy/gusty wind, and this is one solution I thought up.

[Chaps]

I have a Sport Kilt Hiking kilt as well as a USA Casual kilt. As said previously, the USA Casual is substantially heavier than the SK. I have had a problem with the hiking kilt in the wind even with a sporran and never had a problem with the USA Casual even out in the wind. The SK may be better in very hot weather due to the lighter weight; however, I try to make sure I am hiking in more isolated areas if the wind is up. Also, while I think it is possible to dress up the USA Casual kilt, I would never wear the SK for anything other than hiking, running, or wearing around the house on hot days.

[OC Richard]

Being a piper, the trouble is that you have both hands occupied playing the pipes when the wind blows up your kilt! There's nothing you can do about it.

I've piped in wind so strong that it blew my 16oz wool kilt straight up, so strong that it was difficult to stand while playing. The culprit is a local cemetery that's located in a valley that works like a wind tunnel when our dreaded Santa Ana winds are blowing. Luckily the cemetery has statues all over, which I have to hide behind while playing.

My oversize heavy sporran helps: at least the middle of the front apron stays down, but the rest blows right up.

In the canyons, during Santa Anas, you can have sustained wind of around 40mph with gusts around 70mph. Gusts up to 115mph have been recorded.