Mountain Hardwear Elkommando review

[kiltedfarmer]

Excellent. Moosejaw has them for $59.99 (thu XL), with free shipping.

[shawhighlander]

I have been an avid Mountain Hardwear fan for years, in fact, have known two of the Reps personally for years. But, for those who have been frequently hitting their sight for updates, I feel they did and injustice by not revealing "any" information that this kilt was even in the works.

Glad to know someone is on top of their game.
Thanks for the exceptional update ggibby! ith:

[ggibby]

I'm a medium in pretty much everything Mountain Hardwear makes,
and my Elkommando is a touch roomy- it would ride just at my hips if I let it.

As mentioned earlier, mine is a pre-production sample, so maybe they've snugged it down...

[Larry124]

I have an XL, and a Large EK on the way.
Price + utility = value. These are fairly priced in my opinion.

I wear kilts at home, but my primary use is while camping at a dozen or more music festivals and camp-out house parties – Folk and Bluegrass. Folk is hippy-dippy, people hardly notice a kilt of any kind.
Bluegrass is more conservative – I wear tartan, or trousers if I’m not in the mood for campsites with (groups of) drunken bullies.

I’m an “until the wee small hours” guitar player so although I often wear kilts by day, I have the most fun with kilts by night – evening concerts and campfires. The weather is warm and humid, with an occasional thunderstorm around, as they say. Anything cooler and I’ll wear a USAK PV Casual.

I often travel with clunker kilts to offer as loaners – a fair number of gents take the bait and become enlightened, (and as you well know) particularly when the ladies like it.

I’m between sizes, say 39” waist in May to 36” by September, because I’m much more active and attentive to diet from Spring to Fall.

My other lightweight contemporary kilts are AmeriKilt, Sport Kilt Hiking, and Sport Kilt Tropical -- comfortable, attractive and useful.

I’ve had to cinch-up the EK XL until there is a little waist bunching. The hip room is more than adequate. The length on my XL example is 23” which is fine for my six foot height although I do wear shorter.

Material: I have cargo shorts in a similar material and I love the light weight, fast-dry, and packability. The color is fine – who doesn’t like an honest dark olive-brown?

Waist: The belt is too narrow, and I’ll worry about breaking the buckle clip. I’d prefer Velcro and/or belt loops.

Snaps: With a belt I’d just as well have no snaps. I special-ordered my AmeriKilts without snaps and have had no wardrobe malfunctions. The snap at the bottom of the EK apron is useless.

Pockets: Sufficient for my needs – paper and paper money and guitar picks etc. I carry wallet and keys in a sporran or waist pack or leave in a safe off-person location.

Because of the lower set of snaps and the “half way round the back” pockets, the EK is better designed for walking and standing than for sitting.

Unless the waist is worn higher in the back the pocket tops are not level.

No regrets. The EK is ideal for my comfort and (ultra) casual use.
Will update when the Large arrives.

[Larry124]

See my review of a size XL EK above.

Might we christen them Elks? Elkos?

The size Large arrived three days early today from Moosejaw – a company with a unique sense of humor. Package stickers proclaim: “Sealed with a Kiss”, and “No Knife -- Use Teeth.” That’s my kind of folks.

One of the small tensions in life is being between (waist) sizes; determined to maintain and improve on the smaller size, and apprehensive about achievement (via indulgence and inattention) of the larger size.

The large fits perfect on the skin. Too perfect. If I gain as much as an inch of waist (and I will by Spring next), or tuck-in a shirt, the kilt will be tight. Or if it shrinks in the laundry -- does “nylon canvas” shrink?

I am happy to be able to have one in each size, L and XL.

The length of the L appears to be about a half inch shorter than the XL.

Expected use: So long as the weather in my local remains hot and humid, and very hot and humid, these will be my first choice at home and for campground casual.

I will email Mountain Hardwear. If they added a light khaki color I’d buy more.

Yes disclaimer. My most recent kilt is always my favorite.

[Dick Ackerman]

I have been wearing one of these new Mt. Hardwear El Kammando kilts now for most of the month of July. I must say it is probably the most comfortable kilt I have ever worn especially in the extremely warm weather we have been having here in New Hampshire. As others have said it wraps the correct way and it has pleats that allow plenty of movement. It wraps far enough around in the front that it is basically wind proof. And the pockets are low enough and far enough back to keep the sides down and allow unobstructed walking. The pleats have a better than expected swing to them when you walk making it feel like you have a kilt on. The moleskin liner in the waist is wide enough so if it is really hot and you want to roll the waist band to make the kilt shorter you can and still have something comfortable against the skin and not tuck in your shirt. I liked the first one so much I have purchased two more. I is now my goto kilt for at least the Summer months.

The clothing in the photos are an EMS Techwick tee shirt, the El Kammando kilt and Teva sandals. What I find to be the ultimate summer kilt outfit.

Dick Ackerman

[Larry124]

My outfit as well.

IMHO if kilts are ever to become common in USA summer, that's the look that will prevail.
Cargo shorts, from cotton to blend to teck, and of about the same length, are very common.

Note: A current Altrec sale brings the price down to $50 with free shipping.

Heritage and Traditional please do not scoff or despair. (Very) casual first, interest in more traditional kilts and outfits may well follow.

[Woodsman]

Hey, that's my outfit as well too!

I might add that it is also very comfortable for car travel. I've logged over 7 hours now.

Also I just threw it into the washing machine for the first time. I'll let you know how that turns out.

[Mael Coluim]

I gave my new Elkommando a workout on my recent kilted Carolina vacation. I wore it for the long drive to Ashville and my hike with Tartan Hiker. I wore it around town, too. It was extremely comfortable for all activities.

On my hike with Piperdbh and my day of hiking on Grandfather Mountain I wore my casual USAKilt. I wore it also on the long drive back home. I found it as comfortable as the Elk in all situations. I got much more attention from the ladies swooning over the Caledonia tartan of the USAKilt, if that is any importance to you.

[Woodsman]

My ELKK washing went just fine. I followed the washing instructions on tag and washed in cold water without fabric softner and put in dryer on gentle (low temp cycle) for about half an hour. I was surprised to find it nearly completely dry as I had washed/dried some other garments with it. The pleats looked fine although the entire ELKK was slightly more wrinkled than when it went in. I am not concerned though as this is my working/hiking/lounging around kilt and need not be pressed perfectly. I laid it out flat on the bed, straightening the pleats and some of the wrinkles came out and the pleats looked neater after it fully dried.