Hiking in the rain with a wool kilt

**tundramanq** · 15th January 12, 02:14 PM

Quit it! You guys are talking me into my first wool kilt. Although Albuquerque NM only gets about 6 inches a year. Oh, my aching wallet!

**Pinkrose** · 16th January 12, 06:32 AM

**Mark E.** · 17th January 12, 04:01 PM

Been there, done that-in a great kilt, 13 ounce. Biggest thing happened to me, I was red from waist to knee-and not due to chafing! You know the offerings of "weathered" tartans? Well...that's what happens to the colors. As far as stretch, I noticed no real difference-the weight of the kilt, even wet, should not pull fibers, even if it is of an inferior or open weave.

Just a suggestion...wear a looooong shirt. Trust me.

**billsides** · 25th January 12, 04:09 AM

Kilts in the rain have advantages, I learnt this when I was kilted in the army cadets in mid winter hiking in mountainous scrub where drizzle and sleet was usual Wet grass and scrub soon led to serious chafing in trousers and wicking of water up the material soon soaked you from the bottom up even under coats, but not so with kilts. They hang above most grass so don't get wet from it and a slightly longer coat like a great coat shielded them from wet grass. I am sure a light plastic coat would be similarly effective. The added thickness of a woolen kilt is a huge bonus for warmth when camping unlike wet pants which always make you cold. Long socks do get wet but don't chafe being snug fitting and their wool seems to retain heat even when wet unlike trousers. Wet kilt pleats can chafe behind the knees but I found trouser chafing far worse and crippling as it extended right up my legs to my groin. When camped in wet trenches, the kilt won by miles, 6 to 8 layers of heavy wool is warm unlike a grey army blanket even when the outer later was wet. Yes kilts get heavier when wet but not as much as you think because only the outer layer seems to get wet, the other layers stayed dry. Overcoats like army great coats got heavy too but, if worn over a kilt, you stay dry unlike when wearing pants as they wick up moisture from wet grass plus the rain running off the coat onto the pants as you walk, but not with a kilt. In rain and drizzle a kilt tends to shield socks if standing. At my first army camp I had standard army issue battle fatigues, horrible stiff, I froze, chafed and was miserable. At the next camp I was kilted all the time so had a direct comparison with battle fatigues. I learnt first hand why highlanders loved their kilts so much and I have loved kilts ever since. A wet kilt will soon dry out if being worn so being agitated. They steam near campfires and don't seem to suffer from being wet. The kilts were standard army issue which meant they were old and very thick, I am sure a 13 oz wool kilt would not be as good and non traditional canvas kilt be little better than the fatigues because cotton is a cold fabric and readily soaks up moisture unlike wool and ones I have seen don't have as many layers of fabric.
Don't be afraid to hike in the rain in a woolen kilt but don't wear your Sunday best one!

Bill

**davidg** · 25th January 12, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by billsides

The kilts were standard army issue which meant they were old and very thick, I am sure a 13 oz wool kilt would not be as good and non traditional canvas kilt be little better than the fatigues because cotton is a cold fabric and readily soaks up moisture unlike wool and ones I have seen don't have as many layers of fabric.
Don't be afraid to hike in the rain in a woolen kilt but don't wear your Sunday best one!

Bill

While I understand there is a desire to promote the kilt we have to be careful not to mislead newcomers. Hiking is a word that has different meanings to different people and at its most challenging, when walking or climbing in remote or wild country, the hiker would be well advised to wear only specialised outdoor clothing. The correct pants do not wick water as they are designed not to, plastic overcoats do not breathe so are relatively useless and cause condensation, and a correct layering system should always be used for full comfort and safety. Incorrect clothing in an extreme environment can be dangerous

Yes, it has been known for women to climb Ben Nevis in high heeled shoes and a skirt. Yes, kilts were worn by highlanders of old and they survived. Yes, climbers used to use hob nailed boots and hemp ropes and some of them survived. But using correct clothing and equipment saves lives, encouraging people to wear kilts in extreme conditions can cost lives

Yes, kilts will dry if you are active, but what if you have been injured and have to lie still. Hypothermia can set in very quickly in that scenario and can be fatal. Modern day armies do not go into such conditions wearing the old style "fatigues" but with modern high tech clothing and equipment, so that comparison is not good

Sorry to sound harsh but whilst I see no harm in wearing a kilt on a simple walk in the country my own mountain training won't allow me to let anyone have the impression that a kilt is suitable for extreme conditions, because it is not. Pure and simple (unless it's made of Goretex, of course)

**billsides** · 26th January 12, 02:46 PM

The thread was about hiking not doing enduro events. The kilt is ideal for hiking, some say preferable, When conditions are poor (not extreme) they can have advantages. Break a leg anywhere and you are in strife but you do have extra cover if you are wearing a decent woolen kilt. Not so different to hiking are extremes at gymkanas suffered on ovals, usually in full dress which means spats tunics and webbing and marching with a heavy rifle. In summer it gets super hot yes but kilts were fine but I remember my knees getting sunburnt but effective sunburn protective creams did not exist then. Heavy rain was common and the kilt was excellent, we stayed dry and warm, for appearance, nothing beats a corps wearing kilts. 600 rained on kilted cadets was common, we always stayed out like bands at tattoos, heavy rain did not affect our kilts in the slightest but they were old military ones. Today's military have specialised clothing, lightweight arms and often use a vehicle of some kind so kilts have been superceeded, but for normal hiking they remain fantastic but wear long thick socks to avoid the scratches, leeches, and nettles and decent boots to protect your ankles. You still need to think through what you plan on doing, kilts won't do that for you!