Kilt in cold weather

[DotDLL]

Thanks to all for the responses, but let's get back on track here. I was wondering how many wear their kilt outdoors when the temperature is in the 40's F or lower?

In prior winters, I tended to wear a kilt unless the wind chill got much below freezing, say into the mid-20s F. That was with wool upper layers, and thick wool socks. Beyond that, and my thighs would start to complain, even with a 22 oz/yard kilt.

This year, I've started wearing thermal running pants underneath the kilt, with the ends of the legs cut off, then rolled up. It's made a noticeable difference so far, and given me the option of, occasionally, rolling -down- my socks, in near freezing temps (if and when combined with adequate upper body wear). That being said, once January comes, with significantly colder weather, I could see wanting non-kilts.

[Mike in Dayton]

I wear my kilts down to at least 20F without any issues. My outdoor excursions are from the car in a parking lot to a building. So not outdoors very long. I can take some cold on the knees for that amount of time. I carry extra clothing in the trunk of the car for longer travels. That way I have options should I break down. In the colder temperatures I prefer my wool kilts with Lewis Kilt hose. I have experimented with alternatives. I have a pair of long heavy socks. These thing go almost all the way up the leg. I wear them with my utility type kilts. I was surprised at how warm they are. For tartan kilts I have used men's running tights with Lewis kilt hose over those. That way I still have a traditional look but have covered exposed skin at the knee and upper leg.

Mike

[Andrew Breecher]

First of all, 40 F isn't even cold! It's not even freezing!

I've worn kilts in weather as cold as 0 F. Was I cold while I was outside? Yes. Would I have been cold no matter what I was wearing? Yes, unless I was geared up in Arctic wear. Everyone else was cold too, because they were wearing jeans, or dress trousers, or slacks, which are all pretty thin fabric. At least I had on a kilt, which was 4-5 layers of wool at any given place because of the pleats. I had on wool kilt hose. The only thing exposed was my knees, but I wasn't staying outside for long - no one was. If I had to live or work outdoors in 0 F I probably wouldn't wear a kilt, but for daily wear, of course I would!

[tpa]

Even my relatively thin acrylic kilts, along with kilt hose that I wear for working and around the house are warmer than any of my trousers with the exception of my ski wear. I'll happily wear my woollen ones out and about in the snow, though not for downhill skiing.

[grizzbass]

southern california. What is this cold weather you speak of.

[Singlemalt]

Check my avatar, lots of kilts worn in Canada in all kinds of weather. The key is not so much the kilt but everything else. I learned as a boy if your hands or feet are cold put on a hat. I have a great old heavy military Black Watch kilt I love on cold days. I wear heaver hose and of course an appropriate sweater and windproof jacket. The only issue I have is when very cold weather is combined with high winds. Blowing snow can be a bit of a shock to tender bits.

[T90]

While I can't comment on kilt wearing in the cold, I can say with certainty that the Arctic weather we are receiving in Northern BC at the moment would provide you with a good case of frostbite rather quickly. -35 C is not a lot of fun.

[joek]

Good comments. As yet I lack a wool kilt but have tried a pvc with the chill into the mid 20's F. Felt fine. The larger issue was the wind was a bit stronger than the local measuring service. The problem with winter is that you dress for the minute or so you're outside from the car to the store , business or place of work. I usually don't use the kilts below 32F but this recent venture may change that.

[estimaa]

While I can't comment on kilt wearing in the cold, I can say with certainty that the Arctic weather we are receiving in Northern BC at the moment would provide you with a good case of frostbite rather quickly. -35 C is not a lot of fun.

We get the same temperatures in January in Ural.
-30C > -35C is no big deal, as the humidity drops to practically zero.
It's really dry cold.
We are expecting the polar vortex to start to incline over from the northern USA into northern Finland and Russia in the next 2 weeks, with maybe a SSW episode to throw the spanner in the works properly.

What is not funny, is when it occasionally drops to below -40C, then people only go out as short a time as possible. (seen -48C).

My experience says you won't get frostbite at -35C temperatures.
NO WAY, at least not in the KILT exposed areas or knees, although they will feel pretty cold.
The thing which invariably feels coldest is the NOSE, face, and even the ears under a woolly hat, so it's a scarf job over the nose and lips.

Now if there's any form of wind, that's a different matter, and of course, if you are close to the sea.

It only takes a little bit of moisture, say in the sea breeze from the north, off St Petersburg and -10C feels absolutely poisonous.
I don't know many colder places in January, and everyone in SPB says so.

Narva_river_bridge_-_EDM_September_20__2016.jpg
Done it in a kilt, but, walking over the river (Narva) can be an ordeal at -20C, because the wind whips across from the bay, high over the river, and attacks exposed wrists at the end of warm gloves.
narva-bridge.jpg

It works its way into the tiniest crannies, whether you are in jeans or anything else for that matter, and you struggle to get warm by hugging the heater in a bus or tram.
The only solution then is ski trousers and (if you can afford it) a full fur coat.

[T90]

We get the same temperatures in January in Ural.
-30C > -35C is no big deal, as the humidity drops to practically zero.
It's really dry cold.

I guess it is the 78% humidity and 12kmh breeze that really tears through the layers. This morning is not that bad however, -28C without factoring in the windchill, the kids still walk to school and life carries on as normal.

I will know better how a kilt feels in this weather soon enough.