Kilts in Winter

[David Dalglish]

I wear my kilts all year round, I have a 10 yd 16oz kilt that nothing gets through, its used for the coldest days

[ozone]

Any Scots are welcome to correct me if I am wrong, but people really should quit comparing Scotland in winter to places like Canada and the Midwest. Scotland is MAJORLY tempered by the proximity of the ocean almost everywhere you go as well as the little thing called the GULF STREAM. Don't forget, despite its outsized reputation, Great Britain is shorter in length than even the single state of California and it is not too wide either. Anyway, I humbly direct your attention to the following website for month-to-month temperatures in Scotland...notice that in January and February, the average temps run about 30-40F.

This is MUCH warmer than anything you will encounter in the midwest or Canada. Anyway, here's the link (quite useful for avg. rainfall too...good to know for traveling to Scotland):

http://weather.uk.msn.com/monthly_av...0061&setunit=F

[Chef]

Your absolutely correct. The temperature in Scotland is tempered by the Gulf Stream. Average temps are much warmer than the midwest US. The cold mixed with the damp is what makes it miserable though.

[Pleater]

Although I live on the South coast of England we are not that far from Scotland, and here it is quite rare for the temperature to go down so low as to require a heavy jersey.

It is years since we had any snow.

I find that I can just about live in kilt, sandals and tee shirt all year round with a jersey and short wrap for outside in the Autumn and Spring, (like a poncho but with a centre front split) and ankle length capes for the worst of the cold and wet.

I wear suede and leather sandals most of the time, but try to remember to change to man made for wet weather.

I do have quite a few pairs of hosen, shoen and boots but they are mostly put away as not necessary.

I do get 'Aren't your feet cold?' quite often, but even in rain or with frost on the ground I don't feel nipped. I suspect that having the feet compressed is what makes them feel cold as it cuts down the blood supply.

Of course that only works down to a few degrees below freezing in dry conditions, but I'm often surprised to see people huddled up against the weather when I'm striding along thinking what a nice fresh blow there is t'day.

[Racer96]

... Anyway, I humbly direct your attention to the following website for month-to-month temperatures in Scotland...notice that in January and February, the average temps run about 30-40F.

This is MUCH warmer than anything you will encounter in the midwest or Canada.

Uhm, Canada is a big place. Bigger than the US even :P The temperatures you state are fairly equivalent to where I live (Vancouver) and that's a small part in Canada.

No, we don't all live in igloos. Yes we do have running water. No we don't have a hundred different words for snow.

But at least you acknowledged Canada. That's a good start for us.

Mike

[thescot]

I've weathered some biting cold quite comfortably in one of those 22 oz. jobs, and I strongly recommend them. However, in real blows, the rising kilt with dump all the heat gathered near our favorite spot, so you should be sure to wear either an inverness cape (prefered) that hangs down low enough to keep the pleats down, of even an out back duster (as previously mentioned) which has ample length.

Beyond that, thick wool hose (hiking socks do really work well), sturdy footwear, and don't forget a warm bonnet or some other headgear. (I won't even mention a wool sweater under the jacket since that should be assumed.) You'll do fine, I think.

Just remember to layer and stop the wind. It's easier to take something off than it is to thaw out.

[ozone]

"But at least you acknowledged Canada. That's a good start for us. "

LOL...sorry Racer96, I did leave out the tempering effect of that wee ocean called the PACIFIC when i talked about Canada. That being said, Canada is a BIG place and Vancouver (and other coastal cities) is somewhat the exception when talking about (or is it aboot?) the winter weather. That's really what I was meant when i mentioned Canada.

Besides, with the Loonie beating the tar out of the dollar, it's the USA that may some day become the overlooked country in North America. So, I better get my ill-informed mentions out of the way while I still can :-)

[O'Neille]

I grew up coastal Alaska and it is fairly temperate comparred to inland Canada or the North-Central U.S.. I almost froze myself once in Liard Hot springs B.C. I was driving North in November and decided to stop for a soak. It was so cold that I had to get dressed incrementally as I emerged from the springs. I don't know now cold it was but my truck tires didn't round out until after almost an hour of driving. I was wearing a kilt and it worked well. My legs were still in the water when I put it on. You can't do that with pants. O'Neille

http://www.britishcolumbia.com/hotsprings/?id=18

[ccga3359]

"But at least you acknowledged Canada. That's a good start for us. "

LOL...sorry Racer96, I did leave out the tempering effect of that wee ocean called the PACIFIC when i talked about Canada. That being said, Canada is a BIG place and Vancouver (and other coastal cities) is somewhat the exception when talking about (or is it aboot?) the winter weather. That's really what I was meant when i mentioned Canada.

Besides, with the Loonie beating the tar out of the dollar, it's the USA that may some day become the overlooked country in North America. So, I better get my ill-informed mentions out of the way while I still can :-)

I'm sorry there is another country aside in North America?

Interesting fact that the most southerly point in Canada is Middle Island in Lake Erie. From that point there are 27 US states extend north of that point including California. 13 of those US states lie entirely north of that point. The Frenh Riviera, Rome in Italy, Boston and detroit are all north of this latitude.
So yes, there is extremely cold weather in the US and perhaps worse than at least I see here in Canada. And it gets mighty cold here in the Great Lakes region. Perhaps not as cold as in Calgary, where rumour has it that even parking meters have outlets so that you can plug your engine's block heater in.

[threebanger]

...even parking meters have outlets so that you can plug your engine's block heater in.

I didn't even know those existed until I moved to Minnesota.