Mountain Hardwear Men's Kilts

[Vafuth]

According to the OED(Oxford English Dictionary), the noun derives from a verb to kilt, originally meaning "to gird up; to tuck up (the skirts) round the body", itself of Scandinavian origin.

now...where in this original definition does it state a single thing about pleats.

I have also found this:

kilt
–noun
1. any short, pleated skirt, esp. a tartan wraparound, as that worn by men in the Scottish Highlands.
–verb (used with object)
2. to draw or tuck up, as the skirt, about oneself.
3. to provide (a skirt) with kilt pleats.

AND

kilt·ed
–adjective
1. wearing a kilt.
2. gathered in pleats; pleated.

In almost every definition(save the first one) the terms pleated, pleats, or pleating are found.

What does this mean? well I guess that by literal definition that is not a kilt!
in other words it means...
Not a bloody thing...if you like it and its comfortable who cares...

I personally prefer pleats. I also prefer knife pleats to box pleats. But thats personal preference.

[Makeitstop]

Kilt, skirt, whatever. It may not be a kilt in the strictest sense of the word, but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it. And unless you've tried it, I don't think it's appropriate to say that it is impractical or uncomfortable.

I'm not all that interested, but if others like it then that's fine with me.

[Uncle Ricky]

But without the pleats it's not functional enough for a man.

I do wear kilts for the pleats. the Pleats are part of why a Kilt (big K) is functional for a man. Function, Comfort, Image are the top 3 reasons I wear a kilt. This garment does not present the image I want.

Warmest greetings Cavscout,

I wear the kilt for the same reasons as you... Function, Comfort and Image. Your contention that without the pleats, the Mountain Hardware Kilt would lack function got my attention, so I put mine on to see if this was so.

As it turns out, you are correct.
It is more restrictive than a Kilt, but this is not noticeable until you try to climb the stairs three at a time.
Normal mobility with this garment is in my opinion, far more comfortable than with trousers, and certainly "Functional enough for a man"

As for comfort... this garment is quite a bit more comfortable than a Kilt.

As for "Image", the kilt wins hands down over this garment. It doesn't present the image I want either.

But lets face it... part of the reason for wearing the kilt is to get attention isn't it? Just ask Grant

Cheers,
Rick

[Chef]

I agree with cavscout. All kilts are skirts but not all skirts are kilts and this one is definitely not. O the other hand if you wear it that doesn't make you a cross dresser either, but just because a man puts on a skirt does not automatically mean that skirt becomes a kilt.

[cavscout]

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there's anything "wrong" with this. And I'm not saying anyone who chooses to wear it is wrong. I'm only stating my view of the garment which is after all why we are discussing it, to hear what other kilters think about a product.

I don't need a hammer up side the head to know I don't want to be hit in the head with a hammer. We make decisions everyday on all sorts of things. Those decisions are based on wisdom gained by experiences. To say someone can't make an accurate or fair judgment on something because they haven't tried it is illogical.

Thank you for your feedback Rick! I'm glad you are pleased with the garment and that really is all that matters. If we ever run into each other on the trail I'll not be worried whether you're wearing a kilt or not, I'll be saying how great it is to be in the mountains that day!

[Uncle Ricky]

To say someone can't make an accurate or fair judgment on something because they haven't tried it is illogical.

I could quibble with that, but what the hey

Thank you for your feedback Rick! I'm glad you are pleased with the garment and that really is all that matters. If we ever run into each other on the trail I'll not be worried whether you're wearing a kilt or not, I'll be saying how great it is to be in the mountains that day!

No worries mate. I'm unlikely to ever be in Georgia, but if I am, the beer's on me.

Cheers,
Rick

[Woodsman]

I have to agree with Rick on this one. I have a mountain kilt and it is extemely comfortable on the trail -it's like wearing nothing at all. There is no problem with stride even when boulder hopping. At 5 oz. it's perfect for backpacking. And there is no annoying lumps at the seams in the small of your back for a pack to rub on. At the very least, it's great to wear around camp after a day of hiking (dare I say) in shorts. Backpacker magazine editor, Jonathon Dorn (see my avatar), gave the mountain kilt a favorable review about 2004. I'm sure it only helps our cause of getting more males to try out kilts.

Frankly I'm quite surprised at everone's attitude. I wouldn't have expected that here. Call it what you will, but when I wrap a garment around my waist I call it a kilt because it sounds more manly than a skirt. How about this? - call it a pleatless kilt.

[Nick the DSM]

pleatless kilt sounds reasonable for it.

[Arlen]

I've seen these up close and got to examine them, though I've never worn one.

Personally, the issue I have with it isn't the 'It's a skirt and Kilts are not.'
The problem I have is that it is marketed as a Kilt but it's not a Kilt.

Here's my definition of Kilt:
A male unbifurbricated garment coming to the knee, pleated in the rear with two aprons folding left over right.

I can see why they would work for some people and I'm not one to tell someone else what they can and can't wear.
I wouldn't. They're too light by half, too restrictive for any kind of hiking where you need to take big strides (which are my favourite hikes) and I just personally don't wear any M.U.G's that aren't kilts.

Will they work fantastically for some people? Sure.
Are they kilts? No.
Does it matter? When it's getting marketed as something it's not then it bugs me, but my world isn't going to come crashing down.

[Panache]

We saw one at The Monterey Bay Aquarium. Looked comfortable. Oddly enough, it attracted less attention than Panache's kilt did. Then again, I think he may have been wearing loud Mcleod that day!

Be well,

Here is the picture



Whatever you want to call it, the gent wore it with confidence.

Cheers

Jamie