Looking for a heavyweight kilt for hiking in the winter

**Dukbrand** · 2nd October 24, 02:02 PM

I currently backpack in a Sportkilt Hiking Kilt with a "Buchanan Ancient" tartan. I had worn it last winter but that was quite mild. The wind tends to cut right through it which chills everything beneath. I'm looking for something far heavier and warmer to wear this winter. Preferably in a Buchanan Muted tartan as my current pack is in that tartan. That is affordable and durable enough that I won't have to worry about it getting wrecked by the trail, and won't mind if it does.

**OC Richard** · 2nd October 24, 04:40 PM

With tartan, as far as I know going heavier-weight means going with wool.

There's the traditional 16 ounce kilting cloth, and the heavier stuff ranging from 18 to 22 ounce traditionally used for Other Ranks kilts in the military.

With the creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland the wearing of that old-school stuff ceased except for the handful of Pipes & Drums who are still allowed their traditional uniforms ("antecedent dress"). House of Edgar still weaves it but it's only in a very small number of military tartans https://www.houseofedgar.com/product...ental-tartans/

Since you're not talking traditional kilts (I don't know what a "sport hiking kilt" is) I suppose you could buy a wool "travel rug" in Buchanan and have it made into a kilt of sorts. That would be the heaviest-weight kilt ever! https://tartanrugs.com/products/twee...ool-travel-rug

They do weave what they call "heavyweight wool" in Pakistan, seen in the What Price Glory reproduction army kilts. It's not like UK-woven wool at all, with a strange waxy flimsy feel.

**Tomo** · 3rd October 24, 06:37 AM

Probably best to go with heavyweight wool - if you want to keep the cost down have a look at ex-rental kilts. I purchased 2 of these for when I work as a tour guide (one from McCalls and one from Slanj) - similar reasoning to yours, I didn't want to wreck my good kilts but wanted something that was durable, which I would be happy wearing but equally not mind it being thrown in a case or covered in mud on the trail - and didn't cost a £400 - I think I paid about £150 to £200 for the ex-hire ones.

**Dukbrand** · 3rd October 24, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

With tartan, as far as I know going heavier-weight means going with wool.

There's the traditional 16 ounce kilting cloth, and the heavier stuff ranging from 18 to 22 ounce traditionally used for Other Ranks kilts in the military.

With the creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland the wearing of that old-school stuff ceased except for the handful of Pipes & Drums who are still allowed their traditional uniforms ("antecedent dress"). House of Edgar still weaves it but it's only in a very small number of military tartans https://www.houseofedgar.com/product...ental-tartans/

Since you're not talking traditional kilts (I don't know what a "sport hiking kilt" is) I suppose you could buy a wool "travel rug" in Buchanan and have it made into a kilt of sorts. That would be the heaviest-weight kilt ever! https://tartanrugs.com/products/twee...ool-travel-rug

They do weave what they call "heavyweight wool" in Pakistan, seen in the What Price Glory reproduction army kilts. It's not like UK-woven wool at all, with a strange waxy flimsy feel.

Sportkilt Hiking Kilt
https://sportkilt.com/product/hiking...chananancient/

**Steve Ashton** · 3rd October 24, 02:17 PM

I guess it would all depend on your definition of "heavy weight" and "Durable".

An 8 yard, 16oz kilt in the Traditional style will weigh right around 4 lbs. And while some would call it durable or long lasting, it is of expensive wool fabric that can snag, should be dry-cleaned, and has a waist height that is up about three or four finger widths below the bottom of your breastbone. Well above the navel on most guys.

The Gray kilt on the left is a the definition of the Traditional Style. It was made by Barb Tewksbury.
The Green kilt on the right is a current MOD military issue kilt.
Notice please that all three kilts in this photo have the bottom just above the top of the knee cap where they are designed to be worn and where it would cause the less chaff while hiking.

The waist height of both of these may be too high to be comfortable under packstraps. They also may be too expensive for rough hiking in the woods.

There is a material called "PV" that is a blend of Polyester and Acrylic that may fit your needs a bit better.
Be careful however as you will see the letters "PV" on many sites selling kilts made in Pakistan. While inexpensive the Pakistani kilts are usually not actually PV but 100% Acrylic. Very light weight and snags very easily.

Look at the offerings of one of our advertisers - USA Kilts. Their logo is on the top banner. They make kilts from true English PV. The fabric is 12oz so an 8 yard kilt like their Semi-Trad will weight about 3 lbs.
It is machine washable and could be washed in any stream. The weave is tight enough not to snag easily. And the cost is much more reasonable in case you do destroy it.

This is a photo from the USA Kilts website of the owner, Rocky, in a Semi-trad.

**OC Richard** · 3rd October 24, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dukbrand

Sportkilt Hiking Kilt
https://sportkilt.com/product/hiking...chananancient/

Oh, I see.

I was imagining a kilt specifically designed for hiking, like a sort of Utilikilt, with roomy pockets all over.

But it's an ordinary style of kilt (flat aprons in front, pleats in back) but made very inexpensively, machine-sewn from thin cloth.

Whatever is going on with the upper back? It's all bunched up. Is it supposed to be that way?

Steve is on the right track, you might want to go with the USA Kilts polyviscose, which they do offer in a really nice muted Buchanan

https://www.usakilts.com/gallery/12-...hanan-mtd/view

It doesn't have the weight you're looking for, which as I had said will mean wool, if you want Buchanan tartan. (EDIT: see post below)

**OC Richard** · 3rd October 24, 03:21 PM

Thinking outside the box a bit, the practicality for hiking of heavy denim Utilikilts made me recall that you can have any one of several variations of Buchanan tartan made up in a wide variety of fabrics including heavy denim.

https://www.spoonflower.com/en/shop/buchanan-tartan

After having the fabric made you could send it to somebody who makes canvas utility kilts.

(Utilikilts themselves, the original inventor of utility kilts, won't do tartan.)

**Dukbrand** · 3rd October 24, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Whatever is going on with the upper back? It's all bunched up. Is it supposed to be that way?

It has elastic in the waistband.

**Dukbrand** · 3rd October 24, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

There is a material called "PV" that is a blend of Polyester and Acrylic that may fit your needs a bit better.
Be careful however as you will see the letters "PV" on many sites selling kilts made in Pakistan. While inexpensive the Pakistani kilts are usually not actually PV but 100% Acrylic. Very light weight and snags very easily.

Heavyweight may not have been the right word. My main concern is something with more wind resistance. So the cold Minnesota winter wind doesn't chaff my neither region.

**Tomo** · 3rd October 24, 11:58 PM

As far as I know PV is more durable and easier to clean - but wool has better thermal qualities (especially when wet) and is more breathable. So it really comes down to whether you want to prioritise durability over warmth or visa-versa. As I mentioned previously, if cost is a big factor there are plenty of options with the ex-hire market - but you might need to flexible in terms of your choice of tartan.

All three of these kilts cost less than £200 - all heavyweight tartan two are ex-hire, one is from a kilt-maker who sells pre-made kilts (just happened to be in my clan tartan and size).