How to keep yourself Dry

**sevenoaks** · 21st July 11, 07:33 PM

I live in Vancouver... One of the great known "Rain Forests" in the world. I have been out hiking and just walking about and found myself in a sudden downpour. I was wondering about my kilt and how it would survive the rain. Has anyone else needed to deal with this? I have not had any problems with my kilt so far, it is 100%, 16oz pure wool.
This summer has been so wet and cold but I still love to wear my kilt.
What would be a good rain cape to get?
Where would I carry it?
Will rain harm my kilt?
Would a kilt made with a blended wool would be better for me to wear out if and when the rains come...and they will, this summer!?
Any suggestions would be more than welcome.

**Nighthawk** · 21st July 11, 08:09 PM

I have worn my 16oz wool kilts in rain, sleet, snow, and the dead of night... and they're not called TANKS for nothin'!! They've taken everything that I and Mother Nature can throw at them, and smiled all the while. Last time I saw Albannach was in a drenching downpoor. My kilt weathered the storm just fine.

**Nick the DSM** · 21st July 11, 08:22 PM

I have a heavy wool poncho that has serves me well, it was great when it stormed at the Loch Norman games this spring.

**Downunder Kilt** · 21st July 11, 09:07 PM

Mr Antony's Bandspec Cape would be my suggestion, said to be waterproof and folds up into a pouch that you can wear on your belt. Used by many pipers in competition when the weather gets a bit foul.

**EagleJCS** · 21st July 11, 09:20 PM

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Downunder has it right. There's also a less-expensive version around. The Bandspec has snaps for the over-cape to be folded up out of the way for pipers when playing.

Basically any type of Inverness cape or longer overcoat - or even a long rain poncho, see your local camping supplier - would work if you want to protect your kilt from getting wet.

**Dale Seago** · 21st July 11, 09:59 PM

http://www.hmoon.com/cloaks-sl.html

**xman** · 21st July 11, 10:24 PM

I have walked dead on into a strong headwind in the most torrential downpour imaginable here in winter and I'll tell you, I really should have unrolled the tops of my kilt hose because my knees were cold, but had I done that I'd have nothing to complain about.

It is no lie when I tell you that a good heavyweight kilt is exactly the type of garment you'll be glad of. It will not suffer from such a drenching so long as you dry it flat afterward.

**Dale Seago** · 21st July 11, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by xman

. . .I tell you that a good heavyweight kilt is exactly the type of garment you'll be glad of. It will not suffer from such a drenching so long as you dry it flat afterward.

Exactly right.

**Jock Scot** · 21st July 11, 11:28 PM

Ahem, the wool kilt hails from Scotland which is rather well known for rain! Rain/wet(hot water is not good!) will not harm a wool kilt in any way. Yes, an Inverness cape is traditional and very effective, particularly so, when used in conjunction with a good umbrella.

**saxandpipes** · 22nd July 11, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Ahem, the wool kilt hails from Scotland which is rather well known for rain! Rain/wet(hot water is not good!) will not harm a wool kilt in any way. Yes, an Inverness cape is traditional and very effective, particularly so, when used in conjunction with a good umbrella.

Exactly,

remember, it's wool after all. So, as long as it's not a tropical downpour, you should be ok. It's not the water that destroys wool when washing... it's heat and agitation...

So,

no salsa dancing in a monsoon... and you should be fine.

Oh, and if you do find a nice over-coat. make sure it's not too long (if it's not possible to see a small amount of kilt below the bottom of the coat, people will think you are a flasher!

Cheers,

Michael