Kilts in heat.

[Corvidae]

So I was planing on getting a Stillwater heavyweight (which are 10 oz right?) but am now looking at the Standard kilts. The change has the benefit of a price drop but that really isnt a concern. The real motivator is the temperature here in Florida. Its cold right now, but will be hot as hell soon. Any southrons here in the forums who can tell me what they do about the heat?

[gilmore]

Although the kilts in my closet seem to be multiplying rapidly, it had not until now occurred to me that some of them might indeed be in estrus from time to time.

[kiltedcossack]

it'll be okay - the breeze you get from underneath more than compensates.






-drinking to his mother's death this eve.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Actually, I belive the heavyweights are said to be 13 oz. I have an Irish Saffron SWK heavyweight, and I can say it is DEFINITELY NOT 10 oz. wool. It is certainly heavier than that. One thing about wool vs. acrylic (acrylic is what the standards are made of) wool breaths and acrylic -- not so much.

[GatorUK]

I'm in Key West. I have a handmade USN Edzell heavyweight wool. SWK wool Irish Saffron, SWK standard Black Watch and Nightstalker, and a black Utilikilt. I've worn all in the summer. The heavyweight will get a little warm but not uncomfortably so. It's the hose that will heat you up. In summer I'll either scrunch em down or wear OD uniform boot socks scrunched down.

[PiobBear]

A lot of it isn't the kilt as much as everything else. I prefer to wear the lightest weight hose I can find, and a poly-cotton uniform shirt. I've got one by Horace Small called "Tropic Aire"; it's supposed to be made for tropical climates, to wick moisture away and breathe, which it does much better than my cheap polyester band shirt. A lot of guys wear poly-cotton polo shirts; you can find them at Highland games with embroidered clan crests. Avoid 100% polyester shirts, Jacobite shirts, and wearing a waistcoat and jacket as much as possible (heaven forbid a doublet & full piper's plaid!). If I must wear a jacket, I leave off the waistcoat unless going formal.
Some of it is also situational awareness; I always know where the closest shade is, and whenever possible I'm standing in it.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

[Dreadbelly]

Kilts do ok in the heat, but the mating calls get bloody annoying.

[Erisianmonkey]

Is this the real secret to how Ron and Hamish got so many kilts? Breeding pairs?

Yes, I know I'm bad, but I didn't start it...

[Dreadbelly]

This is why men don't wear wimmin's kilted skirts.

Being a piece of female garb, when they get in the mood they will certianly try to rub you the right way.

That and all those noisy cries attract haggisi. Haggises. Haggi?

[Riverkilt]

Serious,

Only been kilting three years in the Arizona heat, but GatorUK has it right.

The secret is to keep the rest of the body cool. When its real hot I'm wearing sandals and tank with my kilts. Sometimes, no shirt when out hiking. Its 'almost' like being back in The Garden of Eden...pity the poor men in cut off's and hiking shorts.

If you look at it, the kilt only goes around you like a belt. The rest is loose and free. Somehow, rather than trapping hot air like they do in the winter, during the summer the kilts seem to circulate air. Maybe from hot air rising off the ground pushing the air under the kilt back down and out.

I've worn leather and 16oz wool kilts in the summer with no problems.

Certainly prefer my UK "Scottish Jeans" and USA Casuals though.



A hot scruffy day out on the Northern Kaibab-Paiute Reservation near Pipe Springs, AZ. Culture blending a Shoshone pouch for a sporran with a UK survival kilt....



Colorado River at the base of Cathedral Wash in Marble Canyon, AZ. Cooling off after a hot difficult hike/clamber down into the canyon.

Ron