Rafting Kilted down the Grand Canyon....again...Utilikilt Question

**Riverkilt** · 25th July 20, 10:41 AM

So headed down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon next month. My 4th trip - love the place. I've worn a wool kilt down canyon before. This trip I'm considering wearing my Utilikilt Survivor II in ACU camo.

I love all the pockets. Keeps stuff handy. Great for side canyon hikes too.

But it's cotton. Know it'll get wet. August is monsoon season here so what the whitewater doesn't soak, the rain will.

Sitting kilted on a river raft may present some modesty issues - can use the modesty rigging on the Survivor for that - I think.

Any of the Rabble have any experience with a cotton utility kilt around water?

Can always take it and just wear it for camp wear at the end of the day...but would like to try it on the raft - without being stupid.

Thanks

Will be rafting downstream from here

Then under this bridge on the river below on the far right.

**Steve Ashton** · 25th July 20, 11:14 AM

Personally Ron - and for the same reason that Life Jackets are required - I would assume that I could end up out of the boat, in the water, being tumbled end over end, and would wear clothing appropriate to the activity.

**Riverkilt** · 25th July 20, 11:34 AM

For sure, thanks, but these are the big rafts that just don't flip...course I could get tossed out by the action of the whitewater...doesn't happen often, but does happen to a few. Would have to hope the modesty rigging of the Survival would hold up in the water.

**cessna152towser** · 26th July 20, 06:29 AM

I would be more worried about all the mud and silt which the kilt would pick up in the water, rather than being too bothered whether the kilt is basic cotton or basic wool. In wet weather here in Scotland I prefer the teflon coated wool kilts from Houstons of Paisley as the rain tends to run off these better.

**Riverkilt** · 26th July 20, 09:44 AM

Thanks Alex, good point. It's machine washable when I get home but meantime the silt from the muddy monsoon waters could make it heavy...and a nightmare to pack in the small duffle allowed...in a zip lock bag for sure.

Think I'm gonna put it on and go out in the back yard and hose it down and see how it fares.

**Brian Rose** · 27th July 20, 10:06 PM

Perhaps one of the acrylic versions of a "modern" kilt? I've also seen acrylic/wool blends with pockets as well. It might avoid the cotton issues. I've go no experience for that suggestion. My kilts are wool or cotton.
Acrylics are for the most part, inexpensive. The blend fabrics a bit pricier but still not wool pricing. Besides it's a reason for yet another kilt. You have, after all, downsized your closet after you downsized yourself.

**Riverkilt** · 28th July 20, 07:04 AM

Thanks, Polyviscose kilts also are lighter and take up less space in the limited baggage allowed when flying out of the canyon. May choose to take the USA Kilts Casual in Scott Green that I have that fits me now. Just had the wool 5 yard Scott Green from USA Kilts last trip....time is too short to order a new one. Was gonna, but just didn't find a tartan I wanted for it. Scott fits though since my grandmother Rose Scott was the first in the family to visit the Grand Canyon back in the 1920s.

**jthk** · 28th July 20, 10:27 AM

Hey there,

My comments are somewhat related to your post. Summer last, I hiked up the Cobbler in Arrochar with some friends. It was warm-ish and the weather ranged from fine mist to outright downpours. I hiked in my favourite Bedrock sandals (no problems there) and an older-school cotton Survival. A merino wool T-shirt on top. The relevant message to your post is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up to the Cobbler, I realised my mistake: the cotton Survival was 100% soaked and while I was hiking upwards, my body heat did its job and kept me moderately warm. But when I stopped at the top to eat and then while walking ALL THE WAY DOWN, it was horrific. The wet cotton obviously didn't dry out, it kept all the water, and I was starting to get chilled. By the time I returned to "base camp", I stripped down and, shivering in moderately warm weather, put on other clothes. My success was the merino wool top layers I had been wearing. Even though that original T-shirt was soaked, I was warm enough. I will never hike in a cotton kilt again -- perhaps a polyviscose one from Rocky and Co., but whenever there's a chance of being stuck in the rain, I'll always go wool.

(I had a decent rain jacket at the beginning but it was warm enough that I was getting wet from my own sweat. I removed it and I then got wet from the rain -- which I preferred!)

Good luck on your adventure!
Jonathan

**Riverkilt** · 28th July 20, 04:26 PM

Most relevant and my big fear, thank you. I am taking all kinds of merino wool from neck band thingie, to gloves, to vest, to sox. Wool helps cool in the heat when its wet but also make the 47 degree river water tolerable...keeps the blood cool.

I was gonna put the Survival on and hose it down in the back yard but didn't take a genius to figure out what a mess that would be. Have worn cotton survivals on flat water but whitewater is different.

Thanks for the reality check.

**jthk** · 28th July 20, 06:07 PM

Sure thing. I vividly remember the sopping wet, cold cotton Utilikilt on me as I slogged up and down the Cobbler. I won't ever make that mistake again!

GOOD LUCK! and have fun!

Jonathan

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Most relevant and my big fear, thank you. I am taking all kinds of merino wool from neck band thingie, to gloves, to vest, to sox. Wool helps cool in the heat when its wet but also make the 47 degree river water tolerable...keeps the blood cool.

I was gonna put the Survival on and hose it down in the back yard but didn't take a genius to figure out what a mess that would be. Have worn cotton survivals on flat water but whitewater is different.

Thanks for the reality check.