Kilted opportunities in Winter

[Jimmy]

Now that we are getting well into winter, there is not the same opportunity to wear your kilt here in Scotland. Of course if I wanted to wear it tomorrow and every other day I could do so but this is just not possible.
The Highland Games circuit is finished as well as Scotland's rugby and soccer calendar, coming up is St. Andrews Day at the end of this month that may provide an opportunity or two, then over the New Year also, leading us onto Burns Night at the end of january.
The problem is that one gets addicted to wearing the kilt during the summer, hardly a week passes without wearing it and suddenly we are thrust into the darkness and gloom of a Scottish winter where liitle kilting opportunity arises.

How I envy some of our overseas members who constantly wear the kilt in all temperatures and seasons.
Is it not terrible having this craving for kilts, wanting to be kilted most of the time but lifestyle and work forbid it

[be da veva]

Why not wear it during the winter? Too cold or just not done in Scotland?
I wear mine in winter, I even went toboganing with it. If it's clean snow, I will go out and shovel while wearing it.

[Peter Crowe]

I know what Jimmy means though, being from the Glasgow area and now living in Massachusetts. Winter in Glasgow is much milder than winter in Boston, MA. I'd say on average 20 degrees fahrenheit warmer, but it is much wetter (not just damper, wetter!) A typical January 20F day in Boston is pleasant enough to wear a wool kilt with hose etc. with layers on top, undershirt, shirt, tweed argyle, and an overcoat or parka. A typical 40F day in Glasgow with the damp and in similar clothes downright chills you to the bone. Not to mention being splashed in dirty water by the passing traffic.

[Charlie]

I know what Jimmy means though, being from the Glasgow area and now living in Massachusetts. Winter in Glasgow is much milder than winter in Boston, MA. I'd say on average 20 degrees fahrenheit warmer, but it is much wetter (not just damper, wetter!) A typical January 20F day in Boston is pleasant enough to wear a wool kilt with hose etc. with layers on top, undershirt, shirt, tweed argyle, and an overcoat or parka. A typical 40F day in Glasgow with the damp and in similar clothes downright chills you to the bone. Not to mention being splashed in dirty water by the passing traffic.

.

Peter you have hit the nail on the head! Cold dry weather is tolerable but the raw damp days in UK are far more uncomfortable. When it gets like that I will wear plain flesh coloured tights under my kilt hose as an extra layer. It works and is discrete enough for no one to be aware. Cold & Raw sums it up!

[AKScott]

I think it is a matter of both individual temperature tolerance and contemplated activity.

My preliminary experiements last year suggest very little difference between 16oz wool and 10oz poly at +10°F. For me. I know some folks wouldn't try it, I wouldn't try wool at +80°F very often I don't think.

I did notice I was much warmer kilted shoveling snow than I was walking back up the shoveled driveway shortly afterwards.

[denmcdough]

Not sure I understand this thread. No opportunities to wear a kilt in cold weather??? I actually look forward to wearing the "tank" during the cold months. And, we get some pretty frigid winters here, especially the last two years. Cold weather and snow don't bother me.

Look at it this way: how many days do any of us have left to roam this earth? Our numbers could be up at any moment. After having two close calls with death these past three years, I have a different perspective on life now. Being on the right side of dirt is something that we shouldn't take for granted! So, wear the kilt as much as possible. Besides, if you spend a lot of money on your kilt, then don't use it occasionally. Wear the darn thing out from over-use. Too many times the kilts disintegrate from atrophy!

[chrisupyonder]

While out shopping, it was 10c in Thurso today with a chill wind, but I was just fine in my 16oz wool 8yd. I was much warmer round the rear than in trousers and my knees did not feel cold at all. I will wear my tank as long as its not blowing a gale.

Chris.

[Kilted Realtor]

I've worn the kilt at -35C here in Toronto. Heavy weight and nice heavy socks and pray the wind doesn't kick up. It's doable.. but you do get some coments.

[Dale Seago]

This really gets into the question of suitable outerwear, I think. For most situations in the States involving significant winter wind and wet, I think my calf-length black London Fog trenchcoat would be perfect. Yes, it's true that with it on you can't see the kilt at all; but the main purpose of such a coat is to get from one fairly warm dry place to another (office to pub, for example) in relative comfort.

In areas where it's significantly colder, I think a 18th-century cut caped wool greatcoat would be ideal.

[McMurdo]

I've worn the kilt at -35C here in Toronto. Heavy weight and nice heavy socks and pray the wind doesn't kick up. It's doable.. but you do get some coments.

Reid that sounds familiar, the coldest I've ever gone out in a kilt is -40 in St. Catherine's for a kilt night. I wore basically this outfit with a jacket:



and while I was not going for a walk down by the lake I was as comfortable as you could expect at that temperature.