Kilts and cold weather

[Tobinn]

With regard to the kilt long johns idea (very clever) I'm reminded of a story my dad told me. In the 1950s he was in the English army serving during the Cold War in Germany. Winters were (and still are, I assume) brutally cold. He said that the Scottish soldiers would report to duty in their full uniforms which included the kilt. Undergarments of any kind apparently were not considered a part of the uniform and they would, as part of their inspection, traverse a polished metal floor plate which, as my dad relates, afforded a "full" inspection.

[Riverkilt]

Basic physics - heat rises. You'll be find. It is however recommended that if you need to raise the kilt to use the facilities choose facilities that are heated....raising the kilt will dump the warm air under there....yes, learned that myself the hard way...on a very cold day at the Grand Canyon in an unheated facility.....

[Rick M]

An 8-yard wool kilt, wool hose, a standard cold-weather jacket and a wool Tilley suit me fine down to about -15 to -20 C or so. At -30 C I add a set of Patagonia thermals under all that.

Rick

[neloon]

With regard to the kilt long johns idea (very clever) I'm reminded of a story my dad told me. In the 1950s he was in the English army serving during the Cold War in Germany. Winters were (and still are, I assume) brutally cold. He said that the Scottish soldiers would report to duty in their full uniforms which included the kilt. Undergarments of any kind apparently were not considered a part of the uniform and they would, as part of their inspection, traverse a polished metal floor plate which, as my dad relates, afforded a "full" inspection.

A story frequently told that is total rubbish.

Alan

[Tobinn]

A story frequently told that is total rubbish.

Alan

I'll chalk it up to a story circulated by the non-kilted enlisted men.

[Tobus]

I don't want to be accused of being anti-kilt, but if it's to the point where one is having to wear leggings of some sort under the kilt, then what's the point of wearing the kilt? Might as well just wear trousers at that point, since it's already to the point of strapping the kilt on over a bifurcated garment.

[jthk]

I don't want to be accused of being anti-kilt, but if it's to the point where one is having to wear leggings of some sort under the kilt, then what's the point of wearing the kilt? Might as well just wear trousers at that point, since it's already to the point of strapping the kilt on over a bifurcated garment.

Good morning, everybody.

There's a big difference between wearing trousers and wearing lightweight merino wool leggings in my experience. I have been known to wear such leggings under a kilt when the weather gets too cold. The leggings would take the place of underwear and doesn't limit my enjoyment of wearing a kilt.

Now, if it gets too cold, I'll wear heavyweight merino wool leggings ... maybe the kilt but most likely trousers. I'm not willing to suffer frostbite or worse for my clothing choices.

Best,
Jonathan

[Styckbow]

It turned out to be pretty nice this remembrance day only -8 so we were all really comfortable (my hands were a bit frosty) I ended up not even needing my jacket. Thanks for all the fantastic advice I am sure I will use it in the future

[Tobus]

Good morning, everybody.

There's a big difference between wearing trousers and wearing lightweight merino wool leggings in my experience. I have been known to wear such leggings under a kilt when the weather gets too cold. The leggings would take the place of underwear and doesn't limit my enjoyment of wearing a kilt.

Now, if it gets too cold, I'll wear heavyweight merino wool leggings ... maybe the kilt but most likely trousers. I'm not willing to suffer frostbite or worse for my clothing choices.

Best,
Jonathan

We agree, to a point. Suffering in the cold just to wear a kilt is an exercise in impracticality for the sake of vanity. I'm just of the opinion that the kilt is not an all-weather garment. Below a certain temperature threshold, it simply makes more sense to wear trousers (and insulated ones at that). Obviously not everyone feels this way, but I would feel a bit silly wearing full leggings under a kilt like King George IV and his pink tights. For me personally, the kilt should be worn with bare knees visible. If it's too cold for that, it's too cold for the kilt.

[McMurdo]

We agree, to a point. Suffering in the cold just to wear a kilt is an exercise in impracticality for the sake of vanity. I'm just of the opinion that the kilt is not an all-weather garment. Below a certain temperature threshold, it simply makes more sense to wear trousers (and insulated ones at that). Obviously not everyone feels this way, but I would feel a bit silly wearing full leggings under a kilt like King George IV and his pink tights. For me personally, the kilt should be worn with bare knees visible. If it's too cold for that, it's too cold for the kilt.

I have been asked several times in the past "Aren't your knees cold?" My answer is always something like this " I'm wearing 8 yards of wool, how cold are your knees?" People generally admit that their knees are cold in jeans. At least in a kilt just above my knee is warm.