outdoor kilts

[caig]

Sory Graham, I must disagree ! I recently strarted the Great Glen Way ( Fort William to Inverness - 73 miles) and on the first day I set off in my wool 6-yard kilt from Geofrey (Tailolr) of Edinburgh, and in torrential rain and 30 mph winds. I was drenched in the lower half of my body ( I hate overtrousers), and the wool kept me warm, even when I had to capitulate and put the overtrousers on. I do not think that PV would have worked as well.

[James]

I agree with Acaig-based on hard wet/coldf walking-backpacking experience.

There is something else-wool is very fire resistant, and when camping using fires/small stoves etc-sometimes inside a tent due to bad weather, it is very easy to catch a garment on something a bit too hot.

A scorched kilt is one thing-but molten/burning 'artificial fibres' can be very nasty indeed.

Interestingly there is a move amongst outdoor folk to go back to natural fibres.

James

[Andrew Breecher]

I will agree that wool is a good, hearty material, and will stand up to any abuse sent its way.

However, poly-viscose is also an excellent material, and it is what I wore on my 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail hike. I will be wearing it again on my upcoming Pacific Crest Trail (2,600 miles) hike this spring. It will be the only article of clothing that survived enough to wear again (I went through two shirts, and umpteen pairs of socks). There is no noticable wear. It dries within an hour of being soaked if I remain active (by soaked I mean spending five hours in a downpour, or fording a river deep enough to make all men equal, if you know what I mean). I chose to wear a PV kilt because I didn't want to ruin a more expensive kilt. As it turns out I didn't ruin the PV kilt either!

Andrew.

[Riverkilt]

Welcome Hewhofalls,

A great question with many answers.

Two not mentioned so far are leather kilts and Utilikilts.

The leather Utilikilt I have doesn't have pockets, but the new model has some. I've had mine in snow, sleet and rain, and its kept me toasty. Also have a leather RKilt but haven't had it in foul weather yet.

When the weather's better the Utilikilt Survival is great for hiking, as is the Workmans (a heavier cloth), and the denim.

Steve at Freedom Kilts has some heavy cloth too. I was lucky enough to score a CADPAT Freedom Kilt which is great for hiking here in the canyonlands of Arizona.

Now that SportKilt offers sewn down pleats etc. you might find them the answer for hot weather hiking.

Bottom line, I'm afraid you'll need a wide range of kilts to suit a wide range of conditions...just like you select other garments for camping, hiking, foul weather...

Enjoy your new addiction...;)

Ron

[Yaish]

Just a nit to pick, but wool retains about 80% of its insulative properties when wet, but it certainly doesnt hold in MORE heat.

Wool is definately a fantastic material. If you have to go out in the wet and cold you cant beat wool with anything else, natural or synthetic. I'm sure there is a reason those Scots use wool in so many articles of clothing, but with their beautiful mediterranian climate I just cant think of what it might be...

The UK workmans and Survival are both warm, though being cotton not the best choices for wet weather. I'd loe to get a wool UK Survival for wet camping though, that would be just about perfect.

[Andrew Breecher]

Wool is definately a fantastic material. If you have to go out in the wet and cold you cant beat wool with anything else, natural or synthetic. I'm sure there is a reason those Scots use wool in so many articles of clothing, but with their beautiful mediterranian climate I just cant think of what it might be...

PV retains just as much heat as wool (well, I don't know the exact heat retention qualities, but I can tell you from experience that it is still very warm, even when wet). The reason the Scots use wool in so many articles of clothing is because (a) their country is overrun by sheep, and (b) they hadn't invented polypropylene 500 years ago. Polypro is a man-made material used extensively in outdoors clothing because of exactly those heat-retaining qualities and breatheability.

Andrew.

[Woodsheal]

Well, I don't know the exact heat-retention figures and percentages, but I can relate this story: I was at a Spring-time reenactment event when a late-day cold front came through with powerful rainstorms, and a drop in temps that resulted in a low in the upper 30's that night. All my stuff (camp gear and clothing) was entirely soaked!. But, I wrapped up nekkid in my thoroughly wet, 100% wool plaid, and slept warm and comfortable all the night through....
Finally, wool won't melt into a bubbling black slag that sticks to your flesh like polypro will. Something to think about if campfires are involved!

[michael steinrok]

The STILLWATER standard kilts are great and aren't so expensive you worry about them. Then there is always the Utilikilts. Have fun

[Andrew Breecher]

The STILLWATER standard kilts are great and aren't so expensive you worry about them. Then there is always the Utilikilts. Have fun

Stillwater kilts are acrylic, according to their web page, except for the heavyweight Black Watch, which is wool. I don't know what kind of blend they're using, but I can't imagine that acrylic breathes as well as polypropylene. Utilikilts are made of cotton. Don't get it wet when it's cold outside!

My outdoor ensemble:
Summer: 4-yard classic-cut Bear Kilt (poly/viscose), silkweight Patagonia Capiline shirt, SmartWool mini crew socks, and running shoes (New Balance, Montrail, or Saucony).
Winter: 4-yard classic-cut Bear Kilt (poly/viscose), silkweight Patagonia Capiline shirt, a North Face fleece shirt, knee-high gaiters, SmartWool mini crew socks, and running shoes (New Balance, Montrail, or Saucony). If it's very cold out, I have a down jacket for when I stop hiking.

All of this is made of artificial fabrics and blends (the socks are a merino wool blend). Except for the down jacket, all of it can get wet, and I'll still be warm. Warm and wet, but at least in cold weather if I keep moving I won't catch hypothermia. I could wear a wool kilt, but I just like the Bear one. Besides, I'm out to see how much abuse it can take! 2,200 miles and counting, so far....

For more of my gear, and my adventures, look at my web page.

Andrew.