kilts in the outdoors

[Nick]

Urg... The first time I shot my muzzleloader while wearing my kilt I had neglected to put bug spray on my legs. Nothing worse than a UP mosquito (chickito), or a flock of them, going up the kilt just as you're about to pull the trigger

[James]

I cannot comment on the American wild life-buit in nothern Europe with the mygg & midges: I was no worse off in a kilt than others dressed in trousers.

As for getting wet-it comes with the kit, be it river crossings-oft waist deep, and several a day: and on occasion day after day of rain/snow/sleet. Conditions the traditional kilt was designed for, certainly it will not come to any harm, and you will be better off than in trousers-for comfort, less chaffing, and less of a wet trouser feel.

The kilt can also be used to save weight-use it as something to lie upon at night.

So wear your kilt, sure that you#ll be better off than your trousered or breeched friends--to do not worry about harming the kilt, you will not.

James

[Raphael]

It does matter what you wear. If the bugs are going to bite, they are going to get you even if you are wearing pants.

[Kilted KT]

having spent 18 years running a wilderness survival camp in northwestern Massachusetts, I have to echo the previous comment. If a bug wants to get you , it will. You could be wearing a tank for protection, and they will get you.

Besides, if bugs were so much of a problem, I tend to thing our scottish ancestors would have abandoned the kilt in favor of something that covers the nether region a little more.

[Andrew Breecher]

If you're hiking, you're more likely to get ticks on your upper body from brushing against branches or them falling out of trees. I've had one tick on my leg, but many more on my arms, shoulders, and neck (I always wear a hat, even when in the shade, just for protection against ticks on my head).

As for mosquitoes, of course they're going to bite your legs if they're exposed, but you're no worse off than if you were wearing shorts. I never had a problem with them flying up my kilt, which seemed to be everyone else's concern about what was going to happen! Once again, I had more mozzies attracted to the backs of my shoulders and arms than to my legs (overall - they'll go for anything when they're hungry). I've tried all sorts of different mosquito repellants - Skin So Soft, herbal concoctions, Off, and DEET, and I'll tell you, DEET's the only thing that actually keeps the bugs away for real. Yes, it's probably melting my kidneys or something, but at least I'm not being eaten alive.

For long-distance hiking I wear a poly/viscose kilt, so some of your questions about water, pleats, and so on will be from that viewpoint instead of from wool. When it gets wet it's warm. If I wear it while it's wet it will dry with the pleats intact. When fording deep rivers it will float around you if you get in up to your waist.

I'm happy to answer any questions you have about wearing a kilt outdoors. I'm at about 2,300 kilted hiking miles, and I'm about to tack on another 2,600 this spring/summer.

Andrew.

[Blu (Ontario)]

... I've tried all sorts of different mosquito repellants - Skin So Soft, herbal concoctions, Off, and DEET, and I'll tell you, DEET's the only thing that actually keeps the bugs away for real....

Insects are like tiny robots controlled by micro-computers. They react in specific ways depending on whatever stimulii are present. The presence of carbon dioxide, moisture, and heat will trigger a feeding program in mosquitos and other biting insects. Deet scrambles those signals and confuses the animal as it gets close to the body. Deet works. Tested extensively over the last 50 years, it has been proven to be effective, and relatively safe. It is absorbed through the skin and distributed throught the body, but is mostly excreted with the urine. It is also a solvent, so a bit care should be used as it can melt or marr certain plastics and fabrics. It is also oily, so I would be incline to use it sparingly around areas of skin in direct contact with my kilt. There are other repellents available but none are as effective as deet.

[mbhandy]

I have used jungle juice (Deet) inthe jungles of Hawaii and it is the only thing That stoped the bugs. I was not Kilted at the time I was wearing nylon Shorts and zip on legs (Napali Coast State Park-Kauai) I can tell you if those mosies want you they are going to get you.I had blood marks up and down the legs even with the legs zipped on. My girlfriend used the Skin so soft for about 2 hrs. then started to use the Deet.My question is would Deet stain my Stillwater economy or standard?
Or should I dress like we saw some hikers, Teva's, Sunglasses and Backpack. I asked Ray if she Thought they were Vaurnets and her reply was "What glasses? He was wearing glasses?"

MrBill