weight for Canadian tartans

[auld argonian]

I have to ask...just how much time do any of us spend outside in frigid weather that we have to be that concerned about having these heavyweight kilts?

I don't know about you guys but I may be going back and forth to the commuter train and thence walking about ten minutes or so between stops downtown...maybe I get feeling all kilty and manly and go out and shovel snow in my kilts. It's not like I'm running the Iditarod in my kilt or anything...just going about my usual business and most of that is spent indoors. Is it really worth worrying about the difference between 12/13 oz versus 16 oz based on the possibility that you're going to be out in the cold for the time it takes to get from the front door to the car?

Obviously, the hearty types that decide to go kilted snowshoeing or whatever are excused but then they're the ones buying those 18/22 oz military kilts that go up to their armpits and could shelter an extended family of eskimos in case a raging blizzard blows up during the seal hunt.

I have one kilt in 13 oz and one in 16 and the difference seems pretty minimal to me. Certainly the 16 oz Strome is nice stuff but so is the 13 oz Strathmore. And if it's that cold...maybe you can commit sacrilege and actually wear something underneath....I've heard that you will not get struck down by a lightning bolt thrown down from the heavens by Big Hairy Aengus, the god of kiltliness, if you wear something under your kilt.

Best

AA

[Wompet]

Well, as the token American in the SOKS (and potentially charter American in the Dunnvile International Kilt Society), I put my two cents on 16 oz.

I have to ask...just how much time do any of us spend outside in frigid weather that we have to be that concerned about having these heavyweight kilts?

Er, well...

Obviously, the hearty types that decide to go kilted snowshoeing or whatever are excused but then they're the ones buying those 18/22 oz military kilts that go up to their armpits and could shelter an extended family of eskimos in case a raging blizzard blows up during the seal hunt.

Actually, the 18 ouncers and above are a bit warm, just as 13 oz is a bit cool, but 16 oz is just right.

And if it's that cold...maybe you can commit sacrilege and actually wear something underneath...

I can't speak for anyone else, but reducing the bare skin available for heat exchange by even that much makes me too warm, even with a lightweight kilt - the shorts and my base layer shirt would be soaked with sweat.

[Geoff Withnell]

Having lived in the nothern part of Michigan's lower pennsula, which put me north of 90% of Canada's population, here is my reasonably informed take on the issue. Anything lighter than 12/13 oz will be too subject to breezes. Given a good pair of kilt hose, either 12/13 oz or 16 oz will keep one reasonably warm down to about 0 Farenheit (-18 Celsius). Of course strong winds make a heavier weight more desirable. 18 oz is of course even warmer, but may be a bit warm in summer. The Morton Mills PV is also reasonable warm.


Geoff Withnell