Traveling with a kilt

[Drac]

Good evening folks,

Getting ready to head out for 3 weeks to San Diego and want to bring my Lamont. How do you pack them? It seems that rolling is preferred but Kathy specifically said not to roll the kilt for packing.

Thanks,
Jim

[Kett]

Drac,

My husband rolls his and then he puts one of my "knee-hi" stockings over it, making it a bit like a kilt-sausage. Pack in suitcase, go on about your business. It keeps it from getting the pleats completely mangled and he's not had any troubles with the rolling.

I'm not sure I can adequately describe the direction of the rolling other than "in the direction to keep the buckles going the right direction". That may not be helpful but it's all I can really think of!

Melissa

[macbheatha]

Good evening folks,

Getting ready to head out for 3 weeks to San Diego and want to bring my Lamont. How do you pack them? It seems that rolling is preferred but Kathy specifically said not to roll the kilt for packing.

Thanks,
Jim

You might find it sufficient to hang it from your waist. ;c)

It would also reduce the weight of your baggage.

rb

[Riverkilt]

I hang my hand sewn kilts on the Order of the Gael hangers then cover with a garment bag if I'm driving.

Flying, I fold them in quarters. First fold the waist back on itself so the pleats still hang, then lay the pleats in the suitcase and fold it in half so the hem and the waist touch. I think that's how Kathy folds them for shipping too.

[BoldHighlander]

Found in the tutorials:

Kilt Roll for Travel!

Also, you might want to look into one of these:

'The Kilt Roll' Kilt Carrier by Scotweb Kilts & Tartan Store

-- or --

Kilt Roll Heavy Quality With Shoulder Strap by Scotweb Kilts & Tartan Store

and finally:

Kilt Roll

[Zardoz]

I hang my hand sewn kilts on the Order of the Gael hangers then cover with a garment bag if I'm driving.

I'll second Ron on the Order of the Gael hangers, they are a great product!
I also use their "Kilt Kit" travel bag, there's a post I made about it here;
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...vel-bag-50344/

For flying, (which I resist doing if at all possible!) I will roll them, my suitcase is long enough for them to go in. I just pull then out and hang them ASAP after I arrive.

[ForresterModern]

I have used the stocking over the rolled kilt trick, a formal kilt roll, an Order of the Gael kilt garment bag with their specially designed kilt hangers, as well as a regular rolling garment bag with kilts on Scotweb type kilt hangers. All work fine, although I woould only use the Order of the Gael personally for car travel and only if I was taking a kilt jacket along, as it offers little physical protection for its contents and the hangers have a design flaw that makes them prone to breakage at one particular spot, something likely to happen in baggage handling unless you are driving yourself or using it as a carry-on. The stocking trick and kilt roll are great for single kilts that will not be packed for long trips, but may require also carrying a kilt hanger to be able to hang them up upon arrival, particulalry as they may need a steam to clear off any acquired wrinkles or rumpling from the rolling.

On a 12 day trip to Scotland two years ago, kilted every day, I took my rolling Samsonite garment bag and carried 4 kilts on Scotweb hangers and two jacket/waistcoat combos on regular suit hangers, and still had room for hose, shoes, sporrans and other accoutrements, although that was pushing the weight limits (which were 70 lbs for international travel then). For my upcoming travels to Scotland next month for an 8 day golf extravaganza I will be carrying 3 kilts, but will likely use a new carryon "Skyroll" garment bag for the kilts and some other carry-on safe kit as one of my two carry-on items. see the website description to really understand how it works:

http://www.skyroll.com/

I am hoping this will minimize the wrinkling while also minimizing my checked baggage weight, since I will carry-on my three kilts, as I will also have golf gear to take along as well as checked baggage. The rig rolls your kilts around a tube across the normal lenght wise axis of the kilt instead of along it, but not anywhere near as tightly as the kilt rollers, then leaves room inside the tube for additional stuff like shoes and hose, etc.. I have not yet tried it on a long trip so will keep you posted as to its success or failure in its anticipated duties. But it allows me to carry them on instead of subjecting them to 16 hours of travel packed tightly in checked bags, and the design of the skyroll will allow me to even potentially unroll them for the transatlantic portion of the flight in an overhead bag bin for even less wrinkling.

Anyway you go if the kilt is packed for a significant length of time anticipate needing a bit of steaming in your destination lodging bathroom shower for some likely rumples, at least on the front apron if not also on the pleats.

happy trails.

jeff