I was caught out in a thunderstorm the last two times I went backpacking -- and over the last four years I have worn pants while backpacking only once. Kilts the rest of the time.

The trip before last, I was wearing a PV Sportkilt that was particularly miserable in the rain and took forever to dry. At the time I had a raincoat that went just a bit past my waist.

Last trip I had an Elkommando kilt, which is fast-drying nylon, and a poncho that came two or three inches shy of my knees. I was quite comfortable.

I highly recommend a long poncho for hiking in a kilt when you expect rain.