Who's wearing an Elkommando, Sport Kilt hiker, or similar lightweight kilt?

**ratspike** · 23rd May 14, 09:23 AM

I'm making a kilt for a guy who's into ultralight backpacking, and is also heading across the pond for the Three Peaks Challenge this year. October is the plan. He recently bought his first kilt, a Utilikilt Survival, but the weight and the fact that it's 100% cotton are a no-go. He's leaning towards nylon/cotton ripstop as a reasonable compromise, but lately I've been thinking a lot about using Supplex. The fabric weight is about 3.5oz, so I'm thinking it'd be similar to both the Elkommando and the Sport Kilt hiker. If you have either of those, what are your thoughts about it as a kilt? Obviously it's not going to hang and swish like heavier fabrics, but IMO that's a bit secondary for a garment like this. The comfort and awesome factor of a kilt combined with the advantages of a modern technical fabric is what I'm shooting for. If, on the other hand, it's so light that all the kiltiness goes out the window then I'd probably save myself the bother of making and testing a sample.

**tundramanq** · 23rd May 14, 11:28 AM

I have and use both.
The Elkommando is purpose built for backpack hiking. The nylon canvas is heavy weight but the kilt is light with no hardware in the backpack resting hip area. The cargo pockets are a plus. This is one tough fabric. Mine is stained but perfect otherwise. Mine is first generation but I don't think anything really is different in the current product.

The SportKilt Hiker (Pacific Blue) is super light weight 11 oz (330gm) microfiber - so light that if there is any wind you better have a kilt pin on or a sporran. This is the only kilt that has gone full Marilyn on me. It is the best kilt for swimming as it will be dry in about 15 minutes. The fabric is probably fairy tough but I wouldn't take it through the brambles.

I think at the high altitudes in Scotland He will be best served by the Elkommando.

**Benning Boy** · 23rd May 14, 11:45 AM

First off, take a look at this http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ng-kilt-69784/

I wear an ElKommando often, just because it's so darned comfortable. It will get use on the trails this summer. The one big drawback to it, as I see it, is that it's made to a size, and isn't very adjustable. It can be tightened up a little bit, but can't be let out. Go with velcro at the waist for a better range of adjustment. If your buddy uses a waist belt on his pack, don't sew on belt loops, or use a belt to hold the kilt up, the velcro will do the job. If you can, look at a USAKilts casual kilt for ideas. Supplex should work. To keep the pleats sharp, sew them along the edges like an ElK. An absorbent lining at the waste like the ElK has would be a plus. Supplex will fly in the wind, so add a modesty snap to keep things legal, but make it better than the ElK's, which will come undone even in a calm. Also look at the X-Kilt plans for some good ideas.

Look at this silly thing http://www.featherkilt.com/order.php You would pull it on like a pair of pants. But imagine it made to wrap around like our kind of kilts. There'd be two apron panels over lapping at front, two side panels for attaching big pockets. ( make them pockets within pockets for more carry options, and to keep everything from dropping to the bottom) then add a pleated section to the rear. It could work.

I'm still leaning to use my machine, so I haven't made a kilt yet, but I bought fabric to make a hiking kilt. It's a Pendelton tartan, light weight wool. Too lite for a normal kilt, but about twice as heavy as Supplex. Think about a lightweight woolen fabric for a hiking kilt. I'm thinking it will work well. I also have enough tartan Airtex mess fabric to make a kilt, although I probably won't, it would be a supper light, supper ventilated and fast drying kilt. It would fly like startled quail in the wind, and there'd be a bit of a see-through factor, but for one going where few others will be encountered it could have some advantages.

**brewerpaul** · 23rd May 14, 01:40 PM

I own 3 Elkommando's for trail running and hiking, one Stillwater kilts standard for cold weather running and a light weight quick dry nylon kilt I made for hiking and running. Each has its advantages depending on what you are doing.

Starting with the Elkommando I use them quite a bit for trail running, hiking, gardening, walking to and from work and just lounging around. They are light, comfy and easy to maintain. They are light enough to be cool in the summer, dry with a snap and a bit of wind and like jeans they get softer and more comfortable with age. They also are durable and dont rip or tear easily at all. The down side is the narrow belt, the s/m/lg/xlg sizing and the way they fit on the waist. They fit like jeans or shorts so if you wear a loaded pack or something they tend to get scrunched down like pants do. An occasional stop is needed to hike them back up.

Without photos it didnt happen

I bought my first Elkommando in Seattle before leading a climb on Mt Baker. The normal approach wearing shorts or pants is always a but uncomfortable but with the kilt it was cool and the most enjoyable approach Ive made in the 20 years Ive been climbing on Baker.

Im the guy in the lead.

Loaded and heading up the trail

Checking out the snow pack and glaciers

Life is good in a kilt

Late fall camping in Missouri. Jennifer and I about to go on a trail run

Just out for a trail run.

**brewerpaul** · 23rd May 14, 01:42 PM

Now my running kilt I made is fashioned more like a traditional kilt, meaning straps and buckles, a lot of knife pleats and a high rise like a normal kilt rise. I made it like this because it stays up above my pack waist strap better. Instead of the waist strap pushing down on the kilt the kilt is actually under the strap. It is also more comfortable with a single or double water bottle waist pack too.

Back pleats sewn at the edge to stay pressed

Nylon webbing and buckles for reduced weight and strenght

Wicking linner on the inside keeps me dry

A more traditional fit due to the rise.

Pleats do swish ok

On the trails

One last photo of my Stillwater standard kilt. It is a mid/heavy weight acrylic that I use for cold winter running and hiking. With the regular kilt rise I find it quite comfy with my water bottle pack or my backpack. Jennifer and I take advantage of the trails year round.

Winter hiking kilted.

And proof there is a Jennifer that enjoys all this fun with me

Bottom line it depends on what you are looking for. If you dont care for a jeans/shorts fitting waist you would do better using a lighter weight acrylic kilt or making your own. Making one is quite easy because you arent worried about a tartan sete, just making some pleats. For hiking and running you cant go wrong with an Elkommando. Comfortable and tough, quick to dry and washable time after time. Rockywoods fabric has many types of quick dry performance fabrics you could make a kilt from. If you go to light with the fabric it will just blow all over, cling to you and be like a light weight skirt. There are alot of options from the velcro closure entry level kilts of USA kilts to Sport kilts to Elkommando to make your own. I have uses for each and every one of mine and plan on putting a lot of trail miles on my home made running kilt and my Elkommandos. It gets hot and humid in Mid Missouri and I appreciate each one.

**ratspike** · 23rd May 14, 04:25 PM

This is fantastic! Thanks for the opinions, gents. I'm only a very casual hiker so this is really helpful. I've never had hands on the Elk, but I do have some Mountain Hardwear stuff that's light, quick drying nylon so I'd assumed the kilt was a similar fabric. It sounds to me like the kiltiness is still there with these lighter fabrics, which is great to know. Rose City Textiles/Fabricline is here in PDX and they carry Supplex along with lots of other outdoor fabrics, so I think making a test kilt sounds worthwhile. He may still opt for a nyco ripstop if the camo pattern he wants is ever available again, but I'm trying to present a few different options to him.

The comments about the waistband and belts interfering with packs is great. We talked quite a bit about fit, and he's happy with his UK in that respect, but I'll make sure that we cover this specifically. Velcro is definitely my go-to for waist fastening, because velcro is rad.

Brewerpaul, Rockywoods is fab. I get my Multicam and some hardware bits from them. What kind of nylon did you use for that running kilt? I'm assuming something along the lines of Supplex/Taslan?

BenningBoy, the Feather Kilt is interesting. I dig the tie at the waist and I bet it's ridiculously comfy to wear when it's hot. The way it can be made into shorts is cool as well.

**Elizabeth** · 23rd May 14, 05:04 PM

No hiking kilt for me but I do have a couple of these that I wear when we camp or are out walking http://www.macabiskirt.com/. They are made of Supplex and they dry very quickly. Since they are very "wrinkle free" I'm not sure if Supplex would hold a pleat unless it was totally stitched.

**ratspike** · 23rd May 14, 05:12 PM

I was actually looking at the Macabi earlier today. Very, very cool. Good to know that Supplex isn't very wrinkle prone and yeah, I almost always sew pleat edges.

**Benning Boy** · 24th May 14, 12:32 AM

Ratspike, if you just plunged ahead with Supplex, I think you'd be safe. I can link you to a site that has 1.9oz nylon ripstop in US woodland camo, if that's of interest. There are even lighter fabrics available in a very limited selection of "modest shades" although most are see-through. I plan to make some gear with the these fabrics once I learn to use my sewing machine.

Nylon/cotton blends were the hot item back in the 1960s-70s. The big outdoor clothing merchants of the day (all gone now) pushed it. US Model 1965 field jackets were made of it. But, there are better outdoor fabrics today. Ny/co is tough, but does have a cotton content that will not dry as well as straight nylon or other synthetics.

Don't get too hung up on ripstop. Back in the days when the Army was still wearing cotton OD fatigues, I went frequently through some really nasty thorny stuff. The thorns would poke through, but never caused rips or even big holes, although the thorns were big enough to cause ugly wounds that rapidly festered. On the other hand, barbed wire or razor wire would cause rips, usually L-shaped.

Later, wearing BDUs, I had similar experiences. Pokey things just poked through, but even though the fabric was ripstop, wire would still cause big tears. Maybe the ripstop weave reduced the size of the tears, maybe it didn't. I couldn't see an advantage to it, though the cotton ripstop uniforms were very comfortable in warm weather.

Of course ripstop is useless against really sharp objects, they're going to slice right through regardless.

I've hiked some desert areas where there were serious thorns, but knowing there were thorny things about, I avoided them, so can't say whether or not ripstop might be an advantage where thorns grow like razor wire.

From the sounds of it, your buddy isn't going to be exposing himself to any serious hazards, so from my point of view, there's no need to worry over any slight advantages ripstop fabric might have. Go with what is lightest, for an ultralight hiker.

To me, and many more than you might think, a hiking kilt is just a cover up for those times when you can't get away with less. (Yes, there are yet savages in this world.) Those who advocate hiking kilts, especially for long distance hiking, like the Application Trail, first of all say wearing a kilt minimizes chafing, then they say a kilt is just cooler, in more than one sense of the word. (They even say as much in Backpacker magazine, so there's your authority if you need one.) I gather from your brief remarks your buddy is going to need to fully cover up, so a kilt is in order. But, if your buddy plans to wear anything under his kilt, then he's defeating the whole purpose of a hiking kilt, as I see it, and others, so he might as well just wear normal people clothes. Duluth Trading has some great supplex shorts. Beyond that, if he thinks he might have to swim in a kilt, then he might as well go ahead an buy one of these: http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/002393.php Or you could make him a set.

When I head for the hills, I go to get away from it all, and to get away from other people. I don't wear bright colors, that might attract attention, and avoid anyone wearing bright colors, or using brightly colored gear. We do not operate on the same frequency. Supplex can be had in some subdued shades, which I like, but if your buddy feels a need to be seen, it's also available shades that will blow your eyes out. Supplex is a safe place to start.

**Kiltedingeorgia** · 24th May 14, 04:58 AM

The sportkilt Hiker isn't to good walking though the Wal Wart garden dept and the Home Dpot with the very large ceiling fans going... It had mine over my waist in no time... LOL.