Lightweight and cool kilt for backpacking

**Dreadbelly** · 21st August 05, 08:59 AM

PV dries faster than wool does... Something to think about. Also wicks away moisture from your body keeping you drier than wool does. It really is an amazing fabric.

**PaulS** · 26th August 05, 04:44 AM

I've hiked parts of the AT in a PV Sportkilt, it worked out great. I agree with Dreadbelly, I think it's a great fabric, especially for activities like hiking.

**Shay** · 26th August 05, 10:52 AM

I'm ordering a Macabi skirt for myself- I do a fair amount of walking and traveling. It's made of Supplex, when I get it, I'll let you know how the fabric is- it's suppsed to be really good.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 6th April 06, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Shay

I'm ordering a Macabi skirt for myself- I do a fair amount of walking and traveling. It's made of Supplex, when I get it, I'll let you know how the fabric is- it's suppsed to be really good.

(Resurrecting an old thread)

I just ordered mine a few minutes ago, now that I see they have Big Man sizes (i.e. 3XL) This is going to be primarily for hiking/backpacking. I'd love to wear a kilt but my polyviscose kilts give way too easily in the wind and I don't want to moon folks hiking behind me.

Shay, now that you've had your Macabi awhile, what are your impressions?

I picked the "Stone" color because they are significantly discounted right now.

**Riverkilt** · 6th April 06, 01:52 PM

I have two Macabi river skirts (my term). Nice folks make them up in Salt Lake City. Wear mine for knocking around.

Pics in my gallery if it helps.

Ron

**MacHummel** · 6th April 06, 02:24 PM

Just to put my two cents in PV is great for hiking for all the reason everyone else spoke of it does dry faster and takes a good beating. I prefer to wear 8yrd kilts but I have worn my 6yrd denim kilt hiking. Right now my favorite kilt is my 8yrd army green kilt there is a pic of it on my website on the front page, seems to take the abuse and keep on going, it all depends, on what your expectations for hiking in a kilt are durability , comfort, style, or just plain function, for me if its hot I would try a 5yrd PV kilt, and from there maybe move up to an 8yrd.

**Magnus Sporrano** · 6th April 06, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

I have two Macabi river skirts (my term). Nice folks make them up in Salt Lake City. Wear mine for knocking around.

Yeah Ron I noticed you on their web site. I figured you might chime in.

You looked like you were having a good time out there enjoying nature in your macabi.

**Shay** · 17th April 06, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Magnus Sporrano

Shay, now that you've had your Macabi awhile, what are your impressions?

Well, I bought two more, so pretty darn favorable. They pack up well, dry off quickly, and wash really nicely- I wear them in the garden all the time.

I also have a flannel skirt I wear under them in the winter- they really cut the wind and the flannel keeps me insulated. I have stone, and olive green, and sand. Whenever I wear them I get compliments, too. And the pockets are huge- the zippered one is great for my cell phone since I rarely if ever carry a purse. I can keep almost a whole skein of yarn in the big pocket and use it like a crochet bag!

My only slight problem with them is that I seem to show more people how they snap up onto 'pants' than I ever actually do it for practicality's purposes, but that's more a function of not hiking as much as I used to than anything else.

Are you liking yours?

**Magnus Sporrano** · 17th April 06, 01:36 PM

For knocking around the house, I like it just fine.

I tried actually going out somewhere in it and turned around before I got to my car to go back inside and change. Reason: it kept falling down on me. The belt loops are pretty much non-functional for men, especially for shrek-sized men such as myself that need a full 1.5" wide belt.

I talked to Carol @ Macabi and she is VERY receptive to feedback about the men's model, and appears to be considering making some changes to differentiate the men's model from the women's model (right now there is no difference). The belt loop issue was the only one I was interested in changing. She asked a lot of questions about the length, asking if I wanted something more kilt-like in length, and I told her that actually I specifically bought this because of the length as it is easier to maintain my modesty during outdoor activities.

So I do look forward to using it but regret that the pockets are useless for me as it is currently constructed. My wife is quite the seamstress herself so I will probably get her to take mine with her to the fabric store to find something that matches in color and make me up some proper belt loops for it. I think that if I could wear something like a military-style web belt with it, I would be set for backpacking because then I could use standard load bearing gear to distribute some of the load out of the backpack and onto my chest, a butt pack, etc.

I very much like how light and breathable it is. Very comfortable when it is hot out since I get good ventilation & breathing with it, even though it is full length for modesty & protection from the brush.

When it starts getting cooler out I may actually try a Great Kilt hoping that the weight of the wool will help with modesty issues, and then wear the wool kilt hose with it plus some gaiters to protect my lower legs.