Lightweight and cool kilt for backpacking

[Riverkilt]

Hey Roy, I'm with Andrew. I hike a lot in my SportKilts...they're light weight and readily available... The new construction options offer a more kilt-like look than the ones I paid for. I was impressed...

Ron

[Shay]

I got the supplex skirt, and at least at this weight, it's way too light for a man's kilt. The whole thing, down to my ankles, is about 10 oz*- great for me, (and they do make a men's macabi if you care) but if it were shorter I'd be pulling a very rugged and outdoorsy Marilyn Monroe at random gusts of wind.

Still, if you could find the fabric in a heavier weight, (or think the pleats would hold it down) it dires nicely as advertised, since my son spilled juice on me and I had to spot wash it- cleans up nice too.

*Yes, I managed to fold into the pocket as advertised and weighed it on our food scale.

[James]

A major question must be the prevailing weather-here in the UK much of my walking seemed to happen when it was raining-just stopped or just about to start.

For this I found a regular kilt [not sure of the actual weight-16-18oz] ideal: the rain tended not to get through-even when for days on end: and wool when wet is much warmer than cotton. I tried walking breeches-much less comfortable and really needed waterproof overtrousers-so rain outside condensation in.

Also if walking for several days in rain-breeches could chafe horribly.

Too when walking in braxcken/heather, even on dry days the legs could get wet from dew-residual water-and it is easy to change socks.

The windchill/wicking effect made cotton/jean type garments an absolute no: a real killer on the hill.

However if the prevailing weather had been hot and sunny-then maybe a light cotton kilt would have been the answer.

I suppose the only real answer would be a chain of porters carring a range of kilts to suit the weather of the moment. However there is no real answer-for so much depends on the moment-for the weather changes so much in the hills: and I cannot comment upon the USA-but for here in the UK the kilt is certainly the best all round option.

James

[Alan H]

Just checking back in with this thread.... Right, Andrew, the canvas I have is cotton and you are spot-on. On a nice day, no problem. But if it should rain, that kilt is going to feel like ice in short order, and it's also going to triple in weight..

Good thinking. Hmmm. PV is sounding better. Even a wood/poly blend is sounding better.