kilt belts and backpacking

**Richland** · 6th April 06, 08:58 AM

I would suggest using a casual kilt like Sport kilt which closes with Velcro.
if you are carrying a heavy pack you will want a high percentage of the weight distributed on your hips. Anytrhing such-as a heavy kilt belt or any belt for that matter may interfere with this. The buckles and straps which close a more trad kilt might even rub you raw.
When we teach proper load distribution we talk about 60% of the weight should be carried on your hips. This is not absolute everyone is different.
but this is a general rule of thumb. Also get rid of all the junk people like to carry on their waist. knives cell phone etc. I Cant tell you how many soldiers still have that stuff mounted on their uniform belt then try to put a heavy padded hip belt for their ruck on over that.
There are quite a few who hike kilted on this site. It would be interesting to hear their experiences.

**Southern Breeze** · 6th April 06, 09:16 AM

I've hiked more miles than I can remember. This year will be the first I've hiked kilted so it's new to me also. I've already found that wearing a kilt belt won't work with the pack I use. The straps and buckles on the kilt may also be a problem. I'm planning on taking a weekend hike as soon as I can to sort this out.

**Andrew Breecher** · 6th April 06, 10:57 AM

I never wear a kilt belt with a backpack - it just doesn't work. I have a fair number of miles, both kilted and unkilted. I also don't wear a sporran, but I have worn a "bum bag" hung in front, for small things like a Swiss Army Knife and Aquamira and my camera (though since my new backpack has pockets in the hip belt I won't need to wear that for my next hike).

You're out in the woods. You certainly don't need to "dress up" a kilt with a fancy belt! No one else is wearing cuff links with their polypro shirts!

Andrew.

**way2fractious** · 6th April 06, 11:12 AM

Most kilt belts are not necessary to hold a kilt up - they are decorative; a properly made kilt is fastened on by the straps. However, hip belts on backpacks create downward pressures that kilt straps were never designed to bear, especially on narrow hips.

My backpacking kilt of choice is my MARPAT cotton/poly with a cotton webbing belt and plastic snap buckles. The webbing belt rides higher than a normal trouser belt, and usually sits above the pack's hip belt.

I have done dayhikes in a wool kilt before, but not a backpacking trip. The downside to the cotton/poly kilt is that it is not warm enough in the mornings and evenings at high altitude, so I also carry polypropylene long johns to get me through the cold times.