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.