Hiking in a Kilt

[Arlen]

As seen here, I don't have any problems hiking in my kilt.
Insects aren't a problem under the kilt when I'm walking, but a light spray of tea tree oil under the kilt usually does the trick to keep them away when I'm sitting.

To be honest, in all my years of fishing, hiking and camping in kilts I've found them to be far, far more practical and comfortable than any other garment.

[way2fractious]

Well, I'm considering buying a Utilikilt as a hiking/backpacking/outdoors garment. How many guys here actually have hiked or camped in a kilt?...

I made my first kilt (cotton) in 2002 specifically for hiking/backpacking/outdoors activities. Since then I only go kilted in the great outdoors (poly/cotton.) Winter camping? Wool only, kilt and hose. Incidentally, I always carry a kilt on my bike rides for off-bike time.

My last backpack trip was three days in the Tetons in Wyoming, wearing a poly/cotton USMC MARPAT kilt. During the hiking day it was warm enough to cause the sweat to drip down the inside of the legs; on breaks and in camp it was fine. On the ridges the kilt was light enough to blow up in the updrafts, but with the nylon sporran in front and holding the hiking stick horizontally behind, exposure was minimal. Bugs never seemed to be a problem - but then, after a day or two one develops a sixth sense regarding their whereabouts. We carry ponchos for rain.

The only problem I had was the breezy, cold evenings and mornings in camp, especially trying to cook the dinner or heat up a breakfast. Because hiking socks leave the lower legs bare, my totally unfashionable - but pragmatic - fix was to wear a pair of long polypropylene bottoms along with the kilt. Other overnight trips at lower elevations presented no such problem.

Wearing a wool kilt on such trips would be nice, but the cost of such a thing prohibits most folks from even thinking such a thing. However, inexpensive used wool kilts from auction sites, or homemade kilts using decent wool fabric, could be a good bet.

The one outdoor problem that needs solving, kilted or not, is finding a decent place and way to sit down - kilted just makes it a little more interesting sometimes. Natural objects like logs, rocks, tree roots, the ground, etc. all present hazards to one's clothing and anatomy. IMHO, the only sure-fire solution is the lightweight, foldable camp stool.

w2f (a happy camper)

[Robin]

Overhere ticks (Lyme disease) became a real problem, so I always try to stay on the paths and away from bushes when kilted.

I'm not afraid of mosquitoes...Michelle is the mosquito magnet

[macsim]

I've hiked in my UK and found it comfortable. It was about 5 miles the first time and no problems. The next hike I took was probably 7 or 8 miles and I fell in the creek in about 50 degree weather. I was freezing in my wet t-shirt but my lower half remained warm under the kilt. It dried at a much faster rate than the shirt too. I was very pleased and often wondered how miserable I would've been had I been wearing jeans. The wife isn't wild about me hiking in the kilt so I don't do it often but we do hike a lot and I'll probably do it again, maybe next week in fact while we're on vacation in Gatlinburg.

[shrednwail]

Thanks for the replies... It just seems like a UK would hold up better to the wear and tear of the trail than a tartan kilt, in the under $150 price range. (Please correct me if I'm wrong). A wool kilt just isn't in my price range right now, unfortunately.

[Riverkilt]

Hey Shred,

I'm an olde bird and have been hiking a lot in a lot of different types of kilts.

Here's a pic of hiking down to Supai Village in the Grand Canyon in my basil Utilikilt Survival II model.



What I liked about the Survival II was I could put some of my stuff in the pockets - which lightened my pack a tad and seemed to distribute the load better. But that's just me.

One thing not mentioned yet - if you're hiking regimental/commando be sure and use BodyGlide on your "fire helmet." That's particularly important if you're wearing a kilt like the UK Workman's with heavy fabric.

If you're off in the wilderness you can tuck the aprons up out of the way but if you're on a busy trail you're gonna need to counteract the sway of both items as they move against each other and cause friction.

Ron

[Kilted KT]

I would go with an acrylic or wool kilt for hiking. UK's get REALLY hot if you are hiking in warm weather, are painfully slow to dry, and are not much as keeping warm if it is cold and raining.

[furrycelt]

every time i go camping/hiking/backpacking, i wear one of my Utilikilts. some campers live by the term "cotton kills". but it is not like the fiber will strangle you in your sleep if you take it with you. besides less than half of the UK is cotton (unless it is the Workman model). it dries quickly cause of all that polyester in it. it doesn't restrict the legs at all. i've never had a problem with bugs under my kilt. i might avoid a kilt under super cold conditions, but other than that, i won't take anything else.

the only time i am not regimental is when i am backpacking. i wear trunk-like/boxer-brief things that are made from micro-fibers. they keep my junk from banging around, and they wick away moisture, and prevent chaffing. and i wear gaiters to protect my lower legs.

the ideal fiber though for camping and such is still wool. it is the most fire proof of all the wearable fibers, it breathes well, it holds heat in regardless of moisture content. and it dries quickly. PV is said to do the same thing, and be cooler (of course PV in a fire would melt and burn, so avoid hiking in fire).

[Archangel]

so avoid hiking in fire).

darn, that was next on my list...

[auld argonian]

Overhere ticks (Lyme disease) became a real problem, so I always try to stay on the paths and away from bushes when kilted.

I'm not afraid of mosquitoes...Michelle is the mosquito magnet

Bugs just don't like me...must be the red hair or all of the garlic that I eat or something...I once came back from a photo shoot in the woods and my companions were picking ticks off of themselves for hours; when I took off my shirt there were half a dozen ticks running around trying to find the way out and not a bite on me. Skeeters seem to hate me as well...that's one of the reasons that I want to get to Scotland and see if the magic works on the midgees.

Best

AA