Kilted Hiking

[Alan H]

Now, if I were single.....

[Panache]

Now, if I were single.....

BUT YOU AREN'T SO STOP EVEN LOOKING AT THIS THREAD ALAN!






Cheers

Jamie

[Standard]

Nice to see that a couple of the ladies are wearing what appears to be tartan skirts also. Looks like it was a nice day for a hike in the woods with 11 lovely lasses.

[Cherub]

BUT YOU AREN'T SO STOP EVEN LOOKING AT THIS THREAD ALAN!






Cheers

Jamie

Hey just because we're married doesn't mean we're dead. No law against window shopping but god forbid if you take a test drive......

[McNulty]

Hey DavidH
Go to REI and get properly fitted to a pair of lightweight hikers, Gore-Tex if it is in you pricerange. Socks are very important, even more so than the boots. I'll slip a pair of lightweight hiking sox under my wool hose and slip them in to my Vasque Clarion Gore-tex hikers and I'm off to all but the most demanding terrain. If the hiking gets tougher then I'll switch to my Vasque Sundowners. I'll normally wear either my 13oz 8yd wool for the more strenuous hikes or one of my SWK standards for the less strenuous hikes. I'll go out in one of my 16oz 8yd if the trail is easy and we are just strolling.

A picture of my Siberian Indy and I on a trail up on The Flat Tops. SWK Black Watch and Vasque Clarion Hikers.

Nulty

[rodandy]

Hi DavidH,

Let me add my endorsement for REI and a good pair of hiking boots. I also have had very good service from my Vasque boots, although I don't remember which model they are.

Generally at a good store they will have a little inclined ramp that you can walk down. If your toes hit the end of the boots when you walk down the ramp the boots are not long enough. You will probably end up with boots a half size larger than you usually buy for street shoes. It doesn't make much difference if you have to walk down a steep sidewalk 50 feet to get to your car, but if you are going to have a 5 or 6 thousand foot change of elevation over an 8 mile hike it makes a world of difference.

As McNulty has said socks are probably every bit as important as the boots, if not more so. I like wool because it breathes and will keep your feet warm even if it gets wet. Even in very warm weather I don't find it any warmer than cotton socks, and much more comfortable. Make sure you try on the boots with the kind of socks you will use when hiking, because the socks/boots really are a system.

Once you find your local REI ask them about their used gear sale. Our store holds one about once per quarter. You can find all kinds of gear only very slightly used for 30 or 40 cents on the dollar.

I can't speak much about the kilt, since the only ones I've ever used for hiking are my Sportkilts in poly viscose.

Good hiking!

[fluter]

Well done Smayniac and Kiltimabar.

The rest of you, I recommend immediately placing the Muir Woods on your bucket list There is something about that place...

[David H]

I don't know if this is the right thread, but I was actually going to ask a hiking question tonight.

I may be moving to the piedmont area or the northern mountain area of Virginia soon. I am actually going on vacation up there in two weeks. One of the things that I want to start doing is going on hikes. I have been working out my entire adult life, so I want to start and do something a bit different.

I would like to know, what type of boot most of you use when hiking some of these trails? I will not be doing anything heavy in the sense of climbing mountains. I would like to hike basic trails and up and down the hills.

I was thinking of getting some sort of lightweight proven mountain combat boot instead of going to one of these outdoor sporting good stores.

What do you think?

[lucienrau]

I would like to know, what type of boot most of you use when hiking some of these trails? I will not be doing anything heavy in the sense of climbing mountains. I would like to hike basic trails and up and down the hills.

I was thinking of getting some sort of lightweight proven mountain combat boot instead of going to one of these outdoor sporting good stores.

What do you think?

I've done quite a bit of hiking in my youth and recently and here's my 2c. Combat boots, while ok don't match the ankle support of a good hiking boot. There's also less padding which will cause some extra wear on your foot (blisters etc...). If you're going to be hiking regularly even just over easy trails, hiking boots make a big difference at the end of the day.

It's worth getting a good pair of boots that fit your foot well, a good outdoor store will help fit you to the right boot, take your time though. Fitting should take at least 20 mins if not more with the person helping you having you try it out on stairs, inclines/declines. A bad boot will greatly lessen your enjoyment. Beware some chain stores though. REI generally will have good staff that can help you (look for the old guy.) I've had terrible luck at EMS and Mountain Research stores. Also be aware that the brand that fits you greatly depends on your foot. Vasque makes excellent boots, some people swear by them, but they only work for narrow feet, which makes them unusable for me.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

[David H]

I have one more question that I forgot to ask. What size (13 or 16 oz.) and cut of kilt is more comfortable when hiking?

I am getting ready to order another kilt and I would like to know what type to get.