a little uncomfortable discussion about kilts for backpacking

[Alan H]

'bout time you chimed in. LOL

[Geoff Withnell]

Alan,
Have you looked at Sportkilt's hiking kilt? It is microfiber. I find it too light myself, so I would try to check one out in person before plunking down 80 bucks.

[Andrew Breecher]

I bet you were wondering when I'd chime in.

Body Glide. Don't leave home without it. Apply to the inner thighs and you won't have to worry about chaffing.

My hiking kilt is a 4-yard P/V kilt that fastens with velcro. I've never, ever had to worry about flashing anyone, although there were a few times when I had to boulder scramble and I suggested to my hiking partners that they might like to go ahead of me. I've forded creeks up to my waist, I've been along wind-swept mountain crests, and I've glissaded down snowy slopes. The kilt might whip around my legs, but it's never just flown up - that's more of a city thing where the wind gets channeled between buildings and hits you as you go around a corner. Maybe your fear of the wind lifting your kilt is because it's so light and has so few pleats? With deeper pleats and a slightly heavier cloth, it might behave better.

As for chaffing under the waistband, I've never noticed it. My pack rarely weighs more than 30 lbs, even with food and water, so maybe that's it.

These observations are from about 5,000 kilted backpacking miles.

[Alan H]

Calgacus....my bad, yes it's a reverse kinguisse. I also completely concur with your idea of the purpose-designed hiking kilt being high-waisted with no buckles or doo-dads of any kind. My hiking kilt doesn't have pockets, I wear a bum bag slung around the front as a pseudo-sporran. However, I could see the utility of a SMALL pair of side pockets...not enormous things to flap around and thud on the outside of your thighs.....not something to pack a couple of water bottles in, but something that would hold a folded-up map, a compass and that's about it.

McElmurry, the wind on Rockbound pass was easily 60 mph. Now, that's only the second or third time in 30+ years of backpacking that I've come across such a hurricane, but I opted for shorts that day! It would have been interesting to see how it worked out with the cotton/poly kilt.

ratspike, I am looking forward to seeing your kilt, the fabric is new to me and I'm seriously curious about it!~

[ChuckTN]

Did my first backpack trip in a kilt last week on the AT in a Mountain Hardware Elkomando kilt. Wore it the first half-day and the second day. Was comfortable with no chafing. By the end of the second day, it was soaked with sweat that would not dry out in the high humidity, so I switched to shorts for the third day and the last half-day.

I have day hiked in the Elkomando and in a Sport Kilt Hiking Kilt. I like the weight of both.

I found out on this backpack trip that the wool shirts and undergarments were much more comfortable when sweat soaked that the synthetic materials were. That has me thinking about a lightweight wool hiking kilt!

[Lodrorigdzin]

Did my first backpack trip in a kilt last week on the AT in a Mountain Hardware Elkomando kilt. Wore it the first half-day and the second day. Was comfortable with no chafing. By the end of the second day, it was soaked with sweat that would not dry out in the high humidity, so I switched to shorts for the third day and the last half-day.

I have day hiked in the Elkomando and in a Sport Kilt Hiking Kilt. I like the weight of both.

I found out on this backpack trip that the wool shirts and undergarments were much more comfortable when sweat soaked that the synthetic materials were. That has me thinking about a lightweight wool hiking kilt!

I invested in merino underclothes and never regretted it. greatest thing: they never stink.

[Flynn]

I did a 5 day hike on the AT in a sportkilt. Definitely bring some gold bond for the chafing.

I got this kilt and wore it circa 2008, I'm unsure if they've made any changes to the design since then

[Calgacus]

...I wear a bum bag slung around the front as a pseudo-sporran...

It may surprise you to hear it, but I've done that myself in the past. I used a bum bag until I got my drover's sporran. I would think a bum bag would be ideal to go along with a contemporary kilt.