How many BPL’ers wear KILTS?

[CW]

I used to have a SportKilt in my family tartan before I lost weight. I wore it to work some days, and even wore it to Home Depot a few times. You get some real interesting looks walking around a hardware store in a kilt.

[BlackHatGuy]

"He just doesn't want to be a hanging chad."

ROFFL.

[Chad Miller]

Matthew wrote:

"I am Scott/Irish, not shallow (just don't care what insecure people like you think), and don't wear a kilt for attention…from males, anyway :) I have to wonder why it is that you keep posting on a kilt thread when you obviously dislike them so much? Try it before you bash it…or don't you have enough confidence?"

Actually read the entire post you quoted from. I have and do wear a kilt, just not backpacking.

I think you're a bit too wrapped up in this kilt thing, you've become rather defensive and are reading too much into things that have a :P following them. If you keep on doing this it will make you look shallow and insecure regardless if you wear a kilt.

[Matthew Perry]

"He just doesn't want to be a hanging chad."

LOL…Awesome.

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M

[Matthew Perry]

"I used to have a SportKilt in my family tartan before I lost weight. I wore it to work some days, and even wore it to Home Depot a few times. You get some real interesting looks walking around a hardware store in a kilt."

Chris,
How was the feel and weight of the Sportkilt? Was it the "Hiker" model? I have decided that is my next kilt and was wondering how you liked it. Thanks,

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M

[Mark Verber]

I have worn a kilt on an off for the last couple of years. I tried one because I was having problems with chafing. I found that the kilt was cooler than my typical pants or shorts, but it wasn't the solution on it's own. I found a combination of losing some weight and using some sahalie ultralight tights cut off above the knees (combined with any covering – kilt, shorts, pants) took care of my chafing problem. At the end of the day I decided that the slightly better "performance" wasn't sufficient to overcome my feelings of looking silly. I am happy to look silly if I get a significant benefit, but the kilt wasn't it. Oh, as to what the quilt was. One was made by a friend out of silk, the other was a Mountain Hardware Mountain Kilt made from they typically canyon cloth (basically supplex).

–Mark

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

Regarding the female thigh chafing, that could be an issue for sure. It works in a dry climate. There's more air in there than pants or shorts so the air dries you before sweat can build up enough to cause chafing. If the air was more humid I would not wear a skirt or a kilt; I'd wear pants. The whole "skort" thing makes no sense, nor does the skirt with bicycle shorts on underneath make any sense, nor does using chafing balm make any sense. I have to ask myself what's the skirt for if you've got shorts on underneath or have to put on chafing balm.

Of course, even without the shorts underneath you have to ask yourself why a kilt. What's the benefit? I like being able to put on warm layers on my legs and take them off again. I like the big pockets. I like the ease of movement and the feeling of air. But really, part of it is the looks. Lets face it. Backpacking clothing is boring. A kilt is fun.

One nice feature about the Mountain Hardware kilt is the fabric appears to be water resistant. I walked across a deep creek and the kilt didn't get wet at all and it was nice to not have wet pants after the creek.

[Mark Verber]

piper explicitly noted something I thought but didn't say, I saw the most benefit in hot, dry climates. In higher humidity I found some having some fabric to protect the skin that also permitted good air flow such as the sahalie ultralight tights was the real help. BTW: anyone no a good replacement, I am on my last pair and sahalie hasn't had them in stock for more than a year).

I liked the idea that with a kilt I could easily layer on and off my legs without exposing myself in the world… but in practice, I found that I didn't take advantage of this because I rarely changed laying for my legs, and when I did it was either rain shell or puffy insulation which goes over whatever I was wearing.

–Mark

[Marc Mensing]

I wear a kilt whenever possible, and have almost all of the kilts discussed above. My thoughts on the various kilts:

Utilikilts (abbr. UK):
Weight: varies by model.
HEAVY, and all cotton, therefore not really what I prefer when backpacking/hiking, however when walking around town, the pockets are nice.

Sportkilts:
Weight: Hiker model (sz 32) 10 ounces
I have the hiker model w/o any of the random extras available, a sporran is pretty much required w/ anything but a UK. The fabric doesn't seem to breathe all that well and the elasticized waist takes a bit of getting used to.

MH Elkommando:
Weight: 12.6 ounces
IMHO a great kilt for hiking, yes it does look like a skirt, unless you put a sporran on (more on those later). The material has a decent water repellency, dries quick and the fleece lining about the waist keeps it comfy and warmer in cooler temps. 1 styling drawback is the embroidered logo should be on the other side, where a traditional kilt pin would be.

Stillwater Kilts:
Weight: varies by model.
Great trad styled kilts for a budget price, the fabric quality isn't that great but from my experiences this is one of the best traditional styled kilts that you can get for under $200, and Jerry V's shipping speed is phenomenal.

Sporrans:
An essential w/ any traditional styled kilt, Stillwater makes a nice bombproof, although heavy, cordura nylon one (the nightstalker). The Osprey grab bag also works great as a sporran, and is a bit lighter than the SWK. There are also patterns out there for the rob roy style of sporran which could be done out of dyneema, cuben, or silnylon.

just my $.02

[Matthew Perry]

Marc,
Glad you chimed in. Until my custom EnLightened Equipment Dyneema sporran gets here, i am forced to use my old standby…the Stillwater Nightstalker. As you stated, very nice, but a little heavy at 8 ounces.

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M

[Matthew Perry]

28 grams…1 ounce weight!
Daisy chain attachment points for paracord survival tassels.
Dyneema rip stop fabric with waterproof #5 YKK zippers.
Great job, Tim! I can't wait to get some tassels on this thing!

NOTE:
Would also be great as an add on pack pocket.

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M

[Matthew Perry]

[Evan McCarthy]

[Matthew Perry]

Contact Tim at enLIGHTened Equipment for a sporran to go with that kilt. You're only half dressed without one :)
Looks like MHW is a winner for you:

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M

[Tim Marshall]

You gotta post once these arrive. I need some action shots of you in your man dress! Honestly i have never worn a proper kilt but made a passable knock off to wear in a living history program for 6th grade camp when i taught outdoor education years back. I loved wearing that thing! It was the best to play soccer in i just loved running in it. I assume walking wouldn't be bad if running is AWESOME!!(remember i am fat and fat people aren't supposed to like running) Gonna have to give a revisit in some UL nylon perhaps.

-Tim

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

Now come on and tell me you don't agree that all these men in their kilts look awesome!

What is the requirement for something to be considered a sporran? I don't have one. Can a woman in a kilt wear a sporran?

[Matthew Perry]

From Xmarksthescott.com :

"Kilted Skirts

Unless in the uniform of a pipe band women don't wear kilts, they wear kilted skirts, either soft pleated or knife pleated. The lighter worsted wool falls more easily into easy soft pleats and hangs better. You can just pull the gathers or soft pleats together and place a waistband on it. Length is largely a matter of taste and varies with occasion. You can put a zipper in the side or a button or even eye & hook closing (left side). If you want to wear it for evening dress you can make it floor length (or formal). As with a man's kilt, matching up the setts in knife pleating can be very tricky, but must be done properly to look good. Some ladies wear a vest or velvet jacket of dark, complimentary colors, with a plain white long sleeved blouse under it. Lace ruffles can be snapped or sewn in the sleeves and allowed to come gracefully down half way on the hands, and a lace jabot at the neck flowing out over the vest or jacket. Most items of male Highland attire are generally not considered appropriate feminine attire, including sporrans (the possible exception would be a sporran worn as a shoulder bag, which can be most tasteful and attractive), dirks, sgian dubhs, kilt hose and flashes, etc."

I personally don't see a problem…hike your own hike, or, uh, rock your own kilt….

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[Matthew Perry]

Thanks to Tim Marshall at enLIGHTened Equipment, i have my new super ultra light 1 ounce hiking sporran! I added three paracord tassels with skull beads to complete the sporran and give me 30 feet of usable cord, just in case. Add an old "VAN HALEN at The Whiskey" t-shirt and you're good to go.

Opal Creek Wilderness, Oregon:

Tim should make these on a permanent basis, as they would make great pack pockets or sternum strap pouches. I can't say enough about how much i like this sporran…truly a work of art. GREAT WORK, TIM!!!

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[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I like those sporrans.

There was a woman at the ADZPCTKO this weekend who made a utility belt that used a CD case as one of the compartments for holding stuff. It is shaped just like some of these sporrans.

[Dicentra OPW]

I had no idea that BPL had a kilt thread.

Do carry on… ;)

[Alasdair Fowler]

I don't make a habit out of wearing kilts when hiking, but I did wear one for my wedding last week;

So tempting to go climbing a mountain in it :D

[Christopher Holly]

So,

I pulled the trigger on a Stillwater kilt last week – and just as a previous post hinted at, the shipping time was almost immediate! Great stuff!

However, two things compel me to return the kilt: 1) It's too big even after following the recommended sizing for someone in between sizes and 2) It's a LOT of fabric.

I know this is how kilts are made of course, but I am wondering about how the correct size might feel under a pack. I intend to exchange it rather than return it, but I would also like to get more feed back on the Elkommando. It seems this kilt has great quick dry ability and is appreciably lighter than a traditional model. Can anyone who owns one confirm or deny this for me?

The other thing I am wondering, or at least "The Boys" are wondering, does anyone know a good replacement for the Sahalie Ultralight Tights?

This really seems to be a winning combination and I am sick of walking bow legged in the SoCal heat! Any input would be welcomed!

[Christopher Holly]

It may be worth mentioning (or maybe not) that my undergarment of choice for the past few years has been the Under Armour Boxer Brief. I choose these as the waist band is softer than the Ex-Officio model, and yes, I need to loose a few pounds. I have been wearing these under either Columbia shorts or the Ex-Officio Ventr Skimmer shorts, but the chaffing and prickly heat (monkey butt – or more fittingly 'Monkey Nutz') has continued to be problematic.

What I am looking for is moisture management and breathability and the Sahalie Ultralight Tights seem to fit the bill – especially when coupled with modesty. I have had only marginal luck with anti-chafing gels so far…

A UL kilt / tights solution seems to be the ticket, but I am having problems finding the magic combination. Our put in date for the JMT is July 28 so this issue is pressing t say the least.

Thanks in advance for any help…

[Matthew Perry]

The MHW will be alot lighter, but runs small…at least for me it did. I am 6'2" tall, 225 lbs with a 38 waist and i needed an XXL just for length. You should also check out the Sportkilt hiking kilt:

http://www.sportkilt.com/category/52/Hiking-Kilt.html

I never wear anything under it unless i am going to see temps. below 30 degrees, then i add a MHW 3/4 tight.

_—-M

[Christopher Holly]

Yes, I had not considered the MHW tights as an alternative. Good stuff!

The Sport Kilt looks enticing to say the least. My Stillwater choice was a Thrifty Kilt, based on price more than anything. It's a great piece of gear, just turned out to be too big and honestly, very warm feeling just trying it on. Can't imagine wearing it under a pack belt.

So the Sport Kilt Hiker seems to be the best of both worlds then it seems!

Same price as the MHW model, maybe I'll give it a go!

Thanks a lot for the input,

CMH

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