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Kilt experience?

raindog101 said:
Lots of rumours out there about "going commando", or more accurately "going regimental", while wearing a kilt. Some will say it came about when the first Highland regiment joined the British army, and were not issued any undergarments (by accident? or not? I leave you to decide!). In any case, the term continues to today, in some form, indicating trousers without anything underneath. The standard attire recommended when wearing a kilt. Unless you plan on swinging from the monkey bars with the kiddos one fine Sunday in the park:eek::eek:
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I'll pass thank you. i like more protection for the family jewels myself.
i saw Sean Connery on a talk show and when asked if he free balled when wearing a Kilt.
His straight faced answer was, " Depends on the occasion!" was his reply.
 
I wear a kilt often, whether hiking or otherwise. I was always told wearing underwear with a kilt is called a "skirt".
 
Thread reminds me of a beer festival I went to a couple years ago. Two guys showed up in Utilikilts with Sierra Nevada T-shirts on. I was sorely, sorely tempted to go up to one of them and say "Don't you just hate it when you buy a new dress, go to the party, and the beeech steals your look?"

Couldn't bring myself to do it, though.
 
Rhesus Feces said:
So, BS aside, what are the perceived advantages to a kilt, again?
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Certain great kilts have enough fabric to where you can cover nearly your entire body, kind of a makeshift sleeping bag, at night. Better than nothing, I suppose, on a cold, misty highland night. Not sure what kind of advantages a modern kilt would confer. They're kinda fun for period gatherings (ren faires, tatoos, that sort of thing), but I find them inferior to a good pair of hiking pants with zip off legs. The material (wool) would be the only advantage (in certain situations) that I could see. But they are NOT cooler to hike in, based on my experiences.
 
Rhesus Feces said:
So, BS aside, what are the perceived advantages to a kilt, again?
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BS aside?
Okay then,
Speed.
You asked. So be it. Kilt are worn with hose (yank: stockings, knee highs, long socks, et al.) A proper kilt is one thumb above the floor when you kneel. Waist goes across the naval. Hose come up to the upper knee. Piper hose; over the knee. Remember Scotlands flower is the thistle. Sharp lil boogers. But in a kilt pursued by Bears, English, and Alimony Attorneys, you can fly!
 
neeman said:
From living in Scotland and talking to folk about wearing a kilt backpacking?

None
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Really? Dont forget darlin' but David wore a kilt upon his coronation as king of Israel when he danced through the streets.
 
LEGION 12 said:
You were just a wee lad back then right Bill ? :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
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Ah Rich, this is an ancient debate long garnered by greater men than we. A kilt is merely a width of fabric wrapped around ones waist. What separates it from a skirt is the front overlap. Its like a long beach towel, set one edge over your right leg and wrap it around until the other edge is over your left leg. The excess material gets pleated in the back. That overlap is called an apron and the outer edge is held to the inner with a kilt pin (which can be a whole decorative and ceremonious object of veneration unto itself). Kilts are special to Scots because there was a time when it was illegal to wear them and thus it became a matter of national pride. You put on your forbidden kilt, play your forbidden pipes, and snub your nose in the general direction of the royal palace.
In reality most kilts were regimental tartans but as the kilt has grown in popularity so too has the plethora of available tartan patterns.
But there are aficionados who like kilts and wear kilts but want nothing to do with Scottish heraldry or Highland tradition. They just want to wear a kilt. To them it is a preferred article of clothing. This is the theme of the Utilikilt company who have created a movement to wear unbifrocated garments regardless of nationality or allegiance. Although the grunge rock look they seem to be going for is not quite this old man's taste I do appreciate their approach. And nowadays kilts are offered in a wide variety of patterns and materials so one is not just limited to tartan wool.)If you like it wear it. If you don't, then don't wear it.
As far as practical for hiking in the wilderness well back in the actual days of the kilt being an everyday garment just about everywhere you traveled WAS wilderness.

Pleated traditional...



Modern Flat Fold...

 
My problem with kilts is no pockets and just don't see me wearing one of those purse things. But hey have on a pair of British issue desert shorts right now kind of kiltish .
 
Theres a back pocket on the Utilikilt (see above pic) and two Cargo pockets. Ghillie style kilts have pockets as well. Most people think of the ceremonial garment your relative got married in when they hear the term "Kilt", there are a lot more than just that. Google work kilt or Utility kilt and visit some of the sites.
OP asked, and I wear one of 35 daily but thats just me, so I answered. Partly being a scot, partly because of my leg brace, partly because it irks the neighbors. To each his own. ..:)
I'm not that fond of shoes either.
 
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A perspective

I lived in Scotland for a year among the locals
Their view of kilts is quite different from the Hollywood version
They are bloody expensive, and out of the reach of the comman man
And the Scots I know are more interested in devolution than kilts

The history of the modern Scots kilt dated friom the romantic revival by Walter Scott in the 19th C
There is no history to the 9 yards of pleated material that we call a kilt

The modern bright tartan patterns are a result of new 19th C chemical dyes that were not historically available
The old traditional organic dyes were fugative, and might have started off bright, but would fade quickly even in the little sunlight in Scotland

The historical Great Kilt was a long wrap of material
 
I have a couple of Kilts from UT kilts. Not a Utilikilts. Kinda a cheaper version, but still have held up well and seem good quality . You can even get them on that river shopping site. Very comfortable and despite being fairly heavy cloth (have had them for a while not sure about the current ones) I do find them cooler then shorts. Unless I am around the house I tend to wear something under them, most of the time I do really. With a Saint Bernard/Newfoundland mix along with a Saint/mastiff mix it works out better to have something on cause they like to...check out what is going on under the hood. Still nice and cool. Don't care that it isn't "traditional" to do so, it isn't traditional to have a kilt made of cotton with 5 or 6 pockets on it either. Just find it comfortable. Not for everyone but anyone that I had try on one of mine despite swearing that they would never wear one out had to admit that it was damn comfy.
 
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