men in skirts

[Just Bill]

Well, I know this is a kilt thread....but I ain't real big on rules, so, here goes.

Been thinking about turning(cutting) my rain pants into rain shorts, and sewing in some Velcro at the bottoms so I could re-afix the legs like conversion pants. Reason is I mainly use em in warm weather, but would like to still be able to use in just above freezing temps if need be. Now having said all that, my second thought was if I'm gonna go through all that, then why not just use a rain skirt/kilt...and so I'm following the thread with baited pole and sporran.

I think your second thought is the better one.
Likely the velcro would weigh nearly as much as a rain skirt and you'd have SUL syndrome "one tool that tries to do everything okay instead of two that do one job well"
A 1.1oz MYOG sil-nylon rain skirt would be 2 ounces or less-once I get the kinks worked out of my pattern- ditch the pockets and it would work well- easily 2oz, likely 1.5.
fer ideas and the like-
Judy's- http://www.lightheartgear.com/index....uct/view/4/24- better design
or Joe's- http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/cloudkilt.shtml- lighter weight
or Yerbyray's looks good too for about the same weight and quite cheap to boot (doubles as a hunk of tyvek to sit on too when called for during dryspells)

Add on weight for pole and sporran as needed.

[rocketsocks]

I think your second thought is the better one.
Likely the velcro would weigh nearly as much as a rain skirt and you'd have SUL syndrome "one tool that tries to do everything okay instead of two that do one job well"
A 1.1oz MYOG sil-nylon rain skirt would be 2 ounces or less-once I get the kinks worked out of my pattern- ditch the pockets and it would work well- easily 2oz, likely 1.5.
fer ideas and the like-
Judy's- http://www.lightheartgear.com/index....uct/view/4/24- better design
or Joe's- http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/cloudkilt.shtml- lighter weight
or Yerbyray's looks good too for about the same weight and quite cheap to boot (doubles as a hunk of tyvek to sit on too when called for during dryspells)

Add on weight for pole and sporran as needed.

Point taken. another thought, though in a completely different direction was to add a drop down section to my rain jacket to ultimately look like a women full length coat, or there abouts. and when not in use, either roll and stow or something...never got out of the planning stage with this one.

Which brings me to another observation, why don't they make (and maybe they do) a rain jacket that is say 55" in length instead of 30"? Kinda like the old rain slickers we all used growin up.

[Just Bill]

You can get this snazzy number in XL-
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/...20DESERT%20TAN
Alas- only medium left- http://www.golite.com/Womens-Urban-Trench-P47083.aspx

Women's jackets are easier to find in "ass" length, Men's tend to be only available longer for the "Mountain" or full winter versions which tend to be too hot to backpack in even in the winter.
Slickers are still around- if you want to banana rubber it up for safety.
Poncho is still thigh length to keep it back on the outdoors track.

Flip out skirt would be easy enough to add with no real weight penalty- and add a handsome wardrobe option to your trail town laundry collection.

[yerbyray]

Yerbyray- If you wound it around you once and a half (or so) you could dual purpose your tyvek kilt/cowboy camp groundcloth- that'd be very Scottish of you without going overboard.
Tyvek has got to get clammy though? I gave up on M50 (DWR coated fabric) for that reason even though it's lighter- I find the regular uncoated ripstop to be the most comfy.

As you can tell by the pic I am not one for the ultra light hiking/backpacking scene.....Only thing ultralight about me is a brand of beer I might drink.

Clammy was never an issue since it was a kilt. A stiff breeze, no pun intented, kept everything dry.

Mine is made with the pleats in the rear with a flat panel across the front. It closes with a buckle and velcro. The waist is reinforced with 1" webbing.

It is very comfortable and great to hike in.

[rocketsocks]

You can get this snazzy number in XL-
http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/...20DESERT%20TAN
Alas- only medium left- http://www.golite.com/Womens-Urban-Trench-P47083.aspx

Women's jackets are easier to find in "ass" length, Men's tend to be only available longer for the "Mountain" or full winter versions which tend to be too hot to backpack in even in the winter.
Slickers are still around- if you want to banana rubber it up for safety.
Poncho is still thigh length to keep it back on the outdoors track.

Flip out skirt would be easy enough to add with no real weight penalty- and add a handsome wardrobe option to your trail town laundry collection.

Where there ya go, ask and Mr. Nelson shall find, thanks Willie!

[squeezebox]

Rocket- zip off rain pants sounds reasonable
just bill - I'm impressed with your design and sewing skills
button holes are tough to do.
would velcro get to dirty ?
what about loop and tie?

[slbirdnerd]

I am a gal and have been thinking of switching to a hiking skirt, as it seems like it would be easier to "do my buisness" and would be cooler in the summer. slbirdnerd does the rubbing of the fabric on your legs chafe ? I usually wear a leotard type short so it does not rub my legs at all.

The kilt itself doesn't rub on your legs at all. The material is like microfiber and it just doesn't rub your legs--they are not tight at all, like the women's hiking skirts--which I thought were all very poorly designed for hiking. If you wear anything udnerneath I wouldn't say it's "easier" to do your business but you certainly have the option of more modesty with the kilt or a skirt.

My biggest problem was what to wear under, because commando is not for me. My camp/sleep shorts are some Danskin bike-length shorts, but I thought they'd be too heavy to wear under the kilt. What I really wanted was for ExOfficio to make a women's boxer brief in that wonderful breathable fabric they use. Since they don't, I'm only a tad embarrassed to say I wore a pair of men's boxer briefs. They were super light and comfortable, but 1: didn't come down on the leg as far as they need to and 2: the inseams actually started to chafe my thigh. On day 6 of 6 I just left the Danskin shorts on instead. They weren't as hot as I thought and I might just look for a similar but lighter pair of those.

Either way, this combo is WAY better than hiking shorts. I have a pic from last week, if I think of it I'll post it tonight.

[Rolls Kanardly]

I will graciously accept the round of applause given to me for not wearing a kilt. The number of hikers who would have to leave the trail would be exactly equal to the number of hikers who fell off a cliff while laughing at me.

Rolls

[Just Bill]

2: the inseams actually started to chafe my thigh. .

Stick with briefs, no matter where that lower seam breaks, it always chafes.
Try coconut oil on your thighs while you break in. Other than that, like any other skin- keep it clean and put in the miles and it will toughen up enough so it's not an issue. It takes me a bit each season to build up a little toughness, but once it's there I'm good. No matter how much I try though, the boxers have always caused issues. ExOfficio makes women's briefs that will end your grief.

[handlebar]

For a sporran I used a very small fanny pack worn in front. My then Sportkilt Hiking Kilt had no pockets and the "sporran" hold maps, GPS, snacks etc

[July]

This sounds like a Viking thread

[July]

See:
Old Norse.

[gklott]

I nearly always hike in a skirt or kilt. I've settled on these models.
- Asics Love Skirt - shortest, light, and comfortable fabric, contrast color mesh side panel, step in, 13.5" hem, 130g, women XL, $36, same length as my women's SOARK.com supplex full split women's running shorts (which I really like)
- Asics Field Skirt - similar to Love Skirt but without the mesh side panel and narrow waist band, step in, 13.5" hem, 126g, women XL, $20
- Brine Anthem women's game kilt - lacrosse 'kilt', wonderful light mesh fabric, no pleats, drawstring waist, step in, 15" hem, 154 g, women XL, $32
- Brine Siren women's game kilt - lacrosse 'kilt', lightest weight, nice fabric, no pleats, drawstring, like the two leg slits in the front, 15" hem, 122 g, women XL, $38
- RipSkirt Hawaii - wrap with velcro waist, super easy to put on, great stretch fabric, 17.5" hem 164 g, women L (largest size right now) $35
- Sport Kilt hiking kilt - wrap with velcro waist, traditional pleated kilt design, 18" hem, 320 g, women XL, $113 with pockets, belt loops, sown in pleats,
- Sport Kilt original sport kilt - wrap with velcro waist, traditional pleated kilt design, 17" hem, > 400 g, women XL, $102 with pockets, belt loops, sown in pleats

I like the skirt more than the pleated kilt because of the weight and the lower price. I like all the above. Skirts allow you to quickly slip on long underwear when the temps drop. Recommend trying several to see what feels the best to you.

All these skirts/kilts are super comfortable on the trail, exercise walking, or working around the ranch. Always wear commando.

Except for the Sport Kilt, all are available through Amazon.

[illabelle]

Wow, gklott, a member since 2010, and this is your first post! We're a little late, but welcome to WhiteBlaze.

I nearly always hike in a skirt or kilt. I've settled on these models.
- Asics Love Skirt - shortest, light, and comfortable fabric, contrast color mesh side panel, step in, 13.5" hem, 130g, women XL, $36, same length as my women's SOARK.com supplex full split women's running shorts (which I really like)
- Asics Field Skirt - similar to Love Skirt but without the mesh side panel and narrow waist band, step in, 13.5" hem, 126g, women XL, $20
- Brine Anthem women's game kilt - lacrosse 'kilt', wonderful light mesh fabric, no pleats, drawstring waist, step in, 15" hem, 154 g, women XL, $32
- Brine Siren women's game kilt - lacrosse 'kilt', lightest weight, nice fabric, no pleats, drawstring, like the two leg slits in the front, 15" hem, 122 g, women XL, $38
- RipSkirt Hawaii - wrap with velcro waist, super easy to put on, great stretch fabric, 17.5" hem 164 g, women L (largest size right now) $35
- Sport Kilt hiking kilt - wrap with velcro waist, traditional pleated kilt design, 18" hem, 320 g, women XL, $113 with pockets, belt loops, sown in pleats,
- Sport Kilt original sport kilt - wrap with velcro waist, traditional pleated kilt design, 17" hem, > 400 g, women XL, $102 with pockets, belt loops, sown in pleats

I like the skirt more than the pleated kilt because of the weight and the lower price. I like all the above. Skirts allow you to quickly slip on long underwear when the temps drop. Recommend trying several to see what feels the best to you.

All these skirts/kilts are super comfortable on the trail, exercise walking, or working around the ranch. Always wear commando.

Except for the Sport Kilt, all are available through Amazon.

[Theosus]

I bought a sport kilt in black tartan. Worked very well. No one laughed, but no one commented either. I found it very comfortable with a good range of motion. Still had some underwear chafing issues. Switched from boxer brief to regular brief, and by mile 18 in one day my leg felt like someone was sawing a hole in it. But I like the kilt. I'm not going commando under it, just because people follow you up hills and there are large steps up in some places. I don't want to show more than intended...

[gklott]

Thanks, illabelle. Avid forum reader. My favorite hiking skirt/kilt is the Brine Siren kilt. it is light, most comfortable, and very fast drying. Cost is reasonable. Provide just enough coverage. Don't like longer kilts that hit my knees.

[Francis Sawyer]

My daughter has a slightly used prom gown for sale. (Whoever buys it will have to be somewhat busty to fill it out but its a fabulous electric blue with lots of bling!

[amishjoe]

I have a Utility Kilt from reenacting and have hiked with it. Very comfortable and yes as South Mark says, it is only a skirt if you wear underwear.

[VAJeepGuy]

I had no idea such a thing even existed, cant recall ever seeing anyone wear one. Learn something new everyday!

[Del Q]

I bought a kilt years ago, really liked it.................negative was when it was in my pack, way too heavy.

I am back to convertible pants. Warmer, shorts & long pants, lighter, dry faster