the great kilt. Ultimate bushcraft clothing

[firebreather]

Is the great kilt the ultimate in bushcraft clothing ? As It full fills most of our needs warm in winter / cool in summer and is multi use - item of clothing / shelter / blanket etc.

The great kilt -

http://www.lindaclifford.com/GreatKiltWrap.html

I have been wearing kilts for a while now and I am just waiting to get a great kilt. Mine at the moment is what most people would recognise as a kilt i.e

http://www.kiltmen.com/index.htm

Now being a proud kilt wearer i use mine all the time just to walk around town/ city center as well as the hills. I also dress it up for posh doo's. They are just so comfy and practical. Also there is no other item of clothing that makes you feel as confident as a kilt.

I mean imagine an item of clothing made from natural fibers, safe around the fire and great in all weather and temperatures...........and now look again at the not so humble kilt.

So come on gents get in touch with your masculine side and wear a kilt.

Greg

 

[Toddy]

There are more than a few up here who do, remember to make your shirt from linen and have it long enough to cover you almost to your knees though.
And I don't care *how* American sites or modern drum bands wear theirs, (That's TuBard demo-ing there) pretty, pretty please don't let the top hang behind you like a peacock's tail.....it's a bit *light in the loafers* as my bother would say. Besides it gets caught on everything and at up to £60 a metre the cloth deserves better than being dragged through the heather and gorse like a rag. It gets tied or brooched at the shoulder and if it's too warm it's simply slipped off to hang looped/ folded.
The female version is called the Arisaid and a lot of us wear them. Warm, practical, and some of the best camouflage ever invented

cheers,
Toddy.....who frequently dresses Highlanders for a living ......see the new Audio visual for Culloden
http://www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/PPF/TheBattle/

 

[firebreather]

And I don't care *how* American sites or modern drum bands wear theirs, (That's TuBard demo-ing there) pretty, pretty please don't let the top hang behind you like a peacock's tail.....it's a bit *light in the loafers* as my bother would say.

My apologies for the link it was the first one that i found that displayed the great kilt. i dont believe in kilt snobbery and wear mine with combat boots and t shirts all the time. Some dont like it, some do. But I have never been one to do something because "thats" the way it has always been done.

I also view my Kilt as just another item of clothing like a pair of jeans, suit etc. I dont class it as anything different.
When I do go out "posh" I don the full hit because it looks great. But for most of the time I just wear it with whatever is ironed

Sorry for offending anybody who is a traditional follower of kilt etiquet. These are just my thoughts on an item of clothing.

Greg

 

[EdS]

not got the legs for a kilt.

 

[Toddy]

I have no snobbery over it, I do have a dislike of seeing tattered rags however......and I'm not all that keen on the 20th century terribly prim, country dancing look.....that's just as fake.

I do like seeing it worn with boots....incredibly practical and I do like the way men now wear it with soft form shirts, but they do need to be long enough...........hire shops insist underwear is worn, something about skidmarks I believe.

I dress a lot of people, this is a very practical garment but the great kilt is really only part of the outfit, it needs the shirt and usually a woollen jacket too.
The sporran has to be the original possibles pouch and the sgian dubh and dirk easily became the camp and the bushcraft knives

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Toddy]

not got the legs for a kilt.

See next time you're up north? I'll bring a sark and a plaid along......bet it'll surprise you

atb,
M

 

[EdS]

its a deal. I've got very girlly legs - mini kilt would be ok!

 

[Toddy]

I've worn them Early 70's wearing a mini kilt we took cubs to the circus and the ferris wheel at the Kelvin Hall got stuck, and me and a fellow kilt wearing Venture Scout were in the topmost seats Didn't know whether to hang onto the handles, him or my kilt, it was windy up there

Actually come to think of it, they do make legs look good

atb,
M

 

[andy_e]

While it's perfect for the vagaries for Scottish weather, I wouldn't recommend wearing a full kilt in the tropics - even going commando will leave you sweltering

 

[firebreather]

I have no snobbery over it, I do have a dislike of seeing tattered rags however......and I'm not all that keen on the 20th century terribly prim, country dancing look.....that's just as fake.

Sorry for the misunderstanding here totally my fault. The snobbery comment wasn't aimed at you, It was a general comment on how I have been treated in certain kilt shops and areas when wearing my kilt with a t shirt and boots.
I do like the full prince charly look when going out "posh" as it just makes you stand out as an individual.....well down here anyway I know what you mean about the "fake" bit but........It still feels good when i wear it

they do need to be long enough...........hire shops insist underwear is worn, something about skidmarks I believe.

there is not enough eeeeeeeeewwwwwwww in the world to cover that idea. That idea is why I own mine.

I dress a lot of people, this is a very practical garment but the great kilt is really only part of the outfit, it needs the shirt and usually a woollen jacket too.
The sporran has to be the original possibles pouch and the sgian dubh and dirk easily became the camp and the bushcraft knives

Its great set up and i am currently modding my first sporran into a possibilities pouch. I also have a sgian dubh made by singeblister and its a great little knife.

Anyway off to the hills in my kilt

Greg

 

[firebreather]

While it's perfect for the vagaries for Scottish weather, I wouldn't recommend wearing a full kilt in the tropics - even going commando will leave you sweltering

Thats where the lancashire kilt comes into its own

Greg

 

[Nagual]

Kilts are all fine and dandy, but for me personally I dislike them. Yup thats right I said that, me a Scots bloke. There is soo much fake history surrounding them it's all got a bit silly. Highlanders sure as hell wore something under them, as it was fecking cold most of the time. Most of the time tartan was worn, but usually much smaller, sometimes perhaps just a strip, as it was an expensive. Plaids I can live with, as these were practical not like the ponsey kilts designed for the Royal Courts. Plaids were of course not tartan to begin with, it just wasn't practical.

As to how practical would they be today, well that is a tough one. One made of Ventile certainly could be quite good perhaps... I don't know though, it could get snagged on lots of things if you weren't careful?


Cheers, Nag.

 

[EdS]

hat and boots is all that is required to properly dressed

 

[firebreather]

There is soo much fake history surrounding them it's all got a bit silly.

As to how practical would they be today, well that is a tough one. One made of Ventile certainly could be quite good perhaps... I don't know though, it could get snagged on lots of things if you weren't careful?


Cheers, Nag.

Thats my point. if you take away the "history" and politics involved they are a great item. I wear mine on hill walks, round town etc etc. A fully functional practical item. Snagging is not anymore of a problem than other items of clothing.

Greg

 

[Nagual]

Thats my point. if you take away the "history" and politics involved they are a great item. I wear mine on hill walks, round town etc etc. A fully functional practical item. Snagging is not anymore of a problem than other items of clothing.

Greg

Thats good to hear. What about if you go through thickets or dense forestry? That sort of thing?

Nag.

 

[Toddy]

Sorry Firebreather, my snobbery comment was more aimed at the "right sporran" and polyester shirt brigade.
I do like the ghillie shirt and the so called fighting jacket / really a waistcoat, and the all black kilt looks good too....not so sure about pleated side pockets on camouflage ones though............

The Prince Charlie is reallly quite new as an outfit, it's a derivation of the officer's mess dress originally worn with trews........which are every bit as authentic as the kilt incidentally.......usually a plaid was carried over the shoulder with them.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Graham_S]

I still fancy a great kilt, the cost of the material is the only thing stopping me.
add wide leather belt, gathered pouch sporran, dirk 'n doo, and we're sorted

 

[Toddy]

In a very limited range of tartans I can source good stuff for £5 a metre just now in Glasgow. Generally £39.95 upwards. Mine cost £60 a metre

cheers,
M

 

[Graham_S]

Is it wool?
If there are any nice muted "natural"looking tartans I could be interested in enough to make a great kilt.
At £5/m It could be worth a try

 

[Toddy]

It is 100% wool, hard tartan (finely woven not a travel rug) and I'll have a looksee later in the week, shall I?
I'll even take a camera

cheers,
Mary