I bought my Macabi hiking skirt in 2004. I tried hiking in it on the CDT but my legs would get burned when I laid down for a nap and I got some chaffing between my legs.
I see many thru-hikers wearing them though, men and women, and they love it.
I wear mine all winter long with long underwear underneath. It feels warmer to me than pants. I also think there is something about wearing a skirt that is good for flow.
There are snaps to shorten the skirt. There is also a clip to make the skirt into pants or shorts. The shorts thing doesn’t really work because it’s still really easy to expose yourself…. maybe I was doing it wrong.
If it rains, you can shorten the skirt with the snaps and wear a trash bag skirt over it or put on rain pants and pack the skirt away till it stops raining.
One thing you need to be mindful of when wearing this skirt—don’t stand next to any heat source or it starts to melt and burn. I have little burns all over mine from standing near a campfire, a propane heater, and even just standing next to a wood stove.
I can’t see hiking in that. It’s too long. I would trip over it.
On the PCT this summer I bought a longish, pink tie-dye cotton skirt in Ashland. I just needed something cheap and easy to wear while I did my laundry as I had sent home my town clothes. (Sitting around the hotel lobby wearing my bivy sack taught me town clothes do serve a purpose.)
Anyway, I ended up wearing this skirt on the trail over my pants to protect my legs from mosquitoes that were able to bite through my pants. Just a little beyond my knee is ok for hiking. Anything longer and I trip. I thought it was fun to have something colorful and silly to wear for a while, too.
Check out these beautiful silk sleeping bag liners that weigh 3.5 oz and can be worn as a skirt. http://www.jagbags.co.nz/products.htm
It’s not too long, I hike in it and snowshoe in it all the time. But you can always snap it up if you want it shorter.
I met a thru-hiker wearing one and he wanted his even longer. I said, “Longer and you would trip over it” He said he didn’t care about that he cared about style.
COOL BEANS! I’ve never seen anything like this. Might have to get one! Tired of jeans/cords.
I hiked over 400 miles in a Macabi and plan on always using it. It hits my ankles and I never tripped over it.