A random thought from the think-outside-the-box department: since your trips are communal, would a large silnylon tarp, pitched like a lean-to, be enough of a windbreak that you could all sit in front/under it and eliminate the cold-legs issue? Don't know if this would be practical in your situations, but thought I'd toss it out there.

Just remember, sometimes the stuff that's outside the box is just packing peanuts.