Kilt recommendation

Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

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Feb 16, 2010
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So, I'm looking to get a kilt for semi-formal occasions. Since I know that every good smith has a kilt to wear at the anvil, I'm hoping I could get some reviews and/or recommendations, secret places to buy a good one, etc.

Charles
 
Look up Celtic/Scottish festivals in your area... might have to wait until spring. I can almost guarantee you will find someone not only willing to fit you for a proper kilt and sell one to you, but also help you figure out the correct tartan pattern for your clan or heritage.

Bring knives. Those folks like knives. ;)
 
At first I thought it was a typo for "Kit Recommendation", then I read the text.

There are many places that make a good kilt today. The kilts called "utilikilts" have become quite popular, and are worn for normal tasks like working in the shop, shopping, and going to the hardware store. You see them at hammer-ins and knife events fairly regularly. They run between $75-150. It is usually a "you get what you pay for" thing, with the cheaper ones being lighter weight and lower quality.

The true Utilikilt is a light canvas material and really a tough garment.

A formal pleated kilt in tartan wool is a more expensive item, usually running between $300-400. They are dress apparel, and best worn with a day jacket. They are fine for meetings, church and parties, and when worn with dress attire, like a Prince Charlie jacket, they are full formal.

The modern kilt suppliers now have a kilt between the two, often called a "work kilt" or "sport kilt", with a poly-cotton tartan cloth or solid colors. These run about $100-150 and are nice for day wear events , around the house, or at work.

Just a warning - do not order a kilt by your pants size. The measurements are different. Read any measurement instructions, and have someone else take the measurements. It is sort of a quantum thing, if you observe/take your own measurements, it will alter the results.

There are several suppliers.

I haven't purchased from these folks, but hear they are good. They are very reasonably priced, and come in tartan cloth as well as black/tan/solid color:
https://sportkilt.com/?utm_source=b...lt&utm_term=sport kilt&utm_content=Sport Kilt

This kilt style from the above folks is good for most all purposes except full formal ( black tie). It is mid range priced, with about $200 being the full price once you add pockets and such. It comes in solid colors as well as mil-spec camo color patterns.
https://sportkilt.com/product/3181/Black-Commando-Kilt.html

Utilikilts is a brand name ( like Xerox and Kleenex). The original company makes superb kilts, but they aren't cheap:
http://www.utilikilts.com/shop/kilts.html

Another company I see adds from regularly:
http://www.got-kilt.com/Modern-Kilts-s/1829.htm
 
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Charles another thought. Highland Kiltmakers in Grantown on Spey make kilts for those that live and work "on the hill". These are tough, durable, heavy wool kilts for sheppards, game keepers, ghillies etc. When I lived on an estate outside of Aviemore this is where locals that wore the kilt had them made. No website, it'll take a phone call (01479 872086) but might be worth exploring.
 
My son and I shoot competitively and one of the guys we shoot with fairly frequently is of Scotish ancestory. He wears a couple of different tactical kilts made by 511. He has a khaki colored one and a black one that I've seen. Pretty cool.
 
Thanks, all. My son ordered a bunch of kilt stuff last night. We'll see how the quality is and possibly replace a few components over time. It is one of the Pakistan made kilts, so we'll see how that works. I plan on making my own buckle and maybe even the pin.
 
A good kilt pin is a large blanket pin.

They can also be made as a mini knife or sword. For more pin suggestions, send me an email or PM.
 
These guys do great work: http://northofhadrians.com/ they've also got a facebook page

Freedom Kilts helped us work the design, register and weave our custom tartan specially made for Bomb Disposal personnel.
http://www.freedomkilts.com/

The Pakistani stuff is OK... good entry level to see if a kilt is for you if you've not been exposed to them before but you get what you pay for.
 
If you use a kilt pin (many do not, or only for more dressy occasions) don't pin it all the way through. Pin it only to the outer layer. Seen some guys not knowing that get their kilts ripped. The flap is designed to ... well..flap. Since your son is into the strongman stuff ya have to get him entered into some games.
 
For Graham, try a "sport kilt". They are what many of the athletes wear. Some are little more than a Velcro closure wrap-around kilt. Others are more traditional. They are usually worn over athletic shorts. Most don't take a belt unless you request belt loops.

The old saying about wearing a kilt is:
"If there is any circumstance you would feel odd wearing a kilt, under no circumstance should you be wearing a kilt."

Wearing a kilt seems to be a chick magnet for young chaps, BTW. The young folks just wear hiking boots or normal shoes and socks and a tee-shirt with their kilt. No need for "gartens and hose", sporrans, or other trimmings. It is us old guys who get dressed up.


I have many stock replies for people asking the "what's under your kilt" question. My favorite is when an attractive woman asks. I look at her hips and say. "I was wonderin' the same about you. Would you like to accompany me to a more private place, and we both can have our curiosity answered."

The "going commando" thing is mostly a myth. If you wear under drawers normally, you would wear them with a kilt, too.
 
"If a Scotsman you be true, your bottom will be blue" Rhymed better when it was the cutest girl in school that told me that when I was 17, (Waid Academy, Anstruther, Fife, Scotland, 1976). Dang that was along time ago.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
At first I thought it was a typo for "Kit Recommendation", then I read the text.

There are many places that make a good kilt today. The kilts called "utilikilts" have become quite popular, and are worn for normal tasks like working in the shop, shopping, and going to the hardware store. You see them at hammer-ins and knife events fairly regularly. They run between $75-150. It is usually a "you get what you pay for" thing, with the cheaper ones being lighter weight and lower quality.

The true Utilikilt is a light canvas material and really a tough garment.

A formal pleated kilt in tartan wool is a more expensive item, usually running between $300-400. They are dress apparel, and best worn with a day jacket. They are fine for meetings, church and parties, and when worn with dress attire, like a Prince Charlie jacket, they are full formal.

The modern kilt suppliers now have a kilt between the two, often called a "work kilt" or "sport kilt", with a poly-cotton tartan cloth or solid colors. These run about $100-150 and are nice for day wear events , around the house, or at work.

Just a warning - do not order a kilt by your pants size. The measurements are different. Read any measurement instructions, and have someone else take the measurements. It is sort of a quantum thing, if you observe/take your own measurements, it will alter the results.

There are several suppliers.

I haven't purchased from these folks, but hear they are good. They are very reasonably priced, and come in tartan cloth as well as black/tan/solid color:
https://sportkilt.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search-Sport.Kilt&utm_term=sport kilt&utm_content=Sport Kilt

This kilt style from the above folks is good for most all purposes except full formal ( black tie). It is mid range priced, with about $200 being the full price once you add pockets and such. It comes in solid colors as well as mil-spec camo color patterns.
https://sportkilt.com/product/3181/Black-Commando-Kilt.html

Utilikilts is a brand name ( like Xerox and Kleenex). The original company makes superb kilts, but they aren't cheap:
http://www.utilikilts.com/shop/kilts.html

Another company I see adds from regularly:
http://www.got-kilt.com/Modern-Kilts-s/1829.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks, all. My son ordered a bunch of kilt stuff last night. We'll see how the quality is and possibly replace a few components over time. It is one of the Pakistan made kilts, so we'll see how that works. I plan on making my own buckle and maybe even the pin.
they are making utility kilts, with reasonable price
 
Atlas Knife Company said:
Since I know that every good smith has a kilt to wear at the anvil,
Click to expand...

The way that's said it sounds like "any" smith should have a kilt...... or, is that only scot folks who are smiths? I've seen kilts a good bit on FiF, but always thought they were showing their scottish ancestry.

drysideshooter said:
A Scotish friend told me why the development of the kilt was such a necessity and I found it fascinating.
Click to expand...

Is that anything about sheep hearing a zipper a mile away? {grinning}
 
"What's beneath your kilt?"

"Only one way to find out..." wink

Surprisingly effective way to start a conversation!
 
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