13 oz or 16 oz for next kilt?

[rodandy]

I'm pondering the next kilt and I'm wondering what your experience is with 16 oz. kilts in warm to hot weather. Living in the San Diego area I'm not sure that it ever gets cold enough here to really enjoy the extra weight of a 16 oz. 8 yard kilt.

Thanks.

[Ryan Ross]

I live in Atlanta, and it's been known to get pretty darn hot around here, though not as much so as out west. With that heat in mind, let me say this: 16 ounce is fantastic stuff- that three extra oz. per yard really make a difference in the look and feel of the fabric.

My advice would be this: go for heavy weight fabric and low yardage! I have an eight yard knife pleater in 130z., and love it. That said, I have a low yardage (it's a kingussie pleater, but I'd suggest a box pleated kilt for you) kilt in 16 oz. tartan, which is cooler in the summer than the 13 oz. 8 yard! I kid you not! Much more comfortable, too.

Go for 16 oz. tartan and low yardage, brother. You'll love it, and it can often be more cost effective, as well, which is a big bonus.

[Snowbear]

I would never go for anything less than 16oz. I've got a 8-yard and a 5-yard, and in the summer I mostly use my 5-yard. It's quite cool and comfortable. The 8-yard looks better with the swing, etc. but is way to warm for me when temperature rises (except from those days with wind, then you will automaticly get cooled down).

You should look at the performance of the different weights. I like the 16oz because they have a better swing and tend to look much better when walking/dancing. A lighter one got a movement I'm not comfortable with.
That's just my oppinion about the weights, so totally subjective.

[Howard Clark]

I am a big fan of the 16 oz. cloth in a four yard box pleated kilt. Iowa gets just as hot as El Cahon (though not as much of the year at that temp, perhaps), and far more humid for sure. I have worn a four yard box pleat kilt in 18 oz. wool tartan in the midwestern summer a good bit as well.

[sirdaniel1975]

16 oz is just fine. It's your kilt hose that will make you hot. So when it's hot out, don't wear kilt hose.

[Wee Scottish Bhoy]

I ordered 2 kilts back in November last year a 16oz 8 yard for here in Scotland and a 16oz 5 yard kilt for Dubai and they fit perfectly and look totally fantastic! I got them from TartanWeb Scotland who measured me at their store in Glasgow and really made me feel special as they where my first kilts.

I work in Glasgow and in Dubai so was also concerned about the heat over there and if I would survive in an 16oz 8 yarder so they suggested 5 yards.

I wear my kilt in Dubai often and its great so would recommend the 16oz 5 yard from www.tartanweb.com who I see have a 10% sale on right now.

All the best.

[ForresterModern]

16 oz for me, if the tartan is available in that weight---13 oz if not. The only time I have found 16oz to be any kind of problem in warm weather (and I just moved from Phoenix) is actually wearing the extra weight of a 16oz 8yd kilt around on a long day as it adds a couple pounds to the weight of a 16oz 5yd kilt, and at least a pound or so to the weight of a 13oz 8yd kilt. Good news is that weight is generally born on your hips rather than your shoulders (unless you are wearing braces-----suspenders for us continentals) a place your body tolerates extra weight a bit better. I have never noticed a difference in how hot I get between a 13 and 16 oz kilt since, if you are moving, there is free flow of air and sweating under the kilt is not a real problem except around the waist. As Sir Daniel says, things like your kilt socks, head coverage and choice of shirt probably have a greater effect on your temperature tolerance.

[Pleater]

Having made costumes and garments from all sorts of fabrics, I have to say that the quality of a garment is in the fabric, and not so much in the amount of it, as long as it is not skimped, or at least doesn't look skimped.

However an 8 yard kilt in 16 oz fabric is going to weigh about 4lb - and is a lot of insulation on a warm day. A shorter length is a better option in a hot climate.

You might need to consider various options of pleating, depending on the size of the sett of the tartan, assuming that you are going for tartan, as not every tartan will accommodate every variation of pleats.

I have made kilts from all sorts of fabrics, and only recently bought some heavy wool tartans - the heaviest is a 16 oz modern Morrison, and the quality is amazing. Working with it is wonderful, and it looks even better.

Anne the Pleater

[The Barry]

Ryan and others here have got it right. Go with the strome weight fabric, and, if you want a "cooler" kilt, get one box-pleated.

The garment will end up weighing less as a whole; and less weight = less heat storage.

[Nighthawk]

I have an 8 yard 16 oz and a 5 yard 16 oz from Scotweb. I like both, but the 5 yard is so much better for summer. It's much cooler. It's actually very comfortable and the way it's made- shallow but broad pleats- it looks almost like an 8 yarder, and has a good swing. It doesn't have the same feel, and no doubt, but it looks really fine. I would recomend one from Scotweb without hesitation if you live in a warm environment.