A Lesson Learned

[adempsey10]

I bought two PV casual kilts from HoS thinking that would be the cheapest way to get myself wearing kilts. I figured it would be better to have a larger number of moderate quality kilts than smaller number of good quality kilts. I also was thinking that with a cheaper kilt, I wouldnt feel so bad if it were to be wrecked. Well here's what I learned:

PV Kilt from HoS - $65 CAD
Taxes and Brokerage - $25 CAD - I skipped out on postage by buying two kilts and getting the free shipping.

After wearing my kilt my kilt for a few weeks, I realized that the standard 24" length of the PV kilts were way too long for me and my kilts were not nearly as comfortable as they should be. I took one kilt in to have it hemmed as a test. The results were excellent. The kilt fit nicer and sits nicely on my natural waist without making me look like 'revenge of the nerds'. So,

Hemming of kilt: $31 CAD

Total cost of PV HoS kilt: $120

I could have bought a kilt from USA kilts (see here), tailor-made to my measurements and picked from a wide range of tartans, (far more than the 10-15 common tartans HoS sells) for around the same price or a tad more.

I dont mean to rag on HoS, I've liked their service and their economy kilts are decent quality, but I could have got something much better at a similar value and less hassle.

A lesson for any newcomer to kilt-wearing, I suppose.

My next kilt will almost certainly be made-to-order.

[artificer]

Hindsight is always 20/20, huh?

I've never quite understood the 24" standard for mass produced kilts. I'm 6' and wear roughly a 24" kilt. Given that the average height for an adult male is somewhere around 5'9"-5'10" (1.75-78m) a 24" kilt does seem a bit on the long side.

I'm glad you found a good tailor to do your hemming and correct the length.

Made to measure/order/bespoke is absolutely the way to go for anyone that can afford anything. Buy the best you can, buy once, pass it down. You save money in the long run.

ith:

[davidlpope]

Thanks for sharing this lesson with others. Many folks who wander here to XMarks decide to try it "on the cheap". It's my experience that the desire for instant gratification and low price results in much frustration and a greater total amount spent in the end.

[MacMillans son]

I certainly agree with the "buy the best you can afford" sentiment, but also understand that when entering into a new interest it is sometimes prudent to purchase a lower cost model until you are sure you want to "go all in" with the activity. With that in mind, I think you did well to buy the HOS PV kilt first as they are much more analogous to an 8 yard wool kilt than a 4 yard casual kilt from USAK (the model at the final cost you arrived at). The HOS PV is certainly heavier, has twice the material (8yd vs 4yd), and is made in a more traditional style (straps and buckles) than the USAK casual (velcro closures) so is going to give you a much closer feel to the real thing.

With that said, my first kilt was a USAK casual. However, because of it's ultra lightweight, I find that I only wear it during the hottest days of outside activities (once or twice a year). My go to kilt for all other outdoor activities, where a rugged low cost kilt is in order, is my imported PV kilt from our forum sponsor Buyakilt.com ( Likely the same manufacturer as your HOS kilt).

So, in my humble opinion, you absolutely did the right thing by buying the HOS kilt as a way to get a taste of kilt wearing.

Now that you have an accurate feel for it, continue to save and buy the best quality wool kilt you can afford from a quality kilt maker of your choice.

Enjoy!

[BCAC]

I bought two PV casual kilts from HoS thinking that would be the cheapest way to get myself wearing kilts. I figured it would be better to have a larger number of moderate quality kilts than smaller number of good quality kilts. I also was thinking that with a cheaper kilt, I wouldnt feel so bad if it were to be wrecked. Well here's what I learned:

PV Kilt from HoS - $65 CAD
Taxes and Brokerage - $25 CAD - I skipped out on postage by buying two kilts and getting the free shipping.

After wearing my kilt my kilt for a few weeks, I realized that the standard 24" length of the PV kilts were way too long for me and my kilts were not nearly as comfortable as they should be. I took one kilt in to have it hemmed as a test. The results were excellent. The kilt fit nicer and sits nicely on my natural waist without making me look like 'revenge of the nerds'. So,

Hemming of kilt: $31 CAD

Total cost of PV HoS kilt: $120

I could have bought a kilt from USA kilts (see here), tailor-made to my measurements and picked from a wide range of tartans, (far more than the 10-15 common tartans HoS sells) for around the same price or a tad more.

I dont mean to rag on HoS, I've liked their service and their economy kilts are decent quality, but I could have got something much better at a similar value and less hassle.

A lesson for any newcomer to kilt-wearing, I suppose.

My next kilt will almost certainly be made-to-order.

Well, all I can say is thank goodness we're all different.

I would rather have one top quality bespoke heavy weight wool kilt made by a master kiltmaker than 10 lesser quality ones.

I don't understand this idea of buying a 'knock-around" kilt because if I buy a hand made bespoke heavy weight, I won't be able to do everything that I want to in it.

These kilts are not called 'tanks' for nothing! You CAN do anything in them and they'll come through smiling. They'll last long enough to leave them to your grandkids, too.

[Liam]

As a Canadian purchaser from the UK and the US, I ask vendors to ship via "Parcelforce Global/Canada Post" and "USPS/Canada Post" if possible. You often avoid the expensive brokerage charge. (You may get charged GST/PST). Regarding the 24" length of these kilts, my usual kilt length is 22.5-23", so I just wear them higher.

[Nathan]

Well, all I can say is thank goodness we're all different.

I would rather have one top quality bespoke heavy weight wool kilt made by a master kiltmaker than 10 lesser quality ones.

I don't understand this idea of buying a 'knock-around" kilt because if I buy a hand made bespoke heavy weight, I won't be able to do everything that I want to in it.

These kilts are not called 'tanks' for nothing! You CAN do anything in them and they'll come through smiling. They'll last long enough to leave them to your grandkids, too.

Remember, people fought wars in them!

[creagdhubh]

Made to measure/order/bespoke is absolutely the way to go for anyone that can afford anything. Buy the best you can, buy once, pass it down. You save money in the long run.

ith:

Precisely. "Measure twice, cut once."

[creagdhubh]

Remember, people fought wars in them!

Exactly!!!

[Panache]

$120 for two PV kilts that fit you doesn't sound at all like a bad value.

Now save your pennies and get a nicer wool one in the tartan of your choice when you can afford it.

I still have my first "real kilts" a wool Stillwater Heavyweight in all black and a Mcleod of Harris standard (acrylic). I still wear both. The solid black one to Scottish country dances and other "nice" events and get compliments and I will be wearing my trusty Mcleod to go camping in this weekend.

Enjoy these two, play around with getting the accessories you like/need and save those pennies for the bespoke one of your dreams.


Cheers

Jamie