New dress sporran

[tkdog]

I need some assistance from the Rabble: I'm still fairly new to kilting, and I'm slowly building my wardrobe. I need a dress sporran for a formal event next month, but don't want to break the bank.

As I look online for sporrans (and try not to drool on my keyboard), I see fairly inexpensive fur dress sporrans @the Sport Kilts website, but have no experience with their products. I am old enough to know that generally-speaking, you get what you pay for - and so am suspicious. Can anyone tell me if their dress sporrans are worth $70, so should I just suck it up and pay for a known quality?

Thanks to all.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Cheap is never cheerful. Why waste $70 on a sporran if you aren't 100% convinced, up front, that it's exactly what you need and want? You are far, far, better off in the long run to own a proper quality dress sporran that you will be proud to wear, as opposed to buying one that up front you have second thoughts about before you've even handed over the cash.

Just as the dress Argyle jacket is the most versatile jacket you can own, the best sporran -- for exactly the same reasons -- is the traditional full mask muskrat sporran. It can be worn with any mode of day time attire as well as with black tie in the evenings. Sure, it costs more; but, unless you spill paint on it, it'll last you a lifetime without regrets.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Gotta love the Family Pet Sporran here

[Guinness>water]

Oh, thats awesome! I laughed very hard for a very long time!

[tkdog]

Problem solved...I have four cats.

[cdarwin]

I have a very cheap (in price and quality) black 'leather' sporran from SK. If what I received is any indication of the quality of their other sporrans (I bet it is), then I would suggest looking elsewhere. I got this one to hold me over until I can find a good deal on a full mask muskrat sporran.

[Cygnus]

Just as the dress Argyle jacket is the most versatile jacket you can own, the best sporran -- for exactly the same reasons -- is the traditional full mask muskrat sporran. It can be worn with any mode of day time attire as well as with black tie in the evenings. Sure, it costs more; but, unless you spill paint on it, it'll last you a lifetime without regrets.

Scott, I've noticed that in your full-mask sporran recommendations you almost always specify they be muskrat. There are all kinds of full-mask sporrans on the market (from mink to foxes and even deer!); is there a particular reason that muskrat would be preferred over all of these?

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Scott, I've noticed that in your full-mask sporran recommendations you almost always specify they be muskrat. There are all kinds of full-mask sporrans on the market (from mink to foxes and even deer!); is there a particular reason that muskrat would be preferred over all of these?

Perhaps because muskrat has a lower 'cute'n'cuddly' factor than other critters?
I have already rationalized my purchase of a second-hand coyote fur (not mask) sporran thusly... but wolf might be easier.

[Singlemalt]

Having worked in the wild fur business many years ago I would also support the choice of muskrat fur as a very sound ecological choice.

Muskrats across the Northern part of their range in Canada are very prolific. Studies have shown that in healthy habitats they can withstand an 80% mortality rate and still reproduce enough to maintain a constant population.

Of course all wild fur is a durable, renewable resource and is biodegradable so is much more earth friendly than synthetic products. I wish the condominium conservationists in their nylon parkas at anti-fur rally's would do a bit more research.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Perhaps because muskrat has a lower 'cute'n'cuddly' factor than other critters?
I have already rationalized my purchase of a second-hand coyote fur (not mask) sporran thusly... but wolf might be easier.

The coyote has expanded its range and population all across North America. As long as they have enough cats and toy dogs to eat they're a renewable resource too!

I will keep the muskrat sporran in mind for the future.