New kilt purchase

**imbrius** · 27th September 18, 06:07 AM

I bought my first kilt before consulting anyone and was taken in by the $99 price tag. It is badly made and I've learned my lesson.

I now need a new kilt as the $99 one doesn't fit any more. My target price range is about $250 with some tolerance to go higher.

Ideally, I'd like an Armstrong tartan. I like the Modern from HoE but I'd prefer Ancient from any of the other mills.

Here are the candidates I've found so far:

J. Higgins 5-yard 13-ounce wool Value Kilt in Armstrong Ancient: https://www.jhiggins.net/j-higgins-v...-wool-tartans/

USA Kilts 5-yard PV Semi-Traditional in German Heritage: https://www.usakilts.com/kilts-and-p...onal-kilt.html

USA Kilts 5-yard 13-ounce wool kilt in Armstrong Modern (HOE): https://www.usakilts.com/kilts-and-p...wool-kilt.html

Also open to other suggestions! Thanks, rabble!

**Tobus** · 27th September 18, 06:54 AM

With kilts, as with so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. Apparently your $99 kilt was not up to your standards. The kilts you're considering are still low-yardage budget kilts. They will be better made than your initial one, to be sure. Which begs the question, "what are your standards?" In other words, what are you looking for in a kilt? What will it be used for?

Not that this necessarily helps you find other options in the price range you mentioned. I'm just offering food for thought as to whether your price range is adequate for the kilt you desire. It may very well be, but let's investigate!

**imbrius** · 27th September 18, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

With kilts, as with so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. Apparently your $99 kilt was not up to your standards. The kilts you're considering are still low-yardage budget kilts. They will be better made than your initial one, to be sure. Which begs the question, "what are your standards?" In other words, what are you looking for in a kilt? What will it be used for?

Not that this necessarily helps you find other options in the price range you mentioned. I'm just offering food for thought as to whether your price range is adequate for the kilt you desire. It may very well be, but let's investigate!

Well, my standards are that it looks well-placed at formal-ish events like lodge dinners, Burns nights, etc. That it doesn't look like a "pub kilt". I am well aware that what I really want is a Tank. But I don't foresee a time when I'm going to have that much money to spend on something I'll only wear a few times per year.

**McMurdo** · 27th September 18, 07:37 AM

From your choices I would say wool is the way to go

USA Kilts 5-yard 13-ounce wool kilt in Armstrong Modern (HOE): https://www.usakilts.com/kilts-and-p...wool-kilt.html

Another thought is to get the 8 yard handsewn kilt, yes it may take some time to save the money but you will have it for the rest of your life and these garments are heirloom quality so can be passed down to future generations.

**Manu** · 27th September 18, 07:45 AM

I concur with the advice that wool is definitely the way to go if you have the pennies for it. I think you will be happy with USA Kilts 5 yard wool. They feel and look high end. However, they are clearly inferior to their Premier model. I have both, and I will be favoring the Premier over the 5 yard. If you can, save and treat yourself to a tank. You will be looking for reasons to wear it often. If not, the 5 yarder wool will also make you a happy camper.

**Taskr** · 27th September 18, 08:05 AM

I would ask you consider Freedom Kilts on your list if you are especially looking at PV (and wool). I'm very happy with my Freedom PV** and it can dress up to "business casual" pretty well. I can't speak to all the cloth he might have, but I think its safe to say he has very good relations with weavers.

Originally Posted by imbrius

Well, my standards are that it looks well-placed at formal-ish events like lodge dinners, Burns nights, etc. That it doesn't look like a "pub kilt". I am well aware that what I really want is a Tank. But I don't foresee a time when I'm going to have that much money to spend on something I'll only wear a few times per year.

Here's the thing from my perspective: Your $99 kilt isn't meeting your expectations, so you are willing to bump up to $250 with tolerance. That would put you at $350+ to try to reach your expectations. That new kilt is going to feel pretty darn good strapped around your waist and so you start wearing it more often because it feels right. And at your Lodge and Burns events you start noticing some more of the little things that make a difference. As you wear it more, you do. Its not a snobbish thing, just observationally. Then you start wondering if its time to bring it up a notch, again. Your final $750 wool kilt technically becomes $1100 to have gotten there.

I've said this before somewhere: I had a mentor who would say that those without much money cannot afford to by cheap things. My first kilt was a hand sewn tank. It dresses down very well and probably far better than attempting to dress anything else up. Just one perspective.

**I don't wear the PV very much, but its there for those times that jeans might be the choice instead.

**Stoff** · 27th September 18, 08:35 AM

Odd man out here. My response is to ask you how handy you are. If you are the DIY sort consider getting Barbara Tewksbury's book "The Art od Kilt Making" and having a go of it yourself. On that subject then consider going to Kilt Kamp next year.

Just my two cents worth. Like I said I'm the odd man out, I have not ever purchased a kilt. But that said I have made several, including a 16 ounce box pleated tank at Kilt Kamp. Plus two based on the "X-Kilt" instructions (no experience required) available here for download.

Good luck which ever route you take to getting a kilt or kilts.

Stoff

**imbrius** · 27th September 18, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Stoff

Odd man out here. My response is to ask you how handy you are. If you are the DIY sort consider getting Barbara Tewksbury's book "The Art od Kilt Making" and having a go of it yourself. On that subject then consider going to Kilt Kamp next year.

Stoff

I sooooo want to go to Kilt Kamp but 100% do not have the budget for it. Also, I've considered making my own but (a) I don't know how to sew and my recent attempts to convert a jacket ended in disaster and (b) ordering the wool at retail prices ends up costing almost as much as just buying the machine-stitched finished kilt, though I agree hand-sewn is of infinitely better quality.

**MNlad** · 27th September 18, 09:02 AM

Given you are currently looking at 5-yard kilts, one other consideration you should be looking at is the weight of the fabric. I have USA wool kilts in both 13 oz. and 16 oz. and the latter are much more substantial garments for just a few dollars more. They seem to hang better and the added weight is appreciated as the weather up in our neck of the woods turns colder. Then again, if you wear your kilt mainly in the summer, the 13 oz. fabric is a joy. Check if they have your Armstrong in the heavier weight.

**CollinMacD** · 27th September 18, 09:03 AM

You probably will not like my answer, but will state the obvious. Why rush into buying another inexpensive kilt? Save up more money and buy one that you will be happy with, simply SAVE. Keep buying lower quality over and over only adds up to a more expensive one you could purchase from the start. You will not be satisfied until you step up to the 16 ounce 8 yard Kilt. My advice, don't buy anything until you feel you can afford what you want. Keep buying budget kilts and you will keep buying budget kilts, all of this adds up. Save, only a matter of a few hundred dollars more, don't rush into it. I don't believe this is snobbish as stated prior, to the contrary, its correct, especially if you want a Formal-ish Kilt. It becomes an heirloom than can be passed down, and certainly will outland the more inexpensive kilts. Just my two cents worth, from experience.