Kilt Belt

[beerbecue]

Lined or Unlined?

Smooth or Grained?

[phil h]

Lined or Unlined?

Smooth or Grained?

are you asking what we have?
or what you should get?
have a look at mine here.
keep scrollin' to see both pix
http://mykilts.tripod.com/id11.html

[GMan]

Just wondering, what does the sporran look like? I would tend to get the outside appearance of the belt to match the leather around the sporran.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Not sure if it helps the question, but I own two of them... both unlined. One smooth and one grained.

Use the same buckle for both. No saltire, no shamrock, no harp... just a nice celtic knot outline.

[beerbecue]

I need to purchase one, so thanks for the information, thanks phil h, your page is very helpful.

I have seen the grained ones at several vendors, the smooth ones do not seem as common. I was told by one vendor the grained ones tend to be 'sturdier'.

My current sporran belt has a "texture" to it, so a grained belt would match. The only sporran I currently have is my Freelander, which I absolutely love by the way - thanks again David!!, which is a smooth black leather.

I guess I want one that would do for both day and evening, as my accessories budget is really tight until I get a new job next fall.... ah, the woes of a Post-Doc.....

I will buy one of the 'standard' chrome buckles for now, as they are easily found and reasonably priced...

It's funny, you see the same style belts (I won't go for the velcro ones, just the strap ones) at several shops, and they must come from the same distributor/manufacturer, but they are priced all over the place!!

I realize that the kilt belt is trivial when compared to a kilt (I am saving for a tank), but I would like to buy just one good one..

Thanks for all the replies!!

Troy

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Troy, the "hold-out" for a real WOOL, honest, hand-sewn authentic traditional is WELL sorth the wait. Any other belt just doesn't look right with them. even I have been guilty to wearing a 1.5" belt with a traditional, but that's when I'm moving around a lot. Everyother time... it's a 2.5" or 3" kilt belt.

I can't speak for the "sturdiness" of the plain versus the grained, but I DO know that the grained does not reflect light like some of the shiney solids do. The buckkle and the tartan should get the attention.

Don't forget that there are places to get an AUTHENTIC handsewn at a cut rate price.

[beerbecue]

I have a few kiltmakers in mind, and will be making some calls as soon as I am settled this fall. Right now I will just wear the ones in poly/wool I am working on (with a lot of Barb's help).

My main problem is that I am too picky on the tartan, otherwise I would have one already

I can eventually buy a second kilt belt, but I really need one for now. Jimmy, I see you mention the 2 1/2 inch belt, and I have noticed that 2 1/4 seems more common. Is there a reason for the different sizes? Are they meant for different dress or occasions?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

The normal 2.5" and 2.25" belts are specifically due to the waist width on a real traditional kilt. That way, the kilt stays rigid and does not slip down. When I'm moving alot onstage, I DO tend to drop to a normal 1.5" belt so that I don't jab my ribs.

Many of the modern kilts are quite fine with a 1.5" belt... and even look better without all the leather bulk of a kilt belt. BearKilts (atleast the ones that I have) ride on the hips and actually look MUCH better with a standard belt.

The 3" belt is a "Piper's Belt". It's worn through the lone belt loop on the back of a Piper's Kilt, and hangs pretty freely. There's really not much of a call for one, other than being a Piper.

Of course, you can always avoid a belt by wearing a waistcoat and sporran. That's the REAL lazy way out of having to get a belt!