Kilt belt width

**jaywin** · 2nd April 17, 07:25 PM

I am going to make a kilt belt. What width would you recommend? 2.5" or 3"? I have some great leather and will post pics on completion. Appreciate any advice.

Thanks! JW

**Jock Scot** · 3rd April 17, 01:08 AM

My kilt belt is very traditional made by McRostie of Glasgow, probably some 40 years ago and I have just measured it and the width is 2 inches. I actually thought that it was wider, but there we go.

Jock Scot, on the right of picture.

**Tarheel** · 3rd April 17, 04:00 AM

We have a good many guys that are in rodeo bull-riding circuit near my home. The new trend for those guys is a three inch wide belt to match the larger buckles (winning trophy). Before that, a 2 1/2 inch belt was all that could be found (that is what I have). I would lean toward the two inch belt. It serves the purpose and doesn't over whelm the kilt.

If a great kilt and sword is also in the mix (ren faire) I would go with the three inch belt.

**Walkman** · 3rd April 17, 09:20 AM

My kilt belt is 2" and I think it's the perfect size. I would recommend that you go with 2.5" over 3".

**Steve Ashton** · 3rd April 17, 09:26 AM

If you are going to make the Dirk Belt style, my suggestion would to find the waistplate you will use and make the width of the belt to fit the bale of the buckle.

**Todd Bradshaw** · 3rd April 17, 09:38 AM

Personally, I prefer my 3" wide belt. I'm not terribly fond of plate buckles and think that whole "fold the ends back, doubling an already heavy chunk of leather with a big strip of Velcro to adjust the belt's length" is just plain stupid. The most important answers to your question are probably just "What do you like the looks of best and what sort of buckle have you found?". There are no right or wrong answers.

This is mine.

And the best way to get your wife to allow you to keep purchasing large expensive pieces of leather is to make one for her as well.

Punching holes one-by-one with a hand punch isn't much fun, but I like the results.

**Walkman** · 3rd April 17, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Todd Bradshaw

Personally, I prefer my 3" wide belt. I'm not terribly fond of plate buckles ... There are no right or wrong answers.

This is mine.

And the best way to get your wife to allow you to keep purchasing large expensive pieces of leather is to make one for her as well.

Punching holes one-by-one with a hand punch isn't much fun, but I like the results.

Wow. I love the tooling on your belt and color of your belt and sporran - beautiful work! I favor simple buckles like the one you have here over the big plate buckles as well.

**Todd Bradshaw** · 3rd April 17, 10:50 AM

I have another similar buckle which is blacksmith-made that I purchased from one of the muzzle-loader vendors. It should make a pretty neat daywear buckle as soon as I figure out a plan and get the energy to do the leatherwork (maybe a somewhat different style, but nothing decided yet). I have one dark sporran and will probably make the new belt to match it.