Tartan with No Sporran

[adempsey10]

For those fellows who wear tartan kilts outside the realm of the standard traditional ways, do any of you forgo the sporran altogether? I think I saw riverkilt mention he liked the look in another thread. Anyone have a go and what are your thoughts? Sometimes I like the sporran but there are times I just want to leave it at home.

How common is it for you fellows not to bother with one?

[ASinclair]

Maybe I'm old-school, but I never wear the kilt without a sporran. To me, it's just not right.

[Mikilt]

I have a kilt from Freedom kilts with which I seldom feel the need for a sporran because it has two slash pockets.

With all my other kilts I wear one just to carry my stuff. If for whatever reason I have no stuff to carry, I'd leave the sporran at home.

[TheOfficialBren]

To the average American (yes, I know you are Canadian, not American) eyes a tartan kilt is not a tartan kilt without the sporran.

To my kilt - wearing eyes I can see that this is not true.

Nonetheless it is still kind of one of those things here in Southern California that differentiates between a proper tartan kilt and that other topic which violates the forum rules.

Just my tuppence. YMMV.


Edited for clarity.

[azwildcat96]

I forgo the sporran...only when I'm competing in the highland games. Otherwise I wear one, regardless of kilt type (traditional wool tartan kilts, Sportkilts, modern tactical kilts). It just feels right to wear one in my opinion. Now, I have on occasion left other items at home (on purpose)...sgian dubh, belt, hose, flashes...but never the sporran.

[Nathan]

I think it looks skirt-like without a sporran unless you're a burly highland games athlete. I also think if you don't have a large belly, the sporran serves to protect your modesty to some degree.

[craigclan]

I always wear a sporran also . Looks too much like a skirt without one

[CMcG]

I don't usually wear a sporran with my tartan Sportkilt because, when I wear it, I'm either lounging about the house or running up the side of a mountain. For other purposes (pubbing, dinners, parties) I tend wear a sporran with my tartan kilts because it is a practical item for holding my things and, to my eye, completes the look.

When Riverkilt goes sporran-less in a tartan kilt, I think he might wear a fishing vest that has lots of pockets for his stuff. A Freedom kilts tartan model with pockets would achieve a similar functionality. I don't, however, prefer the look of a tartan kilt without a sporran, even with boots and a tee shirt...

For a more modern look, perhaps you might investigate contemporary sporrans like those from http://sporran-nation.co.uk/. Alternatively, there are bound to be non-bespoke sporrans with similar designs if you search a bit.

[English Bloke]

I always wear a sporran. I like variety so I have... err... one or two to choose from. Varied style sporrans, Interesting pins, Non-standard belts... Kilts. It's all part of the collecting addiction for me.

[cessna152towser]

The only tartan kilt which I wear with no sporran is my Lady Chrystel four yard box pleat which does not have loops to hold a belt or a sporran chain.
Otherwise as a general rule, always a sporran with a traditional style kilt whether solid colour or tartan and never a sporran with a non-trad (utility kilt style) kilt.