Soon to be Geek in a Kilt

[TheFly]

I've been lusting after kilts for some time and stumbled upon this forum. I've been reading and I must say, a great deal of awesome information here.

At first, my wife was not thrilled about me buying a kilt. Then she looked at the prices and was even less thrilled. For the fabric involved, she felt she could make one herself. But she just started school again so her time is going to be a premium.

So, she's agreed that it's probably better for me to just order one. Jury is still out on from who, but I'm doing a lot of reading.

Just thought I'd introduce myself and go back to lurking. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions about different stuff in the next few days as I make my decision.

[Dreadbelly]

Welcome!

I too, bite the heads off chickens.

[MtnBiker]

Welcome!
I checked out your site. Nice.
Are those hiking pics from this month out on RipRap Trail -- looks like it to me. If not, where?

[TheFly]

The pics are from Catoctin area. Frederick, MD.

Not sure exactly. Ben, the guy with the little girl, takes us out.

I really need to get hiking more. Perhaps if I had a good hiking kilt. Can't wait to see the Amerikilt model.

[MtnBiker]

Rip Rap is out on Skyline Drive, about 75 miles south of Front Royal. I suppose I need to check out this Catoctin area.

I have 2 Amerikilts, an original and a hiking model. The original got so much wear that it's basically done for. The hiking kilt is 3 months old and I love it. It gets more wear than any of my other kilts. We're going to Ireland next week and I'm taking it for hiking over there -- but I can't get it packed because it gets worn 2-4 times a week just for taking walks with my wife.

I highly recommend it!

[Rufus]

Hi TheFly! Do you have a real name?

I too ordered my first kilt after spending a lot of time on the forum here. After all, I knew nothing about kilts before I found this place!

I hope you find one that makes you happy.

Rufus

[TheFly]

My real name is closely guarded government secret.

Heh. It's Joel.

I guess my urgency in getting a kilt is that I'll be turning 28 on Friday and have been feeling "corporate" for too long. I just took a job which is 12 hour shifts, 3-4 days a week, and every two weeks flip flops between nights and days. I may be able to talk the management into letting me wear a kilt at work on nightshift, which NEVER would have happened at my last job.

Amerikilts is only two hours away from where I live and I just emailed them to find out if it would be possible for me to pop up there sometime to look at the kilts. I'm a little wary about ordering clothing sight-unseen (well, without trying it on) and there's no pics of the hiking kilt that I've seen yet. But I think that's what I want. Any pics of yours?

Think the Amerikilt folks are open to that sort of thing? One nice thing about this new job is that I have a floating holiday for Labor Day and took a vacation day for my birthday. That leaves me with seven days off. I'm so bored at home right now. haha

[Freelander Sporrano]

Welcome Joel,
from the frozen north.

Are you going for Tartan or non Tartan?

All the best ...David

[TheFly]

More than likely, I'll be going for a solid this first time. I have some Irish roots and would like to eventually track don the family.

Interestingly though, I have some Norwegian roots too. the family name is Texley or Teksle. Are there any Norse tartans out there?

[macwilkin]

Joel,

There are a couple of tartans commemorating a battle between Norwegians & Scots mercenaries in the 1600's, but I imagine that the tartans would be somewhat expensive to get for a kilt!

However, one option would be the Sinclair Tartan, since the Sinclairs have a long connection to Norway, especially Prince Henry Sinclair, who ruled the Orkney Islands. The Chief of the Clan Sinclair is also the honourary patron of "The Cally", the Caledonian Society of Norway.

Cheers and Fair Fa' ye! (welcome!)

T.