Straps 2? 3? & a good source

[mycoleptodiscus]

I am considering 2 vs. 3 straps. My local saddle shop is making me black 1 1/4" straps with holes 1/2" apart at a VERY reasonable price- bordering on ridiculously low. (St. Paul Saddlery 651-222-5616) They did not have a very good selection of buckles so I will get them elsewhere. I found a nice silver kilt pin on Ebay so I'm, all set in that department. I was going to go the 2 strap route, but what are your thoughts?

[chasem]

3 straps isn't really necessary on the common modern kilt, so 2 should be fine. The last few kilts I've made have had only two straps, and I really haven't noticed a difference in the overall look of the killt at all.

[McMurdo]

Two straps is fine, my Isle of Skye, Royal Naval Association and Graham of Mentieth kilts, all from different makers, all have two straps, the third tends to pull on the apron and over time can skew the look of the tartan, so I just stick with two now.

[Hendry]

I like the 2 strap myself, the apron seems to fall better.

[gilmore]

I much prefer wearing only two straps and buckles. The third often pulls the kilt unnecessarily and isn't functional at all, as far as I can tell. It only restricts movement and shows off a paunch, if you have one

[mycoleptodiscus]

Two straps it is then. Thanks!

[Bugbear]

Interesting... The top two straps and buckles would normaly be covered by a belt or a waistcoat; unless it was very casual...

So, if you do away with the third lower buckle, which seems to do more harm than good, then you no longer have to worry about the metal of the buckles or the leather of the straps matching the rest of the leather and metal of the outfit.

I guess there's no way to put a stabilizer around from the third strap to the buckle, behind the canvas to take up the tension...

[mycoleptodiscus]

I'm no too happy wih the saddle shop sraps. He only had chap leather which is suede texture on one side. He also did kind of crappy job of cutting the leather

[The Wizard of BC]

Take a look at these.

http://www.highlandxpress.com/bucklestraps.html

They are what I use.

[george7]

I like three straps. I think it looks more complete.