UK Comparison, Workman's to Survival

[Kid Cossack]

Gents:

Howdy. I'm still trying to beat my black Workman's into submission. I've washed it and washed it and washed it. We're getting there, let's just put it that way and leave it at that.

In conversations with a poor deluded trousered friend about outdoors gear, I got worked up for, please forgive me, a "tactical kilt." Well, OK, not really a tactical kilt---hate that word, by the way, for me it's right up there with contraindicated, operator and extreme-----but a quasi-pimped-out-with-utilitarian-features contemporary kilt.

Obligatory observation and declaration of penance for not wanting to use a 16 ounce wool tank for this. It's not a tank I'm looking for now.

Anyway----this caused me to look with new eyes at the Survival kilt. I figure I'll probably go ahead and get one one of these days. With all of that as background, here's my question.

How does the material compare between the Workman's and the Survival Utilikilts?

Many thanks in advance.

[Iolaus]

Gents:

Howdy. I'm still trying to beat my black Workman's into submission. I've washed it and washed it and washed it. We're getting there, let's just put it that way and leave it at that

<snip>

How does the material compare between the Workman's and the Survival Utilikilts?

Many thanks in advance.

The Survival's fabric is softer, but seems to be thicker.

Maybe it's just the different construction of the pockets and the added slash pockets, but the Survival seems to be "blousier" (is that a word?); it doesn't have the same hanging characteristics as the Workman. I don't know; maybe I haven't broken it in enough, but I prefer the Workman.

[Kilted Taper]

The worman's is a canvas/duc material. Much like a carhart pant. The survival is a softer material, but thickness wise, at least to me, feels similar to the workman's.

[motorman4life]

The Survival UK's seem a bit overpriced to me, for what they are. The first edition Survivals were made of an expensive microfiber material and the kilt had web loops sewn on the cargo pocket flaps. The reasons given for the high price were expensive fast-drying material and extra labor (detatchable pockets and web loops). Now that the material has changed to a very soft cotton twill and the loops have been deleted, the price should have been adjusted down accordingly. It was not.

I don't know anyone with a Survival that does not like it, but it about 2x the price of an original, I'd say the price is not in line with the product. Based upon the product line, I think they should be selling for $180 or less (as you are likely aware, they start at $230)

I like the mockers myself. I own 2 mockers and of the 9 kilts I currently have, they get the most use for sure.

[Yaish]

For camping or something like that, go with the survival. It literally was designed for precisely that.

While the workmans has some capacious pockets and the material is more than sturdy (to soften, tumble dry no heat - feels like denim) it just doesnt cut it as a stand alone camping kilt. You'll still need a pack or something to carry the rest of your essential gear.

I just recently went out in my survival and loaded it up. In the slash pockets I kept my normal everyday gear, the wallet, cash, car keys, etc.. as well as the clip knife.
In the cargoes went two bottles of water, a couple Natures Best oatmeal bars, doggy bags, cell phone, palm pilot, plus some various other stuff. I still had plenty of room to add more water, more food, dog toys, extra leash, or some survival equipment (by which I mean firestarter/spaceblanket/signal mirror/whistle).

I never even had to use the two back pockets.

Best of all, when I got back from the day of hiking with the dog I was hungry and my girlfriend wanted to go out for dinner. Ok, quick bit of wash up, change shirts, unsnap the cargo pockets and ready to go. I didnt have to unload the pockets or change kilts, just took them off and left them home, as all my essentials for the city were still in the slash pockets.

[Kilted_John]

I usually wear my survivals... The workman's and the heather gray mocker have not been used much at all. The mocker blows up too easily and doesn't have cargo pockets, and the workman's is cool, but, not really my style. At least, with the survivals, if I'm out on a shoot, I can load the cargo pockets with lenses and an extra camera body, and sometimes avoid bringing my bag with me. One of my plans is to add elastic loops to the pocket flaps, so I can put film cannisters on the flaps... Could probably carry at least three per flap.

However, if it's hot out, I may throw on my nightwatch cammo original. Recently, though, I have been commuting wearing my traditionals, then changing when I get to work into one of my survivals. Works well.

-J

[cjbass]

Maybe it's just the different construction of the pockets and the added slash pockets, but the Survival seems to be "blousier" (is that a word?); it doesn't have the same hanging characteristics as the Workman. I don't know; maybe I haven't broken it in enough, but I prefer the Workman.

The "blousy" feel probably has to do with where and how the cargo pockets are on the Survival vs the Workmans.

Since the Survival has slash pockets as well, the cargo pockets are mounted lower down the side than on the Workmans, below the opening for the slash pockets.

I'll wager that if you take the pockets off the Survival for a day, and then switch to the Workman's, they won't feel so different. (Except for the rigidity of the fabric.) I find having the pockets lower down makes me feel like my thighs are bigger... and maybe that is the "blousy" feeling you are talking about.

A possibility...?
- CJ

[Iolaus]

Could be; recently, I took the pockets off and it seemed to lie a bit flatter - I still prefer the Workman though.

[Riverkilt]

I love them both, have three of each. On a trip "down south" but "up the mountain" to Flagstaff. Brought all three Workman's with me to wear. Warm, more of a "funky" look in a college town. Found a kelly green hooded sweat on sale at Northern Arizona University bookstore that looks great with the caramel workman's...kelly green and saffron (caramel). And another hooded sweat in chocolate brown that looks great with my chocolate workman's. A good trip except for haveing to sit through hours of company training. But if you're gonna sit, nothing beats a kilt. Passed out some cards to curious coworkers.

Big thing for me with the Survival is being able to remove the cargo pockets for a "mocker" look...more "mocker" colors. Or to be able to switch the pockets for a contrasting look, like tan cargo pockets on the basil Survival.

I think someone pointed out that you can also snap survival cargo pockets to the snaps on the workman's.

I enjoy all my UKs, but the workman's and survival IIs get the most wear from me. They're sorta like....(gasp)...jeans.....

Ron
From Flagstaff, AZ tonight.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

...Big thing for me with the Survival is being able to remove the cargo pockets for a "mocker" look...more "mocker" colors. Or to be able to switch the pockets for a contrasting look, like tan cargo pockets on the basil Survival.

I think someone pointed out that you can also snap survival cargo pockets to the snaps on the workman's.

I enjoy all my UKs, but the workman's and survival IIs get the most wear from me. They're sorta like....(gasp)...jeans.....

Ron, never thought about trading the pockets (although I don't have a survival or workman's (yet)), but I bet it looks great!

And I'll bet that your survival and workman's are much more comfortable than jeans, and will last a lot longer. I took your comment to mean "the comfortable garment I am mostly likely to throw on for just about any occasion that is not formal!".