Kilts Straps

[GlassMan]

Recently for some reason my thoughts turned to kilt straps.

I know that traditional kilts have 3 straps - one for the under apron at the waist, one for the upper apron at the waist, and a second one on the right side at butt level.

For some reason I've always found that third strap annoying. I've even had two of my kilts made without it! I always seem to forget that it's there when I'm taking off my kilt. Undo two straps and the kilt is still in place. :-x

I know that the third strap is supposed to make it fit better, but I still find it annoying.

Does anyone else out there share this feeling? Or am I just being lazy and not liking the extra step when I dress and undress?

[Alan H]

Matt Newsome makes his very traditional box-pleated kilts with two straps. Not only that, but one of them is INSIDE the waistband, not outside it.

[davedove]

Matt Newsome makes his very traditional box-pleated kilts with two straps. Not only that, but one of them is INSIDE the waistband, not outside it.

He also makes some mention of the hip strap somewhere on his site and why he doesn't include it.

[bubba]

On the traditional high rise kilt the second strap is the one that primarily holds the kilt at the waist, the upper strap holds the rise closed and allows adjustment. On more modern kilts with a lower rise one strap on each side is sufficient, for example, if you wear it at navel height you only really need 2 straps. If you wear it at rib height you need 3.

[GlassMan]

On the traditional high rise kilt the second strap is the one that primarily holds the kilt at the waist, the upper strap holds the rise closed and allows adjustment. On more modern kilts with a lower rise one strap on each side is sufficient, for example, if you wear it at navel height you only really need 2 straps. If you wear it at rib height you need 3.

I wear mind at the traditional height, and two straps works just fine. But that may also be because the traditional height is above the widest part of my belly, so it also acts to support the kilt and hold it in place.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I covered this in my blog a while back. Check it out:
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/08/why...lt-straps.html

Aye,
Matt

[Schultz]

Matt Newsome makes his very traditional box-pleated kilts with two straps. Not only that, but one of them is INSIDE the waistband, not outside it.

I'm still mulling it over in my mind to try doing this or not on the kilt I'm making. I very much like the idea of it.

[Schultz]

I'm planning on not adding a third strap to the kilt I'm presently making. I probably dont' find it as annoying as you do, but it just seems superfluous to me.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I know that the third strap is supposed to make it fit better, but I still find it annoying.

I suppose a zipper would be easier.

... Does anyone else out there share this feeling? Or am I just being lazy and not liking the extra step when I dress and undress?

Not at all...In fact I think 4 straps would look pretty cool.

[James]

About forty years ago I got annoyed with the third strap-just more to fiddle with: and removed it from my then only kilt.

Since then all my kilts-traditional or whatever have been made without one-and I've never felt the lack.

James