Acrylic vs. Poly Viscose

**denmcdough** · 19th January 10, 08:46 AM

I keep reading about acrylic kilts and poly viscose kilts. Hmm, I thought they were the same. Can anyone help me out here? Does one have an advantage over the other???

Currently I have an acrylic SWK and it's great for the bucks. But, I just received an IoS kilt of 13 oz. wool, made in Scotland. Oh, the SWK can't compare. How does a poly viscose stack up???

**Zardoz** · 19th January 10, 08:50 AM

PV is a much better analog to wool.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/a...533/index.html

**Monkey@Arms** · 19th January 10, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

PV is a much better analog to wool.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/a...533/index.html

IMHO an acrylic SWK is no match for a good PV like the type used by USAK in terms of finish and ability to withstand normal wear and tear.

Best regards,

Jake

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...eyLogo-1-1.jpg

**Nighthawk** · 19th January 10, 06:19 PM

Acrylic SUCKS!! And it's flammable*... very flammable*. It pills, it snags, it burns*, it doesn't breathe, it burns*, it's too light, it's a really loose weave... and it burns*! PV, on the other hand, breathes a lot like wool, it doesn't snag, pill, or burn easily. It's also light like acrylic, but the hang and swing are much, much better. And did I mention that acrylic catches on fire really easily? PV is a lot safer.

***As I seem to be dwelling on the flamability issue a little bit, I should clarify- I camp a lot. A spark flew out of a fire onto one of my acrylic kilts- a SWK thrifty- and it caught fire almost immediately. It took some effort to put it out, and I ended up with melted plastic on my hands and leg. I tested some PV material, the type used by USA Kilts, and while it will catch fire, it's a lot harder to burn it and it goes out when the hear source is taken away. Acrylic starts easily, and is self sustaining when it catches. I caught one on fire trying to iron it once...(OK, that's an exageration... I was smart enough to remove the iron when it started melting- but it could have caught fire!) Did I mention that acrylic is really flammable?

**Riverkilt** · 19th January 10, 06:28 PM

I have purchased 25 PV kilts from USA Kilts. I've never spent a cent on an acrylic kilt...never plan to.

You can have any two of quality, price, or service.

**pdcorlis** · 19th January 10, 07:14 PM

Except for the potential fireball issue - I think Acrylic kilts may be a good choice for a "disposable" kilt. If you are just trying the kilted life on for size, or end up wearing a kilt to go mud bogging, an acrylic may fit the bill. Along with being flammable - they are the least expensive kilts on the market. Otherwise PV kilts are far superior to acrylic in every way.

Of course wool is a step above either of these materials, but that's not really the point of this discussion.

**Semiomniscient** · 22nd January 10, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by pdcorlis

Except for the potential fireball issue - I think Acrylic kilts may be a good choice for a "disposable" kilt. If you are just trying the kilted life on for size, or end up wearing a kilt to go mud bogging, an acrylic may fit the bill. Along with being flammable - they are the least expensive kilts on the market. Otherwise PV kilts are far superior to acrylic in every way.

Of course wool is a step above either of these materials, but that's not really the point of this discussion.

I'm not sure I understand why one would want to go mud-bogging in a kilt...
And why a kilt should be "disposable." I've always thought the greatest thing about a kilt is that it should last a lifetime and is can be an heirloom.

**Geoff Withnell** · 23rd January 10, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

I'm not sure I understand why one would want to go mud-bogging in a kilt...
And why a kilt should be "disposable." I've always thought the greatest thing about a kilt is that it should last a lifetime and is can be an heirloom.

Well, I would go mud bogging in a kilt because the public might get upset if I did it naked!

I wear the couple of SWK Thrifties for things I don't want to do in a nicer kilt, and to weigh in at my Weight Watchers meetings. When not at work, I only go bifucated if my wife requests me to (happens rarely) or the weather is VERY windy and cold.

Geoff Withnell

**Semiomniscient** · 23rd January 10, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

Well, I would go mud bogging in a kilt because the public might get upset if I did it naked!

I wear the couple of SWK Thrifties for things I don't want to do in a nicer kilt, and to weigh in at my Weight Watchers meetings. When not at work, I only go bifucated if my wife requests me to (happens rarely) or the weather is VERY windy and cold.

Geoff Withnell

I guess that's just something I'll have to accept. I'm not a "full-time kiltie" because I think pants, jeans, slacks, etc. have plenty of merit on their own. I absolutely love wearing my tartan trews! I also don't think I could bring myself to wear poly-viscose or acryllic kilts... I use my old saxony kilt as a knock-around kilt. I understand the expense of the whole thing though... synthetic works for some people and I guess is a necessity if you refuse to wear pants. I guess I just forget that sometimes.