Three straps vs two straps

[Sir William]

I've found I like the two strap and buckle arrangement on my box-pleated kilts and was thinking about taking the third strap (the lower strap on the right hip) off of some of my 8-yard knife pleated kilts.

Has anyone does this? Or had their tanks made with just two straps? How do you like it?

[xman]

My kilts have just two straps including my 8yder and they work great. I wasn't sure I'd like it since I only wore the 3 strap military kilt before, but it's really great. The sporran strap does all the work needed to keep the aprons together nicely. The third strap is really only useful for highland dancers.

[rtc872]

The third strap is really a recent addition. I am not sure of the origin and how far it goes back but bands only started having a third strap in NSW from the late '90s.

To be honest the third strap doesn't bother me either way. It would be interesting to know if it can be taken off with out complications though.

[7 miles]

All my kilts are only two straps. I prefer it that way also.

[McMurdo]

I prefer the two strap arrangement, I find the third strap only serves to pull the apron out of alignment and stretch it unnaturally.

[thescot]

I prefer the two strap arrangement, I find the third strap only serves to pull the apron out of alignment and stretch it unnaturally.

What he said.

I had my most recent kilt-a Tewksbury bwauty--made with only two straps, and it hangs very nicely.

The third strap probably doesn't matter or have any effect on a slim fellow--like I used to be--but with age and increasing substance, I found that the third strap did just what McMurdo says: it pulls the apron and makes the alignment fail. I found years ago that I had to loosen the bottom strap to lessen the effect.

[madmacs]

2 straps on an 8yd 16oz here too

[fluter]

My tank was made with two straps. I like it.

I have removed the third strap from several Stillwaters, and from one of three USAK semi-trad's. I'm happy with those results, the other two USAK's are in my very lengthy to-do list.

On one occasion, the third strap has helped me; when I was tucking my shirt tail in mixed company. I might have dropped my kilt on the floor without it. However, the sporran strap can and does serve the same purpose with my two-strap kilts. I merely have to remember not to take the sporran off.

[denmcdough]

Bill, I have a Waterfall kilt from Wally Catanach, and he only makes two straps. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but I do. In fact, I prefer my kilts, now, with two.

[Standard]

I prefer the two strap arrangement, I find the third strap only serves to pull the apron out of alignment and stretch it unnaturally.

I find that happening, especially since I've added a couple of pounds over the winter. Since I normally buckle the third buckle fairly loosely anyway I'm thinking that I'll have my next kilt made with out the extra buckle. If I remember correctly from my conversations with Barb Tewksbury when she was building my most recent kilt she said about 1/2 of her kilts are ordered with the third buckle, and about 1/2 without.