Years ago I went in pants and looked at all my "kin." Most I did was maybe by a clan decal.

Since getting kilted up did three games last year...just back from my first Highland Games this year.

What I notice is how keen my eye is now, seeing the differences between some really crummy kilts and the really fine kilts....being able to walk up to a vendor's booth and tell who's spouting lies and nourishing false hopes..."we can get it for you..." Yeah, I've ordered from you three times before and waited forever, no thank you.

One vendor had my Macdonal clan tartan kilt in polyesther "on sale" for $99 IN MY SIZE!! Boy talk about getting hooked. But you guys (and most lovely ladies) have taught my to pay attention. This "kilt" had pleats as wide as a Utilikilt with no depth. The leather straps were a tad bit thicker than paper thin. They only came in one length, Two inches too long for my legs. Then I was fortunate that another cousin came a long and went as far as to try it on...easier for the panted....and hanging off of him the cheapness was evident. Thank you, I'll save my $99 towards my next quality kilt, perhaps in that tartan.

I stocked up on kilt pins following Ham's advice - so I now have kilt pins for each kilt so I'm not chewing up aprons poking them in and out. I did like the type of kilt pin I alreacy had, not much liking the pewter ones with the crests down on the blade of the sword...but seeing them in person, rather than on line, I was impressed with the weight and quality.

I'm also a sucker for clan t-shirts and Highland Games t-shirts to wear with my plain contemporary kilts...got some of those.

And, you've taught me much about kilthose so instead of having to wait forever for on line orders I was able to buy what I needed, in the size and color I needed, and steer away from the "inexpensive" kilt hose. Got the Lochcarron.

And, I'm also able to recognize many more tartans than before. Impressed my lady no end. Even saw a guy in a weathered Gordon like mine and introduced myself and complimented him on his weathered Gordon kilt...he thought I was a genius...until I told him I had one too.

Utilikilt had a booth, even though they're also down the road at the Arizona Ren Faire for many weeks. They were doing a land office business. Got to lay hands and eyes on the UK gangbanger short looking "kilt" I forget the name of...sort of look like what pro boxers wear n the ring. Passed. And, got to see all the colors of courdory kilts too...just have always had a person aversion to cords, in pants or shirts, and its still with me so passed there too. Always a good connect to stop by though.

For me, being out in the boonies (put on 923 miles to get there and back this weekend) it is a real treat to hang out with other kilted men....isn't it amazing how many men come to the highland games wearing pants?? And it was a real treat to shop in person, not online. And it felt great to know a LOT more about what I was doing when shopping.

And, the cherry on the whole deal is when I stopped back at the Clan Donald tent to ask after the tartan cop who berated me last year for wearing Macdonald Lord of the Isles they said he was gone. "Bob" was not particularly a socially facile guy and he was sorta asked to leave. In fact, a lady there remembered the incident and again apologized for the clan saying he was dead wrong, as did the clan officials I followed up with last year.

Would have liked to have seen him again and offered him a more informed response than I had last year...but, this way I didn't get arrested or anything

If, by chance, you're new to kilts, go immerse yourself in the highland games near you.

Ron