I have a USA Kilts Casual and I love it for certain things....backpacking, throwing heavy stuff at the games, hiking, things like that. It's a great kilt for pub crawling, if you're into that. It's fantastic in hot weather and the sewn-down pleats restore themselves in a flash. It was my second kilt and I still wear it in the summer, and I love it.

That said, it's definitely a casual kilt and I wouldn't wear it to anything like a "nice" occasion any more, though I have worn it in that manner in the past. Now I know a bit more! So if you want a real knockaround, then get a casual. If you want something you can wear to the Games (NOT throwing stuff) and to more dressy occasions, then save your pennies and do what Panache says, save up for the Semi-Traditional. I"ve seen three USA Kilts semi-trads and they're great. My ONLY caveat is that I, personally would ask Rocky to use a straight selvedged edge on mine, and not fringe it. I know that the selvedge on Marton Mills PV is a bit rough, but I prefer it to the fringe. That's "just me".

I've only seen one Celtic Croft budget kilt, and it looked fine but the pleats seemed to fall out of it awfully fast.