Help deciding between a really good 5 yd, 8 yd, and great kilt from USA kilts

[Father Bill]

Shaun, that's awesome! Seven sure sounds like a lovely dream... aha. It's nice to know that the 16 oz is still comfy in an 8-yarder, definitely gonna give that a hard, long look. How often do you have to press the pleats? And is that a difficult thing to do?

Thanks so much!

Pressing? on 16 oz? Don’t. Just hang it up in your bathroom while you have a shower.

[NeighborhoodKiltGuy]

Father Bill, my mistake lol, I was under the impression that all kilts of all weights need pressing after a few years, depending on wear.. at least, that's what I thought I had read... lol my bad!

[ShaunMaxwell]

How often do you have to press the pleats? And is that a difficult thing to do?

Honestly, I’ve never needed to press my pleats. A garment steamer usually does the trick!

SM

[Mike S]

If it were me, I'd get a 5 yard 100% wool kilt from USA kilts. Both because you are in Texas where it is HOT most of the year, and you don't yet have the experience to know exactly what you want down to the finer details to spring for a more expensive, full 8 yard tank.

PVC is good for what it is. But a quality wool kilt is incomparable, and checks all of the boxes of what a traditional kilt is supposed to be. You'll likely start amassing a collection like the rest of us down the road, trust me.

[Father Bill]

Father Bill, my mistake lol, I was under the impression that all kilts of all weights need pressing after a few years, depending on wear.. at least, that's what I thought I had read... lol my bad!

Not if they’re well made and not abused!

[MikeC]

I live in Florida, where, arguably, its just as hot and humid as Texas. I have two 8yr 16 oz wool kilts, and two 8yrd 16 oz PV kilts. I dont find either of them much warmer than wearing shorts in the summer, but again, i am also not wearing wool hose in the summer with a kilt either. I kinda feel like the wool is a bit cooler than the PV, but maybe cause my wife tells me that the natural fibers "breathe". So now its in my head. I dont know. I was out for dinner this past weekend with the wife and dog, cause we had the dog with us we sat outside. Perfectly comfortable. when we got back to the car, it said that it was 101 (38C).

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As mentioned in previous posts, go for the best kilt you can afford. But there is a WORLD of difference between a PV and real wool kilts. I prefer 8yrd kilts over 5yrd, just cause the way they move. But that would be personal preference. The kilt in the pics came from kilts4less.com. 100% wool. Very happy with it. I picked that one up for @$150USD. There are places where you can get a 100% wool kilt for under $250-300. I am not trying to steer you away from USA Kilts. I will probably use them for my personal tartan kilt when I get enough funds together for that.

[Tobus]

It’s also probably easier to dress down an 8-yarder than to dress up a lower yardage kilt.

I would echo this sentiment. I find myself always choosing my 8-yard kilts, regardless of the level of dress I need to wear. If I had to start all over, buying my first kilt to be my "one" kilt, I'd opt for an 8-yard wool kilt, 16oz cloth. It will be appropriate for all occasions. And as a fellow Texan, I don't notice any benefit from wearing lower-yardage or lighter-weight kilts in the heat.

You can't go wrong with USA Kilts, and you'll definitely get a quality-made garment from them. I would advise caution going with some of the online "discount" kiltmakers if you don't have feedback from customers to guide you. Many of them will not build a kilt with the necessary internal structure, and your kilt will end up stretching, sagging, and/or falling apart after a while. Ask me how I know. With kilts, you definitely get what you pay for, and it's advisable to stick with a kiltmaker who has a good reputation here on this forum, and with whom you can personally discuss the details of your kilt (not just filling out an online order form).

[bodhran4me]

To add to what Tobus and others have said, do not just trust in a name or an 'impression' of coming from a reputable maker. I have read threads where a person has had a problem with a 'quality' kilt from a known maker only to find it was improperly constructed with no sewn through stabilizer etc.

Know the questions you want answered and ensure they are answered properly. I have asked if the cloth is UK manufactured and where the kilt was constructed and if it had the proper internal structure. The reply was that they could assure that they were made for the UK market and were quality garments. Not only did they not answer my questions but were somewhat misleading with the whole 'made for the UK market' and I continued to look elsewhere. When asked a pointed question, give a direct answer, do not obfuscate.

Also keep in mind when reading reviews that they are often first impressions and from first time kilters. How does the material and stitching hold up over time? Does it pass the 'stretch test'? Is it hemmed or selvedge? Is it good for the money or is it worth every penny?

Remember also the description 'PV' can covermany different fabrics. The term actually stands for Poly/Viscose but some manufacturers use the term incorrectly to cover acrylics etc. On top of that there are different manufacturers of true PV but the gold standard for kilts seems to be Marton Mills.

Wherever you order from, follow their measuring instructions as there are many different makers and there are many different instructions.

In summary , know what it is buying with your hard earned money.

[imrichmond]

You'll get lots of general advice, but for perspective, today a true great kilt is worn only by pipe majors, re-enactors, or as a costume.

Just to correct an obvious misconception here: pipe majors do not wear great kilts. In 60 years of piping, both solo and in bands at all levels (and having been pipe major of four different bands over the years including my current one), the only pipe majors I have ever seen wearing anything approaching a great kilt are those who play in historical re-enactor pipe bands, such as The Old 78th Fraser Highlanders band (not either of the top-level competition bands from Ontario and Nova Scotia who also share the names "78th Fraser Highlanders" and "78th Highlanders"). In whatever pipe band, military or civilian, re-enactor or not, the pipe major wears the same type of kilt as all the other pipers. In many military bands and some civilian bands, the pipers wear No 1 or "full" dress, which has a long plaid that crosses the back and the chest and hangs down over the left shoulder and arm. This is a separate garment and not part of the kilt.

[NeighborhoodKiltGuy]

I would echo this sentiment. I find myself always choosing my 8-yard kilts, regardless of the level of dress I need to wear. If I had to start all over, buying my first kilt to be my "one" kilt, I'd opt for an 8-yard wool kilt, 16oz cloth. It will be appropriate for all occasions. And as a fellow Texan, I don't notice any benefit from wearing lower-yardage or lighter-weight kilts in the heat.

You can't go wrong with USA Kilts, and you'll definitely get a quality-made garment from them. I would advise caution going with some of the online "discount" kiltmakers if you don't have feedback from customers to guide you. Many of them will not build a kilt with the necessary internal structure, and your kilt will end up stretching, sagging, and/or falling apart after a while. Ask me how I know. With kilts, you definitely get what you pay for, and it's advisable to stick with a kiltmaker who has a good reputation here on this forum, and with whom you can personally discuss the details of your kilt (not just filling out an online order form).

Hey Tobus, have you had any experience with Scotweb? Their 7 yard and 8 yard traditional kilts look very appealing, and seem to be very popular around here and other places.

P.S. Thanks everyone for chiming in so far!! MikeC, your anecdote about using 8 yd 16-oz kilts makes me feel better about going that route, if that's what I do. Thanks!