USA kilts vs. Celtic Croft kilts

**Shriner** · 26th December 07, 11:14 PM

I am thinking about purchasing a new kilt. I have many kilts from Sport Kilts (3), Stillwater Kilts (2), Frugal Corner (10) and my band tank. But I do not own a family tartan kilt. I want a MacKay modern blue but they are to expensive. So I am thinking about a kilt from USA kilt their casual in MacKay modern for $120.00 or from Celtic Croft economy kilt in MacKay modern for $119.00

Can someone give me a comparisons between the two.

John

**Panache** · 27th December 07, 09:35 AM

John,

Of all my kilts there is only one that I have discarded. It was a Celtic Croft Economy kilt in their wool homespun Black Watch. It was my first traditionally styled kilt and I thought it was really great until I had my SWK Standard and Heavyweight to compare it to. Unless their Economy Kilts have drastically improved in the last two years I think you would find the material too light, the buckles and leather too flimsy, and the construction not anywhere near the standards of Stillwater.

I buy from the Celtic Croft fairly regularly and recommend them for all manner of accessories and especially their range of nice yet affordable jewelry (I have some really nice pieeces from them). Ron (Riverkilt) has a "tank" from them that is first rate. I believe that their economy line of kilts are best suited for someone needing a kilt in a particular tartan for very light use, not daily wear. We at XMTS are rather "in the know" about kilts and I don't think that this line is going to stand up to comparison with other kilts in our various collections.

I have a USA Kilt Semi-Traditional and am very pleased with it. I highly recomend Rocky and Kelly's work. I also think that you should hold off a bit and get a semi-tradional instead of a casual. I strongly believe it's worth the extra money.

Cheers

Jamie

**Alan H** · 27th December 07, 09:46 AM

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.

**keepoffgrass** · 27th December 07, 09:54 AM

I don't have a Celtic Croft kilt, but I do have two USA kilts and just got my fiancee one of thier kilted skirts for Christmas. I have a casual model and a semi-trad. They're both great, and I wear them all the time, The casual was the first kilt I got from them, and its great. The Quality is outstanding, the quatlitly is outstanding on all three kilts as a matter of fact. However in retrospect I wish I would have forked over the extra cash for the semi-trad. The semi-trads are great, they are a giant step up from the casual model. When you strap it on, it looksand feels much more like a "real" kilt, and the price is quiet reasonable.

I have one FG kilt, in the Clark tartan, it was my first acrylic kilt, I will never ever buy another acrylic kilt, I absolutely hate the way it feels on, I think Ive worn it twice. Its just not for me.. The PV kilts however , are much much much nicer than acrylic. Theyre light and strong, the look and feel nice, the swish is outstanding, and in my opinion they are far more presentable. You could wear a USA kilt semi-trad anywhere, formal or casual.

**McMurdo** · 27th December 07, 10:05 AM

I don't have a Celtic Croft kilt, but I do have one Semi-Trad. from USA Kilts. If it were me I would go for the USA Kilt, they are a well made product, and I am sure you as a regular kilt wearer would appreciate the craftsmanship that go into them. For that reason I think you would do well to go for the Semi-Trad. rather than the Casual, unless of course you are going to use it for next years games circuit. From what you said though I think you are looking for a kilt to wear to a myriad of different events, and as you have a few sport kilts for throwing I would say go for the USA Kilt.

**Galician** · 27th December 07, 10:32 AM

This touches on a question I've had. Looking at the USAK website, I really can't see a difference between the casual and the semi-trad, other than the latter is handsewn (which I don't dismiss).

But is it the same fabric for both styles? same weight?

**Panache** · 27th December 07, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Galician

This touches on a question I've had. Looking at the USAK website, I really can't see a difference between the casual and the semi-trad, other than the latter is handsewn (which I don't dismiss).

But is it the same fabric for both styles? same weight?

Gallician,

The semi-traditional kilts have a higher rise, more material (therefore more and smaller pleats), wider belt/sporran loops, and leather straps and buckles.

The casuals are meant to be worn lower on the hips, have less material, smaller belt loops, and use a velcro closure system.

I am fairly certain that both are machine sewn.

Cheers

Jamie

**Galician** · 27th December 07, 10:42 AM

Ah, thanks, Jamie. Yes, I just got a casual, and I had wondered what it would have been like if I had gone for the semi. Well, something good to knock around in, I'm sure.

**Panache** · 27th December 07, 10:46 AM

I'm not knocking USA Casuals, I personally like the higher rise. Frankly the velcro closure would be great for travelling (no buckles to set off metal detectors). Hmmmm perhaps Rocky needs to add a "Traveller" model to his line up. The same ammount of material and the velcro closure as a casual with a traditional rise and wide belt loops.

Cheers

Jamie

**Galician** · 27th December 07, 11:01 AM

That is a very good idea!

If I were to travel, especially fly, however, my one complaint with the velcro is that the ones on mine did not line up well. There's contact for only 50% of the strip.

I'm sure that this differs with the size of the kilt, but I'm not sure that it would hold up on its own for the kind of stress put on it for someone of my girth.