Kilt hose observations

[Highland Logan]

...ghille shoes which are always cheap...

I would disagree with ghilles being cheap. I have a pair of black Lochcarron ghillies, they warn't cheap, and are a very nice shoe. To say that all ghillies are cheap, would be the same as saying all oxfords are cheap. You are picking a type of shoe rather than a manufacturer. And as to hose once again, all Lochcarron except for my "tartan" hose.

Frank

[Chef]

I think what Nanook meant was that there are a lot of cheap ghillies out there and they seem to be what you see most often.

[fluter]

There are times when I like cheap, thin hose. When it's 90 degrees out, they're much, much cooler.

This comes down (in part) to personal preference. Some folks can't seem to stand anything on their calves when it's hot. I mind it less than some of my cousins. I also grew up in South Carolina.

I will state flatly that wool is good in summer for all of the same reasons that wool is good in the winter. It insulates wonderfully. It breathes, and it wicks extremely well. It has "loft" and does not compress under/around the feet.

In real hot weather, my feet will be most comfortable in fairly substantial wool socks. High quality synthetics can be good, but not too thin, please! or you'll give up some of their benefits. And speak to me not of cotton (yuck) socks, which hardly wick; but just get soggy and compressed.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled preconceptions about wool.

[Jack Daw]

In real hot weather, my feet will be most comfortable in fairly substantial wool socks.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled preconceptions about wool.

I can agree with you. I live in the worst of the heat and humidy of Houston, TX, and have not wavered in wearing my woolen hose. I do not find them uncomfortable at all.

[Nanook]

I would disagree with ghilles being cheap. I have a pair of black Lochcarron ghillies, they warn't cheap, and are a very nice shoe.

Compared to?

To say that all ghillies are cheap, would be the same as saying all oxfords are cheap.

While there are cheap oxfords there are also some very nice ones available. I, however, know of no-one making really good quality ghillie brogues. Thistle's shoes are among the best and their best I'd not consider a good shoe by the scale I use to judge shoes by. Although their best is "Goodyear welted" the workmanship seems to cry out "sub-continent" and the leathers corrected-grain--- on the other hand I know of no shoe in that price class that I'd consider good either.

P.S.: To my knowledge Lochcarron does not make shoes--- sourced from other companies like many of the items they sell under the brand.

[Chef]

For really hot weather where I need to be dressy (i.e. hose pulled up) I like wicking sock liners and thin hose. It does a great job of keeping you dry and comfortable.

[Nanook]

I think what Nanook meant was that there are a lot of cheap ghillies out there and they seem to be what you see most often.

I won't even talk about those plastic soled things. They are, however common, hardy more than an item for fancy dress (or in small sizes as beginner's shoes for Irish dance).

[beloitpiper]

The overwhelming majority (save those wearing ghille shoes which are always cheap and marching bands which tend to wear the piper's equivalent of training shoes) of those wearing a fine handsewn Scottish kilt bottom it off with cheap scuffed up ill-fitting shoes.

I wear all black Puma's (tennis shoes) with my pipe band. When marching, I have to take care of my feet, because during them summer I'm marching about 2 parades every weekend. If I wore anything else, I'd have blisters the size of Ben Lomond! Celtic feet, don't you know...

[string]

I think that in most cases there is more than one side to the issue. Is it better to buy inexpensive accessories or to not have any at all. Many people simply don't have the extra pennies to invest in a special pair of shoes or on really nice hose.

[BoldHighlander]

While there are cheap oxfords there are also some very nice ones available. I, however, know of no-one making really good quality ghillie brogues.

Perhaps these?
http://www.celticempire.com/Merchant..._Code=footwear