SWK Economy and Thrifty kilts

[SteveB]

PS, I am also a DKM fan. Scruffy's kilts are from Rocky of USA Kilts.

[McFarkus]

I bought an SWK Thrifty in Irish National just for St. Pat's this year ($30). I figured at that price if someone spilled beer on it or worse, it wouldn't matter. I got a lot of compliments on it.

The pleats are not very deep. But the weight is fine and the velcro closures worked fine as well. With a wide belt and a sporran, no one noticed that there were no buckles. So for a "beater" kilt, I think it's a good choice.

[IrishGodfather]

No they're not. They handle the wind a lot better, as well. I have been wearing min a lot lately, as Colorado is starting to get hot. They're lightweight, but they do stand up to the wind fairly well, as long as you have a nice heavy pin on the front. I have a brass Irish Brigade pin from my trip to Antietem last summer which works like a charm. And truth be told, I think the SWK thrifty's are better values than Sport Kilts. I was really unhappy with my SK. I'd be willing to pay $40 or maybe $50 for an SK, but $120 for what I got? I will continue to buy their accessories, but I'll not buy another of their kilts, especially when I can get a USA Kilt for the same price, or 4 (FOUR!!) SWK Thrifty's for the same price! So I say, get yourself a few SWK's. They're excellent, especially for the price. You can't beat them.

Hey thanks for the advice, and I agree that you could buy a USA Kilt for as much as a Sport Kilt, but I don't think yall give SportKilts enough credit, I like how easy they are, and they may not look like the traditional kilt, but I love alot of the patterns they have that USAK dosen't, which is why I bought a SportKilt Irisher, it was just unique and gorgeous.

Also, are the pleats sewn down on a SWK Economy????

[Tattoo Bradley]

Hey thanks for the advice, and I agree that you could buy a USA Kilt for as much as a Sport Kilt, but I don't think yall give SportKilts enough credit, I like how easy they are, and they may not look like the traditional kilt, but I love alot of the patterns they have that USAK dosen't, which is why I bought a SportKilt Irisher, it was just unique and gorgeous.

Also, are the pleats sewn down on a SWK Economy????

Unless they've changed, the pleats are not sewn down on an SWK economy model.

As far as the USAKs: the material is PolyViscose (a dense, tight weave, with excellent pleat holding quality,) not Poly/Cotton like the Sportkilts. There is no elastic in the waist on a USAK. A USAK is custom made to fit your measurements. It's all in what you want. But, these are some of the things to keep in mind when deciding.

[Minnow]

Seriously, I can't stress enough how much bang you get for your buck if you buy anything from stillwater. The thrifty kilts are really, really nice. Especially when you consider the price. I have two thrifty kilts and I couldn't be happier, I think I like them more than my sport kilt.

-Minnow

[Galb]

The standard behaves like a kilt, is a kilt of acrylic fabric, sewn down to the fell, with decent pleat depth and swing, and holds up very well in the wind along the Atlantic coast. BTW, when you do order from Jerry, prepare to run for the door within seconds of hitting the "submit" button. His service is very fast.

I second this. I bought my second kilt from Jerry and it was a Black Watch Standard. It is beautiful, nice and comfortable, with nice deep pleats and many of them. My next kilt will be another standard from him, and I believe the Irish National Tartan. I really like the looks of it.

My only concern with Stillwater is the fact that there really aren't that many tartans available. That's it. I am sure he is always looking to expand his wares, so it is a minor concern.

Oh, another nice bonus with Jerry, if you order a standard (only $80 and well worth every penny) you get free flashes.

As for the shipping, it is no joke. This man must have magical carrier unladen swallows (even with laden with a kilt) because I have never seen times like he has between the time you press "SUBMIT" and the arrival at your doorstep.

EDIT: Just a quick note on the Black Watch Tartan....it changes colors. Yes, you read that right. It really is a very nice tartan that is not loud and a bit subdued. In the daylight, you see the green, the black, and the blue comes out beautifully. But step into subdued lighting, or at night, and that blue disappears and looks black. It's a nice camouflage effect, which comes in handy when you are out hunting haggis. ;)

[Nighthawk]

Hey thanks for the advice, and I agree that you could buy a USA Kilt for as much as a Sport Kilt, but I don't think yall give SportKilts enough credit, I like how easy they are, and they may not look like the traditional kilt, but I love alot of the patterns they have that USAK dosen't, which is why I bought a SportKilt Irisher, it was just unique and gorgeous.

Also, are the pleats sewn down on a SWK Economy????

I wrote that review as I was sitting in my SK, actually. I bought a The Works kilt for $120. The leather is cheap and thin, the buckles are made so that at their max, they only fit if you're the minumum size of the kilt, so on me, the buckles just hang useless. The pleats are extremely shallow and seem haphazard. Pleated to the gather, I believe it's called. For $120, I expected a whole lot more, which is why I gave it the review I did. My wife has two SK skirts, and those are beautiful- I would buy more of those for her in a heartbeat- but not another kilt, regardless of how many cool tartans they may have. BUT- I do have to give them props on their customer service, and their accessories are great. I love their flashes, and my noggin wrap is awesome. I'll be buying more of those for sure

[Finn]

I have had a negative kilt experience with SK, but am willing to try them for other items- all mentioned on this site. My experience is similiar to Nighthawk's, but I didn't spend quite as much. Had to have a seamstress make some changes.
I think that my next will likely be the SWK Standard in Weathered McKenzie. I'll have to have that hemmed.

[Nighthawk]

I have had a negative kilt experience with SK, but am willing to try them for other items- all mentioned on this site. My experience is similiar to Nighthawk's, but I didn't spend quite as much. Had to have a seamstress make some changes.
I think that my next will likely be the SWK Standard in Weathered McKenzie. I'll have to have that hemmed.

Man, I LOVE my MacKenzie. It's even good for my reenactment group. I just need to get a long plaid- which SWK are out of...

[ChromeScholar]

SWK Standard in Weathered McKenzie.

Excellent choice. I have one, and it's great.