Wearing a Sporran

[Shardz]

Howdy.

I recently bought a rather nice kilt (Gordon clan tartan) from Stillwater Kilts. I shirked buying a sporran until just a week ago, and it arrived yesterday.

Basically, I'm confused as to how I'm supposed to go about wearing it. I've got two chains with a short bit of a belt on one and a buckle + belt on the other. I can see how I attach them to each other, and how they attach to the sporran, but I'm confused about how it's supposed to attach to *me*. Do I feed it through the two loops for my belt on my kilt, through the two movable loops on my belt, or do I just let it sit on my hips (which will probably end poorly)? Also, do I put it under my belt so as to cover up the buckle bit?

I also have a leather strap, which I kinda figured out, but I have the same questions about where I'm supposed to attach it. (Also, when I do, the sporran's top kind of tilts forward, which might just be a function of the leather not being 'broken in', but I don't know if that's something bad I'm supposed to try to fix or not.)

You'll have to excuse what's probably a silly question, but I couldn't really find anything informative searching through these forums, or google in general.

[Nighthawk]

Hey there! Welcome to the board!

There are no silly questions. We all started at the beginning, just like you. The strap/chain can certainly go through the belt loops, and I infact find that to be preferable. The sporran stays in place better than way. As to placement on your hips, the rule of thumb that I use is- 1- can I reach it easily enough for it to be practicle and useful? If the answer is no, then it's too low. 2- Ifa stiff breeze blows up, will the sporran keep my crotch covered? If the answer is no, then it's too high.

[davedove]

Howdy.

I recently bought a rather nice kilt (Gordon clan tartan) from Stillwater Kilts. I shirked buying a sporran until just a week ago, and it arrived yesterday.

Basically, I'm confused as to how I'm supposed to go about wearing it. I've got two chains with a short bit of a belt on one and a buckle + belt on the other. I can see how I attach them to each other, and how they attach to the sporran, but I'm confused about how it's supposed to attach to *me*. Do I feed it through the two loops for my belt on my kilt, through the two movable loops on my belt, or do I just let it sit on my hips (which will probably end poorly)? Also, do I put it under my belt so as to cover up the buckle bit?

I also have a leather strap, which I kinda figured out, but I have the same questions about where I'm supposed to attach it. (Also, when I do, the sporran's top kind of tilts forward, which might just be a function of the leather not being 'broken in', but I don't know if that's something bad I'm supposed to try to fix or not.)

You'll have to excuse what's probably a silly question, but I couldn't really find anything informative searching through these forums, or google in general.

Well, the not so simple answer is whatever works best for you.

If your kilt has the loops on the back, those are really supposed to be used for the sporran strap, not the belt, although many do put the belt through as well.

Some kilts do not even have these loops, so you just wear the strap on your hips.

I'm not sure what the loops on your belt are, but I can say with a lot of confidence that they are not for your sporran strap. They are probably used for adjusting the belt.

You're going to find that a lot of the "rules" for kilt wearing are really just guidelines, as the kilt police will never be able to find you to write a citation.

[ccga3359]

Howdy.

I recently bought a rather nice kilt (Gordon clan tartan) from Stillwater Kilts. I shirked buying a sporran until just a week ago, and it arrived yesterday.

Basically, I'm confused as to how I'm supposed to go about wearing it. I've got two chains with a short bit of a belt on one and a buckle + belt on the other. I can see how I attach them to each other, and how they attach to the sporran, but I'm confused about how it's supposed to attach to *me*. Do I feed it through the two loops for my belt on my kilt, through the two movable loops on my belt, or do I just let it sit on my hips (which will probably end poorly)? Also, do I put it under my belt so as to cover up the buckle bit?

I also have a leather strap, which I kinda figured out, but I have the same questions about where I'm supposed to attach it. (Also, when I do, the sporran's top kind of tilts forward, which might just be a function of the leather not being 'broken in', but I don't know if that's something bad I'm supposed to try to fix or not.)

You'll have to excuse what's probably a silly question, but I couldn't really find anything informative searching through these forums, or google in general.

The loops on the back of your kilt are actually for the sporran belt and not the other belt. Having said this using these loops prevents you from sliding the sporran over to your hip when answering nature's call. Now neither my waist belt or sporran belt go through loops, in fact i tend to omit these loops when I have my kilts made. Your hips will hold up your sporran, if you're still concerned you can always have the belt rest on your kilt straps. You will find that chains can rapidly wear out your kilt apron and belts are better. For a fancier look in leather consider a braided leather sporran belt from RKilts. Welcome to Xmarks, feel free to pop on over to post on the newby forum and introduce yourself.

[Shardz]

Okay, thanks to all 3 of you!

My final unanswered question is: should the kilt belt cover up the sporran belt? Does it even matter?

I guess that was two.

[ardchoille]

As to placement on your hips, the rule of thumb that I use is- 1- can I reach it easily enough for it to be practicle and useful? If the answer is no, then it's too low. 2- Ifa stiff breeze blows up, will the sporran keep my crotch covered? If the answer is no, then it's too high.

This is exactly what I follow, but I don't use the belt loops.. I just let the strap sit on my hips. I'm learning to make my own kilts and I'm omitting the belt loops.

My final unanswered question is: should the kilt belt cover up the sporran belt? Does it even matter?
I guess that was two.

I don't think it really matters.

As others have said, the chain will wear out the kilt fabric over time so you might want to use a full leather sporran strap instead. I have found that you can make sporran straps out of almost anything (dog leash, old purse straps, etc.) and I usually go to a leather store and buy the things I need to make my own. Check out this thread showing how I added trigger snaps.

Welcome to the family

[Tim Little]

It's great to have another Bay Stater on board! What part of the state to you hail from?

As for sporran wear, I'd second (third? fourth?) the advice given above. Personally, I wear my sporran strap resting loose on my hips rather than through the belt loops.

[ccga3359]

Okay, thanks to all 3 of you!

My final unanswered question is: should the kilt belt cover up the sporran belt? Does it even matter?

I guess that was two.

I dont cover it it will add bulk and can dig into my lower back. Above or below your belt, doesn't matter. As for wearing the sporran I tend to it higher (top third of the apron) high enough that the sporran doesn't smack into my 'business' on a brisk walk. Another option is to get a contemporary kilt with pockets and do away with the sporran.

[Shardz]

I'm a bit thin, and when I wear it it's a bit low from what I've seen in most pictures, but it's rather comfortable and easily reachable, so that's what I'm going to go with. I'll probably take a picture today when I can find my camera (I'm in the process of moving, so it's a bit of an awkward time.)

Thanks again!

[Tim Little]

You could always take an awl or a leather punch to add another hole to the strap, shortening the length a bit so that the sporran hangs at a "proper" level; I'm on the trim side myself and have had to do this to mine.

Then again, if you're good with the way things hang now, so be it.