My Lifestyle and buying my first kilt

[McMurdo]

Here is my Black Stewart USA Kilt Semi-Traditional model






One thing you may want to talk to Rocky about is the selvedge edge, for example my Black Stewart came with a fringe edge, however a different edge is available on some tartans I believe, but best to talk to Rocky about it.

[svc40bt]

If you search the forums you will be able to find numerous pictures of USA Kilts, but here is mine.

USA Kilts Semi-Traditional, pleated to the set, in Hunting MacLeod (MacLeod of Harris)
As with McMurdo's mine has the fringed selvege

The pleats


The obligatory one foot raised to show the pleats shot



On a short hike

[camellid]

Thanks for the pics. Thoes kilts look great on you all. That is what I am looking for, I think. Are the pretty tough for day to day wear?

[Southern Breeze]

I recommend the USAKs semi trads as well. I've not had mine long, but it's holding up great. Rocky's workmanship is first rate.
Here's a few pics - it's the Clergy (Clarke) Tartan.

[Mael Coluim]

USA seems to be the one to get one from. Just about all of the post have said something about them. They are out of Pa. right? Does any one have a pic of there usa kilt that they got from there? I would like to know if anyone has had any problems from them to?

Not some of the best photos, but here’s my Stewart Black from USA Kilts. You can’t go wrong in getting a kilt from Rocky!

[camellid]

Thoes pics look great. I am just sitting here thinking about firing the my bus and hooking up the trailer tomarrow and heading the rockys in the morning. I am really looking forward to getting my first kilt. Your alls pics just made it look great. That is perfect for what i am looking for. I left a message for Rocky on the phone and I will see what he has to say about me coming to his shop this week. When he gets done wiht my kilt I will post some pic of it on here for you all. Thanks again to you all for all the info and helping me make the the right choice. Thanks Todd

[Carolina Kiltman]

At 6'4" your proportions become more of a problem. As "Scotty" Thompson says in his book "So you're going to wear the kilt" it is better to have a kilt too short rather than too long.

I am fairly short in the torso, (for my height) so I take a kilt longer than the usual off the peg 24" (I am 6'5"). If your inseam is between 32 & 33" then the 24" kilt would probably be OK.

I would go with one of Rocky's (USA Kilts) which will be long enough and of you get the PV will be washable.

[English Bloke]

The previous responses are all good and any of the X Marks sponsors mentioned above should be able to answer any questions you have if you email them from the contact details on their websites.

This Bloke Scotweb is also an X Marks Sponsor and makes PV (machine washable) Kilts to order (as well as wool kilts) but if you click the link to the site from the banner on the top right of this web page there is a 10% discount to X Marks members.

If you want an affordable, military style (higher rise) wool kilt (might not suit your purpose but by all accounts they are superb kilts), have a look at the WPG
What Price Glory Website for reproduction British Military Kilts which would be within your budget. These are heavy duty wool kilts but can be hand washed if you are careful. Do a search here on X Marks for relevant threads on handwashing wool kilts.

This Guy bobilishious also makes excellent value wool kilts out of ebay that are ready made OR made to order. Worth checking back frequently as his range changes often so if you don't see one that takes your fancy now, next week might be different. I've just won an auction for one of his so I'm in 'wait' mode at the moment.

Hope you find what you're looking for.

[Nighthawk]

USA seems to be the one to get one from. Just about all of the post have said something about them. They are out of Pa. right? Does any one have a pic of there usa kilt that they got from there? I would like to know if anyone has had any problems from them to?

The only problem I have run into with USAK is my own personal lack of funds... I have dealt with them on numerous occasions and will continue to do so. I almost have enough money saved to get myself two more of their kilts, and will be ordering at the end of this month. I want to get one casual and one more semi trad- for the time being. Last year about this time, I bought one USAK and one Sport Kilt. I wish I had spent the SK money on a second USAK instead. They can't be beat, especially for the price.

[fluter]

Hi Todd,

Welcome back! You can't go far wrong with a USA Kilt (I have 4). If you want something really quickly, see what Rocky has in "off the rack" casuals. They are washable but do NOT use fabric softener because of the anti-stain coating. For a tartan, consider one of the "universal" tartans. I'm getting very fond of the Holyrood, which USAK carries, and the American Heritage (designed by Rocky) is a knock-out.

HOWEVER the fabric is so extremely nice, that I would not want to get engine oil on one of my semi-trads & roll around in the dirt; if you know what I mean. For that application I would pick the black canvas kilt from STM (as someone mentioned), or the X-Kilt I made myself from inexpensive cotton fabric. When you mentioned some of those activities, I thought of Utilikilt and Amerikilt. The canvas has a more traditional style than those utility kilt styles, which you may find to your liking.

My canvas kilt is fairly bullet-proof. Its down side is off-the-rack measurements. The hips are about 10 or 15 percent bigger than the waist, so it seems made for a fairly slender shape. I'm closer to 20 percent, so I wear it a notch looser & a little lower. I believe that its standard length is 22.5 inches? You may need a longer one, if so check to see if custom sizing is available. For really getting dirty, I think the black or the woodland camo would be ideal.

Hope this helps!

The black canvas:

USAK semi-trad in Wallace tartan: