Most comfortable kilt

[Marshal Moroni]

Bricekolob,

I work with a limited budget so my kilts are on the inexpensive end of the scale.
SWK - Economy (very light and comfy, great for hanging around the house, I don't usually wear it out, except the occasional exercise walk)
SWK - Standard (heavier acrylic, still very soft and comfortable acrylic)
SWK - Heavyweight Wool (quite comfortable not quite as soft a hand as the acrylic, but a bit sturdier feeling)
The Frugal Corner - "16 oz. Acrylic - feels a bit stiffer than the SWK standard Acrylic, not as substantial as the heavyweight wool)

I find all of these quite comfortable and am happy to wear any of them all day long.

Hope this helps, Happy Kilting,

Marshal Moroni

[bricelythgoe]

Bricekolob,

I work with a limited budget so my kilts are on the inexpensive end of the scale.
SWK - Economy (very light and comfy, great for hanging around the house, I don't usually wear it out, except the occasional exercise walk)
SWK - Standard (heavier acrylic, still very soft and comfortable acrylic)
SWK - Heavyweight Wool (quite comfortable not quite as soft a hand as the acrylic, but a bit sturdier feeling)
The Frugal Corner - "16 oz. Acrylic - feels a bit stiffer than the SWK standard Acrylic, not as substantial as the heavyweight wool)

I find all of these quite comfortable and am happy to wear any of them all day long.

Hope this helps, Happy Kilting,

Marshal Moroni

Thanks for the advice. SWK seems to be what most people like. The only problem I have with them is their limited selection of tartans. I just have a hard time choosing one that I like.

Also, I like the scripture. One of my favorite stories.

[Rex_Tremende]

I think the notion of comfort is relative - it depends on the preferences of the wearer what the wearer is doing in the kilt. I have a second-hand traditional 16 oz. wool kilt that is not all that comfortable for various reasons, but I have also a made-to-my-measurements 16 oz. wool kilt that I could sleep in if I didn't care about wrinkles it is so comfortable. I had two, but am now down to one, SWK, neither of which I will ever wear again. They were too long, too poorly made, and the performance of the fabric as a pleated kilt bore no resemblance to the real thing. I was uncomfortable just putting them on. When I mow the lawn, my cheap-o Boulder model kilt from I forget where in lightweight cotton with not so many pleats and a velcro closure is ideal for the task, and I could wear it for hours, but I'd be uncomfortable wearing in it public for anything much longer than a fill-up at the gas station. The USA casual kilt I got from Rocky in PV is ideal for summer - it also has a velcro closure and is lightweight, but it looks and swings like a kilt should and resists wrinkles. I could wear that all day, and I would choose a USA kilt over a Stillwater any day.

So my point is that your needs may vary, and so may your most comfortable kilt.

Regards,
Rex.

[bricelythgoe]

I have been leaning towards a USA kilt. They have a universal kilt called CLADISH that is almost the exact colors of the middle school where I work. I think that is what I am looking for. I am a Spanish teacher and I am constantly moving around the room talking to different students. It seems that would work well for that. Thanks for the advice.

[Ian.MacAllan]

My most comfortable kilts:
Hot weather: 1) Sportkilt Hiker 2) Amerikilt (it's short)
Cold weather: 1) SWK Heavyweight 2) SWK Standard
Bitterly cold weather: 1) WPG Gordon
Dress: 1) USAKilts Premium 2) Burnett's & Struth Casual
Knockabout: 1) SWK Thrifty

I credit the advice I got on XMarks for my having no uncomfortable kilts.

Matt's box pleat is absent because I haven't received it yet.

.

[Tartan Hiker]

Well, if you are hoping to find a kilt, any kilt, that is as comfortable to wear as an old pair of broken-in jeans, you're probably wasting your time. No matter what fabric you choose, you will probably always be aware of where your pleats are, fussing with the apron, watching out for the kilt pin which tried to snag itself on your esk drawer, hitching up the waist or the belt or both, sweeping your pleats again 'cause you didn't get it just right the first time, fussing with your sporran strap, tugging at your waistband cause it's cutting into your ribs when you sit.....

The honest truth is that a kilt is just never going to be as worry free or as comfortable as a pair of well worn trousers in an office situation, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting or moving about in confined spaces. I've tried to convince myself that this isn't true, but to no avail.

Don't get me wrong...I love to wear my kilts as often as I can, but I am also realistic in my expectations. I'll never hike in trousers again (unless I'm using a chain saw or wading through stinging nettles), because I believe that in that activity, a kilt is more comfortable. I teach an evening class at the community college, in a kilt unless we are dissecting or doing some other messy lab. I love to wear my kilt to church, to the pub, and strolling about the wonderful town of Asheville. But sitting at a desk and bustling about in an office all day? I don't think so.

If I were to wear one to the office, I'd choose PV for sure. A 5-yard casual knife pleat. I'd leave the kilt pin at home, or in the desk drawer until quitting time, likewise with the sporran. I'd order it from Steve at Freedom Kilts and get a "low rise" cut that would fit much more like that pair of jeans.

[Kiltboy]

Go with any SWK. Very affordable and shipping is near-instant. For comfort, I love the acrylic standards. Easy to care for, comfy, and look great without too much care of the pleats

[bricelythgoe]

Well, if you are hoping to find a kilt, any kilt, that is as comfortable to wear as an old pair of broken-in jeans, you're probably wasting your time. No matter what fabric you choose, you will probably always be aware of where your pleats are, fussing with the apron, watching out for the kilt pin which tried to snag itself on your esk drawer, hitching up the waist or the belt or both, sweeping your pleats again 'cause you didn't get it just right the first time, fussing with your sporran strap, tugging at your waistband cause it's cutting into your ribs when you sit......

You just said exactly as I felt! I thought I was the only one that felt that way. I really thought it was the kilt I bought or I was just not use to wearing one or something like that. I appreciate all the advice. It was exactly what I have been looking for. I will look at those freedom kilts. Although I might wait for some highland games so I can see some of them in person. I don't know. You have been really helpful. Thanks.

[Tartan Hiker]

I will look at those freedom kilts. Although I might wait for some highland games so I can see some of them in person.

I don't know how many games events Steve actually goes to. To see the Freedom in action, go to his web site. He's a member and sponsor of XMarks, and his casual kilts are the best.

Here's a direct link to the page where he describes the fit he will build into your kilt. There's even a video.
http://www.freedomkilts.com/fit.php?val=video

[Howard Clark]

Well, if you are hoping to find a kilt, any kilt, that is as comfortable to wear as an old pair of broken-in jeans, you're probably wasting your time. No matter what fabric you choose, you will probably always be aware of where your pleats are, fussing with the apron, watching out for the kilt pin which tried to snag itself on your esk drawer, hitching up the waist or the belt or both, sweeping your pleats again 'cause you didn't get it just right the first time, fussing with your sporran strap, tugging at your waistband cause it's cutting into your ribs when you sit.....

While that may be true for some (most even), I respectfully disagree.

There is no pair of trousers that is as comfortable as any of my kilts that fit right. And the psychologically uncomfortable symptoms that you describe go away over time, with wearing a kilt in more places and situations. Of course I do not work in an office, and likely never will. Though I do attend meetings with other folk in offices from time to time.

And it has been noted more than once that my opinion is far from "normal".