Alpha Kilts and Utilikilts

[timseh]

I'm debating myself over what casual/modern kilt to get for myself next. I'm looking hard at both the Alpha Kilts and the Utilikilts. I was looking at the Amerikilts, but the more I look at them, the less I like the look of them. I'm trying to keep the price right around $150, so, even though they look nice, USA Kilts and Freedom Kilts are outside the range I'm in.

I'll be wearing it hiking, camping and casually around town when I might otherwise wear a pair of jeans or shorts. I could get a Stillwater wool kilt, which would no doubt be comfortable and look good, (I'm really happy with the 2 standards I have), but I don't think I want to deal with cleaning them if worn for camping and such.

I'm kind of torn between the Alpha, which I think looks cleaner and more kilt-like, and the Utilikilt, which is pretty much instantly recognizable. My biggest dilemma right now has to do with sizing. The UK has a "floating belt line", which I have yet to get a clear definition on... I'm guessing from what I'm reading that this means it doesn't actually snap down at the waist and pretty much must be worn with a belt (which is fine by me). The Alpha is pretty much fixed at the size you order, though they have a new model coming in a couple of weeks with an adjustable waist. I'm not sure what the price on that one will be.

As far as pricing goes, the UK is actually a bit less expensive (by about $10) if you're looking at the low end and do a true feature comparison. The EDINBURGH is the closest thing to the UK original.

If anyone can enlighten me on the "floating belt line" for the UK, I'd appreciate it.

I really wish there was a retailer around here where I could go try them on. It would make life so much easier... who knows, maybe there's a business opportunity for me there.

[dfmacliam]

A possibility is finding one on eBay, I picked up a survivor model (UK) for about half of what it cost new. It gives me a kilt I will beat around in for fishing, hiking, camping, ect without worrying about getting it messed up.

[Riverkilt]

Never had an Alpha. Have owned 15 Utilikilts. Outgrew them except the leather with the corset lacing that expanded with me.

My evolution of preference went from Utilikilts, Freedom Kilt cargo model, and RKilt leather to tartans and solid traditional cut (Freedom Kilt Dress Model, USA Kilts Saffron semi-trad)

Now, even as an olde fat man, I find myself missing the "knock around" function of the Utilikilt Survival II. If Utilikilts had been manning the phones last Saturday I'd have ordered a Mocha Survival II to fill that "gap" in my kilt wardrobe. With no one to talk to (I don't order kilts without talking to someone) the urge passed and now I think I may do okay without it. The leather RKilt and the brown leather Utilikilt can fill that bill. I mean hey, paid a LOT of money for both, might as well wear them.

Whats the point? The point is your tastes in kilts are going to change an evolve. Go ahead and buy a little of everything. Find out what you like. Find out what each kiltmaker's "style" is like. Best way compare is on your body.

And - expect the size will be a bit off for the first kilt, unless you're measured by the kiltmaker personally. You can adjust the sizing of your second kilt from there - maybe.. Not sure how Utilikilts sizing is today, but in the old days the actual measurement didn't always match the size tag sewn to the kilt.

Dive in! Its fun.

Ron

[DireStraitsFan]

Okay, now I see how the apron is a little bit wider, which is good. That is one sticking for me with my UK. It makes it less like a kilt. I'm not really interested in buying an Alpha Kilt as I am more a trad kilt guy, but I was just wondering how another company could get into such a narrow market with the exact (well, almost) same product. I guess more power to them.

[csbdr]

Even with the UK and narrower apron, people instantly recognise it as a kilt and say "cool kilt!!" I have yet to have anyone ask me why I am wearing skirt, unless they were under the age of 6 yo. I don't see it as an issue.

[ScottEPooh]

I love my UK Workman's like an old pair of jeans, comfortable, practical, can just throw it in the wash. While it may have been made to wear at "jeans waist", I have found it just as comfortable at true waist, as I have lost some weight. As Timseh guessed, the UK doesn't snap down at the waist, which allows for a little "play" in the size. I have not yet purchased an AlphaKilt, but I have been looking!!

[Monkey@Arms]

I can't help out with your question mainly because I have a few myself about these?

1. Are these type of kilts pretty popular? I'm curious as to how many of the rabble on here with traditional kilts actually have one of these and use them?

Love them (or hate them) Utilikilts are hugely popular. The company has only been in existence for less then a decade, and a quick google search indicated that in 2006 they sold 15,000 kilts. I would suspect sales have only increased since then

2. For those who do have one, do you tend to wear them more frequently than a normal kilt?

I own both traditionally styled tartan kilts and UKs. I definitely wear my UKs more frequently, but that's just me. I like pockets, they are as easy to maintain as a pair of dockers, I just snap'em on and I'm ready to go.

3. Does anyone ever get any sort of criticism from wearing one of these?

That has not been my personal experience. I've worn them anywhere I'd wear casual pants or shorts, and people have pretty uniformly recognized them as kilts, or even more specifically as Utilikilts. I noticed at the last Highland Games I attended in Northern California that UKs were being worn by a very large number of the attendees (myself included).

I'm kind of torn between the Alpha, which I think looks cleaner and more kilt-like, and the Utilikilt, which is pretty much instantly recognizable. My biggest dilemma right now has to do with sizing. The UK has a "floating belt line", which I have yet to get a clear definition on... I'm guessing from what I'm reading that this means it doesn't actually snap down at the waist and pretty much must be worn with a belt (which is fine by me).

If anyone can enlighten me on the "floating belt line" for the UK, I'd appreciate it.

Beware the claim of the floating waist line. In the old days there were no snaps at the waist of a UK except for on the Survival model. This meant you always needed to wear a belt, but gave more play at the waist. A few years back they changed that, and put snaps on all models but they did not change their ad copy. If this feature is important to you I would speak by phone to whom ever you a buying from to find out if the waist has snaps or not.

I have never seen an Alpha Kilt in the wild, so can't comment on construction. The advantage of the UK narrow apron, however, is the way it falls between you legs when you sit or engage in other activities. Its a lot easier to maintain your modesty without sacrificing comfort.

Best regards,

Jake

[TheBlueCow]

Beware the claim of the floating waist line. In the old days there were no snaps at the waist of a UK except for on the Survival model. This mean you always needed to wear a belt, but gave more play at the waist. A few years back they changed that, and put snaps on all models [i]but/I] they did not change their ad copy. If this feature is important to you I would speak by phone to whom ever you a buying from to find out if the waist has snaps or not.

I have never seen an Alpha Kilt in the wild, so can't comment on construction. The advantage of the UK narrow apron, however, is the way it falls between you legs when you sit or engage in other activities. Its a lot easier to maintain your modesty without sacrificing comfort.

Best regards,

Jake

The great thing about it is that if it does have waistband snaps, you can "create" a floating waistband by simply not buttoning them.

Also, I have heard (but again, do not have and can't confirm) that the wider apron of the Alpha Kilts still allows for it to easily fall between your legs - you just may have to open your legs wider for it to do so. Though, I will say I'm a bit skeptical of just how easily it will fall without some help (either from a sporran or by pushing it down with your hand).

[Makeitstop]

The great thing about it is that if it does have waistband snaps, you can "create" a floating waistband by simply not buttoning them.

Also, I have heard (but again, do not have and can't confirm) that the wider apron of the Alpha Kilts still allows for it to easily fall between your legs - you just may have to open your legs wider for it to do so. Though, I will say I'm a bit skeptical of just how easily it will fall without some help (either from a sporran or by pushing it down with your hand).

On an alpha, the pleats continue under the apron, so even if it didn't fall between your legs, they would. But since there is a total of ten layers of fabric (and possibly the contents of the hidden pocket) pulling it down, and it is still only 10 inches wide, it does pretty much just flop down on it's own.

[Mike in Dayton]

I have both an Alphakilt and a standard Utilikilt. The Utilikilt is more of a knock around go hiking type of kilt. I wear mine around the house a lot. Utilikilts are worn at the pants waist where the Alphakilt is at the natural waist. My Alphakilt model is the one with box pleats. For me the Alphakilt is a much nicer kilt. The material is also Teflon coated so it resists stains and I think this helps to keep the wrinkles out. By the way, if you have kilt with Teflon coating never wash it with fabric softener. That will strip the Teflon coating off.

My Utilikilt pleats curl like crazy which I don’t care for. Since the Alpha is a box pleat I can not compare the two for pleat curl as it would not be a knife pleat to knife pleat comparison.

As someone pointed out the Alphakilt is pleated in the front under the apron. This adds material and weight to the front to make up for the contemporary style of kilt that is normally not worn with a Sporran.

I have received a few good comments from others when wearing the Alphakilt but never when wearing the Utilikilt.

I have included pictures of my Alphakilt.

Mike