Three straps vs two straps

[The Barry]

My tank also only has two straps, my SWKs and my other casual have three.

From what I can ascertain, there's not a lot of function (maybe a bit of keeping the apron tidy) to the third strap. I love my tank with the two straps.

[OC Richard]

I'm also a two-strap guy.

All the kilts made for me over the years only have two.

When I've played in pipe bands I've removed the third strap from the band-issue kilt.

Rather than making the front apron tidy, I feel it does the reverse, making it tend to hang crooked or with wrinkles. Also the kilt is more comfortable to wear, I feel, with just two straps.

I wonder where the third strap originated, and why.

For my kilts: two straps, no belt loops.

[Jack Daw]

Well, I have a few kilts with two straps and a few with three.

My first two kilts had only two straps and I became very used to this. But, I have discovered that three straps are more comfortable for me around the waist. I've noticed that my two-strapper kilts tend to slip down a bit and I'm constanty adjusting them, if I'm not wearing a belt. I'm a mid-knee kilt wearer, so it doesn't take much for the kilt to look a bit too long if it slips down.

[Shuteye]

I received my first traditional kilt for Christmas of 2009. It was a Manley Richardson 16 oz casual 5 yard in my family's tartan ordered from Scottweb. I specifically requested that it be tailored to sit 2 inches below the navel in a more modern mode of wear. I was surprised when it arrived with only 2 straps. I attributed this to the low cut request, as the specific number of straps had not been discussed.

Long and short, it fits me to a "T". I recently spent 10 hours in this kilt the day before Christmas eve at work, the longest and most active wearing of it to date. I was totally comfortable working with patients (I am a physical therapist), wearing a 2 1/4 inch belt and sporran with leather strap. Of course everyone was in a festive mood! As far as my body type, I'm lean (as one of my cowboy patients once told me "You look like a starving coyote" - but that is an exageration). After reading this thread I now feel very good about it being "just" a two strap kilt.

[BoldHighlander]

I'm a two strap guy too.

[kc8ufv]

Hmmm... my kilts are strapless, though, they do have about 8 snaps.... The x-kilts I'm making don't have velcro. I intend to use snaps.

[Gingerpose]

My kilt must be rare then - it only has one strap at either side! Made here in Aberdeen by Alex Scott & Co. The number of straps was never mentioned in the ordering, nor did it ever occur to me to wonder about the number of straps til I read this thread.
In any case, the kilt sits nicely and has as yet never fallen off, so I guess the straps are doing their job just fine

Ainslie

[eagle43172]

I have a kilt with three straps, but with two on the left. I find that this gives better adjustment to body but doesn't mess with the hang of the front apron. This was a concious decision when I made the kilt and I've been happy with it since. I've been told some kilt makere will do this if asked. Any truth?

[azwildcat96]

My kilt must be rare then - it only has one strap at either side!

Yes...one on each side is equal to two...versus two on one side and only one on the other which would equal three...

Not rare...normal!

[T-Bone]

The ex-Black Watch of Canada kilt (made by Thomas Gordon & Sons in Glasgow) I owned when I was a young lad of 18 had three straps, and that wasn't Glasgow Kentucky, Montana or Nova Scotia. <grin>

T.

My grandfather's Thos. Gordon & Sons Fraser kilt circa 1950 has three straps as well.
Maybe we are on to something.

T