Waist fitting / comfort with heavyweight?

**DubintheDam** · 13th March 11, 01:42 PM

I have a heavyweight kilt, I love the quality and swirl, but I can't say I find it overly comfortable, simply because of the shear weight. I've lost a few pounds over the past year...Hooorah! But this means it's a little loose. I had the buckles altered before, and I may have them moved another two inches.

I find the widely available kilt belt system pretty bad (the changeable rectangle buckle system), this weekend I just switched to a regular belt which helped a lot.

My kilt has a high rise drop at a 40" waist and 40" seat, these days I'm closer to 38". Perhaps the fact that my seat and waist measurement are the same doesn't help either, I've re-taken the measurement a few times and I suspect the reason my seat and waist are the same is because of my 'love handles' even though I'm only about 2-4 kilo's (4-8lbs) overweight at the most.

So am I the only one who finds the heavyweight uncomfortable?
Does anyone else find standard kilts belts pretty bad?
And ...how much is the fact that my true waste and seat size are the same a contributing factor?

Love some feedback from the worldly and wise.

Dub

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 13th March 11, 04:02 PM

Virtually all of my kilts are traditional, heavy weight kilts and I've never found them uncomfortable to wear. As far as kilt belts are concerned, I rarely wear a belt with my kilt as they are unnecessary; a properly fitted kilt stays up just fine by itself. The sole purpose of a belt (technically called a dirk belt) is to support a dirk, not cinch up a too-big-around-the-waist kilt.

You may want to consider having your kilt professionally altered for a better fit.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 14th March 11, 04:58 AM

Certainly if the kilt no longer fits correctly that would contribute to the discomfort factor. A properly fitting kilt should be comfortable because it is made to your body size and shape.

However, if you are looking for a more comfortable, lighter weight kilt, I would suggest keeping the heavy weight wool and opting for a lower yardage kilt, as opposed to an 8 yard kilt made from light weight wool. This way you keep all the advantages of good heavy weight tartan, but still have a lighter kilt.

The most comfortable kilts I have worn have been 16 oz heavy weight, four yard box pleated kilts. They weigh about half as much as your typical eight yard kilt, and have approximately the same amount of cloth in the front and in the back, so they balance very well on your body. You hardly feel like you have anything on!

**Father Bill** · 14th March 11, 05:12 AM

I certainly understand the problem of waist and seat dimensions being similar. My kilt is extremely well made and fits exactly. Problem is that my dimensions taper from top to bottom, that is, as you go down, they're smaller. Thus in the absence of VERY tight kilt belts and also a dirk belt, if I suck in my stomach, the whole thing is around my ankles.

My wife thinks it's funny, but I've learned not to suck in my stomach in public.

I know, I know...

but it's in sympathy with the OP.

I'm also going to sew in some buttons and buy suspenders as a solution, at least when I'm wearing a vest or jacket to cover them up.

Bill

**biblemonkey** · 14th March 11, 05:54 AM

I know what you mean. I have a very slim body type with no hips and unless the kilt sits and is tailored JUST right, a heavy wool kilt wants to slide down until the hem is at the bottom of my knee or lower. Does your heavyweight have two buckles or three? I was told three (one on left-two on right) helps with that alot.

**McElmurry** · 14th March 11, 07:21 AM

As an engineer I often skip commiseration and go straight to solution. My wife tells me this is wrong, so it must be. So let’s start with commiseration. I also suffered from noassatall, also known as gluteus minimus. In college my nickname was the Stick. I found that hill walking or a stairmaster was effective in alleviating this condition. Just don’t overdo it or you could end up with gluteus minibus. Swimming seems to be a good way to tighten the torso a bit.

Not judging, just trying to help.

**Father Bill** · 14th March 11, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by biblemonkey

I know what you mean. I have a very slim body type with no hips and unless the kilt sits and is tailored JUST right, a heavy wool kilt wants to slide down until the hem is at the bottom of my knee or lower. Does your heavyweight have two buckles or three? I was told three (one on left-two on right) helps with that alot.

Just two, but as I say, with the belt (or suspenders to come, I assume) I'm just fine.

**Father Bill** · 14th March 11, 07:37 AM

Sorry - duplicate

**Father Bill** · 14th March 11, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by McElmurry

As an engineer I often skip commiseration and go straight to solution. My wife tells me this is wrong, so it must be. So let’s start with commiseration. I also suffered from noassatall, also known as gluteus minimus. In college my nickname was the Stick. I found that hill walking or a stairmaster was effective in alleviating this condition. Just don’t overdo it or you could end up with gluteus minibus. Swimming seems to be a good way to tighten the torso a bit.

Not judging, just trying to help.

Yeah, my son's a cement-head (civ.) and I think he inherited the "solution-first" orientation from me as an old school administrator. After 60 years of being shaped like this, I think I've given up any attempts to re-sculpt.

Suspenders are easier!

**davidlpope** · 14th March 11, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

However, if you are looking for a more comfortable, lighter weight kilt, I would suggest keeping the heavy weight wool and opting for a lower yardage kilt, as opposed to an 8 yard kilt made from light weight wool. This way you keep all the advantages of good heavy weight tartan, but still have a lighter kilt.

***.

One additional suggestion- Matt has made several 5yd and 6yd knife-pleated kilts for me. I find them to be very well-balanced and extremely comfortable while maintaining a "traditional" knife-pleated appearance. Depending on the sett size, it may not even be noticeable that the kilt is made from less fabric. What is noticeable, though, is the absence of an extra 2-3 yards of fabric tugging down the back of my kilt. I still wear and enjoy my 8-yd 16oz. kilts, particularly in colder months, but there's a reason that they've been christened "tanks" on this forum.....