FK vs UK

[CameronTaylor]

My UK fit pretty good, my FK fits like a great pair of Levi's.
I sold my UK to my friend Autumn and she looks awhole lot better in it than I ever did.
NOBODY wears my FK except me.
The pleats on my UK had a bad habit of curling up and they were a pain to iron with all that reverse, double back flip, which way did they go pleating.
The FK is wool and behaves much differently.
I would buy a UK again, so long as I can get one I like (dude, cargo pockets are so like last decade ), gimme denim or I'll pay Steve another 52 billion.
You'd get a UK quicker and probably be very happy with it, Steve's take a while to construct (and ship via Juan Valdez and his burro .... I asked my neighbors, no donkey yet ).


CT -

[Alan H]

Or you could make an X-Kilt.

[The Barry]

Or, you could get three of each and decide for yourself. Then you'd have kilts for almost every day of the week!

Just a thought

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Thanks everyone for their responses. Steve, I admire your neutrality and will definitely ask if I have specific questions . Still not decided either way, but I have a few more UK questions. Is the narrow UK apron easier/more convenient in social situations (ie bars or parties) or do you guys like the wider FK apron better? Also what is the quality of the UK original vs the UK workman like? Is the UK original fabric substantial enough? Is the extra pockets and thicker material on the UK workman worth the extra 75 dollars over the Original? Are there any situations (ie hiking or crowded areas) where the UK pleat style seems better than kilts with knife or box pleats?

[Galician]

I haven't worn a FK, but I'd just add that I do enjoy my UK Survival. In summer time, it feels easier to go w/o a sporran, possible due to all the pocket space on this model.

When one travels around a city on the subway, this is definitely a plus, and the fabric feels both comfortable and sturdy.

[Rex_Tremende]

Is the narrow UK apron easier/more convenient in social situations (ie bars or parties) or do you guys like the wider FK apron better? [No opportunity to observe on matter deleted] Are there any situations (ie hiking or crowded areas) where the UK pleat style seems better than kilts with knife or box pleats?

On the apron, I think it's a personal preference. I have never had any issues protecting others from my immodesty in either kind of kilt in social situations. In crowds, I suppose I'd prefer my FK because it's more like a traditional kilt (like a car with standard stick-shift), but it's true, I think, that the narrow apron on the UK is designed to cover up the bits without any effort (automatic transmission).

For hiking and yard work, I favor the UK, but it has not much to do with the style or direction of the pleat. You could get an equivalent casual USAK or 5-yard SportKilt with knife pleats that would perform about the same in that respect. As I mentioned earlier, it's less kilt and I'm more willing to bang it up a bit. I will say that because the UK has the narrow apron and pleats that are more forward than a traditionally styled kilt, it's probably a little easier to take big strides up hills than my FK would allow. I would have Steve make my FK a bit shorter if I planned to use it on hikes very often.

UK Mocker on a hike in the PNW

Regards,
Rex.

[arrogcow]

Thanks everyone for their responses. Steve, I admire your neutrality and will definitely ask if I have specific questions . Still not decided either way, but I have a few more UK questions. Is the narrow UK apron easier/more convenient in social situations (ie bars or parties) or do you guys like the wider FK apron better? Also what is the quality of the UK original vs the UK workman like? Is the UK original fabric substantial enough? Is the extra pockets and thicker material on the UK workman worth the extra 75 dollars over the Original? Are there any situations (ie hiking or crowded areas) where the UK pleat style seems better than kilts with knife or box pleats?

I can't answer about FK, but I do have an RK with similar sized apron.

Frankly apron size depends on what your are doing. Just hanging out, I prefer the wider apron because it looks a little more like a traditinal kilt. However, when working (for me) I much prefer the narrower apron since I am moving around a lot, and occasionally even on the ground, and the wider apron gets in the way.

Now for the wider apron of the RK (and by extrapolation the FK) I would actually prefer it to be a little bigger. The way they are made, the under apron is actually right infront of my left leg, and that is a little bothersome at times (my leg keeps trying to go around to the front, so it bunches sometimes.

As for styles of UK, I prefer the workman's for the pockets, but not necessarily for the material. I have tried for years to get them to offer workman's style pockets in other fabrics - no dice. But as for holding up, I have a 6 1/2 year old original that I still wear (though I don't work in it), and it looks fine.

I also prefer the UK pleat style as I do occasionally catch a knife pleat on something (and a mild case of OCD, that makes me feel better if I am symmetrical - yeah I know more than you wanted to know).

Adam

[Monkey@Arms]

Is the narrow UK apron easier/more convenient in social situations (ie bars or parties) or do you guys like the wider FK apron better? Also what is the quality of the UK original vs the UK workman like? Is the UK original fabric substantial enough? Is the extra pockets and thicker material on the UK workman worth the extra 75 dollars over the Original? Are there any situations (ie hiking or crowded areas) where the UK pleat style seems better than kilts with knife or box pleats?

I don't have a FK, so I can't address that part of your question, but I do have three UKs Originals and two Workmans. The Workman is considerably heavier than the Original, and this could be considered a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preferences.

The Workman definitely has sturdier material, and I like the additional pockets, and the coloring better (the black Original's material has a shinier finish, since its a cotton-poly blend). That extra weight might be a drag for serious hiking, however. If I had to choose a single UK to own, I would go with the Workman over the Original, and if I was going to wear it to bars and the like, I'd go for black.

As to the apron, comparing the UK to a SW or USAK semi-trad, I find the narrow UK apron is more convenient sitting around, it really falls between you legs, conversely, for better or worse it is one of the things that makes it look less traditional in its styling. Hope that helps.

Best regards,

Jake

[Raphael]

As to the apron, comparing the UK to a SW or USAK semi-trad, I find the narrow UK apron is more convenient sitting around, it really falls between you legs, conversely, for better or worse it is one of the things that makes it look less traditional in its styling. Hope that helps.

Best regards,

Jake

What Jake said!! I don't have to cross my legs when sitting at the bar with friends. I think that is just more manly that way. I don't have to worry much about modesty. I wore my leather Rkilts at the club last weekend and a friend saw what I didn't wear under my kilt. That's why UK gets another vote from me.

[urbantig]

I have 2 FKs, a Cargo in ACUdigital and a Casual in Poly/çotton twill and one (1) Utilikilt Workman. The UK does 'curl' at the edges, but that's fixable when I clean it (read get around to lighting the iron), and while it certainly does not have the 'sway' the FK has it still gets lots of attention from the fairer sex. It also works as an electricians/locksmiths tool pouch in ways the FK wasn't designed to accommodate.

The FKs are better, vastly better in my opinion, kilts. They fit better, feel better, and cause more 'swooning' amongst the target audience. The FKs also address a different set of design requirements, and if I was spending my money for a kilt to hike in there'd be no contest - Freedom Kilts - without trying to slag the UK product.

Opinions are like belly-buttons, everyone has one. And advice given is often the advice the giver wish they'd taken.