11oz, 13oz, or 16oz?

[MacHummel]

All the kilts we make here at CCK are 11oz pv we have done wool in that wait I find it to be very comfortable

[Riverkilt]

I have all three weights in hand sewns. For me its been what the tartan was available in. But when I had a choice of the 13 or the 16 for the RAF tartan kilt I leaped at the 16 ounce.

16 ounce is my favorite...just because it "is."

But since when I wear a kilt I've chosen it for its tartan, not its weight, the weight doesn't much matter to me.

My first hand sewn was in 11 ounce because that's all the tartan came in. I was thrilled with the kilt. When I finally bought a 16 ounce kilt the difference was obvious and wonderful - but that didn't detract at all from wearing the 11 ounce, because I love the tartan the 11 ounce is done in.

Make sense?

Ron

[BoldHighlander]

My very fist kilt, years ago, was an 8 yard, 11oz. custom-made kilt.. I still have it and I love it.This kilt has served me well over the years and I have acquired other kilts of the same yardage and weight. I also have 6 13oz. 8 yard kilts and I love them too. My 11oz. kilts and 13oz. kilts are all comfortable during the year - though the 13oz. kilts can be a bit warm in the hot summer months. I don't own any 16oz. kilts because I assumed they would be too hot in the summer. Would this hold true? How comfortable are other folks in their 16oz. kilts during the warmer months?

Your in Seattle my friend, and I'm north of you in Bellingham. I know it can get warm here during July & August, but I've never had a problem with my old heavy weight Black Watch.

And I'm currently awaiting a 16oz Modern Mackay from our own Matt Newsome

Personally I prefer 16oz, but wouldn't wear anything less than 13oz.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I find the difference in temperature between light, medium, and heavy weight cloth to be slight. I find the greatest thing that makes a kilt outfit warm or cool is how I accessorize it.

I wear mostly four yard box pleated kilts, and live in NC. And I find a four yard kilt from 16 oz wool to be a great choice to wear year round, accessorizing appropriately for the season.

I have also had four yard kilts made from 13 oz wool, and did find those a bit light to wear in the colder winter months.

Regardless of whether one is getting an 8 yard kilt or a 4 yard kilt, or anything in between, my advice is always to go with the heaviest weight that is available within your budget, as it really makes a nicer looking, longer lasting kilt.

~M

[RockyR]

My $.02:

It all depends on your climate and your "body temperature regulation" and what you like.

I see you're in Seattle. Lots of rain and "cooler" weather year round (as opposed to Ron in Arizona). I would think that a 13 oz would suit you for "year round" wear and that 16's would be nice for year round wear or at least 3 seasons (MAY be too hot for summer).

Body Temp Regulation: What I mean is that some people tend to always be HOT or they sweat a lot. These are the people that sleep on top of the covers in winter. ;) If that' you, then the 16 oz would probably be too warm in mid-summer. Depending on you climate (like Arizona), it may even be too warm for some other seasons or any day above 70 degree F. THAT BEING SAID, if you're skinny like Matt Newsome, you may WANT the extra warmth of the heavier wool even in a warmer climate (like the Carolinas).

What you like... if you can borrow someone's 16 oz kilt to wear for an hour or two, try it! See if you like it.

FOR ME PERSONALLY: I LOVE 16 oz (8 yard) kilts, but tend to wear them much more in the winter as I DO tend to be hot all the time and I live in PA... we have warm summers and cold winters. I wear my 13 oz kilts year round. I don't have any 11 oz wool kilts. My 11 oz PV kilts are great for spring / summer / fall and I sometimes wear them around the house in winter (why wear it out in winter when I have a 16 oz wool?).

Now if you want to get into 5 yard kilts, I would say 16 oz fabric HANDS DOWN, but I DO have some 13 oz 5 yarders that are nice as well...

[Jerry]

I usually wear my 16 oz kilt to the Potomac Celtic Festival, i Leesburg, Virginia. This festival takes place in mid June. The temperatures are usually in the 90's and the humidity is probably 70% or higher. That kilt is a full 9 yards of 16 oz wool, and I don't really feel any hotter than I would wearing a pair of jeans.

[Barb T]

I find that the hottest part of a kilt outfit isn't the kilt but the kilt hose. As I've said in other places on this forum, we wear 16 oz band kilts for parades and competitions all summer, and it's the socks that are the killer. Air circulates under a kilt, and I find that I really sweat only under the belt, which would be true regardless of kilt weight. On a really hot day, I do find my 16 oz kilt to be a little itchy on my thighs, though, and I just wear a pair of bike shorts.

10-11 oz tartan makes a kilt that wrinkles easily, and the pleats don't hold a press nearly as well as a heavier weight kilt. But it does tend to be "smoother" and less itchy in hot weather. It's also very common to have 10-11 oz tartan that doesn't have a kilting selvedge, so many kilts made in this weight need hems (not universally true, but very common). This is actually neither here nor there in terms of how a kilt looks, but some people don't like hems in their kilts. And a 10-11 oz kilt just doesn't swing like a 16 oz kilt does.

So, when someone asks me, I typically advise 11-12 oz for dancers (a heavier kilt is a lot to jump around in) and 13 or 16 oz for a guy. But, as with anything else, it's just advice.

[ardchoille]

I have all three weights in hand sewns. For me its been what the tartan was available in. But when I had a choice of the 13 or the 16 for the RAF tartan kilt I leaped at the 16 ounce.

16 ounce is my favorite...just because it "is."

But since when I wear a kilt I've chosen it for its tartan, not its weight, the weight doesn't much matter to me.

My first hand sewn was in 11 ounce because that's all the tartan came in. I was thrilled with the kilt. When I finally bought a 16 ounce kilt the difference was obvious and wonderful - but that didn't detract at all from wearing the 11 ounce, because I love the tartan the 11 ounce is done in.

Make sense?

Ron

I ended up with my first kilt in 11oz. for the exact same reasons you did. Makes perfect sense.

And I'm very glad the kilt makers added their input, I was hoping you kind folks would chime in. I'm going to broaden my "collection" (slow down Hamish!) to include 16oz. kilts

[JerseyLawyer]

Yes, I love my 11oz. kilts. I have 8 yards of 11oz. MacGregor modern tartan, but I can't find anyone who is willing to make a kilt out of it - sadly, no one wants to deal with less than 13oz tartan.

I think 11 oz kilts are good for things like dancing, or wearing to tartan balls, because of the light weight. But they're really too delicate for everyday wear. And they fly about in the wind.

[Roan Carter]

My favorite kilt is my What Price Glory military style kilt. It's supposed to be 18 oz or 22 oz, I forget. Anyways, it makes everything else feel like a table cloth. I wear it year round in Tennessee, but I stay indoors most the time.