wearing the sporran

**wildrover** · 8th June 10, 09:32 AM

What I notice in all those photos is that, with the possible exception of the first one--the painting--all the sporrans are hanging at the right height for what's being worn, the style of the sporran, etc...I don't mean "two ox feet below the midline measurement of the wearer's third rib, excepting third tuesdays or during a lunar eclipse", rather that it's all visually balanced. Not sure of the right height? Look in a mirror. If it's under the dunlop, it's too low. If it looks like a fanny pack worn in the front, it's too high. If you think it's at a good height, go for a walk, and if it smacks you in the junk, then it's too low. Likewise, if if the strap falls off your butt, then the strap is too loose...which also happens to mean its too low.

FWIW, I've also noticed that if I'm wearing a baggy hoodie (any snowboarder has a closet full of them), I drop the sporran a little lower so it's more apparent beneath the hem of the hoodie...so...check the mirror, and mess with it until it looks "correct".

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 8th June 10, 04:23 AM

Wear it where it is comfortable. Generally, this will be a few inches (a handsbreadth, as they say) beneath the belt. The problem with wearing it too low is that it tends to slip and slide around, and it interferes with the hang of the kilt apron.

Wearing it a handsbreadth beneath your belt is great advice -- if you are wearing a belt.

If I'm wearing a waistcoat, I tend to wear my sporrans just a tad lower than otherwise, to make sure that the top of the sporran clears the bottom of the waistcoat.

If I'm not wearing either a belt or a waistcoat, I tend to wear my sporran a tad higher than otherwise, bringing it up closer to wear my belt would otherwise be. I just think it looks better given the absense of a belt.

The point is that it needs to feel secure and comfortable when you wear it. If you wear it too low, it will feel neither.

And if you have any kind of a belly on you, please make sure that your sporran is not so low that it slips beneath your belly, which not only accentuates your girth, but also makes the kilt apron hang horribly.

**BLHS209** · 8th June 10, 04:46 AM

Yes, the book may be "strict" but when there isn't anything else available (before finding XMTS), it is a good place to start. And yes, it is meant to be a guide, not the be all to end all.

**OC Richard** · 8th June 10, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by ehillbaird

what is the correct hieght for a sporran?

Rather than giving my opinion or inventing a rule or quoting somebody else's opinion or rule, let's just have a look-see:

late 18th century:

early 19th century:

circa 1860:

around 1900:

and in the military:

**OC Richard** · 8th June 10, 05:09 AM

in 1950:

and today:

**artificer** · 8th June 10, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Rather than giving my opinion or inventing a rule or quoting somebody else's opinion or rule, let's just have a look-see:

So somewhere between "as a waistplate" and "as a codpiece"

Seriously though, great photos Richard!

For the OP: try wearing it around the house and while out on a good brisk walk. Where it rides on you and where it's comfortable will probably best determine where it should go. It may actually depend on your sporran and what you've got in it as well.

**BLHS209** · 9th June 10, 04:41 AM

Regarding OC's last 2 photo's, it looks like the sporran is higher because there isn't a belt being worn. BTW, thanks for the photo's OC.

**wildrover** · 9th June 10, 02:01 PM

The one of MacPhedran is still lower. The usual kilt hire-style photo has all the usual kilt hire-style mistakes, to my eye.

That jacket's killer, tho...

I wonder if I could convince Josh to build me a sporran like McColl's

. It looks like it would take several horses' worth of hair!

**Snowbear** · 10th June 10, 09:55 AM

I really like my horse hair sporran, but could never convince myself to let the hairs hang lower than my kilt. It just seems odd to me.

**OC Richard** · 11th June 10, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by Snowbear

I really like my horse hair sporran, but could never convince myself to let the hairs hang lower than my kilt. It just seems odd to me.

It was very common, indeed nearly universal, in the old days.

Look at photos like these for a while and it might not seem odd any more.

Here is a group of Crimean Heroes:

and a group of the 78th Highlanders:

and a couple guys with the sporrans hanging very low:

Nowadays in the Army they don't wear them that long, but still often going a bit below the kilt: