Kilt belt

[tundramanq]

One issue is how the system used looks on the top side of the belt. Buckles are attached in a small area, usually with rivets or thread.
Velcro is sewn the full length of the Velcro to the leather as most adhesives "give up" over time and flexing. If the belt is dual layer bonded after the buckle or Velcro is applied to the inner layer then both are invisible.
If Velcro is used, the hook side needs be on the small inner adjusting belt where it can never get at the fabric and rip at it.

[ratspike]

I fear that I am hijacking this thread, but I am intrigued by all the guys that don't wear that style of belt. As a newbie, I thought it was de rigueur, classic, traditional, etc. What sort of belt do you wear with the kilt?

Ask ten different kilt wearers, get ten different answers.

I rather dislike the look of traditional kilt belts so I either skip the belt altogether or wear one made with two thicknesses of seatbelt webbing secured with a Cobra buckle. If I were to make a dressier belt I'd skip the Cobra buckle and go with a metal cam or seatbelt style buckle. I've been toying with the idea of doing a rigger's style belt in leather but haven't had a chance to get to it just yet.

[JohntheBiker]

This is about the only outfit where I am likely to wear the big shiny thing (black tie, but not formal enough for PC + waistcoat):

[EagleJCS]

I have one of each, and much prefer the adjustability of the velcro. However, that's on my brown belt, which I only wear for daywear, and therefore seldom wear it these days (sold my personal kilt and don't wear the band kilt except when doing a band/piping gig). There's about 3 sq inches of hooks on the end that folds back inside the belt. There's about a foot of loops stitched to the inside of the belt.

I use a piece of tape to cover the inside buckle on the other belt, which I wear as part of my pipe band uniform. This belt is not as custom-adjustable as the daywear belt, since the holes on the adjustment are spaced about an inch apart. As it is, I need to replace this belt. (I've shrunk since purchasing it!)

[Tobus]

I've never owned one with the internal buckle. All my commercially-made ones have velcro. And while it's nice to have the velcro for minute adjustments, it sure does add a lot of bulk. And if, like me, you have to cinch it down farther than most 'average size' people, to the point where you're having to bend the fuzzy side of the velcro through the buckle loop, it's just downright annoying. I can't get the bend to lay flat with that velcro on there.

When my wife made my custom belt for me, we decided to just use a piece of leather lacing material to fix one side to the buckle, and the other side was wet-formed to a length that suited me. But as my weight has fluctuated, I do find myself needing adjustment. So I'm thinking of doing the leather lacing on that side too. It would require holes through the belt, but so what.

As you can see below, there is lacing on the right side of the buckle. Normally I would cover that up with one of the leather keepers (both of which are slid around to one side for this photo). This leather lacing configuration is the same as we use when connecting saddle latigos to D-rings. It's an incredibly strong connection, and results in virtually no bulk underneath. It's easy to adjust if you know how to do it. The only down side is that it shows on the outside of the belt unless you cover it up (like with the keeper I mentioned).

[IrishSean]

That is a smart looking belt, Tobus. I'll bet there would be a good market for those if your wife decided to expand beyond her favorite customer.

[Father Bill]

Ask ten different kilt wearers, get ten different answers.

Ask ten different kilt wearers, get... 15 different answers!

[Singlemalt]

I have a couple of these types of belts but never wear them anymore. I doubt they would fit me anyway, just something else to pass on to my sons. I am not a big man only about 5'8". These big kilt belts sold by those promoting Highlandwear are usually 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide. On my small frame I find they look awkwardly large and wide. I have found if you keep your eyes open (or use your google finger) you can find belts of many widths from standard men's jeans belts of 1 1/4" (or less) and up. To my eye a belt of 1 3/4" looks right on me with a kilt and I have a couple with more traditional style buckles and a black and a brown that allow interchangeable buckles.

[Grizzly]

I have both Velcro type and buckle type but I don't wear either the one I wear is this one so much easier to fasten -

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[Nathan]

I have the wee buckle inside rather than the velcro on both of my dress dirk/waist belts.
While I don't wear that style of belt with my PC or Argyll, I do wear it with my Balmoral and Dunvegan (my name for it) doublets. It really completes the look.

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When in day wear without a waistcoat, I prefer this simple style of belt to the plate buckle.

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