Sporrans and security

[JonathanB]

Thanks, gents. I don't think I'll be getting a hanger but it's made me think. I tend not to wear a belt, dunno, because it is more to take off if need be, it is a bit crowded with the chain and the belt passing through the loops and the kilt rests on my hips in any event.

However if I put the sporran chain through the kilt loops and then put on a belt, the belt will protect the leather part of the chain from slashing and I will only be vulnerable to frontal attack which is not how a pickpocket would want to work.

PS The touch screen of my mobile would be vulnerable to scratching from my house keys if they were in the sporran together. I must say getting my hankie out when I have a runny nose is far more convenient with a sporran than with pockets.

[Dale Seago]

However if I put the sporran chain through the kilt loops and then put on a belt, the belt will protect the leather part of the chain from slashing and I will only be vulnerable to frontal attack which is not how a pickpocket would want to work.

Actually, the loops are intended for the sporran chain (or sporran strap, as some like myself prefer), not for the kilt/dirk belt.

[JonathanB]

And thank you, artificer, for the link to the National Museum of Scotland. I'm feeling more and more I must make a trip to Edinburgh and that would be a good place to visit.

Edit: cross posted with Dale. If you don't put the belt through the loops, how does it help keep the kilt up?

I always put the strap (sic) through the loops, although I know it could rest on my hips.

When I tried on my first kilt in the shop with a view to wearing it home, I was non-plussed by there being only two loops. I think I see the reason - they shouldn't be too obvious.

[kilted scholar]

I normally wear a sweater rather than a jacket. Even though that means no jacket pockets most shirts have a side pocket in which a passport and/or credit cards can fit if necessary. Besides the sweater - or a jacket - will obscure the sporran strap in the back.

As others have commented of themselves, I have never encountered any such problems in London or elsewhere. Being tall is a help, a confident demeanour a necessity, and knowing where you are going and what your surroundings are is important too.

[kilted scholar]

ne of our mods, Alex (cessna152towser) had an unfortunate incident whilst on holiday in Spain a couple of years back, if I remember correctly. A pickpocket sliced his sporran strap and made off with the whole thing. He can relay the full details.

I have heard of similar problems in some European countries.

[MNlad]

Artificer, did they also make a bear trap model? That thing is ingenious, if not suicidal.

I've also done the sock stuffing on occasion, although I usually just use jacket pockets in colder weather and tend to wear multi-pocket shirts in the summer.

[Tobus]

Edit: cross posted with Dale. If you don't put the belt through the loops, how does it help keep the kilt up?

I always put the strap (sic) through the loops, although I know it could rest on my hips.

When I tried on my first kilt in the shop with a view to wearing it home, I was non-plussed by there being only two loops. I think I see the reason - they shouldn't be too obvious.

The belt isn't there to hold the kilt up. That's what the straps/buckles on the kilt are for. The belt is mainly just decoration in today's world (unless you're actually wearing a dirk, which would be its only functional purpose).

The kilt belt should go on the outside of the rear loops, with the sporran belt on the inside. Like this:

[Paul Henry]

The belt isn't there to hold the kilt up. That's what the straps/buckles on the kilt are for. The belt is mainly just decoration in today's world (unless you're actually wearing a dirk, which would be its only functional purpose).

The kilt belt should go on the outside of the rear loops, with the sporran belt on the inside.snip... :

Some of us do use the belt loops for the belt, so I wouldn't be too prescriptive about what should be or not done. however I do agree that a belt isn't strictly neccessary to hold a kilt on, although visually I think it does help the look, there are some members here who don't wear usually wear a belt and I tend to think that a little bit of "visible punctuation" would make the ensemble look a whole lot better, BUT and this is important. the kilt isn't a uniform and in time you will find ways of wearing it that suit you, and that is the important thing, it's your kilt and how you wear your clothes ( within reason of course) is your choice!

[unixken]

Personally, I ignore the belt loops altogether, for both the belt, and the sporran strap. Should you need to swivel the sporran around (for example, when dancing), it prevents the buckle or chain of the sporran strap from getting hung up in the loops. For the belt, it makes removal of the belt quick (for example, when removing a kilt to use a restroom stall.)

[The Wizard of BC]

Paul,

I disagree about the belt loop thing.

If you look at the photo Tobus posted above, you can plainly see that the center of his belt is up at the level of the straps and buckles. However the sporran loops do not come above the level of the top of the kilt.

If you put the belt through the loops you will be pulling up on the loop lower attachment point. This will distort the fabric and cause a visible "W" pattern to the fabric in the Fell.

After time this distortion will become permanent. I see this often in my shop when people bring me kilts. The only way to get rid of this distortion is with lots of steam and lots of pulling and tugging to get the fabric back into its original shape.