Kilt Height

[ratspike]

WillowEstate, I personally dislike having a strap on the left as well. With just a couple of exceptions none of my kilts have any sort of closure on the left side, which I really like and find quite comfortable. I have to give the inner apron a tug occasionally but otherwise everything stays put nicely. Does anyone else forego a left side strap/closure?

[Tartan Hiker]

I don't think anyone has addressed this point yet, and if so, pardon my overlooking it.

The reason a kilt is made with a high rise in the first place is not just for looks. A kilt is a heavy garment. Even a 4-yard, 13 oz. kilt weighs more than the average pair of jeans. With jeans, you have a belt to help hold things up, but even then they will tend to sag a bit as you move through your day. Kilt belts aren't really going to function this way, even if you do thread them through the straps (a definite no-no, but that is another conversation entirely). So now you have this very heavy garment, with no real help from a belt, with a sporran and all that loot in it, and the force of gravity figured in. See where I'm going with this? Having the top strap pull the kilt taught into your real waist, above your hip bones, and suddenly there is no problem keeping all in order. I've tried the "jeans cut" version, and quickly rejected it as a bad idea.

Gravity isn't just a good idea. It's the law.

[Tartan Hiker]

I use velcro tabs on the left side of all my kilts. Works beautifully. For heavy kilts (6+ yards) I use a velcro cinch strap for extra holding power. No buckle means extra comfort. Velcro means far greater options re fit.

[ASinclair]

I use velcro tabs on the left side of all my kilts. Works beautifully. For heavy kilts (6+ yards) I use a velcro cinch strap for extra holding power. No buckle means extra comfort. Velcro means far greater options re fit.

My kilt has just one strap on the right side, and the left side is kept in place with two narrow strips of Velcro. This does make for a snug and comfortable fit.

[Son of the Rock]

4. As to straps, 3 is by FAR the most common as the standard, but if you like the look of 2, then go for it.

I know Rocky knows far more about kilt construction than me, but I have to respectfully disagree on this point, at least from my experience of kilts in Scotland. It's true that 3 strap kilts are common, but I wouldn't say 'by far'. Three of the biggest kiltmakers in Scotland I can think of, Kinloch Anderson, Hector Russell and House of Tartan, all, as I have seen, offer 2 buckles as standard unless you request otherwise.

[RockyR]

I know Rocky knows far more about kilt construction than me, but I have to respectfully disagree on this point, at least from my experience of kilts in Scotland. It's true that 3 strap kilts are common, but I wouldn't say 'by far'. Three of the biggest kiltmakers in Scotland I can think of, Kinloch Anderson, Hector Russell and House of Tartan, all, as I have seen, offer 2 buckles as standard unless you request otherwise.

When I go across the pond, I take in as many kilt shops as I can to suss out how the Scottish shops are set up. I have been in Hector Russell shops (as well as dozens of other smaller shops), but have not been in K.A. or H.O.T.. I have been in Geoffrey Taylor and many other big names you didn't mention and can only remember seeing 3 straps on a kilt, except where it was a hip hugger where the lower right strap was left off.

To the people posting about Velcro on the left, I think there's a miscomunication... The OP was talking about removing the lower strap on the right side (the hip strap), not the left strap (on the under apron).

[ASinclair]

Duplicate entry.

[ASinclair]

<snip>
To the people posting about Velcro on the left, I think there's a miscomunication... The OP was talking about removing the lower strap on the right side (the hip strap), not the left strap (on the under apron).

Yes, Rocky, but we were replying to a digression started by WillowEstate. Sorry for the confusion.

[TheOfficialBren]

Two straps, eh? I might give that a go. Does it really make that much of a difference in comfort and aesthetics? I see lots of endorsements from some really knowledgeable and experienced chaps.

I usually leave my hip strap looser anyway and it serves one purpose for me: holding my otterbox (casual wear only and only when I don't wear a jacket.) rather than chucking it in my sporran (to cut down on weight). It doesn't pull and isn't warping the fabric (I was very careful of that before making a habit of it). Gotta love 16oz wool. Sturdy stuff.

[cainam]

When I go across the pond, I take in as many kilt shops as I can to suss out how the Scottish shops are set up. I have been in Hector Russell shops (as well as dozens of other smaller shops), but have not been in K.A. or H.O.T.. I have been in Geoffrey Taylor and many other big names you didn't mention and can only remember seeing 3 straps on a kilt, except where it was a hip hugger where the lower right strap was left off.

To the people posting about Velcro on the left, I think there's a miscomunication... The OP was talking about removing the lower strap on the right side (the hip strap), not the left strap (on the under apron).

I agree with Rocky, most kilts I see in Scotland anyway have the 3 straps. Only time I have seen the 2 are on hire kilts and budget kilts quite often only have the 2. I have been told on many occasion by shop assistants that the 3rd strap ensures a better fit. Anyway my mind is made up regards the straps and I am going for 2. As for the kilt length I am going to discuss it today with the kiltmaker, however, I am edging towards having a traditional rise. For those interested it is going to be made up in the Campbell of Argyll weathered Lochcarron 16oz.

Thanks,
Simon