Sporrans and security

[JonathanB]

I used to keep my house keys and wallet (with credit cards) in my jean or trouser pockets.

Obviously with a kilt there are no pockets. I'm a bit reluctant to walk round inner London or go on public transport (which is the only transport I take in London) with my valuables in my sporran. It does seem vulnerable.

Has anyone had experience of bag snatching with a sporran?

[Downunder Kilt]

At times I go to a shopping area which is known in Victoria as a very feral place ( read drugs, vagrancy, public drukenness etc). I have never had any problem with someone trying to snatch my sporran. It's way safer than than most female handbags.

[EagleJCS]

One 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 recall someone posting up links to a couple of companies that make sporran straps with security cables built in, if that's a concern.

[The Wizard of BC]

It is not much trouble or effort to add an under-apron pocket.

The pocket does not have to match like this one but you get the idea.



You can use any piece of fabric for the apron and small tab of velcro to keep it closed.

I use my under-apron pockets for my valuables when I travel.

[rsvpiper]

It is not much trouble or effort to add an under-apron pocket.

The pocket does not have to match like this one but you get the idea.

Now then where's that like button when you need it:-) very clever idea Steve



You can use any piece of fabric for the apron and small tab of velcro to keep it closed.

I use my under-apron pockets for my valuables when I travel.

Very clever Steve, Now where's the like button when you need it:-)

[TheOfficialBren]

I travel light when I'm out so a bill-well, phone, and keys fit nicely into my sporran with extra room, though, admittedly, Tom at A-Hay Custom Sporrans makes a generously-sized sporran for this very reason. You can't go wrong with his sporrans. A coin purse is a good idea, though.

Jock, in your kilt hose? How novel!

Kyle, I can picture that about not using your sporran. I know that you enjoy a turn on the dance floor so a jostling sporran might be undesirable.

[John_Carrick]

I had a man bag snatched that wasn't physically attached to me in Delhi but you are right to evaluate this risk - the leather could be cut easily.

I personally feel completely safe in central London and on the Tube, trains & buses, and likewise in most cities I've visited wearing my kilt.

My big bugbear is that coins go to the bottom and its really difficult to fish them out when you go to pay for something.

John

[Holcombe Thomas]

John writes:

"My big bugbear is that coins go to the bottom and its really difficult to fish them out when you go to pay for something."


A coin purse has been my solution, but Steve's pockets are a great idea.

Holcombe

[Chas]

Hi Jonathan,

I have walked round London (and used the tube), many, many times in a kilt and never felt that I was in any danger. I think that a lot comes down to demeanour. I will freely admit that when I wear a kilt, I automatically strut. I stand straighter and hold my head up.

I am not saying that you do, but many kilt wearers tend to almost adopt a 'victim mentality'. Do not do that - you are a man and you are in charge of your destiny. If you give off the right body language, then others will think twice about confronting you.

Regards

Chas

[Katia]

It is not much trouble or effort to add an under-apron pocket.

The pocket does not have to match like this one but you get the idea.



You can use any piece of fabric for the apron and small tab of velcro to keep it closed.

I use my under-apron pockets for my valuables when I travel.

I can... only imagine what that looks like when you go fishing for something in public. (somebody had to say it!)

Doesn't it seem bulky, though? If I had my wallet and/or phone in a pocket like that, I would have a very very weird lump in the front of my kilt. (Kind of like how I appreciate that whoever made my running skort put pockets in the shorts part... but boy does it look funny to have a strange lump on my thigh...)



I'd feel slightly safer with a sporran than a purse... (anybody tries to just yank my sporran and they'll be dragging me down the street, as opposed to just pulling a purse off my shoulder) and because it's in front of you, I would imagine it's harder for a pickpocket than carefully lifting your wallet out of your back pocket without you ever seeing him/her. And, well, anybody audacious enough to just go grabbing for the part of my body that my sporran sits in front of... with any luck, their next acquaintance with Scottish attire would be with the business end of my sgian dubh.

I adore a sporran. I hate purses with a passion, but let's face it, not always easy for me to keep my essentials (wallet, keys, phone) in a pocket unless I'm wearing cargo pants. Wallet looks funny (my butt tends to look twice as big on one side), phone (even my small phone) is hard to fit in a hip pocket (I'm not all that big and my pockets aren't either) and keys... forget it; they usually get clipped to a belt loop and stuffed slightly into one pocket (i admit to having way too much crap on my keychain). When I'm kilted, it's oh-so-easy... sporran!


Me, I'm not sure I'd mess with a dude who's willing to go out in public in what many might consider a "skirt," but that might just be me. (Seriously, though, if I were thinking in terms of "easy target," I'd still think that way. Also might not go for someone too unusually-dressed who might attract more attention from other people as a general rule. I'd rather subtly pick the pocket of someone who blends into the background and won't have a lot of curious eyes on them.)