You Guys Have Changed the Highland Games for Me

[Riverkilt]

Years ago I went in pants and looked at all my "kin." Most I did was maybe by a clan decal.

Since getting kilted up did three games last year...just back from my first Highland Games this year.

What I notice is how keen my eye is now, seeing the differences between some really crummy kilts and the really fine kilts....being able to walk up to a vendor's booth and tell who's spouting lies and nourishing false hopes..."we can get it for you..." Yeah, I've ordered from you three times before and waited forever, no thank you.

One vendor had my Macdonal clan tartan kilt in polyesther "on sale" for $99 IN MY SIZE!! Boy talk about getting hooked. But you guys (and most lovely ladies) have taught my to pay attention. This "kilt" had pleats as wide as a Utilikilt with no depth. The leather straps were a tad bit thicker than paper thin. They only came in one length, Two inches too long for my legs. Then I was fortunate that another cousin came a long and went as far as to try it on...easier for the panted....and hanging off of him the cheapness was evident. Thank you, I'll save my $99 towards my next quality kilt, perhaps in that tartan.

I stocked up on kilt pins following Ham's advice - so I now have kilt pins for each kilt so I'm not chewing up aprons poking them in and out. I did like the type of kilt pin I alreacy had, not much liking the pewter ones with the crests down on the blade of the sword...but seeing them in person, rather than on line, I was impressed with the weight and quality.

I'm also a sucker for clan t-shirts and Highland Games t-shirts to wear with my plain contemporary kilts...got some of those.

And, you've taught me much about kilthose so instead of having to wait forever for on line orders I was able to buy what I needed, in the size and color I needed, and steer away from the "inexpensive" kilt hose. Got the Lochcarron.

And, I'm also able to recognize many more tartans than before. Impressed my lady no end. Even saw a guy in a weathered Gordon like mine and introduced myself and complimented him on his weathered Gordon kilt...he thought I was a genius...until I told him I had one too.

Utilikilt had a booth, even though they're also down the road at the Arizona Ren Faire for many weeks. They were doing a land office business. Got to lay hands and eyes on the UK gangbanger short looking "kilt" I forget the name of...sort of look like what pro boxers wear n the ring. Passed. And, got to see all the colors of courdory kilts too...just have always had a person aversion to cords, in pants or shirts, and its still with me so passed there too. Always a good connect to stop by though.

For me, being out in the boonies (put on 923 miles to get there and back this weekend) it is a real treat to hang out with other kilted men....isn't it amazing how many men come to the highland games wearing pants?? And it was a real treat to shop in person, not online. And it felt great to know a LOT more about what I was doing when shopping.

And, the cherry on the whole deal is when I stopped back at the Clan Donald tent to ask after the tartan cop who berated me last year for wearing Macdonald Lord of the Isles they said he was gone. "Bob" was not particularly a socially facile guy and he was sorta asked to leave. In fact, a lady there remembered the incident and again apologized for the clan saying he was dead wrong, as did the clan officials I followed up with last year.

Would have liked to have seen him again and offered him a more informed response than I had last year...but, this way I didn't get arrested or anything

If, by chance, you're new to kilts, go immerse yourself in the highland games near you.

Ron

[mudd]

I was going to go the Estes Park Festival last September, Kilted for the first time, but I had just filled the tank up with $3.35 a gallon gas and decided to skip it. I’ll have to make it a point get there for the next one.
The Estes Park Festival is great because of the location. With the mountains and the thick grass under foot and the good chance of clouds and rain, you get the feeling of being in Scotland.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Ron,

Great that your education has grown! Mine has as well, and when I consider what I wore to my first Celtic festival last summenr, I shudder! It was not really that bad, but I would be embarassed to wear the same thing today!

[Iolaus]

...One vendor had my Macdonal clan tartan kilt in polyesther "on sale" for $99 IN MY SIZE!! Boy talk about getting hooked. But you guys (and most lovely ladies) have taught my to pay attention. This "kilt" had pleats as wide as a Utilikilt with no depth. The leather straps were a tad bit thicker than paper thin. They only came in one length, Two inches too long for my legs. Then I was fortunate that another cousin came a long and went as far as to try it on...easier for the panted....and hanging off of him the cheapness was evident. Thank you, I'll save my $99 towards my next quality kilt, perhaps in that tartan....

I did almost the same thing. With the vendor standing right next to me, I started looking at a MacDonald kilt for $99. Several of the other tartans next to that pile, including the Camo, had tapered aprons, but for some reason the MacDonalds didn't. I pointed that out to the guy, and told him that I was this close to getting one, but was able to talk myself out of it by noticing that the one I wanted was sub-standard, compared to his other wares. He followed me out of the stall to ask who I was (I didn't tell him) and why I had looked at that particular detail. I gave him a card, and told him that there was a large on-line community that shares info like that, and that he should check out the sorts of things we look for, to improve his business.

[Blu (Ontario)]

Barring unforseen circumstances, my wife and I are planning to attend the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville Ontario this year. This event is home to the North American Pipe Band Championships. This is a large event with at least 75 bands in attendance and a massive tattoo that litterally shakes the earth underfoot. The colors, kilts, music, and heavy events make these games the biggest and best I've ever seen.

I trust there will be a lest a few other Xmarks folks there.

[Norbydog]

KiltedCodeWarrior,

What did you wear, if you do not mind saying, so we (er...mainly I) don't make a similar mistake. This summer will be my first trip to any Highland Games.

[MacHummel]

I would like to think a few would be there Blu You might see me there I bet if you go to Fergus again this year you'll bumped into a few faces.

[Livingston]

I was going to go the Estes Park Festival last September, Kilted for the first time, but I had just filled the tank up with $3.35 a gallon gas and decided to skip it. I’ll have to make it a point get there for the next one.
The Estes Park Festival is great because of the location. With the mountains and the thick grass under foot and the good chance of clouds and rain, you get the feeling of being in Scotland.

I've been up there every year for the last 8 or 10. Any more you will usually see me assisting with the pipe competition. Of course, unlike most that travel to the games, I have a great place to stay. My parents have a large house there

[Streetcar]

I know what you mean. I wore shorts to my first Highland games. I wore my Utilikilt – with pride – to the next few. Last summer, however, it just didn’t feel the same. Armed with the knowledge from this board, I found myself examining more traditional kilts, stitches, strap material, etc. I was talking to one of the kilt vendors, and she said that UK’s are like “training kilts,” and it’s not long before you start longing for something more traditional.

[way2fractious]

...another cousin came a long and went as far as to try it on...easier for the panted...

IMHO, nothing is easier than undoing all but the underapron strap, wrapping and strapping a new kilt slightly higher atop the other, then reaching under the new top apron to undo the old underapron strap and drop the old kilt. A little hip action drops the new kilt into place nicely. I have done so many times at the MacDonald tent at highland games as I change from camo to tartan and back (I was representing the clan in the kilted mile run.)

The whole process goes quickly and appears less burlesque than donning and dropping trews or shorts for the change. Of course, if one is wearing a proper mid-thigh shirt, then none of the above applies.