In Praise of Vests

[Riverkilt]

I'm a vest junkie too...especially Pendleton vests. But obviously they clash with tartans and they have few, if any, pockets.

So today for St. Paddy's day I have dark green kilt hose, my USAK semi-traditional Ireland's National, my green Northern Arizona Irish Foundation t-shirt and an olive Carhardtt vest. No sporran.

I tried Ham's suggestion of leaving the sporran off and putting stuff in my vest or jacket. This Carhardtt vest has two large inside pockets, perfect for wallet and stuff. Outside pockets for other stuff. Clean lines, nice looking. Sorry, no pic or website. Just a basic Carhardtt vest.

What I noticed is how convenient it is at work, not having to mess with a sporran. Not having the sporran thunk around when I walk or be in the way of how I hold my legs when I'm seated. This is nice.

So now, I'm looking for vests with a lot of pockets, but not the fishing vest, travel vest kind...just vests with pockets....maybe iron some on the inside of my existing vests...probably won't work too well here in the high desert come summer, but meantime - I sure like vests better than sporrans for holding my stuff.

Ron

[Manu]

I too have been looking for laternatives to the sporra Ron. Ive worn jackets and such with my kilts. Now I am looking to get some tartan material to make some TFCK style front pockets. We'll see how it works.

[Southern Breeze]

Sounds as if you have a vested interest in not wearing a sporran.

[mudd]

I’m with you, Ron. I don’t find the sporran very comfortable.

A vest seems like a good alternative to me. Let us know if you find any good sources.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Not sure about vests for myself for everyday wear. Might look a bit odd in my corporate setting, but probably no more so than the guy who insists on wearing bow ties to an office that has a business casual dress code! However, on the lines of not wanting to wear a sporran, I have to agree that pocket are definitely a plus from the trousers world! I am especialy a fan of Jeff's (PK) underapron pocket. Anybody who does not have one is missing out! The ability to have your wallet, and keys and small change, easily accessible in the underapron is a genius invention. Couple that with slash pockets or rear pockets and you are ready for anything!

[LoftGuy]

Hi all,

I'm not a big sporran fan either; I find them both noisy and uncomfortable, but I believe a sporran does complete the "look" when wearing a traditional kilt.

I have found a vest, either by itself or with a kilt jacket, to be a good solution to the storage problem. I don't have any non-trad kilts so I can't speak to the issue of kilts with pockets.

Bob

[jjoseph]

...not a big sporran fan either; I find them both noisy and uncomfortable, but I believe a sporran does complete the "look" when wearing a traditional kilt.

I would have agreed with you about noisy and uncomfortable a year ago.... then I discovered the Buzz Kidder sporran; it's not only roomy (useful) but because it's soft thick leather and has a fob instead of tassels, there's not ka-thunk ka-thunk when I walk, no painful thwap when walking and no stiff plank on my lap when I sit. VERY high praises.

As far as the look, I think a kilt really needs a sporran. I wear one with even my UKs for just that reason. It adds balance and I think sets the kilt off as a masculine garment.

Oh and a thought: for all but fancy dress, I've dropped the metal sporran chains in lieu of a black nylon web belt. It has the same clasp at the ends that the chains have but the belt part has one of those plastic buckles like you find on back packs... just insert to snap, so it's a breeze to adjust, a breeze to put on; it's comfortable, unobtrusive and doesn't cause that wicked wear and tear on the kilt fabric.

[jjoseph]

just re-read thread.... my apologies to Riverkilt, since this was primarily about vests.... which, btw, I DO love wearing when kilted -- from Goth to dapper, very sharp, very useful, but hard to find.

So note to moderator, please feel free to snip my post re. sporrans and straps to wherever it SHOULD go. Thanks

[GlassMan]

Personally, I love both vests and sporrans and think that they look great together.