Comparison: Daily wear UK Vs SWK

[Yaish]

Alright, I've been full time kilted (except at work) for over two years now, and most of that time has been in Utilikilts. I also have a sportkilt (not worth reviewing in the same company) and a Stillwater Kilt, which I have had for the last nine months or so.

In an effort to provide information to those who may not have it, here is a break down of the daily wear issues of both kilts.

Utilikilts

Several styles with various designs, makes it easy to match kilts to activities, such as the workmans for heavy work, survival for a hiking or camping trip, or mocker for dressy event.

Range of materials, again allowing options based on weather, activity, etc...

Pockets - The UK's real signature feature is the pockets. They are immense, and hold virtually anything you think you might need. I have carried paperback books, electronics, keys, cash, wallets, bottles of water, tools, and tons of other stuff all at the same time. The UK pockets really make them nice kilts to wear on a daily basis, as its so easy to take your stuff with you, and yet still have it be placed into different compartments for quick use. As an example, a common load for me in a UK Workman would be pager in a small side pouch, wallet in side pocket, keys in same pocket large folding knife in other small side pouch, PDA in that side pocket, cash in that same pocket, pen in pen pocket.
In fact, the worst thing about the pockets is my girlfriends tendency to leave her purse behind, because I can carry her wallet, phone, and keys too!

Wash/Care is also simple, its really just as easy as taking care of a cotton T-shirt. When its dirty, just wash it in cold water and either tumble dry or hang it, and iron if its wrinkly. Usually I dont even have to do that as I tumble dry and remove and hang it up immediately, so it doesnt wrinkle.

Stillwater Kilt (Standard)

Even though overall weight of material might be more, the kilt moves more freely due to the depth and number of pleats. Its a real pleasure to walk in.

The material also seems to keep you both warmer and cooler than a UK under the same conditions, and of course both beat pants in the heat, no doubt.

The lack of pockets is a BIG drawback to me, as that means I have to jam everything into my sporran or leave it behind. On the one hand, that means either I carry a great heavy lump "just above me boys", or I am without things I am accustomed to having, and often use. If I DO take everything with me, finding it when I need it is a chore. (it will invariably be on the bottom, whatever it is, when I need it)

Care is a bit more problematic than a UK, as it doesnt seem to hold up to the washer or dryer as well. Its either dry clean, or use Dryel type of home drycleaning kit. Still, Dryel does a poor job of actually removing dirt or stains from the garment, so that requires at least some spot washing by hand, and of course the ironing process is vital as the pleats are not sewn in.

The SWK is a lot dressier however, and is far more suitable for formal events than a UK in most cases. It is actually just as comfortble to wear, if not even more so than a UK, except for the weight of a loaded sporran.

Traditional style kilts ARE a bit more prone to accidental exposure however, since their wider aprons tend not to fall in your lap as easily as the narrower UK aprons.

All in all, the main weakness of the SWK or any traditional styled kilt is the lack of pockets, at least for me. I am planning on getting a SWK nylon cargo sporran however, so at least the organizational problem of the traditional sporran should be solved, though the weight located in one place will still be a weakness.

I do really enjoy my SWK however, and am committed to buying at least a few more and wearing them more frequently than I have been. If I can get away without wearing the sporran for whatever reason, they are so light and easy feeling, they are great to walk in.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Yaish,

I always wonder what I'm missing by not being a 24" long fit to try a SWK.

Think you'll like that nightstalker sporran, I sure do.

The other option I've used for tartan casual kilts, is a vest with the pockets to hold my "stuff."

Appreciate the heads up on the washing of SWK though. Haven't had that problem with my USA Kilts casuals, they wash up well with no hassles. I use the weighted clips on them too, same as on the UKs, to avoid ironing. Works for me.

Ron

[pbpersson]

I didn't like the Stillwater Blackwatch because of the lack of pockets AND the apron issue (I had to fight with it to get it between my legs and it still didn't work like a Utilikilt) and I found the fabric to be rough.

Have you ever worn "real" kilts and can you compare the Stillwater to a traditional kilt?

[Yaish]

I'm afraid not, no "real" (wool traditional, custom tailored) kilts to compare to. I certainly would like one, but it always comes down to there being something else that money can go for. Like three or four more SWK's, which suit my activities better.

Hopefully in a year or two I may get one, and I'm sure I'll make another review at that time.

For anyone who HAS compared the SWK's to a traditional wool kilt, please feel free to add to this thread.

[Roan Carter]

I'm in love with my standard Stillwater Kilt. I think there's some degree to which the material gets broken in and feels even nicer over time. Thanks for the cleaning advice, as I have a hard time keeping it clean from all the crazy stuff I get into while I wear it. (I live in this thing, lol.)

Do you happen to know what weight the acrylic wool of the standard stillwater kilt is, like 16 oz or something?

[NewKilt]

Yaish, Nice comparison between a non-traditional and traditional style kilt. I have 1 UK's in every material and model except the Survival and the Spartan. The rest of my kilts are all traditional wool.

The acrylics can be problematic in that they are subject to pilling (and snagging). I sold all of mine because of this. Any acrylic kilt will do this not just SWK's. Consequently, any traditional style kilts that I buy will always be wool. Wool is simply a matter of drycleaning once or twice a year. I do mine with Dryel at home and use spot remover if needed.

Certainly the advantage of the UK's is the tremendous amount of storage you have with the pockets. They are my favorites for casual wear. However, when the weather turns cold, my traditional wools see most of the action. When I wear a sporran, I limit what I carry to bare essentials to minimize digging around to find stuff. I have also found that using a money clip for your driver's license, a credit card or two, and some cash (rather than carrying the entire wallet) reduces weight and minimizes digging. When it's cold enough for a jacket outside, the sporran stays home - I have a black leather aviator's bomber jacket with ample pockets for my stuff. However, without the sporran, you absolutely need to remember to do a tuck because of the wide apron. This is especially true with wool kilts - that apron will tend to stay up even more so with wool than it will with acrylic.

I love both my traditional wools and my UK's. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. My favorite time of year is when the weather lets me wear either a UK or one of my traditionals depending on my mood.

Darrell

[smaughazard]

For anyone who HAS compared the SWK's to a traditional wool kilt, please feel free to add to this thread.

I'll jump in here, as I do own and wear both a tank and a SWK. My SWK is the heavyweight Black Shadow, and the traditional is a 13 oz. hand-sewn in my clan tartan. The Stillwater is very nice in most ways: good workmanship, quality materials, and quite good-looking. For me, the 24 inch length is too short (the tank is 27"!), which forces me to wear the SWK lower- about the height I wear jeans. The black material is pretty stain-resistant, and allows me to pick many combinations of shirt/hose to coordinate. While the pleats are well-made, the texture of the Shadow tartan makes the pleats occasionally adhere to each other and slightly inhibit the swing.

The traditional fits MUCH better, as you would expect from a custom-tailored garment. The wool's finish gives the kilt great swing; the pleats also seem to stay crisper. I'm very happy with the tank- and it is worth twice the price of the SWK. However, for that very reason, I'm reluctant to wear (and clean) it as often.

All that said, I will probably buy another SWK in the future- but I definitely want a couple more tanks!

[O'Neille]

I've got a good mix of SWKs, one standard and two heavyweights to compare to my two handsewn tanks. I like them all. Of course I am a standard sized kind of guy. I have a 33 waist and 34's fit perfect in almost every kilt I've ever purchased off the peg. My length is spot on 24 so that works out too. I guess I'm just lucky that the SWKs fit me so well, because for the price, the heavyweight wools are a great useful kilt with excellent finishing touches and hardware. I do like the slimmer cut out fell and the swish of a higher quality wool on a premium handsewn. I think for anyone who wants a nice wool kilt that can't be distinguished from a handsewn w/o close inspection should look at SWK heavies. As for the standards, they do have that acrylic fuzzy feeling, they get pills. I probably would get another if I found one for a great deal, but I would almost certainly spring for the extra and go for the wool if I were to get another. O'Neille

[Southern Breeze]

Great comparison, thanks for taking the time to put it together. I'll not add any comments as they've already been coverd in the other posts.

[Monkey@Arms]

Stillwater Kilt (Standard)

. . . and of course the ironing process is vital as the pleats are not sewn in.

Great review, just wanted to point out that the newer Stillwater Standards have pleats sewn-down at the hips.

Best regards,

Jake