The Freedom Kilt review.

[Dreadbelly]

My brown Freedom Kilt has caused quite a bit of sensation as of late, along with another solid coloured kilt.

The most common reaction I seem to have had in the past week or so seems to be that they love the kilt, the look, the hang, the pleats, the sway, but they don't like brown... Why brown? I am constantly asked. Why not?

First things first. This kilt has a mind of its own. I put it on and I never seem to do it just right. I strap it on and in no time at all, the kilt is riding up. Is this a bad thing? No! I, out of habit, strap this on where I strap my other kilts on, and my kilt actually does the work for me. Steve put quite a slope on it as you can see in this picture.



Ah, the beer gut cut. The kilt rises up, on its own, in the back, and sort of slides down a bit in the front. When my kilt gets done adjusting it self as I move around in it, it hangs beautifully. You can also see the quick release strap in that picture... I LOVE THIS. Oh geeze why didn't I order a kilt with straps like these sooner? This is SO MUCH EASIER on my arthritic fingers than trying to futz around with buckles. Instead of spending 5 minutes flailing around trying to buckle my kilt and scrunching my spine in ways it was never meant to scrunch trying to see what I am doing wrong, I can pop this thing closed with ONE HAND. Snag the female end between thumb and pinky, and the male end between index and middle finger. Click and go. And I still have one finger to spare!



In this picture, you can see the pockets. I like these, I really do. But I have a hard time using them. I LOVE the concept of them, and they are very clever in how they are placed... But they are to small for my hands. Next time I order a kilt from Steve, I need to tell him to add about an inch or two to the pocket opening. I can feel the seams straining if I jam my big hammy hand in there. I was able to slip in a couple of boxes of Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Jellybeans in these with no problems.



The best details are those that the people never see. In that picture, in the corner, where a fold is, the corner has diagonal stitching. I pondered that for quite some time when I first got it. I have realised that it makes everything hang the way that it should. When the fold flips out, the diagonal stitching kinda pulls it back because of how the shape becomes when it flips outward. It is really very clever.



The under apron is wide and comfortable. It also has exceptional detail, a place where I have noticed that some kilt makers skimp out, thinking nobody will see it. You can also see how the back of the kilt is larger than the front... The gut cut.

I apologise if the kilt looks a little rough. It has been lived in. Today, it was out in the sideways rain. And I do mean SIDEWAYS. Rain and quite a bit of wind. Heavy rain. The kilt got drenched, as did I, and my dog. It has been to the pub with me a few times, been on many walks, a few trolley rides, the dog has sat in my lap and has been held in my arms like a baby while I was wearing it, I've cooked a few meals in it, got alfredo sauce all over the front apron, it has been to the doctor's office, sat in for long periods of time while waiting, in short, I went about my day to day life and the kilt has endured quite well.

I only have one minor complaint, and this is no fault of Freedom Kilts. The poly cotton blend that the kilt is made from becomes uncomfortably warm and clings to sweaty skin once the temps are in the 80s. I will not be able to wear this once summer comes to the full broil setting I don't think... I am going to give it a few more washes and see if the fabric 'relaxes' a bit.

As a positive for the poly cotton blend, it does well in the rain. It got drenched, and I do mean drenched, but it dried quickly. Once the outer layers got soaked, it became rather waterproof. The surface became so saturated with water that further water could not soak in, but just ran off in a brazillion little rivers.

Yes, I would buy another Freedom Kilt, and I probably will. The next one will be in 100% cotton duc though, and wrinkles be damned.

[cessna152towser]

Nice review, Dreadbelly. As you know I bought a Freedom Cargo workweight kilt in olive grey, so I can identify with the points you make about the beer gut slope, the fastenings, the pockets etc.. Already its becoming my most travelled kilt, having been to London twice and then to the American Air Museum near Cambridge last week. Its a kilt in which I really feel good about myself while wearing and I've never yet had any adverse comments. Material is still very stiff but now that I've managed to spill ketchup on it I may have an excuse to wash it and soften it up. The thick material is also very useful when you are carrying a lot of stuff in your sporran - money, keys, camera, mobile phone, spare batteries etc - I found that out to my cost today wearing a more traditional kilt in Edinburgh where I had to turn the sporran out to the side while I was walking as it was bouncing back and forth and hitting me where it hurts at every step - I hadn't even noticed the sporran bounce with the much thicker Freedom kilt.

[ccga3359]

So you got just the two front pockets then? I have small delicate hands so should not have the prblem you mentioned but are the pockets positioned in a good place. I'm going to measure and order tomorrow. I take it that the QR buckles were a requested option?

[Dreadbelly]

Nice review, Dreadbelly. As you know I bought a Freedom Cargo workweight kilt in olive grey, so I can identify with the points you make about the beer gut slope, the fastenings, the pockets etc.. Already its becoming my most travelled kilt, having been to London twice and then to the American Air Museum near Cambridge last week. Its a kilt in which I really feel good about myself while wearing and I've never yet had any adverse comments. Material is still very stiff but now that I've managed to spill ketchup on it I may have an excuse to wash it and soften it up. The thick material is also very useful when you are carrying a lot of stuff in your sporran - money, keys, camera, mobile phone, spare batteries etc - I found that out to my cost today wearing a more traditional kilt in Edinburgh where I had to turn the sporran out to the side while I was walking as it was bouncing back and forth and hitting me where it hurts at every step - I hadn't even noticed the sporran bounce with the much thicker Freedom kilt.

I can indentify with the "thicker" feeling. The pockets, the double deep front apron folds, etc, all contribute to the front of the kilt. I dare say the front has just as much material as the back, at least in bulk.

I don't know if I would call a FK a tank, but it is darn close.

[Dreadbelly]

So you got just the two front pockets then? I have small delicate hands so should not have the prblem you mentioned but are the pockets positioned in a good place. I'm going to measure and order tomorrow. I take it that the QR buckles were a requested option?

The pockets are in a great place... Right where one would expect them to be.

And yes, the quick release strap was a request made by me... I heartily recommend that lots of other people make that request!

When the kilt gets a little to tight, like after nearly two litres of ginger ale and limes, or a large meal, you can kind of wiggle the strap in the buckle and losen the kilt by an inch or two. With out actually having to unbuckle anything. A Godsend!

[Fearnest]

A great review, Dread! I'd already decided my next kilt will be an FK, but you've only confirmed the wisdom of that decision for me - thanks!!!

[The Wizard of BC]

Dread I sincerely apologize about the pocket thing. I was so concerned with getting the slope correct that I never remembered that when cutting down the front that much I would need to relocate the pocket so the entire 7" opening is not compromised.

To all others, Dread asked me to make a kilt with NO Metal. But wanted straps. So the plastic quick release buckle. There is only one on the right side with a piece of velcro holding the left side of the under apron. This closing system is outside of my norm. I usually stay away from plastic and usually refrain from using velcro. Not that it can't be done. and as long as the wearer likes it. But Dread did have some trouble getting the velcro to hold. I'm sure he was just being polite not mentioning that in his review.

And I noticed that he never mentioned the original reason he ordered this kilt.
In another post Dread mentioned that he had trouble with other kilts because his thighs are larger than his hips which causes his other kilts to hang funny.

So, Dread, did we fix that or are there other things that you "forgot" to mention?

For a dreadlocked pirate you are far too kind.

[Dreadbelly]

Oh, it hangs just fine. I mentioned that in another post somewhere.

I think in the photo thread I made.

I really don't have any major complaints... The fact that I can't wear it in extreme heat is the only thing that really, truly irks me. I was looking forward to being able to wear this in the summer. It is not enough to make me dislike the kilt though... It'll be wonderful in the fall, winter, and whatever little bit of spring we have.

[ccga3359]

A great review, Dread! I'd already decided my next kilt will be an FK, but you've only confirmed the wisdom of that decision for me - thanks!!!

Line forms behind me.

[Dreadbelly]

I am an idiot... I totally forgot my favourite little detail.

There is a tiny Canadian flag tag sewed on to the kilt. For some reason, I am absolutely fixated on this one tiny detail... I think it is the little touches that like that truly makes a piece of clothing special. The little unexpected details.