So I’ve had my Union kilt for a couple of weeks and it’s time for a review.

First the basic construction. For those of you familiar with Utilikilts, that’s about what it is, narrow apron and reverse kingsuisse pleats. How ever, unlike a UK, the only snaps are at the waist (two on each side under the belt sort of like the snaps on a Survival. Additionally there are two cloth straps that attach on the right hip. The straps don’t seem necesicary (and may actually be a problem that I’ll get to in a moment), but they kind of give a gothic rock and roll feeling to the kilt (at least in my black one). Strangely these straps go all the way across the outer apron (on the inside). The pockets are similar to a UK Workman’s (the left a big pocket and a small outer pocket, but without the snap, the right two pen sized and one cell phone pocket with a flap.

The good:
Frankly the only complaint I’ve ever had about Utilikilts is that I have always wanted a Workman’s in Denim (That style is my favorite, and what I wear for work most of the time, but I really don’t care for the stiff duc cloth. I had high hopes for my Rkilt (and I do really like it), but I have learned that, for work at least, I need the narrow apron. So for the look and practicality I give it an A (A+ would have been if it had the hammer loop and the key clip. Price wise (I know mine was free) they are also a good deal since they cost (with shipping) about $180 vs. about $220 for a Workman’s.

The bad:
For some reason the inner apron tends to hang a little askew, causing it to be about ½” lower than the front apron. The best I can figure is that it is caused by the hip strap and then only the waist snap. If I don’t do the straps it doesn’t happen. Unfortunately one strap hole is too loose (and looks silly) and the next is too tight. So maybe this problem will go away if I lose some weight. A little piece of Velcro on the inner apron edge might do the trick as well.

Also the belt loop on the right side of the outer apron is coming undone. Considering that there is only about a cm of space to sew it (because of the snaps) it is not surprising, but it is annoying, and I’m going to have to get it fixed.

The questionable:
Finally, someone (and that someone may be me) doesn’t know what denim is. I ordered the black denim, and it is not the same fabric as my denim UK, PK or RK (or any pairs of jeans I have ever had, for that matter). It is more of a twill, but it is heavier than the twill on my UK originals.

All in all, I like it a lot, and see a corduroy one in my future.

Finally, I also got one of their kilt belts, and let me say that this thing rocks. For casual wear, it have become my belt of choice, on all of my kilts.

Adam