Too Tall?

[Tim B]

I'm just about finished with my first DYI kilt and I'm getting ready to add the extras. But I have one worry. I am 6' 5" (176cm) tall and worried that I won't be able to buy kilt hose that will be long enough that I will be able to turn them down at the top without revealing too much leg. Should I be concerned? Any help and/or direction will be appreciated.

[McFarkus]

You might try soccer hose - I'm sure there are tall soccer players. If regular kilt hose are too short for you, you might have to have hand knit ones. You can do them yourself or try Scottish Tartan Museum - http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose.htm

[thoth51]

Tim,

Your metric conversion looks a little off. At 6'5" you would be closer to 190cm.
Good luck finding your extra long hose.

[Barb T]

The other thing you can do is buy piper hose that are meant to be turned down twice. The British Shop has them in a variety of colors at a very reasonable price ($30):

http://www.britishshop.com/catalog.php?cat_id=17

[McMurdo]

That is a good idea Barb, so further to that you could also look here, for piper hose at the cost of $22:

http://www.scottishlion.com/piperkilthose.html

[ForresterModern]

I too am 6"5" and 270# and have no problem finding hose of proper length. I particularly like the piper's hose in various colors from ScottishLion.com, as they have a double or triple roll over popcorn top, are mostly wool (except for pure white), and come generously sized. Not least of all they are not very expensive---around $22 a pair (with free shipping over $100 purchased). Have a ball.

Also, Scotweb has what they call country socks (a bit hard to find on their website) which are very long and have some very colorfull turnover tops with various patterns. A bit more expensive but truly attractive, if the colors match well with your kilt.

[Tim B]

Thanks all! The advice and links are a HUGE help. Yes, my metric conversion was off...it's been a while since I had to use it...think it should have read 197cm. At least that's what I was told years ago when I was stationed in Korea with the Army. Thanks again for the advice.

[chasem]

I'm about 6'3," and I personally haven't had a problem with the standard kilt hose. My height is more in my legs as well. But I'm liking these other ideas as well.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Check out the MacNab shotgun site-- they also sell shooting socks (same as kilt socks) and can supply them for the tall and/or pudgy. I've one friend who's 6'7" with a 40 inch waist (definitely not a tubby guy), and he gets all of his kilt hose from the same place he buys his shot shells and other hunting paraphernalia. Finally Gaelic Themes in Glasgow is also pretty good at helping out vertically superior people.

[Colin]

You'll be fine with regular kilt hose. I am 6'4 and a good friend is 6'7. Neither of us has had any issue with kilt hose being too short. I use the Gaelic Themes ones that can be found on most sites (Tartanweb, USAkilts, etc,etc). It also makes it easier to avoid that all too common and sloppy looking mistake of not having enough leg showing between the kilt and the hose. I have seen way too many pictures of guy with kilt so low and hose so high that you can't tell where one ends and the next begins.

I would advise against soccer socks or rugby socks. The material is quite different and much thinner. I find the soccer socks look thinner and almost see through. That looks ackward on most people, but particularly on very tall people.

Skip the cheap socks and buy one or two pairs of kilt hose.