BIG hose help.

[CoreyMacLeod]

Don't have a lot of cash to spend. Measurement around the largest part of my calf is 19.5 to 19.75 inches. I need hose to fit this ham hock leg. Help?

[Splash_4]

That is the size of my calves. I have found that the hose from Hamilton Dry Goods to work very well. Others will also suggest using piper's hose. I cannot speak to that as I have single pair that I have not worn yet.

[MacHummel]

Our piper hose are 35.00 and we have them in many colours also they are great for the well turned calf.

[ForresterModern]

Here is the cheapest price I have found for Piper's hose, which as mentioned above are very stretchy:

http://www.college-of-piping.co.uk/a...Kilt_Hose.html

Depending on how much you buy fromthem, however, shippping may be prohibitive.

Lewis hose from Scottish Tartans Museum are generally fairly big, and I think Matt also has some hose specifically for bigger calves as well.

The superior hose at the following site are also good and stretchy, but as above shipping may make ordering fom them prohibitive:

http://www.bagpipecovers.com/hose.html


At worst you could have some custom hose made up for you but that is generally an expensive, albeit usually beautiful, option.

Happy hunting.



jeff :ootd:

[cavscout]

Yes, sadly standard kilt hose do not fit larger legs and even if you could get them up they would stretch out so badly that they would be uncomfortable and look terrible.

My calves are 19" and I swear by the pipers hose. The only color that has been a bit questionable is the green. The Blue and Black are my kilt hose of choice. I'm speaking of the 70% wool 30% Nylon.

Hamilton Dry Goods are very nice or the price considering they are cotton. The off white hose take dye fairly well so if they don't have a color you like, make your own They also come in a cable knit pattern for a bit more formality. It may not hurt to give them a call as sometimes they have hose that are not on their web site.

[Nighthawk]

Here is the only company us huge- legged guys on a budget will ever need:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/WB-SOCKS...34Q2ec0Q2em322

My hose come almost exclusively from them. I have 21 inch calves, and they fit me wonderfully! They're inexpensive, and while they're not exactly top shelf, they're great for every day wear. I wouldn't wear them to a Burns Supper or a wedding, but they're great for everything else. I just got three pair in the mail this afternoon as a matter of fact.

I would point out that their dark colors tend to run really dark- the forest green and navy blue are so dark as to almost be black. So I would recomend against those. But the lovats are great. I have a pair of purple to go with my Albannach tartan kilt, and those look great- almost as nice a color as my purple Lewis Rich hose. I got the purple WB socks so I would have a less than $65 pair of purple hose to wear- that way the Lewis Rich pair gets saved for those weddings and Burns suppers that the WB's will never go to.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Don't have a lot of cash to spend. Measurement around the largest part of my calf is 19.5 to 19.75 inches. I need hose to fit this ham hock leg. Help?

I'm not sure what your definition of "a lot of cash" is, but you should be aware that our popular Lewis hose range is available in large calf sizes.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose_lewis.htm

Scroll down to the "Fully Fashioned" option at the bottom. These are $10 more than the standard size hose, but well worth it for those whose calves are over 16". And you have 18 great colors to choose from.

$58 is more expensive than what you'll find at places like Hamilton Dry Goods, for sure -- but less expensive than having hose custom made to fit your calf size. And you won't find a better quality sock. (Though they are listed as "special order" on our web site, I do like to keep a small selection of colors and sizes in stock, so if you call or email I can tell you what's on the shelf right now in your size with no waiting).

Also, we can make custom argyle and diced hose in wide-calf sizes, as well.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose_custom.htm

You are looking at about $120 to $150 there, though.

[CoreyMacLeod]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'll certainly make a purchase soon. Need to drop a bit more weight for the kilt to fit as I want it to. Oh the weight gain blues.... Regardless, I am on the way. 17 down, say another 15 to go before the kilt fits proper. After that I will be looking to purchase a new kilt in the correct size.... anyway, I digress...

[Nighthawk]

I'm not sure what your definition of "a lot of cash" is, but you should be aware that our popular Lewis hose range is available in large calf sizes.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose_lewis.htm

Scroll down to the "Fully Fashioned" option at the bottom. These are $10 more than the standard size hose, but well worth it for those whose calves are over 16". And you have 18 great colors to choose from.

$58 is more expensive than what you'll find at places like Hamilton Dry Goods, for sure -- but less expensive than having hose custom made to fit your calf size. And you won't find a better quality sock. (Though they are listed as "special order" on our web site, I do like to keep a small selection of colors and sizes in stock, so if you call or email I can tell you what's on the shelf right now in your size with no waiting).

Also, we can make custom argyle and diced hose in wide-calf sizes, as well.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose_custom.htm

You are looking at about $120 to $150 there, though.

I will certainly second the Lewis Rich hose!! As I stated earlier, I have a piar of purple ones. They fit so perfectly that I don't actually need garters to hold them up- unless I'm also wearing a sgain dubh. If $68 plus shipping fits in with your definition of not a lot of cash, then these are more than worth the price. They're the most comfortable pair of socks I've ever owned, and they're nice and warm, too.

[Marshal Moroni]

Here's another vote for Piper's Socks. Hamilton Dry Goods wares are nice, but they were too tight for me to wear comfortably.

YMMV

Cheers,

Marshal Moroni