comfort in cheaper kilts

[Jimmy]

At the Rosneath Highland Games last Sunday, the weather was fairly bad, it was one of those days that the sun came out then it rained, then the sun came out and then rained again. I decided to wear one of my more economical kilts costing about £25 bought from a place in Edinburgh about 3 years ago.
What I found about this kilt which I had not worn for sometime, was that it was probably one of the most comfortable kilts that I have ever worn even to the extent that I did not want to take it off that night and wanted to wear it at work the following day.

I suppose the cheaper versions may be on a par with the utilikilts and sport kilts for comfort but it certainly feels better wearing a lightweight kilt when out and about all day long although I do recognise the difference between my more formal and expensive kilts which are by far more dressier

[Chas]

The difference is, your cheaper kilt is acrylic, not wool. Acrylic is soft, whereas wool is most definitely not. I have a 30+ year old MacDonald which feels like sandpaper - luckily it doesn't fit me!

Regards

Chas

[Tobus]

I do have to agree that my acrylic cheapie low-yardage kilt is a tad more comfortable for banging around in. Which is why I use it for hiking and such. But it's no replacement for a traditional wool kilt.

I have a 30+ year old MacDonald which feels like sandpaper

Hmm, it sounds like it needs some maintenance. A new wool kilt feels very soft. Over time, with washing and such, the wool loses its lanolin and becomes bristly and rough as you describe. I'm sure I've read of ways to restore the lanolin to the wool and make it softer. I have an old tweed jacket that probably needs this treatment as well.

It'll probably never feel as soft as when it was newly woven, or be as soft as acrylic, but there can be hope for it.

[Chas]

I do have to agree that my acrylic cheapie low-yardage kilt is a tad more comfortable for banging around in. Which is why I use it for hiking and such. But it's no replacement for a traditional wool kilt.


Hmm, it sounds like it needs some maintenance. A new wool kilt feels very soft. Over time, with washing and such, the wool loses its lanolin and becomes bristly and rough as you describe. I'm sure I've read of ways to restore the lanolin to the wool and make it softer. I have an old tweed jacket that probably needs this treatment as well.

It'll probably never feel as soft as when it was newly woven, or be as soft as acrylic, but there can be hope for it.

That's why I specifically said it was a 30+ year old kilt - it was woven with Scottish wool, with no foreign imported wool added. Today's kilts are made from wool that has a high or total merino wool content, coming from Australia or New Zealand.

Scottish wool is used for carpets today, because it is more hard wearing.

Regards

Chas

[Cowher]

I hated my sportkilt. It was to light. I might be able to understand if I had a pv kilt with a heavier weight. But I think my wool kilts are the most comfortable I have ever worn.

[seanachie]

When I got my first kilts between budget and learning I purchased a few lower priced kilts made from acrylic. I thought value for money they were alright. A few different issues but nothing to get too upset about. Later on I got a PV kilt and the difference was enormous. I am not sure that I would wear acrylic again. Yes, I do know that PV is more expensive but not demonstratively. I would rather wait a bit longer and skip a few social outings and get the PV over acrylic. The comfort level is higher to me as well as PV breathes better and wearing for an entire day with all it's activities I find PV never chafing or irritating. Fortunately, I have no stories to add about flamability. I wore 2 PV kilts all over China last fall and they were great. Particularly for traveling I loved the low maintenance. I would shake out at night, hang and usually hung in the bathroom when showering for the steam.

[Mael Coluim]

When I got my first kilts between budget and learning I purchased a few lower priced kilts made from acrylic. I thought value for money they were alright. A few different issues but nothing to get too upset about. Later on I got a PV kilt and the difference was enormous. I am not sure that I would wear acrylic again. Yes, I do know that PV is more expensive but not demonstratively. I would rather wait a bit longer and skip a few social outings and get the PV over acrylic. The comfort level is higher to me as well as PV breathes better and wearing for an entire day with all it's activities I find PV never chafing or irritating. Fortunately, I have no stories to add about flamability. I wore 2 PV kilts all over China last fall and they were great. Particularly for traveling I loved the low maintenance. I would shake out at night, hang and usually hung in the bathroom when showering for the steam.

Bold added

Were are the pix? You wouldn't want to hold out from us would you?

[seanachie]

I don't have access to photos at the moment but here are a couple quick ones on the web....http://skyehighlandoutfitters.com/Gallery10.html

[Tobus]

That's why I specifically said it was a 30+ year old kilt - it was woven with Scottish wool, with no foreign imported wool added. Today's kilts are made from wool that has a high or total merino wool content, coming from Australia or New Zealand.

Scottish wool is used for carpets today, because it is more hard wearing.

Regards

Chas

Ah, I see. But for modern tartan material that does include merino content, it's pretty darn soft. In the "acrylic versus wool" comparison, I don't believe it's fair to compare it to wool that's not available today.

[Chas]

Ah, I see. But for modern tartan material that does include merino content, it's pretty darn soft. In the "acrylic versus wool" comparison, I don't believe it's fair to compare it to wool that's not available today.

Point taken, but wool is still not as soft as acrylic and being a natural product it will vary. Acrylic is very popular with those who go regimental for that very reason.

Regards

Chas