The Full 8 or not?

[benkilt]

Hi, as usual I'm looking for my next kilt, hey, christmas is almost here, I was thinking of going for 8 yards tartan wool, 16 oz or maybe 13oz, but here's the question. Do I really need one? I live in the middle of England, not the Highlands or Alaska, what are the benefits of a kilt like I've described over say 8 yards of polyviscose, or 4-6 yards of a lighter wool, wool/blend? I'm never going to buy the hose, sgian dubh, fly plaid etc; I'd look a right pillock, so, what would you gentlemen recommend, the full 8 or not?

[Big Mikey]

If you don't care about formal or tradition, save yourself some money. A 16 oz. wool traditional kilt is something to be cherished and loved. It sounds to me as if you want to look good but informal. A quality p/v or wool blend will look good at a lesser cost.

[JimB]

I live in Utah where we have some pretty extreme weather. Down to 5 degrees F. in the winter and up to 105 F. or so in the summer. I can live quite well with a 13oz or 16oz wool kilt 90% of the time. When the weather gets in the 90s or higher I like a lightweight kilt but if I had to choose one, it would be the wool.

Sorry about the farenheit stuff. I can't think in celsius very well.

[McMurdo]

Well it is all up to you, with the kind of kilting that you are doing sounds like you don't really need a 16oz Wool kilt, so if it's primarily for pub crawls or knocking around in then don't bother with the 16oz wool kilt.

If it were me and had my way they would all be 16oz wool. The problem is the weather conditions here in Canada it's a little too hot right now for the heavyweight wool.

In defense of 16oz wool kilts I have a few of them and there is nothing like it when I wrap one of my heavyweight kilts around me I sure know it, and in the winter you will be glad that you have one.

In the end though it's up to you in the light of your own circumstances, take a hard look at what you will be doing in your kilt, if it's going to be primarily pub crawls etc. then a PV kilt just might be the ticket.

[jordanjm]

I wanted a 16 oz wool, I could not find my tartan in any other material. I put on my tartan wool kilt, and I felt ready to take on the world.

[sjrapid]

...I'm never going to buy the hose, sgian dubh, fly plaid etc; I'd look a right pillock, so, what would you gentlemen recommend, the full 8 or not?

I doubt very much that you will look a pillock. If you take pride in your appearance, and co-ordinate the kilt with shirt and other things that you're wearing, you can look very sharp.

I'm based in London (so have the same climate, more-or-less as you) and I wear the kilt 'casually' in (at present) one of three kilts, an 8-yard (actually, nearer a 9-yard) hand-sewn 16oz clan tartan tank, a black denim casual of my own sewing, and a black poly/cotton twill 4 yarder casual. I've not had any 'pillock' type comments when out and about.

There's a place for hose and sporran, even when casual kilting with the black 4 yarder casual. I've had several 'hey! looks sharp!' type comments when out shopping thus attired. I've never worn a skean dhu casually, (or formally) and agree that they're not as necessary as the highland outfitters would have you believe.

I'd say that as I look at my kilting future, there are probably more 4-yarders and casuals in it than 8-yard handsewns, though this is as much on cost as anything else.

But, as others have said upthread, as to the benefits of an 8-yard 16oz, there really is nothing quite like it for hang and swish, and for formal occasions, coupled with a Prince Charlie or Argyll there's little to beat it. I agree that a fly plaid is probably over formal, and probably unnecessary.

I recently went to the opera at Glyndebourne, and let me tell you, the 5 men who were there kilted (with varying degress of formality) were getting all the admiring looks amongst the hundreds of dinner-jacket wearing men.

Best regards

[Phil]

The heavier fabrics in the full 8 yards hold their shape and swing much better than the lighter ones and they probably last a lot longer too. That is why the hire companies all use 16 oz cloth. If you think you might look a right pillock then why are you even considering wearing a kilt? You don't need a lot of accessories other than a sporan anyway, a top, socks and boots look good but as sjrapid says it is an impressive outfit for formal events and that is when you want a good kilt.

[Cawdorian]

There isn't anything out there in the world of kilts that feels, looks or wears like a 16 oz wool 8 or 9 yard tank. They are a good investement, they will last for several generations.

[Woodsheal]

I'd go with the heavier 16 oz. cloth, but a kilt of less yardage. The perfect compromise! Our own Matt Newsome does hand-sewn 5 yarders. That's what I'm desiring for my next major kilt expenditure...!

http://kilts.albanach.org/other_kilt_styles.htm

[benkilt]

many thanks for the advice gentlemen, I seem to have inadvertently hit a nerve with some, but it was unintentional I assure you