Wearing the kilt while driving

[Bidule]

Being a "gentleman of substance", I don't like to drive being kilted. I have got some problems with my sporran which always touches my steering wheel, so I have to put it out of on my side. And I do'nt think that, in the case of long rides, the situation of being seated for a long time on the pleats is the best way to keep them fit. So, I would like to have some advices and, maybe, some tips from the "Rabble", to be a happy "kilted Driver"!
Thanks for your feelings about this question!

[TimButterfield]

Part of the issue with driving is the duration of force applied to the pleats. Depending on the fabric, several hours of force applied to an incorrectly aligned pleat may alter the pleat while only a few minutes of force may easily shake out when you are once again vertical. One tip I have heard regarding pleat care while driving for longer distances is to wrap a towel around your kilt and then, while holding the towel snugly in front of you, sit and rotate in. This puts the shear forces of seat against the towel instead of against the kilt. Once situated, you can release the towel and drop the ends to the sides.

[Jock Scot]

The sporran problem is easy to solve------take it off and put it on when you arrive at your destination.

I can only speak about wool kilts and even after a 5 hour drive the pleats sort themselves out within a very short time and any creases that should not be there will drop out just as quickly. Just get on and enjoy the day and let the wool sort itself out-----and it does.

[Chas]

My favourite driving kilt is PV and I have had no problems with the pleats after a long haul. Proper pleatsweep is a must though. If it isn't right, get out and do it again.

Regards

Chas

[cruiser348]

One recommendation I have gotten from others here regarding driving kilted is to put a belt around you when you go to sit down and once seated slide it down until it clears the kilt. This helps be sure they are aligned as you sit and keeps wrinkles to a minimum. As far as the sporran I will use a phrase I have uttered often while reading threads here; listen to Jock.

[chrisupyonder]

As per Jock. No problem with my 16oz 8yd tank after a 5 hour drive from Stonehaven to Bonar Bridge towing a caravan.

It only takes 30 seconds to take sporran on/off.

Chris.

[O'Callaghan]

Can you imagine a woman in a pleated skirt getting up to these strange antics to keep her pleats straight? No, neither can I. If my wife did I don't think I could keep from laughing. So, how do your wives react? Can they keep a straight face?

As for the sporran, I'm with Jock on that. I put mine on when I get where I'm going.

[Riverkilt]

Living in the boonies, 135 miles to the nearest city, I drive kilted a lot. For me, the minor inconvenience of "settling in" is far outweighed by the FREEDOM and comfort of driving kilted.

I just pull my sporran to my left side next to the door, a very convenient receptical then.

Don't use a towel or belt to set the pleats under me - I go ahead and sit down, then raise myself up and sweep the pleats into a reasonable order. I'm more concerned with personal comfort for the ride ahead than I am with pleat alignment.

I've also found that even on long drives - six hours my max - the pleats do well and hang back out soon enough, never enough wrinkles to embarrass myself. I drive wearing hand sewn wool kilts, leather kilts, and PV kilts.

A concern out here in the land of sunshine is sunburning my knees. I take along a large neckerchief to use to cover my bare knees when the sun is on them. Also works as a napkin to protect the kilt if I'm nibbling food while driving.

I remain amazed that kilts - particularly Utilikilt type kilts - haven't become the rage with long haul truckers. Used to urge Utilikilt to set up a booth at a truck show and see what happens. Bet it'd be good. We have our share of kilted truckers and bus drivers on the board.

Its just common sense.

[Father Bill]

I just slide the sporran around to the side. No problem

...and the guys are right on re: wool.

[Zardoz]

I have a smallish sportscar with grippy cloth seats and a fixed steering wheel. I don't have too much trouble sliding in with my PV kilts, but the wool ones don't slide on the seats as easy. I just don't have room in there to lift my butt or do much adjusting.
I take a piece of stiff paper, like brown butcher's wrap etc, don't use newsprint!, and cut a piece about the size of the seat. Place it in the seat and sit in the car sideways, do your sweep and get everything nice, and then rotate to the front, paper and all. I developed this idea by accident, but it's been working OK.