Opinion: the wearing of Sports Socks with Kilt (Soccer,Hockey,Baseball)

[Wareyin]

As a fellow Georgian who tries to go the traditional route, I wouldn't recommend them. I have bought a pair, and they just don't look right. They're too thin, and honestly they feel no cooler than my regular kilt socks (I wear the soccer socks now to jog on cooler mornings, rather than with my kilt).

As an aside, we're trying to get a regular gathering of X-Marks members around Atlanta for kilt nights. You are welcome to join us, check the Georgia section if you're interested.

[O'Callaghan]

IMHO, anything sold as kilt hose are overpriced. However, I was a bit confused by a post in an earlier thread that lambasted football socks, until I realised he was talking about American Football and assuming he would be understood on the World Wide Web (hint: It's not the America Wide Web). Those are indeed a bit too thin, but I see nothing wrong with the ones worn for real football, i.e. association football, called soccer by some. Of course, a traditionalist will be able to tell the difference, but I can't say I really care.

[tundramanq]

I haven't had anyone ask about the ribbed cushion foot knee high Juzo 5760 Cotton compression socks that I must wear.
They only come in black and white. So I have bought and dyed a bunch of the white pairs to more traditional kilt hose colors.
Cotton takes the Dylon permanent dye very well, the elastic at the bottom of the ribs not at all.

The only real down side is that they aren't suitable to be folded over for flashes.
It would turn the "gradient compression" into a "constriction band" at the top.

[Liam]

When you suggest hockey socks, I presume you are thinking of field hockey, not ice hockey.....
I got a chuckle when I thought of how what I think of as hockey socks would look like with a kilt.

[Liam]

I haven't had anyone ask about the ribbed cushion foot knee high Juzo 5760 Cotton compression socks that I must wear.
They only come in black and white. So I have bought and dyed a bunch of the white pairs to more traditional kilt hose colors.
Cotton takes the Dylon permanent dye very well, the elastic at the bottom of the ribs not at all.

The only real down side is that they aren't suitable to be folded over for flashes.
It would turn the "gradient compression" into a "constriction band" at the top.

I too wear compression hose, and have knitted hose tops that use over the garters. They are great for hot weather.

[Hexdef101]

Thanks for all of the good comments, guys. Certainly answered the question.

@O'Callaghan: You will note in my title that I clearly included Soccer, while it is true I am in America, I certainly know that y'all call Soccer Football. I notice after further reading you may have been commenting on said earlier post (not by me). If so then I apologize for the assumption that I didn't know about Soccer/Football.

@Liam: I never even thought about the differences between Field Hockey and Ice Hockey Socks, Yeah now that you mention it that would look a tad funny. In fact the ones I have are more apropos to Baseball,Football,Soccer, and Rugby then Hockey. That said Field Hockey probably uses the exact same type, so it still works. Certainly those pads would look out of place

@tundramanq: I never even considered Compression Socks as the ones I have seen around my area are simply too short. While the Sport Socks I have are a smidge tighter then Kilt Hose, Turning them down doesn't have the same effect doing the same on a longer pair of compression socks would.



To be honest with all of you, my opinion is that in informal settings they are perfectly acceptable, For a formal engagement They would be entirely inappropriate. I suppose it depends on the shoe, If Hikers are acceptable then so are they, if your wearing Brogues then leave them at home and spring for proper hose. Of course that leaves regular old Dress Shoes/Loafers in the situational position.

[MacGumerait]

Hexdef101 ,

House of Cheviot makes a lighter weight kilt hose called Glenmore . They are also relatively less expensive than the medium or heavy weight kilt hose - $ 24.99 pair . I own a couple of pair and they are very comfortable and much cooler on the legs .

Here's a link :

http://www.scottishtradingcompany.co...oducts_id=1742

Cheers , Mike

[tripleblessed]

There's a big difference between: 1- can it be done?, 2- should it be done?, and 3- do I choose to do so?. The first answer
is most often yes, as long as we're not talking walking on water. Second is quite often no, but how often have we all ignored that one? Only you can answer the third. I live NW of you just above I-285, and I've always been about as casual as they come, and now I'm retired. So, more so. I'm in kilts about 80% of the time I go somewhere, year round. My go-to hose are House of Cheviot's Lewis line. I have others, less expensive, different material, rarely worn. I've never found the Lewis to be too hot. They hold up to heavy wear better than the socks you reference. I still wear the original pair I bought years ago. My athletic socks have never lasted as long on me. As is often the case, cheaper generally means cheaper, while in this case, Lewis gives value, as they'll outlast several pairs of cheaper, and look MUCH better doing it. The lack of turndown is another major factor here, and if it bothers someone as casual as I, worth considering. I would never wear them myself with a kilt. that's just for me. That said, join us at kilt nights, at the Tavern in Conyers, and for Burns Supper in whatever you choose to wear. You're more important to us than you're choices. I'll say "Well met".

[Angstrom]

I have both athletic hose and woolen kilt hose and wear them as the situation dictates.


For hiking in brush where there's a high chance of a snag, or for any activity where I know I'll be sweating a lot(contradancing, for one), the athletic hose seems more appropriate.


For normal wear, I prefer the look and feel of the kilt hose.

[O'Callaghan]

Thanks for all of the good comments, guys. Certainly answered the question.

@O'Callaghan: You will note in my title that I clearly included Soccer, while it is true I am in America, I certainly know that y'all call Soccer Football. I notice after further reading you may have been commenting on said earlier post (not by me). If so then I apologize for the assumption that I didn't know about Soccer/Football.

<snip>

To be honest with all of you, my opinion is that in informal settings they are perfectly acceptable, For a formal engagement They would be entirely inappropriate. I suppose it depends on the shoe, If Hikers are acceptable then so are they, if your wearing Brogues then leave them at home and spring for proper hose. Of course that leaves regular old Dress Shoes/Loafers in the situational position.

I was indeed talking only about the earlier thread. By saying just Football and meaning American Football this other guy had me scratching my head, until after I actually bought a pair of the socks he was really talking about, and could see immediately why he said it. I have lived in the US a long time, but have still spent more of my life the other side of the pond, so when someone says football I think soccer first, and had already established that those socks looked fine with a kilt, as long as you avoid the ones endorsing footwear. I never watch The NFL kind, to a large extent because I find the rules incomprehensible, although I once made the mistake of saying that out loud, and wished I hadn't, finding the explanation no more enlightening.

I'm also not saying that any type of athletic socks is suitable for a formal evening function, but I seldom if ever have any opportunity to attend same, much less in a kilt. If I am wearing a kilt beyond my own back yard I am probably at some kind of celtic festival, in which case I don't dress formally to trudge around a field, although I suppose if I wore a tweed jacket and a tie with a plaid and carried a cromach I would probably upgrade my socks too (shades of Brigadoon?).