Forward

Well folks, it's been almost 3 months since I first received my hemp kilt made by our very own Robert Pel of Rkilts, and I think that has given me enough time to get a feel for my kilt in different situations and write up a review. Now before I begin, I do want to mention that this particular kilt is made from a 13oz (heavier and coarser weave) 100% hemp twill fabric as opposed to the standard hemp/cotton blend Robert normally uses for his dyed kilts. It was something I wanted and requested after much digging around to find a supplier for this kind of fabric, a search which turned out to be more difficult than I initially thought. I sent Robert some swatches upon his request so he could see if the fabric would be suitable for a kilt and after he approved, I ordered and began the Jonesing.

The Jonesing and My Initial Thoughts

Everything went well during the ordering process and Robert provided outstanding communication throughout. He has the patience and courtesy of a Saint, in my opinion, because anyone else would have been driven to the brink of insanity with all the questions I kept asking. But Robert didn't flinch, and helped me with selecting the best options for my kilt. A true gentleman indeed. He kept me updated on the progress of the kilt and when he told me it shipped, the real Jonesing began. But finally, it arrived....



Remember that infamous scene in 'A Christmas Story' with the leg lamp? I could have won an Academy Award for reenacting the excitement captured in that scene. When I opened the box, I finally understood why Ron (Riverkilt) lays claim to Robert including a sort of 'essence of leather' fragrance in his packages; the sweet scent now released into the air was enough to make PETA purist sweat. I reached in and as I pulled out my new kilt, I noticed how unexpectedly soft and pliable the fabric was. I had anticipated the fabric being more rigid, needing to be softened through a few washings, but it felt as if it already had been. Needless to say, this was a pleasant surprise. The leather bits were thick and malleable and the brass hardware glistened in the light. I felt a smile starting to overcome me, but I was able to hold it back and retain my composure.

(There would be a photo here of me pulling it out of the box, but my senses at this point had become overwhelmed and the resulting absence of a steady hand yielded nothing but blurry photos.)

But now came the big question (no....not that one); does it fit? As this was the first kilt I've ever ordered, I had no prior experience to refer to when it came to measuring, only what was provided on Robert's website. So, I strapped it on and the verdict was in - it fit! Woooo! I was helpless in trying to fight off the overwhelming smile this time. I was one seriously happy guy.

Testing, Testing...

So now that everything checks out, it's time to see how my new kilt performs. As it so happens, my first outing was with some friends for a birthday, which consisted of going to a restaurant, a club, and finally a bar. The kilt was very comfortable and the pockets carried everything I had (even some friend's stuff) effortlessly throughout the night. I've never had this much weight strapped to my waist before, but I didn't find it uncomfortable at any point. I did have a crash course with how far pleats can expand and learned to be aware of my surroundings, namely objects at kilt height. Coincidentally enough, I also learned how to pick stuff up from the floor whilst kilted.... Pleat sweeping came naturally and I managed to keep them fresh looking the entire night. I lucked out with the pliability of the fabric; when sitting or squatting, the apron readily folds down between the legs. The swish is excellent too. All-in-all, I found it to be a user-friendly kilt and everything just came naturally. Robert's kilt design is a very good one.

I also had opportunities to see how it handles other environments and situations. It kept me very comfortable while mowing a difficult lawn during the muggy August days. I haven't had much of an opportunity to test it in the colder weather, but I would imagine it's at least decent considering the weight and properties of hemp. It does well with challenging gusts of wind; it danced about, but made no attempts at answering 'the question'. It does become noticeably heavier during a downpour though. It absorbs water well and takes a while to fully dry. I have yet to master the art of pressing pleats to perfection. That will come with time and more practice.

Conclusion

Conclusion? You simply cannot go wrong with an RKilt. Robert is wiling to work with ideas and help make customers satisfied. While I cannot attest to the qualities of the fabric Robert normally uses (which I'm sure is just as excellent), I can speak on behalf of the quality of construction. Everything is reinforced by either rivets or leather. I would not recommend working near heavy machinery (like say....a wood chipper) while wearing one if his kilts, because if someone would have the misfortune of getting it caught in in a moving part, the kilt would be the only thing that would survive.

Seriously.

The next two posts contain gratuitous amounts of photos. Hopefully they will clear up any unanswered questions.