lightweight tartan rejected

[Geoff Withnell]

No USAK Casuals? I'm surprised.

In contrast, I know of only one "upper echelon - top 20" North American highland athlete in the last five years who wears a full-on wool kilt. That was Larry Brock, who retired at the end of the 2011 season. The OVERWHELMING favorite kilt among the athletes you see on the field at any North American highland games is Sportkilt. I would venture a guess that 70% of North American highland athletes wear Sportkilts.

The next most-worn...and this is *way* down in percentage points, is the Stillwater standard acrylic model.

I'm inviting 30 atheltes, more or less, to the Tartan Day event at Ardenwood this coming April. Here's the breakdown:

Open Mens A&B: seven sportkilts, one Stillwater, one full-on wool
Lightweight Mens and C class mens: six sportkilts, one home-made kilt, one unknown
Masters Men: Two wool, possibly wool-blend kilts, five sportkilts, one home-made
Womens class: six sportkilts, two unknown

[EagleJCS]

As a piper in Kentucky (where we get quite a range of temperature and humidity), I'm not at all surprised at seeing that the southern states pipe bands tend to go for lighter weight kilts. The Louisville Pipe Band wears 11/13 oz. wool kilts, and sometimes after a late spring or early fall event the liner around my waist is completely soaked through with perspiration when I get home & take my kilt off. (We generally take mid/late June and July off as it's too hot and humid out to kilt up.)

I'm also not at all suprised about Alan's experience that the athletes wear the less expensive poly/blend kilts. Were I to be participating in the heavy athletics I, too, would wear something that I'm not afraid to get dirty and/or tear that would clean up easily (washing machine) or be easily replaced.

[Alan H]

I "push" USA Kilts casuals pretty strongly to athletes, and a few have taken me up on it, but the culture just goes with SportKilts, and considering what we do, and what they guys/gals on the field are primarily into, it makes sense.

Maybe a quarter of these athletes also own very nice wool kilts, which they wear to more formal occasions. That' sjust a guess, it might be more like 10-15%. Most do not own nicer kilts.

[creagdhubh]

Bring forrit the proud swing of the heavyweight tartan!

[Domehead]

Interesting and considering the educated responses, perhaps understandable.
I wonder what the verdict would be if the "jury" was provided samples of 15/16oz fabric, but unconventional pleats - Kingussie, Box, Military Box?
I recognize these styles are not aesthetically delectable for contemporary piping. However, I'm genuinely curious.

[BBNC]

Well, this has been an interesting discussion so far! I just ordered my first kilt, a 10yd (I'm a big boy), knife-pleated, 16oz. wool; which I hope will hang, and move nicely. Not as expensive as some, more expensive than others.

[freddie]

Well, this has been an interesting discussion so far! I just ordered my first kilt, a 10yd (I'm a big boy), knife-pleated, 16oz. wool; which I hope will hang, and move nicely. Not as expensive as some, more expensive than others.

Don't forget to post pics of it when you get it!