Pockets or No

**Grizzly** · 15th June 13, 01:58 AM

I personally don't care for the cargo pocket look but having seen Steve Ashton inhis Xmarks tartan Freedom kilt you honestly wouldn't know they are there. Steve had loads of stuff in his pockets and it's always nice to keep your hands warm on a cold day.

**MNlad** · 15th June 13, 05:22 AM

Put me down in the nice-to-have category. Handy, but not necessary. I've got slash pockets in two X-kilts and they are invisible—but there's my cash, wallet and car keys readily at hand instead of somewhere in my sporran. And, there are times when a sporran just gets in the way.

**unixken** · 15th June 13, 05:37 AM

If I need to carry more than the sporran allows (which is fairly often, it seems), I use either a small, large (or both) "Piper's pouch" on my belt. They're roomy, comfortable, accessible, and they don't distort the shape of the kilt, like a pocket might.

**O'Searcaigh** · 15th June 13, 05:51 AM

I can see how pockets might be helpful on a kilt worn for casual wear without a sporran. I rarely carry much of anything other than wallet/ID, car keys and a pocket knife even when "trousered." The pocket knife gets replaced with a sgian and the wallet and keys fit easily in the pockets of a kilt jacket or in a sporran when kilted. Kilt pockets might be nice though on summer days when it is too hot to wear a jacket and don't really want to wear a sporran either.

**OC Richard** · 15th June 13, 06:24 AM

Sorry but I think traditional kilts are more than adequate and I can't understand viewing them as wannabe pants (as in "kilts would be better if they were more like pants in X way and Y way").

When I want the features pants have I wear pants.

No pockets, belt loops, zippers, snaps, buttons, wash & wear fabric, or any other features from pants transferred to my kilts, please.

kiltedwolfman · 15th June 13, 07:32 AM

It's hard to make a solid thought on something if you've never experienced it. Most who have never had pockets in a kilt are steadfast that they would never need or like them. Then comes the day of enlightenment, when they get a chance to try out a kilt that has been properly pocketed and then they wonder how they ever lived without them. Don't knock it until you've tried it!

**unixken** · 15th June 13, 07:40 AM

Interesting perspective. That said, I have three 5.11 kilts for the range, and a SportKilt that I only wear around the house, among my collection. Each has pockets. But I prefer my wool and PV traditional kilts, without pockets. Perhaps it's the whole MUG vs kilt thing, for me.

**Panache** · 15th June 13, 08:04 AM

My Freedom kilt has two slash pockets and an under apron pocket and I find it very useful to have the ability to carry things like my camera, especially if it is a warm enough day and I can't wear a jacket. The slash pockets are invisible, have no effect on the lines of the kilt, and help keep me from overcrowding my sporran. What's not to like?

When I have worn my Freedom kilt to SCD functions the reactions I have gotten when casually (and easily) pulling dance diagrams or a handkerchief from my pocket have been always "that is really neat".

If we are talking about hidden pockets on a traditional or traditional looking kilt this just seems like a non-issue.*

Cheers

Jamie

* PS: I thought some military kilts had a pocket under the front apron for a pay book or something? Pockets on kilts isn't actually that modern an idea.

**WillowEstate** · 15th June 13, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

No pockets, belt loops, zippers, snaps, buttons, wash & wear fabric, or any other features from pants transferred to my kilts, please.

I'm with Richard on this one, kilts are kilts, pockets are "pants"!

**NeoDruid** · 15th June 13, 08:29 AM

Been awhile since I've chimed in on any topic, but the lack of pockets were one of the insurmountable drawbacks to wearing a kilt for me. Sporrans are great, but that's just one more thing hanging off my body, and they are so small. Then there's the problem of digging around in them to find your keys or chapstick passed the phone and the pager and the pocket knife, ad nauseum. I have two traditional kilts, and one of those has a hidden pocket under the apron. Everyday wear are Ulitmate SportKilts with slash pockets and under the pleats cargo pockets. There's a great hemp RKilt, some Survival Utilikilts, and the new Tactical 5.11 in my closet too. So for me, if it ain't got pockets is just a fancy dress to wear to a Burns Supper.