UK Comparison, Workman's to Survival

[Kilted_John]

I usually wear my survivals... The workman's and the heather gray mocker have not been used much at all. The mocker blows up too easily and doesn't have cargo pockets, and the workman's is cool, but, not really my style. At least, with the survivals, if I'm out on a shoot, I can load the cargo pockets with lenses and an extra camera body, and sometimes avoid bringing my bag with me. One of my plans is to add elastic loops to the pocket flaps, so I can put film cannisters on the flaps... Could probably carry at least three per flap.

However, if it's hot out, I may throw on my nightwatch cammo original. Recently, though, I have been commuting wearing my traditionals, then changing when I get to work into one of my survivals. Works well.

-J

[KiltedBishop]

I have an old style survival and I love it. But I think the comment about it blousing out is right. It is a light breathable fabric, the workmans is definietly not. For me it is a season thing. Workmans is great in the winter, crap in the summer. I have been wearing my original and my denim a lot lately. Though I really prefer the back pockets of the survival. the workmans will probably never completely soften, it wasn't designed to. if it did people who bought it to work in would complain it didn't last and they should change the name. I admit I didnt know truly what duc cloth was, if I had I am not sure it would have been my first, but you bought a kilt that was designed for construction work. I would be upset if it wasn't that sturdy. BTW if you want to soften it, don't iron it. That bad boy holds it pleats something fierce after an ironing.

[Riverkilt]

Ah Kid,

The Rose and the Orchid again...they're both great.

I have two workman's - black and caramel, and two survival IIs - tan and sage.

They are great kilts for mucking around in the boonies or for wearing to the office.

I too like the "hang" of the survival better, there's more swing, though a far cry from the swing of a tartan kilt.

Its comforting to me to have the deep, safe, pockets on the survival as an alternative to the cargo pockets. Only problem this old bird has is that they're sooooo deep I sometimes go looking for my keys and don't check my pockets deep enough and keep looking elsewhere when the keys are, in fact, in the pocket I just checked.

After getting used to the survival pockets when I switch to the workman's it seems nearly pocketless.

To me, the workman's has a more youthful look with all the metal. Only downside to the workman's is the modesty snaps can give you a chilly surprise on a cold day.

The survival presents as nearly a mocker when the cargo pockets are removed. I often wear my survivals like that to the office.

Initially, I was dissappointed that my basil survival II didn't have the pocket loops on it. I came to like that better and have now taken the pocket loops off my tan survival II so that it looks better when I wear it to the office without the cargo pockets. Realized I never used the loops for anything anyway.

The thicker, stiffer workman's fabric sort of sticks out at a bit of an angle more than it hangs. And I wear mine a lot, did the six washings in unscented Downy, and wash them after nearly every wearing.

I'll chose the survival over the workman's for a long drive just for the comfort of a softer fabric while seated.

For some reason the little clip dealie is on the left side on both. I'm right handed and am so challenged that the only way I can hook anything to it is before I put the kilt on.

Both models (at least of the four kilts I have) have the "drill hole problem" that's been well covered on other threads. If you know they're gonna be there its easier to accept.

It was my choice to stay away from the survival when it was in the initial fabric. Now that the fabric is fixed I'm very happy with it.

My hope is for more colors in the Survival II. A camo would have been perfect.

And, I still have a chocolate workman's near the top of my wish list.

Its all good. Get a bunch of both.

Ron

[KiltedBishop]

I actually asked about a dark green survival, like the original. I would buy one of those in a second. I was told with them brining their production on site custom orders may not be far off. Camo would be cool as well. I must say I love the flap closure on the survival, great for windy days. Drill hole problem? can someone give me some links to those posts?

I am one of the lucky few with a 1st generation that has no fabric problems at all.

[Riverkilt]

Just put "drill" in the search box and you should get it. No biggie, just part of it.

I love them survival toggles too...held in helicopter rotar wash for me...sadly, they don't do anything for the back....can't post that picture...but one now exists of what happens to the back of a survival when the wind is just right...



Ron

[KiltedBishop]

oh didn't think of that. I did do a search though and I actually asked Otto about it when I was at UK HQ and he seemed a bit sheepish about it. I can understand they don't want to do a massive recall on all the kilts with that problem. I can only imagine what the turn around time would be if they had to cut their fabric by hand. Just a consideration to have when buying I suppose. I love my UKs though...

Cheers

[motorman4life]

I talked with Steven about the drill hole problem when I visited UK HQ in August. He was up front about it.. the drilling is a necessary evil and a part of the fabrication process. He didn't make any apologies for it. It is just something you need to be aware of when purchasing, preferably in person. I have 4 UKs, all size 42, and I cannot find any drill holes of consequence on mine. Maybe I got lucky. I know people that have bought UKs from their scratch and dent rack that had obvious drill holes and they have been happy with their purchase, albeit discounted.