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.