I will wear my SWK's for everything except a formal affair with other kilted men in attendance. In that case a side-by-side comparison would be possible, and I'm never one to wish to be underdressed.
Disregarding those occasions, I've worn my economy SWK hiking, camping, while teaching, at parties, in parades, to church, to the pub, and have never been disappointed or otherwise unhappy. They're tough enough to take most activities (stay away from briars and barbed wire!), light enough to not weigh you down, and look great.