11oz, 13oz, or 16oz?

[Galician]

I was surprised to hear that you were so happy with the 11 oz. I have been reading on here that it is generally considered too light for a good kilt. My tanks thus far are 16 oz, but I'm about to get a 13 oz (which I understand is comparable to Stillwater). Let me see how it feels in the hot, muggy summer I doubt you get out there in Washington State!

[Woodsheal]

I was surprised to hear that you were so happy with the 11 oz. I have been reading on here that it is generally considered too light for a good kilt.

I'm perfectly happy with my 8 yd. kilt in 11 oz. worsted wool from Strathmore. It's very comfortable to wear and a great "3 season" kilt. It would not be the thing for long walks outside in the winter, though ....

[ardchoille]

I was surprised to hear that you were so happy with the 11 oz. I have been reading on here that it is generally considered too light for a good kilt. My tanks thus far are 16 oz, but I'm about to get a 13 oz (which I understand is comparable to Stillwater). Let me see how it feels in the hot, muggy summer I doubt you get out there in Washington State!

Yes, I love my 11oz. kilts. I have 8 yards of 11oz. MacGregor modern tartan, but I can't find anyone who is willing to make a kilt out of it - sadly, no one wants to deal with less than 13oz tartan.

[Jerry]

I usually wear my 16 oz kilt to the Potomac Celtic Festival, i Leesburg, Virginia. This festival takes place in mid June. The temperatures are usually in the 90's and the humidity is probably 70% or higher. That kilt is a full 9 yards of 16 oz wool, and I don't really feel any hotter than I would wearing a pair of jeans.

[Barb T]

I find that the hottest part of a kilt outfit isn't the kilt but the kilt hose. As I've said in other places on this forum, we wear 16 oz band kilts for parades and competitions all summer, and it's the socks that are the killer. Air circulates under a kilt, and I find that I really sweat only under the belt, which would be true regardless of kilt weight. On a really hot day, I do find my 16 oz kilt to be a little itchy on my thighs, though, and I just wear a pair of bike shorts.

10-11 oz tartan makes a kilt that wrinkles easily, and the pleats don't hold a press nearly as well as a heavier weight kilt. But it does tend to be "smoother" and less itchy in hot weather. It's also very common to have 10-11 oz tartan that doesn't have a kilting selvedge, so many kilts made in this weight need hems (not universally true, but very common). This is actually neither here nor there in terms of how a kilt looks, but some people don't like hems in their kilts. And a 10-11 oz kilt just doesn't swing like a 16 oz kilt does.

So, when someone asks me, I typically advise 11-12 oz for dancers (a heavier kilt is a lot to jump around in) and 13 or 16 oz for a guy. But, as with anything else, it's just advice.

[JerseyLawyer]

Yes, I love my 11oz. kilts. I have 8 yards of 11oz. MacGregor modern tartan, but I can't find anyone who is willing to make a kilt out of it - sadly, no one wants to deal with less than 13oz tartan.

I think 11 oz kilts are good for things like dancing, or wearing to tartan balls, because of the light weight. But they're really too delicate for everyday wear. And they fly about in the wind.