Utilikilt question

[Riverkilt]

Wondering what the reason is for a high waisted working kilt...seems the high waist would limit movement a lot. Low waisted allows for a lot more movement.

[Tobus]

Wondering what the reason is for a high waisted working kilt...seems the high waist would limit movement a lot. Low waisted allows for a lot more movement.

On the contrary, I find that wearing a garment at my hips restricts my movement. It seems to put pressure on the sides of my hips where they rotate. One of the things I love about wearing a kilt up at my natural waist is that my hips are free to move unhindered.

When I first started wearing a kilt, I was concerned that wearing it at my waist would restrict bending in the torso, which may be what you're referring to. But in practice, I don't find it to be a problem. And like Ted Crocker alluded to, I actually kind of like a wide kilt belt in that area because it feels like it gives me some back support.

The other reason I prefer a working kilt (or any kilt) at my "kilt waist" is because my hips are not even. I mentioned this in another thread; my right hip is lower than my left hip. When I wear pants on my hips, they sit crooked. I'd rather not have a kilt hanging crooked.

Also, when I'm building things around the homestead, I tend to carry a lot of tools on me. One thing I've found over the years is that wearing a tool belt around my hips is very annoying. The tools slap my thighs and hips when I walk. And I have to make sure nothing is going to stab me or poke me when I sit. So I end up usually wearing overalls with lots of pockets up on the chest, and/or wear my tool belt up on my natural waist. So I figured it would make sense in a work kilt to do the same thing. They tend to stay more secure and I feel less "sloppy" (i.e. less banging around) when my tools are kept in the vicinity of my navel instead of down around my ***.

Last but not least, one of the things I absolutely can't stand about wearing anything at my "jeans waist" is my shirt coming untucked. When I'm working outside, bending, twisting, climbing, and the like, my shirt starts pulling out. This is because it's tucked in where I'm bending. But with a higher worn garment, I don't have that problem. The shirt stays tucked in properly.

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Thank you guys for the input so far!

I had never heard of Blaklader kilts. I looked it up, and while it doesn't seem to be exactly what I'm looking for, it's very interesting. Probably not my cup of tea, though.

I hadn't considered getting a custom kilt made by one of the regular kilt makers. Hmm. I may have to look into that option. It'll likely cost me more than I'm prepared to pay for a working garment, though. I'll have to think on this.

[Nighthawk]

Wondering what the reason is for a high waisted working kilt...seems the high waist would limit movement a lot. Low waisted allows for a lot more movement.

I do a lot of competetive sword fighting, Ron. I find the exact opposite to be true. When I wear my Sport Kilt, it's a little harder to get good hip motion into a strike, and I end up killing the hit. All the power comes from the hips, and the lower waisted Sport Kilt makes it harder get that power. On the other hand, I really don't want to wear an expensive trad kilt... It can get a little dirty! An 8 yarder is a lot like armor, though... I've taken hits to the butt that through an 8 yard kilt left me limping for days. I shudder to think how those hits would have felt through a wimpy wee Sport Kilt. So all in all, I really prefer the movement of the hips that a trad rise give you- which is one reason that I had my Amerikilt made with a trad rise for me.

Oh yeah- OP- you could also check out www.Amerikilt.com !

And for the record- I prefer the military rise myself. All my kilts are made to sit about 2 inches above my belly button. This is because I'm a big guy and civilian height kilt tend to leave certain parts of me exposed to cold surfaces when I sit down...