Thumpity, thumpity, thumpity

**Tobus** · 23rd January 10, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

Yep. That's what they do. Enjoy being your own percussion section, in more ways than one.

My main sporran has really long braided tassels on it with Turk's head knots at the ends. They hang almost to the bottom of the apron. When I walk, they do quite a bit of bouncing and the knots make their own sound against the fabric of my kilt, plus the upper parts of the tassels that bounce against the front of the sporran. I just consider it part of the noise of wearing this attire.

Personally, for those short tassels you have, I wouldn't glue them down or otherwise lock them down. I'd just glue a small piece of something soft on the backs of them to mute the sound if it bothers you. Felt, rubber, anything like that.

Or you could go the opposite direction. Put hawk bells on the tassels. The noise will drown out the thumping sound.

GG · 23rd January 10, 10:53 PM

[QUOTE=vps;845159]Ok,
When I walk around, the tassles on the front of the sporran bounce against the leather with every step, creating their own little drumbeat....
Is that normal? QUOTE]

Unfortunately, yes it is. And I hate it. Therefore my day sporrans are without tassels - bought without them or I have cut them off.

One exception: On the Nylon Cargo Sporran from Stillwater Kilts you practically don't hear them. Must be due to the fabric.

On semi dress sporrans it is the same. The seal skin reduces the noise to an acceptable level.

Greg

**Jock Scot** · 24th January 10, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by vps

I wasn't so much worried as wondering if I was just wearing it wrong.

Precisely, no need to worry and I am sure that you are wearing the sporran just so. Have fun.

**MartinGrenoble** · 24th January 10, 02:50 AM

The noise was one of the reasons I gave up wearing sporrans.

Martin

**cessna152towser** · 24th January 10, 03:02 AM

All a matter of personal preference.
Dressing up for a more formal occasion I would wear a sporran with tassles. You soon get used to the drum beat of the tassles.
For casual wear I would wear a plain sporran with no tassles or a non-trad kilt with pockets and no sporran.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 24th January 10, 03:16 AM

I have a Stillwater Nylon Cargo Sporran that's my go-to, what I spend more time wearing than any other. And it has the three tassels, and produces the drumming, though not loudly; most of the time, I don't even notice it.

Now, I wear my sporran front and center, and I don't have a limp, or any other kind of hitch in my giddieup. But over time, the tassel on the right side of the sporran has become far more "worn-in" and flexible than the center or left tassel.

I don't have an explanation for it, but it's kind of an interesting phenomenon.

**Jordan** · 24th January 10, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. MacDougall

I have a Stillwater Nylon Cargo Sporran that's my go-to, what I spend more time wearing than any other. And it has the three tassels, and produces the drumming, though not loudly; most of the time, I don't even notice it.

Now, I wear my sporran front and center, and I don't have a limp, or any other kind of hitch in my giddieup. But over time, the tassel on the right side of the sporran has become far more "worn-in" and flexible than the center or left tassel.

I don't have an explanation for it, but it's kind of an interesting phenomenon.

Yeah same here, ive never noticed that before. Wonder why

**Chas** · 24th January 10, 04:40 AM

It happens to me all the time, when I am wearing my day sporran -

And I Love It.

A lot of the clothing we wear makes sounds. Leather shoes and boots can squeak or creak, or make that clicking if they have had the 'segs' fitted to the heel; lots of 'fuller' clothing make rustling sounds as we walk. Have you ever heard a group of Ramblers go past wearing their waterproofs? It is like a tornado passing. The fashion has come back again for women to wear large clunky jewellery. It is always bashing and crashing.

Your sporran drums - don't worry, it's supposed to.

Regards

Chas

**Arnot** · 24th January 10, 04:47 AM

I also got the little drum beat from my sporran as I walked. I took some stick-on velcro (the fuzzy part) and discreetly stuck it to the back of the tassels. The sound is muffled considerably.

**Fit2BKilted** · 24th January 10, 05:18 AM

No you're NOT wearing your sporran wrongly...

You have unfortunately discovered, what I would term, the "flaw" in contemporary sporran design, however. I *hate* the drumbeat of tassles more than most; and hence I have elected to select my sporran designs carefully to eliminate the problem:

1) Try before you buy!

2) For plain leather designs, make sure there are NO tassles... Laces (in 'Rob Roy' styles) generally don't cause too much noise.

3) For semi-formal and formal designs: if you can't find a 'hunting' model that has no tassles, make sure that the fur on the front is thick enough to act as a noise-ablative cushion. (I have a badger-fur model that is virtually silent despite the three chained metal balls)

I hope that helps! Good luck, and happy shopping.

P.S.: the only other options I can think of to subdue the problem in your current sporran would be to affix the tassles in some unobtrusive way to the front of your sporran: sewing, hot-glue, or perhaps the best option: sell it!

Originally Posted by vps

Ok, I'm sure this is a super-newbie question, but I'm curious...

When I walk around, the tassles on the front of the sporran bounce against the leather with every step, creating their own little drumbeat. Even with some things in the sporran it is fairly obvious. I'd have to pack it solid to eliminate it I think.

Is that normal? Does it mean I'm wearing it wrong? If I raise the level the sporran hangs it is less pronounced, but then the sporran is too high (at least, it isn't positioned right "on target" if that's correct).