When I bought my first kilt 5 years ago, 16oz cloth was the standard weight for kilts and was labelled "heavyweight". A kilt made from 13oz cloth, (medium weight) I was advised, was too light for year round wear and did not have good swing characteristics like the 16oz. As for 11oz or 12oz cloth (lightweight)... I was told that this was pretty much for ladies kilted skirts and fly plaids. I was not even aware at that time that there was such a thing as 22oz military weight kilts.

What is now regarded as "heavyweight" seems to be getting lighter. When I see comments posted about an 11oz or 12oz kilt being "heavy" I have to scratch my head and wonder what it is being compared to. I know there are some unbelievably inexpensive and lightweight kilts for sale out there... some of them being marketed as heavyweight. They are not.

As the price of worsted wool kilt cloth heads for the moon, weight standards seem to be getting blurred and those who have never worn a 16oz kilt or heavier just don't know the difference. A 16oz kilt is now close to 50% more expensive than when I bought mine. Quite out of reach for many people and certainly reason enough to keep it reserved for special occasions only.

My 16oz kilt, and my favorite, hangs like champion and I never had a problem in even very strong winds. I must also admit that my 13oz kilts do an admirable job as well of maintaining my modesty... but I certainly would not take the chance of wearing a kilt lighter than that in "true Scot" fashion.

I'm unsure what the future holds regarding this issue but I can only speculate that traditional wool kilt weights are going to continue getting lighter as worsted wool prices climb and lower cost kilts become more commonplace. Good news, I suspect for the makers of modern and utility style kilts.


blu