Maybe the easiest way to feel the difference is to get some swatches of the tartan you're interested in...you can usually get a kiltmaker to send them for a nominal fee that's usually credited back if you have them make the kilt. I have two eight yard worsted wool kilts and one is in 13 oz and the other in 16 oz. While many members will swear up and down that 16 oz is the only way to go, I'm not convinced...while it may vary from mill to mill, the difference is minimal in my opinion and hardly worth getting worked up about. Frankly, when it comes to wearing them the slight weight difference gives the 13 oz the edge for me. Another way to get some idea of the feel of the fabric is to go to a fabric store like Joanne's and look at the worsted wool suiting material that they have...it'll have very much the same feel but will be lighter (as in not as heavyweight) than the kilt materials.

So you're in the Southeast where it usually (this year excepted) doesn't get into the icebox the way it does here in Chicago. I'd go with the lighter material (again, the difference isn't all that great). Don't forget that another factor is that the actual amount of material used depends on your size and how the tartan lines up...some of these tartans can get into some deep pleats in order to get the sett right. So factor in number of pleats and depth of pleats...it may not take eight full yards to do it (then, again, it might take more if you're a "gentleman of substance" as we say here).

Another thing that I'd factor in is how and where you want to wear this. If you're going to a whole bunch of kilted formals and want to be able to walk without fear of being criticized by the kilted cognescenti, then go the 8X16 route. If you don't care about the nitpickers, you can go with the lighter fabric and you might even consider going five or six yards with either the 13 or the 16. I have a five yard 16 oz that I routinely wear to black tie functions just because it's more comfy and I'm usually the only kilted guy there...nobody notices the difference. If you're just getting a kilt to wear to the Highland Games and going out fer a beer, you might consider the possibility that less is more.

Thus, while the 8/16 is considered the "ne plus ultra" on this forum, it's not the only way to go...it's more about what you want rather than what's considered "the max" here. Sorta like having either a nice Buick or Cadillac...both GM, Caddy's more expensive but the Buick is nice and it gets you there at the same time.

Best

AA