Quote Originally Posted by TheOfficialBren View Post
Have you considered a 5-yard kilt? Perfectly acceptable and much closer to your price range. Try USA Kilts, Scotweb, or Burnett's and Struth. Don't be fooled by names like "casual kilts." these "casuals" are fine kilts! They use a lower yardage and are more historically accurate than eight yards. Eight yarders were invented by weavers and kiltmakers to sell more fabric about a century ago. Nothing wrong with them but I hear that eight yards gets a bit heavy. I've only worn five yarders, though, and that is what has guided my purchasing. I just ordered kilt number two, a five yard Polyviscose kilt from USA Kilts in the Holyrood tartan.

That brings me to another point...have you considered an alternative to 16oz wool? Maybe 13oz wool or possibly PV?

Sorry for rambling.

:-)
Sorry OB, I don't want to rain on your parade but where do you get the idea that 5 yard kilts are more historically accurate than eight yards. Yes, historical kilts were of a lower yardage, 3.5 to 4 yards, but were random then box pleated, nothing like the the 5 yard kilts of today. That is unless you get a Matt Newsome box pleated. Another differce that you may find when ordering a 5 yard kilt is the style of kilt, as reference by Scotwebs description of their 5 yard casual "This Casual or Sports kilt is expertly sewn to impress, but with a contemporary lower-waisted cut." - more of a jeans height than a tradtional kilt. one must be cafeful when talking about casual kilts and attempting to align them with traditional kilts

As for eight yards getting a bit heavy, I own 4 yard 16oz kilts, 8 yard 13oz kilts and 8 yard 16oz kilts, I am in my late 50's and have never felt the 8 yard 16oz kilts as being heaving. I have worn them all day at highland games in 30C+ heat and were not a bother.