Attaching the sporran

[JohntheBiker]

The general thinking is that the more traditional way to wear the sporran is with a strap around the waist. The use of the chain/belt arrangement is the more common. We on X Marks advocate the use of a leather strap in place of the chain for daily wear to lessen the wear on the kilt fabric.

The Sporran hangers or suspenders that you have seen are, we believe, a recent invention. These suspenders were disocovered by ""Gentleman of Substance" as a way to lessen the distortion of the front apron by a sporran strap when it is worn too low and under the belly.

As a side note the loops in the back of a kilt are not Belt Loops. They are Sporran Loops and are to keep the sporran strap from falling off the hips of thin men. They appear to be a recent development.

Given that you are unlikely to wear a kilt belt with a waistcoat, sporran hangers tend to be used with a more casual look since you need something to hang them from. I use them on occasion but generally default to a leather strap, as suggested by Steve.

A gentleman of substance.

[gwynng]

I just returned from Scotland and got some surprised observers on my sporran hangers. All of them really liked the idea and some asked where they could get them. Since I was knocking around town casually (Edinburgh) or hiking in the countryside, a belt and hangers were the ticket. A couple of men sitting outside a pub stopped me as I walked through the Grassmarket and asked specifically about my sporran hangers and both agreed that they thought it superior to the chain or strap. One even identified my tartan as Ramsay Red (as opposed to the more common blue), so I guess he knows his kilts.

Not being a man of particular size, I find the suspender system more comfortable overall. And WAY easier to handle when nature calls. I still use a strap when I am dressing up.