Giving up on Amerikilts.

[ratspike]

This has got me curious so I googled a bit. I found a review from a few years ago that included a photo of the back. The kilt was clearly a good bit too big in the hips and was pretty poofy looking, so that could be a possible explanation for what the OP is experiencing too.

[Couper]

I've got a shot of mine from the back.
It was shot shortly after I got it and had not yet been washed (which did soften it up a bit). Yes, I know the hose should be scrunched down (but this was January at the beach in Delaware).

[Flynn]

@Couper, I'd be satisfied if that was the extent it wrinkled to. Unfortunately it's far worse.
@seanachie I believe I read that review, it mirrored my experience. Bloody awful material.
@dutchy kilted. I'm pretty sure this is their second run of material. The first time I encountered an Amerikilt, CA. 2006, it was a twill type material.

Granted, it may not be properly broken in. I've pretty much only worn it half a dozen times but I've washed it at least 20x trying to break it in. I don't wear it simply because of how sloppy it becomes.

[Woodsman]

I have one of the older olive green material Amerikilts. I purchased it in 2008 at Green Lane Scottish Irish Festival. It is kinda light and poofy but it is comfortable. I would like to try a new saffron kilt in the new material. However, I distinctly remember owner Michael telling me on more than one occasion (I used to see him all the time at Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA) that if I had another material that I liked better, he would make a kilt for me with that. He does solid colors and camouflage only, no tartans.

[O'Callaghan]

I have something I am fairly sure must be a UT Kilt. They go for only $55, although I paid $70 because I bought it from a 3rd party vendor. Think that's what it is, though. Light weight but holds it's shape well, including the pleats, has cargo pockets and has poppers (so not really very adjustable) and has two cloth straps and buckles on the right (the reason I think that's what it is). Seems to be available in various solids and camo. Mine is solid dark green.

[RCoastie]

You might try UT kilts, I found them to be a bit short. I'm 6'3 and prefer to wear even my utilikilts above the 'standard' waist. I also have a tummy which contributes to the kilts not being worn at normal pants level.

[Flynn]

I hand washed the kilt Sunday night, pressed the pleats by hand while damp then hung it up to dry. This was the result.
Not awful, but still a little too messy.

Out of all the options I believe UT kilts comes closest to what I'm looking for. Well, aside from a Freedom kilt in Mossy Oak, but I can't afford one of those.

[tky58]

May I suggest we try looking at the post on the 5.11 Kilt. Several people report good results after washing and drying.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...dk-back-88046/

Steve Wilson

PS: I just got my Olive 5.11 to go with my Coyote 5.11 kilt.

[The Wizard of BC]

Just out of curiosity I did an EBay search using the word Kilt. Thousands of listings including the same Pakistani manufacturer that makes the Kilts for UT.

Average price is between $20.00 and $30.00.

Some of these same manufacturers send me emails on an almost daily basis offering the same product for about $12.00

[Tenmiles]

I hand washed the kilt Sunday night, pressed the pleats by hand while damp then hung it up to dry. This was the result.
Not awful, but still a little too messy.

Out of all the options I believe UT kilts comes closest to what I'm looking for. Well, aside from a Freedom kilt in Mossy Oak, but I can't afford one of those.

Just an observation here, as a UT Kilt owner.
Some of one's satisfaction with the drape of one's kilt may also boil down to what one finds acceptable.

I do not take great care with my deluxe UT Kilt; it simply replaced cargo shorts in all instances of use.
My pleats ended up looking like yours, in your picture here. Or at least somewhat like that.

Once, I tried ironing it after washing and running through the drier. That seemed to work well for a day or two, then they got baggy again.
Another time, I machine washed in cold, and then after it had spun 'dry', I took it and laid it out on the coffee table (I don't have an iron of my own right now), and carefully laid it out to arrange all the pleats just so, and then manually "tightened" the whole length of each pleat (inside and out), and hand-pressing them until I felt they were as reasonably well hand-pressed as one could do, then I folded it closed and hung it for the night to dry undisturbed.
That, too, worked for a day or two, but eventually it gets baggy again, and you get those little curls along the stitch line where the pleats are sewn.

Short of ironing it once a week (which I may yet do once I have my own iron), it seems like this is just the nature of the garment.

However, in my case, it's not a deal-breaker. I love wearing it anyway, and my only regret is that I should have ordered a size smaller (I'm losing weight, apparently).

My UT Kilt is poly/cotton.