Utility kilts for grungy mechanic work

[Katia]

To be honest-- I would not want to be doing any work where I had to climb on things, be on the floor, etc. in a kilt.  I would not find that at all comfortable. There is a reason I wear pants/trousers 99% of the time rather than a skirt or dress (weather aside), and it's because I have absolutely no desire to have to worry about what my clothing is doing or mess with it to keep myself covered when I want/need to be focused on doing something physical (the same reason I wear snug-fitting clothing in the gym rather than loose stuff).

I am imagining me trying to slide under a car on a creeper in a kilt, and having it get caught in the wheels, holding it down as I went in and out, having to be careful about how I held my legs under there, etc. Just another aspect of practicality to think about, from someone in a segment of the population who has been raised from a young age to think about coverage and movement in an un-bifurcated garment.

[neloon]

To be honest-- I would not want to be doing any work where I had to climb on things, be on the floor, etc. in a kilt.  I would not find that at all comfortable. There is a reason I wear pants/trousers 99% of the time rather than a skirt or dress (weather aside), and it's because I have absolutely no desire to have to worry about what my clothing is doing or mess with it to keep myself covered when I want/need to be focused on doing something physical (the same reason I wear snug-fitting clothing in the gym rather than loose stuff).

I am imagining me trying to slide under a car on a creeper in a kilt, and having it get caught in the wheels, holding it down as I went in and out, having to be careful about how I held my legs under there, etc. Just another aspect of practicality to think about, from someone in a segment of the population who has been raised from a young age to think about coverage and movement in an un-bifurcated garment.

I think most of these concerns disappear, Katia, when you actually do it. As a Highland dancer, you can hardly be all that concerned about "coverage"!
I would agree that, in the presence of rotating equipment such as a chainsaw, there can be safety concerns.

Alan

[Jock Scot]

I think most of these concerns disappear, Katia, when you actually do it. As a Highland dancer, you can hardly be all that concerned about "coverage"!
I would agree that, in the presence of rotating equipment such as a chainsaw, there can be safety concerns.

Alan

Farming with its hundreds of horse power, whirling shafts and cogs and kilts are not a good mixture, nor is it wise to wear the kilt on fishing boats, just to name but two occupations where the kilt is not recommended.

I am sorry there are really times when the kilt is not the best attire and wearing the kilt just for bravado's sake is just plain silly.

[neloon]

Farming with its hundreds of horse power, whirling shafts and cogs and kilts are not a good mixture, nor is it wise to wear the kilt on fishing boats, just to name but two occupations where the kilt is not recommended.
I am sorry there are really times when the kilt is not the best attire and wearing the kilt just for bravado's sake is just plain silly.

Have never gone fishing, Jock.
Frequently crawl around under my tractor but am very careful with chainsaws
I really don't think "bravado" comes into it but, however "silly", I'm as unlikely to change the practices of a long lifetime as you are to wear the kilt outwith the Highlands.
Keep safe in these troublous times.

Alan

[MichiganKyle]

Farming with its hundreds of horse power, whirling shafts and cogs and kilts are not a good mixture, nor is it wise to wear the kilt on fishing boats, just to name but two occupations where the kilt is not recommended.

I am sorry there are really times when the kilt is not the best attire and wearing the kilt just for bravado's sake is just plain silly.

To add to that, I would not want to be kilted while welding, machining, grinding, or painting. Just like I wouldn't want to wear cargo shorts for those tasks. And I don't wear a kilt for work when I'm going to be up on a ladder working on a security camera or WiFi access point.

But for wrenching on the bottom of a vehicle with large ground clearance like my old pickup or my Model T? Might be worth a shot. Heck, I can sit upright on the creeper underneath my truck in places. Just about anything's got to be more comfortable than my "grubby job" jeans. And if it isn't...there'd be plenty of other situations I could wear a utility kilt in.

[Jock Scot]

To add to that, I would not want to be kilted while welding, machining, grinding, or painting. Just like I wouldn't want to wear cargo shorts for those tasks. And I don't wear a kilt for work when I'm going to be up on a ladder working on a security camera or WiFi access point.

But for wrenching on the bottom of a vehicle with large ground clearance like my old pickup or my Model T? Might be worth a shot. Heck, I can sit upright on the creeper underneath my truck in places. Just about anything's got to be more comfortable than my "grubby job" jeans. And if it isn't...there'd be plenty of other situations I could wear a utility kilt in.

It sounds as though you have a plan, well done! I hope it all works out for you.

[MichiganKyle]

It sounds as though you have a plan, well done! I hope it all works out for you.

Thanks! Nothing "bravado" about it - I'd be working by myself. I just want something comfortable. My hope is that it would work. If not...I'll just keep working at cross purposes with my jeans, I suppose.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! At this point, I'm leaning toward the DNKE Highlander (which, prior to this thread, I didn't know existed) so I can remove the pockets. Just need to figure out size, since I'm between two of their standard sizes. E-mailed them, waiting for a response.

[MichiganKyle]

So, ended up with a DNKE Highlander kilt. Removed the detachable side pockets. Added a Stillwater Kilts utility sporran and a nylon belt. I've been wearing it around the house (it's awfully comfortable), but today I had some maintenance work to do around the farm, so after considering wearing jeans again, I decided I didn't really want to be that uncomfortable all day and went with the kilt. Didn't do any welding or machining, but did have to do some grinding, cutting, painting, etc. Worked very well.

I would have to say that, limited as my experience with it has been so far, I would say the DNKE Highlander is quite nice for general purpose shop work, as long as you're doing tasks which are safe to do in loose clothing (no welding, machining, working with any belt-driven equipment, etc.). Much, much more comfortable than jeans - much more freedom of movement.