clunk, clunk, clunk

[Muddy]

My advice would be get used to it and stop
your whining. LOL. I consider the gentle "thwap" of
the sporran tassels just as much an enjoyable part of
kilt wearing as the "swish" of the pleats.........
It's all part of the swagger man! So swagger on and
DON'T wear your sporran too low. If it's between your legs when you go up the stairs it's too low.
Cinch it up.

[Declan Rowan]

I've cinched it up a bit, and now I am much more agile in the kilt, and it makes reaching for my wallet a bit easier and less "scene-making" as I search for some change... :P

[Alan H]

I tried silicon caulk/glue and it worked all day yesterday just great. My nerves appreciate it! SOLD.

[Dreadbelly]

Wearing a sporran to low is a dangerous thing to do. Wear it to low, and when you move, or lurch around, or move quickly or suddenly, all you receive is a slap in the family jewels. And if your sporran is heavy like mine, it can be enough to stop you in your tracks and curse. In a high pitched Mickey Mouse voice.

[Magnus Sporrano]

If your sporran is made of a stiffer sort of leather that is more resonant when you walk, you can try softening it up with a regiment of saddle soap & leather conditioner treatments. I've been able to bring some life back into old WW2 ammo pouches and such doing the same thing.

My day sporran is a Buzz Kidder which is made out of a very soft & supple leather, so the drumming seems more subdued to me. Like others here, I don't have a problem with it at all. If anything, it subconsciously inspires me to walk tall instead of just sort of shuffling along like everyone else.

[Thistle Stop]

...if the sporran gets in the way of your stride-be it going up/down stairs--hill- or whatever it is being worn too low.

That's right. Most guys in the US, at least, seem to wear the sporran too low. It should be a hand's breadth (or even a bit less, depending on the size of your hand) below the TOP of the kilt, if you're not wearing a belt, and just about two inches or so below the belt if you are. If you are wearing the kilt up at your navel as you should be, this will place all or most of the sporran above the sensitive bits, and certainly well above the level that would interfere with leg movement.

When driving or doing something else that makes the sporran feel awkward, just move it to the side. It's easier to do this if you don't put the strap through the 'belt loops' on your kilt. It's better to lift and reposition it than to pull it so that the chain rubs the cloth of your kilt.

[Alan H]

In the primary pic in my gallery I am wearing my sporran too low. However, in that position it's below the sensitive bits. When I move it up to 2-3 inches below the belt, which is in theory where I'm supposed to wear it, it's a nifty bulletproof plate right over those aforementioned bits. The waistband of the kilt is about 2 inches below my navel.

So far, no agonizing moments have occurred. I will cross my tassels that they don't any time soon.

[Hamish]

...if the sporran gets in the way of your stride-be it going up/down stairs--hill- or whatever it is being worn too low.

That's right. Most guys in the US, at least, seem to wear the sporran too low. It should be a hand's breadth (or even a bit less, depending on the size of your hand) below the TOP of the kilt, if you're not wearing a belt, and just about two inches or so below the belt if you are. If you are wearing the kilt up at your navel as you should be, this will place all or most of the sporran above the sensitive bits, and certainly well above the level that would interfere with leg movement.

When driving or doing something else that makes the sporran feel awkward, just move it to the side. It's easier to do this if you don't put the strap through the 'belt loops' on your kilt. It's better to lift and reposition it than to pull it so that the chain rubs the cloth of your kilt.

Pearls, every one, Cyndi!!

Why is it that, in the main, US kilt-wearers have their kilts too long and their sporrans too low? (And I'm not looking for cheeky responses from you guys over there!! )

[chasem]

I'll refrain from the cheeky comments But I think it probably has something to do with the way a lot of men, the younger crowd at least, wear their pants. The 'sagging' style is often seen in the states, where the pants are several inches below the waste, often revealing underwear.

I myself wear my pants low, not that low, but it's what's comfortable. I haven't yet bought a tank, but I'm sure it will take some getting used to - wearing the kilt at the real waste - when I finally do, for that reason.

[Thistle Stop]

The waistband of the kilt is about 2 inches below my navel.

The you're wearing your kilt too low! The waist of the kilt should be AT your navel -- so the waistband can actually rise above the navel a bit (usually 2 inches). This means your kilt is probably 4 inches lower than it should be.

Hamish is right -- Americans do tend to wear the kilt too long and the sporran too low. The longest the kilt should be is to the middle of your kneecap.

There has been a trend in Scotland recently for wearing the kilt a bit longer than usual, but I don't think it looks very good and I doubt that it will catch on or linger as the fashion.