The less expensive alternatives also give guys who aren't quite so sure about all this kilt stuff, a way to try it out without taking out a second mortgage.

A traditional 8-yard wool tank costs anywhere from $350-$600. I, as a newbie kiltwearer, was just NOT going to drop that kind of money on an article of clothing that I might decide I don't really like all that much. I am, NOW, going to do that, but up front, forget it. If I hadn't had access to a $75 Stillwater kilt and a $110 USA Kilt, I'd never have gotten into it, at all.

Here, look at it this way, me mate Phil MacFarlane is getting hitched here, shortly. A number of his macFarlane family are showing up to the wedding in kilts. I'm going with my Bear kilt MacNaughton (assuming Bear makes it in time). Is Phil getting married in a kilt?

No....... Why?

I asked him. He said because he just couldn't see dropping that much money on an item that he didn't know if he'd ever wear again. So instead of kilt, Phil is getting a tartan vest made in one of the MacFarlane tartans. That's a very nice thing, but C'mon. Phil oughtta be kilted for this event.

Here's a guy who KNOWS he's a MacFarlane, has a big event ready-to-go that is perfect for a kilt, but yet isn't getting a kilt for the occasion because the expense is just too much money. If Phil had gotten a budget kilt and tried it out for a while and realized that in fact it's a great thing to wear, maybe he'd have sprung for the traditional kilt. But the "entry fee" in his perception, is just too high.

How many guys are in this situation? I know I was.