Spartan UK

[arrogcow]

When UK first introduced the Spartan, I was skeptical, but decided to wait till I had seen one in person to pass judgement, but frankly the only place I could imagin wearing it was at home, and possibly to the water park with my 20 month old daughter.

Again, this past weekend, I was working the UK booth in Dayton. In person, it looks like the shorts that the kids are wearing these days, just not bifurcated. Calling it a kilt is a little difficult (it doesn't wrap, you step in) even for me, who has no problem calling UK's (and PK's, and AK's etc.) a kilt.

On the other hand, wearing it is amazing. It was almost as big a leap in comfort at going from shorts to a kilt. The things weighs almost nothing, and the material is so sheer that air just passes in (also preventing the Marylin effect). It is the next best thing to being naked.

Now, I took one home (it was a version 1 with the back pocket, I do think the version 2 with the kangaroo pocker is a little more practical), and my wife's reaction was that she wasn't sure she wanted me to be seen in public in it (and she has been totally supportive of be wearing kilts 99% of the time). I have to agree, until MUGS in general are more common, I think the Spartan will remail lounge wear at home.

Adam

[chasem]

do you have pictures? From what I've read, I understand it to be a little... obnoxious. Not the best description, and I'm not sure I can elaborate, but I'd like to see pictures.

[cjbass]

Yes, it does take a bit of a leap to wear the Spartan. I admit it.

But that leap is well worth it, in my estimation. I was in a meeting with Steven this AM and he was wiggling around in his well-worn black Workman's - a distinctly comfortable garment. It was hot and the air just doesn't move well around the Utilikilts World Domination Headquarters. He complained that he "wished he had his Spartan on today".

If I had two nickels to rub together I would get one of the new black ones. (I have a crimson prototype that is fine for around the house, but is really just an unfinished hack.)

This weekend at Vancouver Pride, Gustav wore his crimson Spartan 2 almost exclusively.


I think the leap comes in when you consider the fabric. All the other Utilikilts are undeniably masculine. Even the 100% cotton of the Survival is 12oz fabric, which is some hearty hearty stuff.

When you get to the flowing lightweight fabric of the Spartan, though, the masculinity has to come from inside. And that takes a lot of confidence.

As is true with *any* kilt, "If ya got the rocks to wear it well, then nobody's gonna question it."

The Spartan just makes the size of your rocks all the more evident! (Sorry... I couldn't resist!)

[Kilted_John]

I've one as well. Usually wear it around the house, since it is a bit more s__rty than other UK's, including the old standard model. Today, I did decide to bring it along with me for work @ the shop. Since the morning was unusually cool, I threw on my MacKenzie traditional and wore that into work, then changed into the Kermit green Spartan. It was comfortable, even though, it's still a bit too warm when things get real hot. It's warmer than my Nightwatch Cammo, so I prefer to wear that on the hot days.

It is a bit loud looking and isn't really my style UK-wise, so I'm more likely not to wear it when I'm not at the shop, or lounging around. It also has a strange buzzing/ringing sound from the snaps that are on the outside, since they don't have anything mated to them. It's not as bad as the thrumming from loose sporran tassles, but it is noticeable. Would've almost preferred that the Spartan be made in the old standard style with the zipper fly and two snap closure at the top.
-J

[Riverkilt]

Hey CJ,

Still waiting to see the Spartan in person...but from the pics I gotta say it looks a LOT like the baggy pants the local gang-bangers are wearing, even out here in the boonies of the canyonlands.

Looks like these tough street kids are gonna "masculinize" materials that are normally used for lingerie. Have even seen guys in their 40's that work at the power plant or dam copying their kid's look.

I've been doing double takes thinking, "At last, another kilt in town..a Spartan...wait, its bifurcated...dang, pants again."

So if this soft material thing for gang bang pants holds up Spartan wearers may be more likely to be mistaken for bangers than for girlie girl men.

And I figure if the gang guys are wearing that soft material out here in the hinterlands of fashion its gotta be common everywhere else.

Ron

[cjbass]

Yesterday I dropped the dosh and got myself one of the new Spartans with the marsupial pocket.

It is excellent. I am gonna LOVE having this baby at BurningMan!


- CJ

[Kiltbear]

UPS delivered the three Spartans we ordered a couple of months back. Dead comfy but I wouldnt be seen dead out in one. I reckon lardarses look better in them for some reason. 'Im indoors definitely looks better in his than I do in mine. The trackie bottoms have been cast aside forever.

[Kilted Taper]

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but wanted to post as a Spartan v1.0 owner/wearer. I'll agree with the others, it's the most comfortable garment I own. But I do find myself changing into on of my other kilts to go out in. I did wear it in Chicago on vacation this past summer. Only complaint was that I walked over a grate in the sidewalk and up went the Spartan. Gave the crowd around me a little show I guess. All I heard was laughing for blocks!

[motorman4life]

Last month I happened to be up in Seattle and visited the UK HQ. I met Steven and CJ, both cool guys. I had gone there fully intending to purchase my 4th UK, but they did not have any twill UKs in my size. Actaully, I was surprised they had very few kilts (other than the Spartans) in stock at the store.

They had a lot of black Spartans. I had heard a lot a good feedback about the Spartan, so I figured I'd try one on and see if I could be converted. I must say, they were very comfortable. Unfortunately, as a 40-42 waist, I am right between a L and XL. Neither seemed to fit right, the L was a bit tight and the XL felt loose. I tried a couple on and since I wear my kilt at a more traditional place (at the bellybutton, rather than my hips), I found the long length suited me better. The comfort was amazing (I know, I mentioned it before) and the price was right, I just couldn't get into the black with the white buttons. They had no red or green in my size and the purple one on display was just not my color.

If they only had them in blue, I would have purchased one in a hot second. I asked Steven about the possibility of a blue Spartan offering in the future and he said it was unlikely. He did not think it would sell as well as the other colors. I disagree.

I have seen a blue Spartan.. on Steven himself (see photo below). After seeing that color, compared with the cardinal red, green and black, I can't see buying one in anything but blue. Maybe it's just me.


Steven at the Utilikilts Annual Picnic (July 2005)
Wearing a royal blue UK Spartan prototype.

UPDATE! A friend of mine e-mailed Steven and got a reply that they had ordered in a "limited amount" of the blue fabric. Apparently they are planning to make them in blue with silver/gray stripes. I'm not a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, but blue is blue! I ordered my blue Spartan 2 this afternoon! Get yours while the fabric lasts!