Quality of sport kilts?

[ardchoille]

I've been looking at the http://www.sportkilt.com/ site and notice that their prices are excellent. I've only worn traditional kilts made by Loch Carron of Scotland and their kilts are of high quality, but their prices are quite high too ($450.00 for an 8 yard 13 ounce kilt). By contrast, sport kilts are around $60.00. I'd like to hear from folks who have worn kilts from SportKilt. How did you find their quality and comfort? The saying "you get what you pay for" holds true for many things. Does this saying hold true for sport kilts as well? Can I throw them in a washing machine and dryer? Will they need to be ironed often? How well do the pleats hold?

[Colin]

Sport Kilts are not the same kind of kilts as the kilts you will have from Lochcarron. Sport kilts are a reasonably priced entry level kilt for people that want a kilt to wear around to the pub, to the rugby match, etc.

You get what you pay for definitely holds true. Sport kilts has many fans here, and I am sure they will all agree that a Sport kilt for $60 is a different animal than the $450 8 yard wool kilt for Lochcarron. However, people that like Sportkilts all seem to really like their Sportkilts.

[McMurdo]

I do not own a Sport Kilt but you might want to check out this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ighlight=Sport

[Rampant Lion]

I've only worn traditional kilts made by Loch Carron of Scotland and their kilts are of high quality, but their prices are quite high too ($450.00 for an 8 yard 13 ounce kilt).

Do you purchase your kilts directly from Lochcarron or do you go through a vendor? If direct, how do you do so? If through a vendor, what vendor?

[ardchoille]

I do not own a Sport Kilt but you might want to check out this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ighlight=Sport

Ah, thank you for that link. I should search before posting in the future.

Well, it's true, as long as you know what you are ordering, you'll have no problems. The sport kilt was never meant to be equal to a full tank, so I'm going to order one.

[ardchoille]

Do you purchase your kilts directly from Lochcarron or do you go through a vendor? If direct, how do you do so? If through a vendor, what vendor?

I have always purchased my kilts through a vendor. That vendor is The Scotland Yard because they have very good prices for traditional kilts. I tried to purchase directly from Loch Carron once and told me it's best to go through a vendor.

[Yaish]

The quality is actually very good, but a Sportkilt and a traditional kilt are not even in the same league when comparing them. It's like asking about the quality of a Schwinn bicycle, how will it compare to your BMW motorcycle.

[BruceK]

By contrast, sport kilts are around $60.00. I'd like to hear from folks who have worn kilts from SportKilt. How did you find their quality and comfort? The saying "you get what you pay for" holds true for many things. Does this saying hold true for sport kilts as well? Can I throw them in a washing machine and dryer? Will they need to be ironed often? How well do the pleats hold?

If you haven't already I suggest you look at USA Kilts, another supporter of the X-Marks forum (see link above). I have both Sport Kilts and USA Kilts and I find the pleating of the latter looks nicer than the SK and, hopefully, will require less care (read: ironing). I also like the material of the USA Kilts better. The only downside is that if Rocky doesn't have an off-the-rack kilt you like you may have to wait a bit to get the one you do like. But IMHO the wait is worth it.

[Archangel]

The question really is apples and oranges. I have three kilts, including the sportkilt. I wouldn't wear it out. Others do and that's fine. I change into it when I get home, I go in the backyard with it.
It's like sweatpants versus pair of jeans (trousers). I wouldn't wear sweatpants outside either (just my tastes) unless I'm in a sport event.

For its own purpose and design, the sportkilt is well made. It washes well, Riverkilt gave advice a long time ago to use those black foldover paper clip things on each pleat as it dries. That works well.

The sportkilt looks nice standing still.

You're going to hear people recommend them as equal to the kilts you're familiar with. They're not but that's okay. After that, it's your call.

[ardchoille]

Thank you all for the advice and links. I'm going to check out all of the xmts supporting advertisers before making a purchase.

These forums are awesome and you lot ROCK!