What is a good starter sporran?

[thescot]

A black sporran would be fine if yo prefer it. If you'll look through many of the photos posted on this site showing highland gentlemen in highland attire, you'll see most of them with brown sporrans. I figure that those who are actually in the highlands are pretty well versed on such. Look at the threads on the Duke of Rothesay and the one with pix of the Highland chiefs.

However, in KC I doubt you'll find three people who have ever given it a second thought. I always wore black until about 2 years ago, and lots of folks you see will also wear black during the day. It's really OK, just a matter of kilt ettiquette. Kind of like not saying ain't or eating with the correct fork. If you wear brown, most will assume that you are in the know; if you wear black, few will give it a second throught.

BTW, a good pair of black oxfords will suffice for both day and evening wear if you can put a good shine on them. I wouldn't spend the money of ghillie brogues.

You must show pictures!

[MacLowlife]

Black or brown?

There is an interesting question. As TheScot points out, many people wear black shoes all of the time with their kilts. I do not know if it is because I am anti-authoritarian, or a southerner, or just cantankerous, but I almost NEVER wear black shoes. Black leather screams urban motorcycle and the Po-Lice and Army to me. I have plenty of respect for people associated with those things- I even HAVE a black leather jacket, but I am much more of a semi-rural brown wearing guy. I will do anything I can to wear brown shoes with my navy and grey (saxon) suits and I think black shoes with khakis and jeans look ridonculous. I tell you all of this as a preamble to what might otherwise seem like a silly question:

Do you wear black shoes regularly?

If you don't, then by all means, look for a brown sporran, or at least a black and brown one. As TheScot points out, many people will wear a brown sporran even with black shoes. I think a black one with brown shoes may be pushing it, though. My only other comment is, if you buy an inexpensive one, try to make it one without a chrome cantle. To my eye, the shiny cantle looks dressy and formal and, well, wrong if you aren't dressed up.

Why not take a few hours off and instead of watching a movie, see if you can't sew your own simple sporran. Make it brown, but dye one part of it ( the flap?) black. You'll have something that you made and you'll save money to put into it. And it will match everything.

[joecool]

Black or brown?

Do you wear black shoes regularly?


Why not take a few hours off and instead of watching a movie, see if you can't sew your own simple sporran. Make it brown, but dye one part of it ( the flap?) black. You'll have something that you made and you'll save money to put into it. And it will match everything.

Hm, I have some nice black shoes that I wear with my suits, but I prefer my ox blood colored loafers when I am not "dressed up"... I like that color because it pretty much goes with everything! I may yet try making my own, but I want to buy at least one that is semi-nice so if I do dress up that it looks appropriate (my leather working skills aren't exactly the best)...

I am currently looking at some of Janet Eagleton's sporrans, and I'm waiting to get some prices back from her. Hopefully I can find something within the budget (the girl friend probably won't understand if I spend the money for her Christmas present on a sporran )

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

Stillwater Kilts has a nice starter sporran. I bought one similar to this and still use it for daywear. It comes with a nice price too.

[Beertigger]

This one from USA Kilts has served me well.

[Ryan Ross]

This one from USA Kilts has served me well.

My dad has the same one, a Buzz Kidder that he got from the Tartans Museum years ago. He loves it. Those Kidder sporrans can take anything you want to throw at them, too- mine has been through hell and high water(literally, high water) for almost a decade, and it looks every bit as good, or even better, than it did when it was new...



Edit: As a random aside, the above sporran and the one mentioned of my dad's are pictured on the front of Matt's book, Patented Advice For the First Time Kilt Wearer... come to think of it, the above kilt is pictured there as well, though there's less of it now.

[Lyle1]

I would ignore the "rule" about what color sporran to wear according to the time of day. I would buy a sporran that you like and that will look good with your kilt. A two tone sporran works for me. I personally like the combination of brown and black leather together and currently have two pairs of shoes that are black with brown trim, and that's what I specified for the sporran that I recently ordered. If you are going to wear a kilt as part of a costume, the "rule" might matter, but if a kilt is going to be part of your 21st century wardrobe, you are allowed to do what YOU want and wear what you think looks good. If your sporran doesn't match your shoes, the earth will not stop rotating, and if anyone has a problem with it, let it be their problem!

[joecool]

So, just at update, the budget is rather limited at this time of year so I am going to save my pennies until I can find a sporran that I am really crazy about. I went on ahead and bought a brown closeout/blemished sporran from Stillwater Kilts which will suffice for right now. I think I got pretty lucky because the "blemish" is only a very very very small area on the front where the color is slightly darker than the rest of the sporran. Thanks for all of your suggestions (I now have several of the sporrans you guys have shown me on my kilt accessory wish list )
Oh, as an aside, my girlfriend (NOT a fan of my wearing the kilt) has asked her dad if he would make a sporran for me for Christmas. Awesome! He wants to make part of it out of a turtle shell or something- should be interesting... (Yes, I will definitely post pictures however it turns out!)

[Woodsman]

Another vote for Buzz Kidder. Can't be beat at the price. The only thing I would suggest is to get a leather strap rather than a chain strap.

Can you tell me if all sporrans come with some sort of chain or strap? If not then where could I purchase the leather strap to match the sporran?

[Lyle1]

Can you tell me if all sporrans come with some sort of chain or strap? If not then where could I purchase the leather strap to match the sporran?

Some do, so don't, but if they do, it should say so.

Check the vendors that are listed here, and if you don't find what you want, try a Google search. If you search with the terms "sporran strap" (in quotes to search the phrase), you will find a lot of links to web sites that sell sporran straps and other information about the straps. I saw one listing that offered leather sporran straps in three colors.

Where in PA do you live? I've lived in Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia area until fleeing south recently to avoid the winters. Last weekend, I was out on a boat in a tee shirt!