Buying my first kilt

[RockyR]

Since you're asking for Solid Contemporary, here's my suggestions:

Amerikilt: under $100 with "standard" sizing on their kilts.
Utilikilts: "original" is $140 with "Standard sizing" on their kilts
Freedom Kilts: "Industrial Model" is $185 (Canadian $) and is CUSTOM made
R-Kilts: Denim or Cotton models are $260 (Canadian $) and is CUSTOM made

What is having it CUSTOM made worth to you? What is knowing your kiltmaker worth to you? Both Robert (RK) and Steve (FK) are active users of this forum. Mike from Amerikilt posts here once in a long while when needed.

All of the above are good companies to deal with and have a quality product FOR THE PRICE. Is the AK as nice as a custom made FK? No, but it's under $100. Do you get the options on a UK that RK will give you? No... that's why Robert does all custom work.

The bottom line is (and always will be) the balance between price and quality. Each of the compnies listed offers a good VALUE for the price they charge. It all depends on your wallet and your comfort level.

The advice I tell my customers is to spend as much money as you are COMFORTABLE spending to get the best quality you can afford. That way, you won't regret it later and say "I should have gotten _______". It's not a sales pitch, just something Ive found to be true in MOST instances.

Good luck with your decision! Let us know which way you go!

[Alan H]

If truly constrained by money to say...under $60 by the budget and the wife's concern, you could opt to make a kilt. Check the DIY thread for the guide to making the X-Kilt, a contemporary box-pleated kilt. I wrote the instructions for guys who know a bit about kilts, but are more comfortable cutting up lumber than sitting in front of a sewing machine. Almost 90 X-kilts have been made by guys on this forum, as well as unknown numbers of people who've downloaded the instructions but never post here. If they can do it, you can do it.

Sport Kilt also offers their Boulder Kilt, but you're at $120 again. The bad new is that there isn't a "casual kilt" , non-tartan out there in the $40 range unless you make it yourself. There is the Stillwater Kilts budget model but you'll need hose, a wide belt and a sporran for that and you're talking $75 again.

[Monkey@Arms]

Hi everybody:
I am about to embark on my first buying adventure for a kilt. I have been looking at the non-traditional styles from the likes of AmeriKilt, FreedomKilts, UtiliKilt, NeoKilt... etc. My wife has asked that I buy a less expensive model until I find I like wearing them. The least expensive, solid color non-taditional one I have found was through AmeriKilt. I was in Seattle and did go to the UtiliKilt store but she would like me to spend a little less to begin with. What advice would you all give and or what experiences have you had with different sellers.

Greetings Hammer,

I had to go through the same negotiating process with my wife. For my first kilt I wanted a Utilikilt (a UK in the parlance of this forum), and she experienced sticker shock. (Imagine if had my heart set on a handmade Scottish wool kilt.) In fact it was my looking for lower-cost alternatives that first brought me to X-marks. While I can appreciate people advocating for pricier custom kilts, sometimes that's just not an option, at least not in the beginning.

Now as to your list, as you've already pointed out, AmeriKilt wins on price by a long-shot. I've never seen one in person, and I have heard some people say that they've eventually sold theirs and "moved-up" to a UK, but in general they have a good reputation. (In a somewhat similar vein my first tartan kilt was Stillwater (SWK), and I later moved up to one of Rocky's (USAK) wonderful custom made semi-traditionals.)

Personally I went for the UK Original, but you know, from my point of view anything that gets your foot in the door to kilt wearing is a good thing. Once you discover the joys of kilts, and your wife gets used to the idea (which is a whole other issue), I doubt your first kilt will be your last. (Like many others on this on-line community of enablers, I now own a whole bunch of them)

If you or your wife know your way around a sewing machine, another option you may not be aware of is making your own modern kilt (the X-Kilt) using the pattern designed by AlanH. You can find lots of examples and photo threads on that topic using the search feature. {I see Alan beat me to this advice while I was busy typing }

Good luck in your decision making process, and do post a photo when your first kilt arrives!

Best regards,

Jake

[Ozman1944]

The majority of my kilts (28 so far) are under $100.00 (Stillwater & Frugal Corner etc) Only a small amount are over. (Utilikilt, Heritage of Scotland, Kltstore etc.)
I am totally happy with them all, and have a variety to choose to wear.

Stillwater Thrifty ($28.00) is great for summer, and if I slop spagetti over it, or burn a hole in it(?) I can just toss it and get another without breaking the bank.

[hammer70]

The wife and I are making a Kilt as we speak. I expect to have it done within the next week. I will post pictures as soon as it is complete and I research how to post pictures to this forum. We chose a dark Grey microfiber cotton twill. Not real heavy but the price on the fabric was real nice. Most of the sewing is complete. We are adding snaps along the waist band right now. I plan on adding 6 snaps to the front apron similar to the UK and AK. We also need to put on the belt loops.I ordered a 2 in kilt belt and two sets of stockings.
I have already started scouting the next one we are going to make and we are looking at using a 10.5 oz black duck cloth.
I want to thank everyone so far on their advice. I have found so much information on this forum. This is a grat community.

[Jock Scot]

It would be unwise of me to give you any advice as I am on the wrong side of the Atlantic.What I can do though, is give you a hearty welcome, from Inverness-shire.

[hammer70]

My wife has completed the work, and here is a picture.
The picture is not showing up but here is a link to the pic in the gallary:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/photoplog/index.php?n=174

[fluter]

My wife has completed the work, and here is a picture.

Looks very sharp! Well done, the both of you.

It looks like that fabric will be very versatile---dress it up or dress it casually.

If you have something that can serve as your pockets (fanny pack, belt pouch, camera bag, ???); then you needn't worry much about accessories yet. Just see what develops as you wear it.

[elrond]

welcome from Italy!

[hammer70]

I am working on making a simple Sporan. I have been watching the DIY section and trying to figure out how I want it or a couple of different ones to look. My bigger problem right now is finding kilt socks to fit me. I ordered large kilt socks from Sports kilt but they are a small around the calf. I guess I will have to find x-large somewhere.