clunk, clunk, clunk

[Hamish]

...if the sporran gets in the way of your stride-be it going up/down stairs--hill- or whatever it is being worn too low.

That's right. Most guys in the US, at least, seem to wear the sporran too low. It should be a hand's breadth (or even a bit less, depending on the size of your hand) below the TOP of the kilt, if you're not wearing a belt, and just about two inches or so below the belt if you are. If you are wearing the kilt up at your navel as you should be, this will place all or most of the sporran above the sensitive bits, and certainly well above the level that would interfere with leg movement.

When driving or doing something else that makes the sporran feel awkward, just move it to the side. It's easier to do this if you don't put the strap through the 'belt loops' on your kilt. It's better to lift and reposition it than to pull it so that the chain rubs the cloth of your kilt.

Pearls, every one, Cyndi!!

Why is it that, in the main, US kilt-wearers have their kilts too long and their sporrans too low? (And I'm not looking for cheeky responses from you guys over there!! )

[chasem]

I'll refrain from the cheeky comments But I think it probably has something to do with the way a lot of men, the younger crowd at least, wear their pants. The 'sagging' style is often seen in the states, where the pants are several inches below the waste, often revealing underwear.

I myself wear my pants low, not that low, but it's what's comfortable. I haven't yet bought a tank, but I'm sure it will take some getting used to - wearing the kilt at the real waste - when I finally do, for that reason.

[Thistle Stop]

The waistband of the kilt is about 2 inches below my navel.

The you're wearing your kilt too low! The waist of the kilt should be AT your navel -- so the waistband can actually rise above the navel a bit (usually 2 inches). This means your kilt is probably 4 inches lower than it should be.

Hamish is right -- Americans do tend to wear the kilt too long and the sporran too low. The longest the kilt should be is to the middle of your kneecap.

There has been a trend in Scotland recently for wearing the kilt a bit longer than usual, but I don't think it looks very good and I doubt that it will catch on or linger as the fashion.

[Uncle Ricky]

Wearing the kilt at the navel is not comfortable for me. I made mine shorter so that I could wear it lower while still having the bottom just above the kneecap. In otherwords, I eliminated the rise. It's comfortable, and still looks good (I think).

Cheers

[Alan H]

The waistband of the kilt is about 2 inches below my navel.

The you're wearing your kilt too low! The waist of the kilt should be AT your navel -- so the waistband can actually rise above the navel a bit (usually 2 inches). This means your kilt is probably 4 inches lower than it should be.

Hamish is right -- Americans do tend to wear the kilt too long and the sporran too low. The longest the kilt should be is to the middle of your kneecap.

There has been a trend in Scotland recently for wearing the kilt a bit longer than usual, but I don't think it looks very good and I doubt that it will catch on or linger as the fashion.

Well, after that I was curious. I've got on my philbag, so I just stood up and adjusted the kilt to where it seemd "right". The top of the waistband is spot on me belly-button! The sporran is still a nifty plate right over my jewels, tho. I even punched a couple more holes in the sporran strap so I could cinch it up tighter.

[Thistle Stop]

The waistband of the kilt is about 2 inches below my navel.

The you're wearing your kilt too low! The waist of the kilt should be AT your navel -- so the waistband can actually rise above the navel a bit (usually 2 inches). This means your kilt is probably 4 inches lower than it should be.

Hamish is right -- Americans do tend to wear the kilt too long and the sporran too low. The longest the kilt should be is to the middle of your kneecap.

There has been a trend in Scotland recently for wearing the kilt a bit longer than usual, but I don't think it looks very good and I doubt that it will catch on or linger as the fashion.

Well, after that I was curious. I've got on my philbag, so I just stood up and adjusted the kilt to where it seemd "right". The top of the waistband is spot on me belly-button! The sporran is still a nifty plate right over my jewels, tho. I even punched a couple more holes in the sporran strap so I could cinch it up tighter.

How big is the sporran? On most guys, there's room for at least most of the sporran to rest above the 'jewels' if it's in the right place. I just measured my Alan -- it's 8" from bellybutton to 'there' and most of his sporrans are 7" or 8" high. So if you drop it an inch or two down, by the time you get a kilt in between, there should not be a whole sporran bouncing off the magic wand -- little direct contact, really, as it will sit out a little bit due to the stiffness of the doubled kilt aprons. On longwaisted men, though, it could sit lower, and for that problem I'd advise wearing the kilt (and sporran) a bit higher. If one is just short all over and the sporran is proportionately too big, opt for a smaller sporran, even an older-boy's sporran (about 6" high).

[kiltedpride]

OK I bought an inexpesnive, three tassel day sporran. I like it except for one thing. The sporran body is fairly stiff and hard and when I walk the tassels thud into the body of the thing. In fact they do it twice with every step. By the end of the day on Tuesday I was ready to rip the blinkin' thing off.

Some guys also wear ball weights and then you get a clunk, clunk, clang clang! The skill is to get the tuning right.

[bubba]

Take a dab of silicon sealer and stick the buggers down.