Hose Toppers Question

**azwildcat96** · 9th June 11, 04:17 PM

I can't figure out how these would be worn.

Are they worn over your hose and folded over?

Do you tuck them into your hose and fold them over?

Do you need to wear these with spats?

Are they primarily for pipers or military use?

**Thor271** · 9th June 11, 04:22 PM

Personally, I wear a thin pair of regular socks then pull the toppers on. Worn when you wear spats. So you cant see they arent Full Hose. The Military uses them mostly for Jr. NCM's as Sr. NCO's wear Full Diced as do Officers.

I'm sure more of the rabble would be able to give better insight.

**Joshua** · 9th June 11, 04:23 PM

tucked into spats, worn over normal socks.

Some pipers will sew stirrups on them to resist riding up. .

**bigdad1** · 9th June 11, 04:36 PM

I wouldn't wear those at all myself. The hose toppers I have are quite different.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 9th June 11, 04:40 PM

I think the responses so far have been about wearing diced or argyle "hose tops" such as these.

However, what some people on the forum (and perhaps the OP) refer to as "hose toppers" are something like these made by Big Mikey, knit using an easy knitter type device.

These are meant to simply be slipped on over the cuff of your hose.

My wife makes something similar in different patterns, only hers are all knit by hand. We sell them through the STM gift shop attached to a sock, but she has made them by request for people just as a cuff only, to be worn over normal hose.

**azwildcat96** · 9th June 11, 04:46 PM

Matt, the red and white ones that you show in your post are similar to the ones that I linked to in the OP. These are the ones that I was confused about, regarding how they were worn. I figured they were more for military or pipeing use. Not really interested in owning a pair, just curious about them. Thanks,

**azwildcat96** · 9th June 11, 04:51 PM

The ones that Big Mikey and the Scottish Tartan Museum sell are more appealing for civilian wear too.

**Chas** · 10th June 11, 02:37 AM

I have a pair of Big Mikey's and I must say that I am extremely pleased with them. The beauty of hose toppers is that a pair of hose that is just not long enough, suddenly gains a couple of inches and fits correctly.

Regards

Chas

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 10th June 11, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

Matt, the red and white ones that you show in your post are similar to the ones that I linked to in the OP. These are the ones that I was confused about, regarding how they were worn. I figured they were more for military or pipeing use. Not really interested in owning a pair, just curious about them. Thanks,

Sorry, I completely missed the fact that there was even a link in your OP! :-)

Yes, then those are the hose tops which are typically worn with spats by bands, etc. The beauty of them is that there is no foot to wear out, and also size is not an issue, making outfitting a band that much easier.

**Tobus** · 10th June 11, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I have a pair of Big Mikey's and I must say that I am extremely pleased with them. The beauty of hose toppers is that a pair of hose that is just not long enough, suddenly gains a couple of inches and fits correctly.

Regards

Chas

I'm considering getting some for similar reasons. A pair of hose that has a cheap looking turnover, or is too long, etc., can be fixed with a pair of hose toppers.

There was a thread recently about how most typical kilt hose are too long for us shorter guys. No matter how we try to do the turnover, it just doesn't look right. So I'm thinking it's probably easier to just fold it however we want, and slap a set of toppers on there, and be done with it.

Yes, then those are the hose tops which are typically worn with spats by bands, etc. The beauty of them is that there is no foot to wear out, and also size is not an issue, making outfitting a band that much easier.

You know, that's a darn good point! I typically wear canvas gaiters/leggings when I hike kilted, but the downside is that I have to wear really tall socks. But most quality hiking socks (like Smartwool) are not made that tall. Plus, I have to change socks very frequently while hiking.

Using hose tops would be the perfect solution to this. I can wear my regular short hiking socks, and add the hose tops when I'm wearing my gaiters. When I change socks on the trail, the hose tops don't have to get swapped out. Brilliant!