Affordable nice hose

**TyGuy** · 11th April 13, 10:37 PM

Can anyone direct me where to look for affordable yet decent quality hose? I know that as the price goes up so does quality, but I am looking merely for everyday wear hose, not for special occasions.

**Richrail** · 11th April 13, 10:47 PM

I like the Glenbeg Hose I've purchased from Buyakilt.com.

**rondo** · 11th April 13, 11:33 PM

Tyguy,
Some folks here will shudder when I post this but here goes. I have 4 pair of inexpensive hose from SockDreams, definitely not kilt hose but 90% of the people out there won't know the difference. For everyday wear I also have 8 pair of soccer [futball] socks. Both of these options allow me to not have to wear garter ties as the socks have enough stretch to stay up by themselves. The SockDreams socks are about $8 US per pair and the soccer socks I got locally from an athletic store 2 pair for $8. Do they last a long time? No, not really, but then I didn't pay $120 for them either. USA Kilts also has a lower price hose $10-$20 US and I bought 2 pair but they don't fit around my jumbo calves [23"], I use them casually, scrunched down. The next price point you hit is about $50 US and these hose are getting a lot better in terms of quality, available from most vendors. As always, your mileage may vary.
Rondo

**Couper** · 12th April 13, 05:34 AM

Here's another "shudder" response. I have both the Regular Kilt Hose ($8.00) and the Mid-Grade Kilt Hose ($14.50) from SportKilt. Being a casual sort of guy, I find both to wear well and look fine. I do wear the Mid-Grade if I am getting a bit more "dressed up" to go out with the wife.

**TyGuy** · 12th April 13, 06:41 AM

I think all of those options are fine. If you are going to wear a kilt for a formal ocassion, with appropriate jacket, fly, dress sporran, etc... then yes, wear NICE hose. For everyday wear then do what works. I mean I wear my kilts with t-shrits or polos and sneakers. Honoroing your heritage means combining it with your modern sensibilities right? There are times to be a purist, and there are times to be casual. Make the kilt work for your life, not your life for you kilt right?

**usonian** · 12th April 13, 06:45 AM

I think the 'colored kilt hose' I bought from USA Kilts are a good value for the money ($20); good quality that's held up with multiple wearings and washings. I just bought a pair of Sock Dreams' "diamond-rib knee highs" for $9 based on favorable reviews I'd read here. I haven't worn them yet but I'd say they're a very good value for the price, especially since they don't charge anything for shipping. They're cotton, not wool. (Regrettably they're currently out of stock of everything but black and green.)

If you're the enterprising sort, you can make your own. There's an initial investment in needles (I think I paid about $8-9 for the bamboo double-pointed needles I used) but if you time it right and get yarn when it's on sale you have a huge selection of colors at your disposal. I think I spent about $11 for the yarn (80% acrylic, 20% wool) I used to make these. There's a time investment too, of course... but if you're going to be the occasional hour or two of TV, why not make it productive?

**Mael Coluim** · 12th April 13, 06:45 AM

Glenmore Hose!

**fluter** · 12th April 13, 07:10 AM

IMHO for daily wear, the best price point is the wool blend kilt hose for about $20 at most of our sponsors. For example, USA Kilts' "colored kilt hose" in various colors. The other retailers have similar ones, often the same brand.

Aside: how do your feet and legs feel about wool? These are among the least "scratchy" wool/nylon socks I've found.

The Sock Dreams "diamond rib knee highs" are quite nice for what they are, which is mostly cotton. I don't believe in cotton socks (for my feet) when doing anything active. YMMV. The Sportkilt economy grade socks I've seen are athletic socks (probably acrylic), readily available. The mid-grade ones they now list are 50/50 cotton, and I have not tried them. They used to have a thin but serviceable wool sock that was nice---but the $20 wool blends beat them handily.

I'd recommend a couple of pairs of those from your favorite Xmarks sponsor, as you can afford them.

I'll edit to second Mael's endorsement of the House of Cheviot Glenmore hose. Their wool/acrylic blend is very, very nice: my feet love it. If you think you don't like wool socks, give these a try. Their Lewis hose (about $50) are a bit thicker, also very nice to my feet.