Highland Games Kilts

Construction under load. A games kilt is reinforced at the waistband and at the strap anchors, cut with more room across the hip for a full hinge, and pleated so the back opens rather than binds when you stride or turn. Formal kilts are built to hang correctly while standing still, which is a completely different problem to solve.

At a local level nobody will stop you, and plenty of first year athletes do exactly that. The problem shows up under load, where a formal kilt tends to ride up at the waist, twist off centre during rotational throws, and occasionally come unfastened. That is a distraction at best and a failed attempt at worst. Once you are competing seriously, use a purpose built kilt.

It depends on the games and the class. Many events require a kilt but place no restriction on the sett, and plenty of athletes wear a club or association tartan rather than a family one. Some championship classes and some traditional games are stricter. Check the specific rules of the event you are entering before ordering, because they vary more than people expect.

Snug at the waist and never on the hips, because a kilt sitting low will migrate under load. Length at mid knee or very slightly above, since anything longer catches on a hinge. Get the hip measurement right, as too tight restricts the stride and too loose lets the whole garment rotate. Measure in a standing athletic posture rather than relaxed.

Yes. Send us the roster with each athlete's waist, hip and length measurements, along with the sett or the plain colour you want across the group. Ordering together means the whole team is cut from the same run, which keeps shade consistent. Contact us before placing individual orders so the group can be handled as one.

Tartan versions use premium acrylic woven to the sett, which handles sweat and repeated washing far better than heavier traditional cloth and dries faster between events. Plain athletic versions use heavy cotton. Both use metal hardware and reinforced stitching at the load points, which is where competition kilts fail first if they are going to fail.

Traditional Scottish athletic meetings featuring heavy events such as the caber toss, hammer and weight over bar, alongside piping and dancing competitions. The Scottish season runs roughly May to September. North American games run across a wider spread of the year, so check the calendar for your region before ordering to a date.

Most competitors run two. A competition kilt takes real punishment and will show it, so wearing it for the parade and the evening leaves you looking rough by the end. A standard tartan kilt covers the ceremonial side. If you are only buying one, buy the competition build. Athletes usually keep a second tartan kilt for the opening ceremony.