Saturday, January 6, 2018

Kilt shoes, socks, and boots

Before I wore kilts I had three pairs of shoes.  A nice dress pair that I wore to the office or anyplace nice.  A pair of cloth shoes which I always called “tennis” shoes.  Wore these for casual activities.  The third type were steel toe boots for cutting grass or any work that had a chance of foot injuries.  When the kilts came along this all changed. 

Maybe I was overthinking this but the shoes I was accustom to wearing just did not feel right with the kilt.  The dress shoes were fine with a traditional kilt and kilt hose.  The “tennis” shoes with crew socks did not cut it even with a utility type kilt.  I would wear that combination with shorts but for some reason it did not fit the kilt.   The steel toe boots looked and felt the best but the ones I had were all beat up from working in the yard.   So I started to look for alternatives.  I looked at what other “kilties” were wearing. 

I see a lot of open toe shoes like sandals with utility kilts in the summer.  I don’t like open toe shoes for myself.  I feel someone is going to step on my toes.  I also don’t think my toes look that good anyway.  So they don’t work for me. 

8” and 10” Boots became my shoe of choice for causal kilt wear.  In the summer I wear knee socks pushed down. My favorite boot were 10” Harley boots I got from Sears.  I wear them this way with utility kilts and tartan kilts in a casual fashion.  I thought the boots would be heavy and hot in the heat of the summer.  Cheap ones might be.  These are all leather and they have been fine in the summer.  For winter they would also work but the general impression I got from others is boots work with push down socks.  Not socks pulled up to the knee.  But in the winter that is where I would want the socks high and the boots. Also the boots would be better in snow than low shoes.  My solution was screw the negative comments about boots with knee socks.  They work for me so I wear them that way when ground conditions are less than ideal.  These boots could be 8” or 10” motorcycle, hiking, or work boots. 




Pictures with the 10" Harley boots and socks down.

Is there another alternative to 8” or 10” boots with knee socks (be they knee socks or better kilt hose like Lewis)?  Why can’t you find knee high boots for men?  The women wear them all the time in colder weather.  I did find a few men’s knee high boots.  They were either motorcycle boots, almost knee high western boots, linemen boots, costume knee boots (think steampunk) and Engineer boots.    My intended purpose was for a more casual wear with utility kilts and tartan kilts in a casual situation.  Not to be used for a traditional kilt look or a “suit” kilt equivalent.  Let’s examine each of these. 

I wanted a kilt outfit for Halloween and was looking for  something Steampunk related.  I found “Steampunk”  boots that lace up from the bottom.  Three problems here.  First these are cheap and not well made.  Synthetic material that was hot and uncomfortable to wear.  Lacing them up took forever.  About 45 minutes to put them on.  Worked out well for Steampunk but not for anything else.  I did find an alternative.  I don’t recall where I got them as I searched on just about every boot site I could find.  They have lace up front but a side zipper. You tie the laces once then you never have to change them.  Use the zipper to remove the boot.  Fit and feel much better than my first “costume” boot.   Were these men’s boots?  I doubt it.  Size is 10.  I wear a men’s size 9 or 9.5. 


My original costume laced up knee boots for Steampunk

I looked at various motorcycle boots.  I did find a few that were knee high. Never bought any to try.  Something not quite right in the look but they may have worked.  May look at these again someday.

Western Boots.  The general thought in the kilt world is western boots just don’t work.  I agree.  Won’t consider these any farther. 

Linemen boots.  I liked the look the best but the better ones are very expensive and delivery times were long.  They be too heavy as these are intended for linemen not fashion.  I did not obtain any because of the cost. 

Engineer boots.  Yes, such a boot does exist.  They are plain in design and knee high.  Hard to find, very expensive, and long delivery time.  If I recall one pair I found was over $400.  From the pictures these would be ideal.   Take a close look at these boots.  What do you see?  They look just like women’s knee high boots with a 1” heel.  They may have a strap more or less than the women’s equivalent.  Also the tread is more aggressive which would be ideal in the winter.  The cost and availability prevented me from obtaining a pair.  So what about looking across the aisle in the shoe department?  See if I can find the same thing.  The fit would be a concern.  I found the rule of thumb in size is take your men’s shoe size and add two.  So I wear a 9 medium.  That would be an 11 medium. Looking at DSW shoes I find size 11 is the largest common size. The width is the same.  So if your shoe size is larger than a 9 you may be out of luck as your options drop.  Using the Engineers boot design I found the same thing on the DSW site.  The only difference was the location of a strap.  Cost was not bad and quality looked to be within reason.  Ordered a pair in black.   I was surprised to find they fit perfectly.  I was concerned not only about the fit in the foot but also in the calve.  The height was also correct.  I have worn these out several times in the winter in a casual situation.  Never a negative comment or “hey, you have on your woman’s boots”.  Never a positive comment either about the boots but then I normally don’t about any of the shoes I may have on with the kilt.  I think these work.  Your opinion may vary.   The only negative I have with them is the wimpy tread on the bottom.   Not much tread there if any snow is present.    So until another option develops I will continue to wear these knee boots in the winter as an alternative to my 10” Harley boots and knee socks.  


Picture of DSW knee high boots with solid color kilt



Picture of the DSW knee high boots and the Bamboo Ribbed Tights

By the way, I have two choices for knee socks.  In colder weather the Lewis Kilt hose are an excellent choice with a tartan kilt even as a better looking casual wear.  For more casual and to push down in the summer I use Gold Toe knee socks in black.  I think these only come in white and black.  I use to get knee socks from a company called Sock Dreams.  While they intended all their socks for women they found one particular style were popular in the kilt world.  These socks are sized in both men and women sizes.  They are available in multiple colors.  I have a few of them but in the past year wore mostly the Gold Toe.  I did dye a few of the white Gold Toe knees highs into other colors.  That worked out ok. 

For the very cold days of winter I have another option.  SockDreams sell heavy over the knee socks that work out very well in the cold.  That product is called “long cuffable crunchable socks”  SKU: [DS]-[LC].  They also have heavier tights called “Bamboo Rayon  Rib Tights”.  SKU: [FT]-[905].   If  you are in the size range for their “one size fits all” then they will work well.  I have even worn these as “long johns” under jeans when the temperature is around zero F.  The other option is from a place called G. Lieberman & Sons. There are also known as ActiveSkins.  This particular product is A829 Thermofabric Opaque Full Support Tights.   Not as thick as the Bamboo tights from Sockdreams but these are made for men.  I wear these with tartan kilts and up the Lewis Kilt hose over top of them.  That way I have the color and look of the Kilt hose but my skin is covered above the knee by the tights.  This has worked out well for me in temperatures down to zero F.   I found the length of these to be a little short.  I am 5’11” and 185 pounds.  I ordered the XL for the additional length.  Even then I have to make sure I get them pulled up as much as I can starting at the foot.  Otherwise they are short in the crotch. Not an issue with the SockDreams tights.   I guess I have long legs ;)