Who will wear a kilt?

No valid statistics exist, but from kilt forums and similar, it is my impression that men in kilts, demographically on most criteria (age, civil status, family size, education, and income), will resemble men in general. Accordingly, the main difference between men in kilts and men in general is the kilt.
They have just found out that wearing a kilt makes sense to them.

By the way, kilt-wearing has nothing to do with sexual preferences. I mention this, because ignorant people often question such things and will connect everything they don’t understand, which can be pretty much with sexual deviating.

Why wear a kilt?

If not part of a national dress or a garment to be worn to honour Scottish heritage, what then could make men wish to wear a kilt?
There are numerous reasons, of which the following seem to be the most important:

1. The kilt is probably the most comfortable male garment available

Just think of anatomy. Should clothing be invented from scratch, it is likely that restroom signs should be interchanged, because trousers would be the primary choice of women (they already are), whereas skirted garments should probably be preferred by men, because of anatomy and a lot of jobs no longer requiring them.

2. The kilt is versatile

A casual kilt, for example, can, with a few accessories, be upgraded to rather formal functions, not possible with blue jeans or shorts. In most European countries, a kilt can be worn year-round. At temperatures between -3 and 30 °C, it is perfect.
In winter, your knees are uncovered, but they aren’t cold. The kilt itself, with its four to seven meters of fabric, as well as the kilt hose, will keep the remaining parts of your legs efficiently protected against cold. Your only problem might be all the people freezing in their trousers asking you if you are not cold.
In summer, the kilt protects against heat and sun. In fact, on most days, you’ll feel more comfortable than when in shorts.

3. The kilt is different

The manly wardrobe might not be the most inspiring thing the world has seen.

4. The kilt looks good

This is my opinion. And it might be yours too.

5. The kilt provides a lot of variety

Thousands of tartans are available, and the kilt itself shall make a splendid addition to your wardrobe, because you no longer must wear trousers all the time.

6. You stand out from the crowd

- even if by far less than you might fear - or hope for.

7. Health aspects might apply

This is what an article from 2013 in the Scottish Medical Journal suggests:


Wearing a Scottish kilt in a traditional (‘regimental’) way may have clear health-related benefits. Kilt wearing likely produces an ideal physiological scrotal environment, which in turn helps maintain normal scrotal temperature, which is known to be beneficial for robust spermatogenesis and good sperm quality.

Is it true?

That nothing is worn under a kilt? Well, if sperm quality is an issue, you already have the answer above.


Otherwise, underwear is not banned, at least not in private life.
In kilted Scottish regiments, underwear was (still is?) not a part of the uniform and accordingly forbidden to wear. It is said that at assembly, sometimes, inspections were conducted with a mirror on a stick. If the mirror revealed underwear worn, the soldier would be punished. Today, a smartphone on a selfie stick had been the thing to use.



Wearing the kilt as a true Scotsman is therefore called going regimental or commando.

And yes, to quite a few kilt wearers, it is true. As a matter of fact:

Four out of ten men in kilts are going commando

What is actually worn under the kilt has been revealed in a 2016 YouGov research.
According to this, 55% of men in kilts are wearing underpants, 38% are going commando, and the remaining 7% are wearing something else. Suggested are shorts, tights, and leggings. But probably also kilt liners. They are to protect the kilt against the wearer while he is still having the feeling of going commando. You can read more about kilt liners on the page Kilt accessories.

Whatever your choice, you better keep it to yourself. If asked, and you will be, believe me, my advice is never to give a definite answer.
The uncertainty about the "secret" may very well be the reason why the kilt is still so very much alive!

Why don't more men wear kilts?

They are not men enough. They are afraid of not being regarded manly. They are narcissistic, thinking the world should go into pieces if they were seen in a kilt. Or they are afraid of the kilt police.

Do the kilt police exist?

OH yes. They are narrow-minded men zealously watching every man wearing a kilt and who they shall rebuke, should he dare deviate the slightest from rules, or worse, should he not know them.

Should you be afraid of the kilt police?

No. It is most unlikely that you should ever meet such a guy, at least when you keep away from highland gatherings and the like. They are extremely few, self-appointed, and without any possibility of punishing the offender. I have only read about them.

More seriously, however, are the imaginary kilt police which may exist within the head of many insecure kilt wearers, making them either overdress, which, in fact, might draw considerably more attention to them, than had they just worn a kilt and a few accessories, or causing them to wear their kilt too seldom because they are just too much in their exaggerated outfits.
The imaginary kilt police no doubt also scare away many potential kilt wearers from starting to wear a kilt in the first place.

My advice: Forget about kilt police, buy a kilt and start wearing it.