If you’re purchasing items to go along with your kilt, don’t forget that socks are an important part of that ensemble. How are kilt socks supposed to be worn? Like the rest of the ensemble, there is a protocol involved.
First, since kilt socks tend to be thicker than normal socks, you should probably buy a half-size bigger than you normally do so they are not too tight. Besides, the socks should have about two or three finger widths between the top part and your kneecap when you put them on. Other than this, they are worn like all other socks.
Although kilt socks used to be only blue or green, they can now be found in numerous colors, including checkered patterns and white or cream. They also come in a variety of materials, including acrylic, nylon, and wool.
Looking for the best kilt socks isn’t difficult if you start on the Internet, and below are some of the socks that can be found.
1) Ribbed Kilt Socks for Men
- AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL COLORS: Enjoy wearing your kilt with color-coordinated socks for a distinguished look. Match your kilt hose to the colors of any of your kilt...
- SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE: Our knee socks (they go up much higher than crew socks) feel very soft and comfortable as they wick away sweat and moisture. They also protect feet...
- COMPLETE YOUR CULTURAL DRESS: The kilt is considered to be the national dress of Scotland and is seen as a patriotic symbol. However, the full outfit isn’t complete...
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These are basic kilt socks for men in a ribbed design and are available in seven different colors. Made of double acrylic material, they are meant to stay up and are super lightweight and comfortable.
They are also the perfect complement to your brogues and kilts, and they have a true Scottish look that lets people know that you are an expert at dressing in Highland clothing.
You can find these kilt socks on Amazon, and their advantages include:
- They are high-quality and very reasonably priced;
- They whisk away moisture and wetness to stay comfortable;
- They come in a variety of sizes.
The disadvantages include:
- Some purchasers claim that they are too short and too thin.
2) Men’s Scottish Wool Kilt Socks
- Mens wool rich kilt hose socks.
- Designed for wearing with a Scottish kilt.
- Also ideal for wearing with boots for walking and hiking.
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These well-made Scottish kilt socks are available in three colors and are 65% wool, 10% acrylic, and 25% polyester. Although they are specifically made for wearing with a kilt, they are also perfect for going hiking or other occasions where you’ll be wearing boots.
They are soft and warm, yet they still allow your feet to breathe. Your feet need support when you’re wearing any type of boots, and these socks provide great support every time.
The pros of these socks include:
- They stay up well and do not fall;
- They do not shrink when you wash them;
- They are extremely comfortable.
The cons of these socks include:
- Some purchasers have said that the socks are itchy even after washing them.
3) Kilt Socks with Shamrock Design
- 40% Wool 40% Acrylic 20 % Nylon
- Hercoset treated to prevent shrinkage
- Knit in the UK
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sometimes the best kilt socks you find are also some of the most fun socks in the end, which is the case with these.
With a cute green shamrock at the top portion of the socks, these are cream-colored and made mostly of wool and acrylic. Machine-washable and treated, so they don’t shrink, the socks come in two sizes that will fit almost everyone.
The pros of these socks include:
- They are extremely well-made;
- They are high in quality and durable;
- They offer an aesthetically pleasing shamrock design.
4) Men’s Embroidered Socks with Shamrock Design
With a bright-green shamrock embroidered near the top, these kilt hose socks come in two different colors and are made mostly of acrylic and wool.
The ribs run from the top to the bottom of the socks, and they are an extremely soft product. They are a high-quality item that sells for a meager price of less than $17.
The pros of these kilt socks include:
- They offer great value for the money;
- They do not slide down your leg;
- They are extra good-fitting in the toe section.
The cons of the socks include:
- Some customers claim that the socks shrink even when washed in cold water.
5) Deluxe Cable Knit Kilt Socks
- Sport Kilt Exclusive Kilt Hose
- Cable Knit Pattern
- Two Sizes Available, 9-11 and 12-14
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These socks are a 100% acrylic blend and are machine-washable. They are both comfortable and durable, and they come in two sizes to fit nearly everyone.
They have a wide upper section and are flexible enough even for guys with large calves. They also come in a perfect all-natural color that will match any kilt that you wear with them.
The pros of these socks include:
- Very reasonably priced at around $19;
- Soft and comfortable;
- Very high in quality and made to last.
The cons of these socks include:
- Some customers say that the socks run a little large.
6) Men’s Wool Mix Kilt Socks
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Made by HJ Hall, these are high-quality socks with a beautiful Scottish design on the top cuff. They are available in two colors and are made mostly of acrylic.
Durable and machine-washable, the socks are ribbed in the leg area, and the design at the top is carefully embroidered for a colorful, attractive look. They are definitely some of the best kilt socks on the market.
The pros of these socks include:
- They are easy to care for and machine-washable;
- They offer an authentic, traditional design;
- At roughly $17, they are a great deal for the money.
7) Men’s Kilt Socks with Scottish Lion Design
- A durable black kilt hose with an embroidered red rampant lion
- Attractive rib style knitted sock that will keep your legs warm
- Soft and comfortable 50% wool, 30% acrylic, 19% nylon, 1% elastane material
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Available in three different colors and with a beautiful lion design carefully embroidered at the top, these men’s kilt socks have a ribbed design from top to bottom.
This enables them to be both comfortable and very durable. The bright-red lion will definitely catch people’s attention. At roughly $11, they are also one of the most reasonably priced pair of kilt socks on the market.
The pros of these socks include:
- High quality and low price;
- A wide variety of sizes;
- A soft, very comfortable feel.
8) Deluxe Men’s Kilt Socks in Black
- The Deluxe Kilt hose from Sport Kilt is an more comfortable and economical alternative to wool.
- Machine Washable Fabric made of an 100% acrylic blend.
- Available in Two Sizes: Medium (9-11.5) and Large (12-14)
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These socks have a cable knit design and are made to be extremely comfortable. Instead of wool, they are made out of a blend of acrylic throughout, and they are available in sizes to fit everyone. They are comfortable, durable, and made to last.
They are easy to care for as well because they are machine-washable. This is a beautiful set of kilt socks and a good pair to consider when looking for the best kilt socks on the market.
The pros of these socks include:
- Very soft and comfortable feel;
- A great value for the money;
- Fashionable look and style.
9) High-Quality Kilt Socks in Charcoal Grey
- 70% Wool 30 % Nylon
- Hercoset treated to prevent shrinkage
- Knit in the UK
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These socks are the perfect wood/nylon blend, and they are specially treated so they won’t shrink. The turn over the top has a unique design on it, and the rib design runs from the top to the bottom of the socks.
They are also made with very high-quality wool; therefore, they will never be itchy or uncomfortable. At under $23, they are a very good deal as well.
The advantages of these socks include:
- High in quality and reasonably priced;
- Perfectly fitting;
- Durable and meant to last.
10) Red Kilt Flashes Socks
- Red kilt flash
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Wearing kilt flashes means that your socks and shoes will have a perfect traditional look. These are the flashes only as the socks are sold separately. Their red color is definitely eye-catching. Made by TactiKilt, they are a high-quality grosgrain and contain two loops for convenient attachments.
They are also very reasonably priced at around $8 and can match a number of sock colors and designs. Whenever you need kilt socks and flashes because you want the complete Scottish experience, these are a great pair of flashes to start with.
The pros of these kilt socks flashes include:
- The beautiful, rich red color;
- Ease of attaching and wearing;
- Very comfortable feel.
What are Kilt Socks
Kilt socks (sometimes referred to as kilt stockings or kilt hose) are long thick knee-high stockings worn with kilts. Kilts are normally worn only for a special occasion such as a wedding day out of tradition. However, it doesn’t have only to be worn for a special occasion. It can be worn any day you choose, which is becoming more and more common.
The most common kilt sock color is an off-white color, as these are worn by pipers. Pipers are simply people in a pipe band. Many socks tend to come with a design as well. The most common design is a diced pattern design, which is a requirement for highland dancers.
How to Wear Kilt Socks
Generally, kilt socks are worn above the calf but not covering any part of the lower knee. This means that when wearing kilt socks, your knee caps should be visible. Garters or flashes or worn to keep the socks in place, but sometimes sgian-dubhs are worn instead. A sgian-dubh is a small knife worn with a kilt and Scottish Highland dress as tradition.
It’s very common to wear kilt socks as part of formal wear. Many schools have uniforms as a dress code that requires kids to wear a kilt along with kilt socks and brogues. Some schools even have a color requirement for the socks.
Which sock you wear a sgian-dubh in depends on what your dominant hand is. If your right hand is dominant, you wear the sgian-dubh in your right sock, and if your left hand is dominant, the sgian-dubh goes in your left sock.
While it is the norm for the socks to match the tartan, you can also choose to have your socks match your shoe color instead. The most common color combination is black socks with black shoes. The less common option is white socks with white shoes.
What Socks Do You Wear With a Kilt
Hiking socks are a great option to wear with a kilt. Of course, there is always the standard kilt hose option. With both of these choices, the socks should match the tartan’s colors. These are called tartan flashes.
If the color of the socks isn’t matching the tartan color, the socks are usually blue or green, which sometimes have a chequered design to them. Most kilt socks are made of wool are acrylic material, which can make them great when it’s cold outside.
What Kind of Socks and Shoes Go with a Kilt
Most often, people pair their boots with their kilt outfits, but there are other options, such as boat shoes. Brogue is a common alternative to boots, and some of the most popular brogues worn are suede brogues and casual brogues, and recently, ghillie brogues.
Highlanders use ghillie brogues. What makes ghillie brogues popular is that they can be drained of water faster as well as let the feet dry quicker due to the holes. Ghillie brogues also don’t have a tounges while most other brogues do.
