So you are going to wear a Sporran, if you are then I do not need to explain what a Sporran is. If you are going to wear a Kilt for the first time, standing up in a friend’s Celtic wedding (Irish, Scottish or Welsh) then you are also going to wear a Sporran for the first time. A Sporran (Gaelic for 'pouch or purse') is a traditional part of Highland dress. Kilts are worn by all of the people of Celtic descent, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Inland of Man. It is the pouch, wore in the front that performs the same function as pockets on the pocketless kilt. As I have been making Sporrans for over a decade, I have seen a number of very nice ones and some, not so nice. The big thing to remember, does your Sporran fix you and your personality? How many Sporrans are you will to buy as there is more then one type of Sporran? The three most common ones are, Day Wear, Dress and Full Mask. A "Day Wear” Sporran is usually a simple brown or black leather pouch with little adornment. You would wear this type of Sporran to a Highland Games, in some pipe bands or other events you attend in a casual outfit.

The "Dress Sporran" is larger than the day variety, and is more ornate. They usually have chrome or silver cantles trimming the top of the pouch and a fur-covered face with fur or hair tassels. The cantle may contain intricate filigree or etchings of Celtic knots or emblems such as Saint Andrew, a thistle, Clan, or Masonic symbols. This type of Sporran would be worn to format events, weddings, Burns Dinners and other events were you are dressed up. The one at the right is White Mink.

The third type of the common Sporrans is the Full Mask; this would be an animal including the face. This is the larges type of common Sporran and the highest dollar cost, with some costing over a thousand dollars. The nice thing about a Full Mask Sporran is they are correct to wear for both Day and Dress events and therefore, you do not have to own both a “Day Wear” and “Dress” Sporran. The one at the left is a Badger and is a sign of rank. When you see paintings of the Clan Chiefs, a number of them has Full Mask Badger Sporrans. It is also the most popular Mask Sporran in Wisconsin, the Badger state.

So now you need to think when you will need a Sporran and how many can your afford?