The Grillkilt Is Making Men’s Grilling Aprons Sexy Again.
It's a kilt that you grill in, and it's hotter than an episode of 'Outlander.'
Men’s grilling aprons tend to fall into a category I like to refer to as masculine-camp, which is why as a bona fide meat man, I tend to avoid them. For instance, a dad at the grill might wear a covering that proclaims “Kiss the Cook!” or number that sports a “sexy” torso all too incongruous for the proud head above. But rarely are these aprons good at being anything more than a wearable dad joke that keeps the sauce off. And that’s why I was excited to meet the utility-minded, sexy-as-hell Grillkilt — a versatile, pants-saving BBQ uniform that every serious meat-slinger should own.
The Grillkilt, as you might intuit, is a kilt… that you wear while you grill. And that might be enough to sell some die-hard Highlander fans, but there’s much more to this occasional culinary garment than a send-up to the Celts. In fact, the Grillkilt owes more to cargo-shorts than it does to Connor McCloud.
Made from 100 percent cotton, the Grillkilt looks heavy-duty and has a canvas feel, but is surprisingly lightweight and breathable. Full 360-degree coverage is provided by four panels — one in the front and three in the back. The front panel is sewn to an adjustable belt and boasts no less than six prodigious pockets for just about any grilling accoutrement you want to stuff inside of them. Side and rear coverage, which completes the pleated “kilt look,” is provided by three optional smaller panels that attach to the belt through a combination of loops and velcro-like fastening.
In addition to the pockets, the Grillkilt is kitted out with grommets and d-rings to provide even more opportunities for storing gear. It also arrives packed with two versatile grilling towels for wiping your meaty hands while you cook.
There’s very little to complain about with this versatile grilling apron. The only quibble is that there is some careful assembly to be done prior to the first use. So, a little prep time is required before you kilt up. But as a grill-master, you’re probably used to prepping.
Performance-wise, the Grillkilt has the potential to be a perfect BBQ buddy. That said, the experience is largely dependent on the tools you bring to your grilling duties. My own tool set is fairly oversized and it took a couple of sessions at the grill to find the optimal pocket configuration for tongs, spatula, phone, grill glove, and koozy-covered seltzer. But the good news is that there is plenty of room for all of the above, and even fully loaded, the Grillkilt remained breezy and easy to wear.
Of course, there is the million dollar question: What does one wear under the Grillkilt? The American makers are pretty unequivocal about this: “We believe that such a decision should be left up to the user,” reads the Quick Start guide. “However, if you assemble it correctly, you can ‘go commando’ and nobody will ever know.”
I will note that I did, in fact, “go commando” for one round and inadvertently mooned my wife and children due to poor panel placement. That’s fine. It’s not the first or last time they will see my ass, but I’m glad it was a private grilling event. Users will want to dial in the assembly before they attempt to get “authentic” with Grillkilt.
There is one final point I’d like to make. Kilts are sexy. That’s not an opinion. The whole ‘Outlander’ phenomenon is built on this very real and unassailable fact. Also, cooking over fire is sexy. When combined, the Grillkilt was like catnip for my mostly Scottish-heritage wife. So, maybe make a little extra time to wear the Grillkilt before you cook so the backyard doesn’t get too hot. Because the truth is, that Kiss the Cook apron will never get you as many kisses the Grillkilt.
Every product on Fatherly is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
