Best/Favorite Scout Uniform Styles

[SeattlePioneer]

Some people have strong opinions on Scout uniforms, And there has been a long history of uniforms going back a hundred years, plus uniforms for Cub Scouts, Sea Scouts and other varying branches of Scouting.

 

And then there are "Class B" uniforms, and uniform styles favored by particular units.

 

I'd like to invite people to discuss the uniform styles they like the most, the ones they may use or wear and the ones they think are "coolest" or are things they'd like to see adopted.

 

What uniform styles did you wear as a youth?

 

Illustrations of uniforms are encouraged!

[Eagle92]

Cub Scout blue uniform with the different colored neckers. Same hat for 2 years and same slide for 2 years. The year I became a Webelos was the first year Webelos were allowed to wear the BS uniform, so I did that with Webelos modifications: blue loops, tricolors, webelos necker, slide, hat, and... Flag over the BSA strip.

 

Boy Scouts was the standard ODL uniform with baseball cap until I went to Brownsea 22 and was awarded my Smokey Bear for completing the course. Then the Smokey Bear was worn until as an adult I got the Expedition hat when it first came out. The went back to Smokey Bear in the past 3-4 years.

 

Sea Scout uniform was a "Distinct Identity Uniform," or as some Sea Scout leaders on other threads called it a "piratical outfit" of either royal blue polo with First Class Anchor and Ship's number, or royal blue sweat shirt with same info , and blue jeans. If we wanted to, we could wear a navy blue beret with the navy blue First Class Anchor round patch on it. 2 of us did it, and I wish now I hadn't traded that beret when I went to the UK, c'est la vie.

 

BUT the best "uniform" I ever wore was as an adult, and it was the "COPE uniform" I wore consisting of helmet, summer camp staff t-shirt, harness (one instructor wore a Swiss seat instead), and camouflaged pants. Comfortable, lots of pockets and loops for gear, and very utilitarian on the high course. Only got to wear it to the dinning hall, and possibly assembly if we were not too late, when on the high course. Usually we were walking in fopr dinner while scouts were walking out the dining hall.

 

"C.O.P.E., What a rush!"

 

 

[drmbear]

My uniform for most of my youth was the green shirts, the ones just before they came out with the tan shirts, which is what I was wearing to finish up that time. The pants and shorts back then were always uncomfortable, and in no way were they designed for activity. Just to have a little bit of flexibility, I wore my shorts all year long, and back then we wore the light weight tall green socks with the elastic garters and green tabs.

 

I am actually extremely happy with the newer uniforms, though I am missing out on the most recent upgrades to the pants (which I've heard is a good thing). I've been able to stock up on the switchbacks with the boot zipper through the clearances they've had over the last year, buying them for something like $5 a pair - can't beat that. They are comfortable and practical whether I'm hiking, camping, or anything else I have in mind. I feel I can actually move in these, and the nylon is a tough material, dries quickly, and easy to care for. On a non-Scout trip to Russia that included camping and hiking this past summer, I was actually wishing I had these pants instead of the things I actually took, and I'll consider that in the future. And even the nylon shirt is tougher and more useful than anything I've had previously, though I still have some of my old shirts that I sometimes wear - just not when I'm going to be out and active.

[nugent725]

The only ones I've ever worn are the Oscar de la Renta's, and the Centennials. Between the two, I say that the de la Renta's beat the centennials hands down. On a side note, what is with Supply Division making full uniforms out of nylon? Do they not realize that scouting/camping at some point is likely to involve fire? Nylon melted onto skin...not fun. Then again thats just my $.03.

 

YIS,

 

Ryan

[desertrat77]

Late seventies, camp staff, Alaska

 

Council had a stock of 1950s dark green Explorer shirts.

 

Issued each staffer two.

 

Heavy yet comfortable material, looked great, tough as nails. Sewed on eagle knot and lodge flap that's all.

 

Wore it with the green '70s pants.

 

A wonderful shirt. Wished it still fit.

[Proud Eagle]

I tend to favor the mid 90s through 2000s version of the Boy Scout uniform. I like the new uniforms to a point, but I wish the old style had been continued as it offers a far cleaner and neater appearance. Quite frankly for indoor useage it was a superior uniform in all regards. For outdoors the new uniform offers some advantages, but how often is the new uniform actually being worn on outings, particularly given the costs involved?

 

Also has anyone else noticed an odor problem with the 100 % nylon? It seems to nearly instantly pick up, amplify, and retain even the slightest hint of BO to an extreme. If you sweat in the nylons, it will stink. I also think that having all pants being zip off is a bad idea. Also, the built in belts are rediculous, particulary since they are continuing with selling another not built in belt. At least make the thing easily removable. Also the stitching on the shirts presents an odd and unpleasing asymetrical look, and that extra seem down the left pocket is pointless. If the left sleeve pocket must be used for position patches, please pre sew velcro on it and the patches, after all it is very difficult to machine sew that at home, and machine sewing really is vastly superior to hand sewing. I really think the centenial uniform was a set of good ideas that were not well implemented, and in many cases carried off as only half measures. Also, at a time when fashion is going towards more fitted looks, the centenialls seem to be very loose, baggy, and over-sized. It almost necessar to order a size down to obtain a reasonable fit compared to the prior uniforms.

 

If I had my druthers, each program would have a uniform suited to its particular needs that was more field/activity oriented, and at the same time an organization wide uniform more suited toward dress useage would also exist. Something like the Centenials carried a step farther towards utility as a outdoor uniform with something along the lines of the prior poly/wools as an indoor uniform organization wide.

[drmbear]

The built-in belt is easily removable, with just a few small stitches in one place. Just snip the stitches and the belt comes out.

[resqman]

My first uniform had the red piping on the pockets. Seemed kinda silly to be able to button up the pockets. The next version of uniforms was too light in color to hide the grime of an outdoor scouting activity.

 

I loved my red beret. I also loved the knee high socks and garters with tabs.

 

Never really like my red wool jacket. The wind blew right through it and it was not warm at all.

 

My Explorer Post had uniforms that looked just like the local EMT/Paramedics. We even modeled our unit patch after the local responders. We were a First Aid, Safety and Rescue oriented Post.

 

The nylon switchbacks are very useful but they have no shape and make everyone look slovenly due to their baggy nature. I have two pair and wear them during outdoor events due to their usefulness in spite of their ugly appearance.

[UCEagle72]

I liked the green uniform of the 60s & 70s and the overseas style cap (young man wore one the other night at his ECoH). It was very tough, and held up well. Plus we had both long & short-sleeve versions with no collar, which made wearing a neckerchief perfect. (I keep trying to fold in the collar on my current centennial shirt, and it is a pain in the neck - literally and figuratively!)

 

I also liked the Explorer shirt of the same era - we wore those on our Philmont expedition in '72 (717G) and kept wearing them after as we were the "leadership corps."

 

[Kahuna]

I wore the red piping pockets as a youth and the adult equivalent later. I still think the best-looking uniform they've had was the dark green Explorer short sleeve shirt with the regular BS green shorts. Red garter tabs. (1950's-1980) Perfect combo.

[jrdalys]

Just like everyone else...the best ones were the ones that I wore as a Scout!

 

Cub scout uniform that SAYS Cub Scouts on the tape. Interesting that the color has changed over the years...my son's shirt looks blue next to this shirt...my old shirt looks almost purple.

 

Green (OD) Boy Scout shirt with NO collar to get tangled up with a neckerchief

 

And my favorite of all...

 

Sea Scout dress blues (US Navy 'crackerjack' uniform with a few tweaks). Not the most functional ... Sea Scouts had WORKING uniforms for getting dirty in, but great for the once a week ceremonial meetings.

 

-Sean

[UCEagle72]

My favorite uniform is one I never had the chance to wear ... while I loved my "red piping" uniform, and was thrilled when I was able to wear my dark green Exploring shirt ... my favorite is the old wool suit coat with belt. Usually worn by Commissioners, you wore metal collar emblems to indicate your position, and a smokey hat with a similar pin. Under you wore a long sleeve green dress shirt with tie (where square knots, red & white council or local patches were worn).

 

It is similar to the uniform you see Dan Beard wearing in many photos: http://www.hoac-bsa.org/news/campingandprogramnews.aspx

 

 

 

[shortridge]

I'm with Eagle92 - my favorite uniform is the "Class B" camp staff outfit I wore for five summers as a youth and adult. We had khaki shorts (at first BSA issue, then L.L. Bean after Supply dropped them) and dark blue logoed T-shirts and polo shirts. The polos were the best - cool and comfortable, and the collars helped wick away the sweat rolling down our necks. Sturdy, too. I don't recall a single shirt ever tearing or snagging, unlike my Class A.

 

I wore ODLs as a youth. Meh. They were OK. Didn't like the shorts - the stupid little pockets in front were too small to hold anything. My first troop wore the red berets and red neckerchiefs; my second wore neither. I liked the panache of the berets.

 

While in the OA, I added the dangling old-style black-and-white arrow patches to my temp pocket (Brotherhood and then Vigil). (Bought them both at a conclave while still Brotherhood from the guy running the conclave shop who looked at my two-bar sash and smiled.) Still like how they look.

 

My favorite uniform piece that I only got to wear once was the garrison cap. I obtained an old one while working on camp staff one summer, and wore it to the final retreat ceremony. It was a small hat, though, and I grew out of it quickly thereafter. I'd seen pictures in old Boys Life editions and in the ads in the backs of the old Handbooks, and still think it looks really sharp for parade-ground activities. (Impractical for everything else, of course.)(This message has been edited by shortridge)

[Old_OX_Eagle83]

I go back to the 70s and came from a CO that did a uniform exchange, so Ive been exposed to even older uniforms. Ill be shot for saying this, but Im a firm believer in wearing the uniform in the field, and have found the centennial the best suited to this. Im not talking about the supplex, that stuff is not scout friendly, briars, sparks, and rough rocks destroy it. I like the canvas/cotton, but wish there was a functional light wool blend. My only gripes about eh centennial are the electronics pocket, and the Elvis collar.

 

I spent a lot of time in the Oscar DeLarenta uniforms, not very field friendly. The uniform always made me feel like I should be a Back to the Future movie. During the 80s it was cool, except for that beret, but felt dated quickly. The older greens were much the same way, but a bit more timeless, except the collarless ones. Who wants to wear a neckerchief when its a 100 degrees!

 

Im not sure if it was the color, or what, but Ive always liked the 60s/70s Explorer shirts. The spruce green snap up Venture shirts do not fill that void bring em back for Venturing supply, please

(This message has been edited by Old_OX_Eagle83)

[BartHumphries]

I really like the cut of the Oscar de la Renta pants (or whatever they were called). I recently went to the scout shop to purchase a new pair of pants for summer camp. The waist 32 Classic-fit pants were plenty roomy up top (I don't have much of a butt) but really tight in the thighs (I have fairly musclar legs for my size, though). I tried waist 34 Classic-fit and they were the same, plenty roomy up top, but so tight around my thighs that I couldn't even get my hands all the way in the pockets. I thought the classic-fit were supposed to be straight cuts like the old Oscar pants?

 

Also, what's up with the pockets not even starting until a ways away from the seam? That just seems like a recipe for things to fall out.

 

I finally settled on a pair of waist 32 relaxed-fit which fit nicely all over although I have an extra 4 inches of fabric width-wise down around my knees.

 

I really dislike the available pants -- seriously, they're like K-mart pants, all sort of nylony and polyestery. The cutoff zipper seems mandatory -- they don't seem like they'll really be able to breath much once I start going down the trail. Not to mention the weird elastic -- all of us leaders wear belts, so ditch the elastic on leader pants, although maybe you wanted the elastic in to shorten the pants life -- that elastic is going to get stretched out and worthless in only like three-four years of use. Not to mention the ridiculous cut of the pockets.

 

It is so easy to press my Oscar pants -- I just pull the front over the front of the ironing board, six passes of the iron and the front and back and sides of the top are done. I lay the pants down along the ironing board and swoop, swoop, four passes of the iron and some cloth flipping and boom, the legs are done. Total time: about 30 seconds and they look amazing. These new pants are going to be a royal pain to get the wrinkles out.

 

I don't want to be an old geezer crying out for how things "used to be", but I want my old pants back.(This message has been edited by BartHumphries)