View Full Version : New Uniform Pants
WB Bear
08-26-2006, 02:16 AM
Are the pants, Swithback's, that have just came out are they offical field uniforms or are they an activity pant? I was told at NOAC they were to be activity pants.
Nuts4Scouts
08-27-2006, 07:40 PM
The new Switchbacks are considered official uniform pants and can be worn for all scouting occasions.
From all I have heard they are very nice, cut full, but might be a bit on the long side. The shorts hit an inch or two right above the knee so they are not as short as they look in the picture.
The new Switchbacks are considered official uniform pants and can be worn for all scouting occasions.
From all I have heard they are very nice, cut full, but might be a bit on the long side. The shorts hit an inch or two right above the knee so they are not as short as they look in the picture.
I purchased a pair for my son for his Eagle Board of Review. They actually come in lengths just as you buy dress slacks (example:34/32 or 34/30) so you can buy them long or short. Keep in mind there is a zipper at the bottom of the pant and it will be narly if they are too long. They are light weight, have an official belt that is even removeable. Very nice!
ScoutmasterJerry
12-30-2006, 12:53 AM
I LOVE THE NEW PANTS..
Most of the Scouts in my Troop have them now.. and they are great.
Now we need a new Shirt to go with them... but for now..I am a happy Camper.
They are versitle, good looking, and better suited for camping.
They are nice enough for a Court of Honor, and functional enough for a campout!
GOOD JOB BSA.. Finally a step in the right direction with the Uniform.
:)
cubbobwhite
01-31-2007, 03:10 PM
I love the new pants. And I really loved the fact that I didn't have to hem them :)
Gamewithapurpose
03-02-2007, 03:37 AM
I like how they look, even when pulled out of a pack. They are "legal" whether in full field uniform at a Court of Honor, or just puttering around a campsite. The web belt is a nice touch, but they do seem to run 2" longer than normal pants. They're definitely on the light-weight side for Wisconsin winter, but thermals fix that.
:confused: I can't understand why the leg bottom zippers were made as "L" and "R". I have 2 other convertible pairs (Columbia, and a no-name) for high adventure and both of them have interchangeable leg bottoms, to eliminate problem of getting wrong side on the wrong leg... after you pull it up over your boot.
ScoutmasterJerry
03-02-2007, 12:36 PM
They do run a tad long for the height challenged folks, but the great staff at our Scout Shop showed one of our shorter gents how to hem them from a point just below the zipper to attach to "Shorts" portion.. it requires a simple tuck and hem just below the zipper. You can't even see it.
Again.. I love the pants...
I can't wait for a new shirt. I like the current shirt, but a shirt to match the pants (material) would be real nice... and look good too.
FRUSTRATED SCOUTMASTER
03-04-2007, 09:17 AM
I too love the new uniform pants. They are lightweight and look and feel good. Regarding the L and R, I like it. I am getting a little older and they say my eyesight is going (along with other things), so this helps me know what to do. ONLY KIDDING EVERYONE!
There is a new lightweight activity shirt made of the same material as the pants. Although it not official Class A shirt, it looks good and wears well. i think this shirt will do well in Spring, Summer, and Fall, because of the weight and feel. I love it as an Activity Shirt. Everyone should check it out. It goes have a BSA logo. on the front.:)
Scouter_58
03-04-2007, 03:04 PM
Just wondering out-loud:
Do you think an official shirt made with the material used for the new BSA switchbacks or new BSA activity shirts will hold up under all the patch and badge sewing, removal, and re-sewing?
On long hikes convertible pants, like the switchbacks, are notorious for chaffing and rubbing skin raw at the leg zipper-joints, where shorts and lower pant-legs are joined - What's your experiences with the switchbacks on this, so far?
Thanks.
Scouter_58
P.S. Might the "L" and "R" have something to do with getting the vertical lower-leg (ankle) zippers back on correctly (both zippers facing inward/outward)?
I was told by a representative from National Supply that Cub Scout Switchbacks should be out this summer and to look for Venturing ones sometime next year.
ccjj
Nuts4Scouts
03-15-2007, 10:58 AM
For Cubs, maybe, if new pants were made out of awning canvas, & had reinforced knees, it might work. Otherwise you would be buying a new pair every other week!
1st Mate
04-01-2007, 02:42 AM
Scouter 58 writes
Just wondering out-loud:
Do you think an official shirt made with the material used for the new BSA switchbacks or new BSA activity shirts will hold up under all the patch and badge sewing, removal, and re-sewing?
What if...The next official BSA uniform follows in the footsteps of the Sea Scout uniforms and have far fewer embellishments on them? Perhaps office and rank will be shown in a different way, maybe unit numbers will not appear on the uniform shirts.
Its just a thought that with a change in style that perhaps the role of patches on the uniform will change as well? I guess we will have to wait and see.
ScoutmasterJerry
04-11-2007, 12:40 AM
Well, I do not think the shirt will hold up to constant changing of patches..
AND..
I think patches are part of the uniform and should stay that way, so here are some ways to get around this issue (In my opinion)
1. Unit numbers and CSPs do not change too often, so we are safe there.
2. For youth, they do not change patches on the Shirt that often with the exception of Rank. This can be fixed by having a hook and pile cloth attached to the shirt on the pockets. Have the Left pocket hook and pile (VELCRO) shaped like the rank badges. The rank badges would then come with the hook side already sewn on.
The right pocket can have the same set up with the pile side of the Velcro already in place. Then you would only have to sew the hook side on the back of your patches. This would allow the user to switch temporary patches whenever they felt like it.
Badges of office- SPL etc... They change, but often once a Scout holds an office he moves to other leadership roles (Troop Guides, OA Reps, Historians etc).. This is another area where Velcro could be applied.
3. Adult awards (Knots).. rarely change once put on so not really an issue.
4. Special patches such as National Jamboree.. again, rarely change once put on, so not that big a deal.
5. OA pocket flaps. Not an issue as the pocket flaps of the shirts are pretty much the same...
6. Quality unit. Do away with the QU patch rather than change it each year.. in alot of chases people do not change it anyway. Come up with a pin, like the service star for Quality units.
I know folks that use the velcro system with their current shirts. It looks neat in apperance and saves the wear and tear of the shirt.
WB Bear
05-13-2007, 01:00 PM
Our Council had received a sample of the new Cub pants. The are really nice. A much thicker material so should be much more durable. I think the Cubs will really like them.
As far as SM Jerry's thoughts on the patches there were some good thoughts. The OA came out with the Quality Lodge pin and that was really a good idea. However with the new Centennial Awards are awesome looking and I think they will look great on the uniform and should be proud to be worn. You are so right that they seldom are changed on the uniform
I do disagree the the use of velcro, it doesn't look good. It doesn't take that long to sew the patches on. Trust me I have changed and added patches a time or two. I also have had to replace them all, for some unknown reason my uniforms keep shrinking The button hooks for patches are ok for the temporary patches for the right pocket, but not for any others. Typically they do get turned around when they are worn or they don't get put on the uniform.
A Scout should be proud of his uniform but more importantly what it stands for. Spending a small amout of time on it isn't asking too much and it might help remind him of his committment to the program.
Nuts4Scouts
05-13-2007, 05:43 PM
The Cub Scout version of the switchback pants is due out Aug 1, 2007.
You can get a look at them here -
http://www.twinarrowsdistrict.org/forms/switchback_pants.pdf
peytonriver
05-25-2007, 03:12 PM
I like these pants. I might buy another pair for my non scouting outdoor activities. The one problem that i have found with them is that the belt did not stay straight in the pants. It took me a good 2 hours to fix them.
Westergaard
05-25-2007, 05:51 PM
I do like the new uniform pants and I think that the boys will more likely purchase them as opposed to the other scout uniform pants.
I do like the old pants too but they did need to be a little bit more lighter in weight and they should be a closer color match to the uniform shirt.
Whether the zip off pants will hold up under stress is debatable.
I hope that the option will always be out there for either as I hate to see parts
of the scout uniform disappear like the red berets, the campaign hat, and yes the old socks with the garters.