You may require to blouse your boots if you are in the army or if you want to keep debris out of your boot during hiking or hunting trips. It involves putting on your pants and boots then tucking in the pant legs into the boots. You then tie the boots tightly or use elastic bands and blouse straps to secure the pants.
As simple as it sounds, blousing boots is not easy. Learning how to blouse boots can be a challenge. Let’s look at a few different methods on how to blouse boots using different accessories, getting your pants to stay in place, and not cutting off circulation in your ankles.
What does Blousing your Boots Mean?
Blousing your boots means giving the bottom of your pants a ballooned or tapered finish. The pants pool around the top of your boots or can be tucked in. Blousing protects your feet from the cold and prevents insects and debris from getting in your boots or up your leg. One of the easier ways to blouse boots is to simply tuck your pants into your boots or socks. Other ways that are a bit more effective include the use of elastic straps, blousing bands, and blousing garters.
How to Blouse Boots with Elastic Bands
The fastest and easiest way the blouse your pants is to use a blousing band. They are one of the most comfortable accessories you can use to blouse boots. Using these bands is the best way to keep cold air out of your pant legs. This method is common among servicemen and servicewomen. The only downside is that while comfortable, after long periods they can become somewhat uncomfortable.
Things you’ll need:
- Combat boots, hiking boots, or work boots
- Thick socks
- Army pants or hunting pants (should not fit tight)
- Elastic blouse bands
You can also make your own blouse bands if you can’t get to purchase some. Simply sew Velcro patches on a woven elastic band and you have yourself some blouse bands. If you have some paracord bracelets that can fit around your ankle or know how to make a paracord bracelet, you can use them to blouse your pants as well.
A step-by-step guide to using elastic blouse bands:
- Put your socks on.
- Slide the blousing band over your feet or, if your bands have Velcro, tie them around your ankle.
- Put your pants on and tuck the bottom into the band.
- Fold the remaining fabric over the blousing band to create a balloon look.
- Pull the pant fabric down far enough to hide your socks.
- Slide your boots on and you’re done.
How to use Blousing Garters on the inside of your Pants
Using blousing garters on the inside of your pants requires a little bit more work and you may not be able to do it on the go. However, this method of wearing the blousing garter inside of your pants is less uncomfortable and your pants won’t slip out of the strap if it is tied properly. Just remember not to tie the blousing strap too tight and blouse your pants while standing up if you don’t want the balloon look.
Things you’ll need:
- Pair of boots
- Pair of roomy pants
- Adjustable blousing garters
- Socks
Steps to using blousing garters on the inside of pants:
- Put on your socks and pants. Always wear thick socks that cover most of your calves with your pants.
- Tuck the bottom of your pants as far up your leg as possible.
- Pull the pants down and straighten the fabric that’s rolled up against your leg.
- Tie the garter around the part of the pants that is turned inside out.
- Pull the pants back up and adjust the bottom of the pants.
How to Blouse Boots without Bands
To blouse boots without bands, you can choose to purchase Battle Dress Uniform pants. These pants are designed with blousing in mind, and you can find them in army surplus stores or online. These pants are durable and perfect for hunting, hiking, and other outdoor activities. This is because these pants consist of two layers of fabric at the bottom. The inside layer comes with blousing ties and the outer layer falls over the bloused boots.
Things you’ll need:
- Pair of Battle Dress Uniform pants
- Pair of boots
- Thick socks
Steps to blouse your Battle Dress Uniform pants:
- Put on your socks and Battle Dress Uniform pants.
- Tie the blousing strap on the inner layer of the pants around your ankle.
- Fix the outer layer of the pants over the collar of your boots. You can tuck the outer layer inside the collar of your boots if you wish. This will further protect you from the cold and keep debris out of your boots.
How to Tuck Pants Into Boots Military Style
Tucking your pants into your boots is another method you can try if you don’t have any blousing bands. While you may get similar results by tucking your pants in, it may not be quite as effective. This method is more suited to those who want to blouse their pants to make a fashion statement. It will keep dust and dirt out of your boots, but it may not offer much protection against cold air as with blousing bands. However, you’ll have no issue with cutting off circulation or feeling uncomfortable if worn this way for long periods.
Things you’ll need:
- Army, hiking, or work boots
- Pair of pants
Steps to tuck your pants into your boots:
- Put your pants on.
- Flatten the fabric around your ankle and fold the extra fabric in the back.
- Slip your feet into your boots and side the bottom of the pants inside of the boots.
Tips:
- You can wear suspenders to keep your pants from slouching over your boots and you will have less fabric to tuck into your boots.
- You can also choose to tuck your pants into your socks. It won’t look as good but can be a solution if your pants keep slipping out of your boots.
Using Blousing Weights
If you’re blousing your boots for fashion purposes, you may want your pant legs to look more squared. If that’s the case, then you can use blousing weights.
After blousing your pants, pull the pant back down and pull up your hems. Then you can adjust the weights so that they are taped evenly around your calf. Pull your pants back up and adjust the weights until you get the look you want.
Importance of blousing boots
You can blouse boots for fashion, but it plays a much more important role than just looking good. It can help in winter or when walking in insect-ridden terrains.
Blousing boots are necessary when in the military because there’s a lot of moving around during daily training and long pants can get in the way. This is why those in the army choose to blouse their pants. Hunters and Hikers, like soldiers, often spend time in dangerous and dirty areas so they need protection from dirt, debris, insects, and cold air.
Nobody wants an insect scurrying up to their legs, especially if that insect stings or bites. It is also important to stay as warm as possible in colder conditions.
When to Blouse Boots
A few situations where blousing may be practical are:
- Outdoor activities: You can blouse your boots when performing any activity outdoors like hiking, hunting, jogging, or going out in the cold. You can blouse your boots even when you’re mowing the lawn on a cold, windy day. The cut grass can make its way up to your pant legs, but blousing your boots can prevent it from doing so.
- When riding a horse or bike: When horse riding, your pant legs may hook on brambles and brush, and when riding a bike, they can get caught in the pedals.
- While cleaning: If you’re cleaning a particular home or space that may have spiders or other little bugs, blousing your pants will stop them from scampering up your pant leg.
- Using toxic chemicals: You should also be in protective gear when handling toxic chemicals. However, if you don’t have any, tuck your pants into your boots and it will stop any spilled chemicals from making direct contact with your skin.
Conclusion
Whether you blouse your boots for fashion or because it is necessary, follow the methods mentioned above to do it the correct way every time. It may take a few tries before you’re fully satisfied with the look, but it will be worth it. After all, protecting yourself should always be your number one priority.
Check out the best ways to lace hiking boots so that they’ll stay on. Together with one of the blousing techniques, there’s no way things you don’t want in your boots can get in.
