Uniforms

Scouts wear a uniform to promote camaraderie and to show off their personal achievements. The uniform also teaches the value of being neat in appearance and encourages good behavior.

Every scout needs two uniforms. One is the traditional Class A uniform, which is dressy and has many accessories and patches. The other is the so-called Class B uniform, which is actually just the Pack t-shirt. Unfortunately, for parents new to Scouting, the uniforms (especially the Class A uniform) can be a challenge to acquire and assemble. This page will help you navigate the challenge!

‘Class A’ Uniform

Also called the field uniform, this is the traditional Cub Scout uniform worn at all pack meetings, at some den meetings (ask your den leader), at various times during campouts and overnights, and at certain special events.

Where to buy? The best place to buy Class A uniforms is in person at the Steve Matthews Scout Store, located at 12500 North IH 35, near the intersection of Parmer Lane & I-35. Tell the clerk your Scout’s grade level and they will help you get the right items for that grade level. While you’re there make sure to buy a handbook for your Scout.

What to buy? See our Uniform & Handbook Shopping Guide (PDF). Print it out to use as a shopping checklist at the Scout Shop.

Pack 421 does not require the official uniform shorts, pants, skirt, or socks. Many Scouts like to wear these items anyway. Feel free to buy them, but in Pack 421 it is acceptable for Cub Scouts to wear their Class A uniform shirt with any suitably dressy clothing from the waist down (e.g., khakis or golf shorts work well).

Scouts should wear the neckerchief OR cap appropriate for their den. These colorful items are important because they allow us to see at a glance which den a Scout belongs to. Pick whichever one your Scout would prefer to wear. In Pack 421 we do not require Scouts to wear both a neckerchief and a cap, but some Scouts do like to wear both. As of Fall 2024, there is no neckerchief for 5th grade (the traditional plaid neckerchief and cap are now for 4th grade only).

Fourth grade is a transition year from the BLUE Class A shirt to the TAN one. If you have a 4th grader with a blue Class A uniform shirt that still fits, he/she should continue to wear it throughout the 4th grade year; however, if you find yourself needing to buy a new Class A uniform shirt for your 4th grader, then buy the tan one because it can also be used in 5th grade and beyond. All 4th graders should wear a Webelos plaid neckerchief or cap, no matter which color shirt they have.

Which patches to buy? If you buy at the local Scout Shop, the Council shoulder patch, World Crest patch, and World Crest Ring patch are already sewn on. See the PDF link in the What to buy? section for details about which remaining patches you should buy.

‘Class B’ Uniform

The Class B uniform, also called the activity uniform, is really just the Pack 421 t-shirt with our yeti snow-monster mascot on it. This t-shirt should be worn at all Scouting activities whenever the Class A uniform is not required.

The t-shirt can be purchased or preordered at the first Pack meeting, and it will usually be delivered before the first campout or overnight. If you want to order a Pack t-shirt anytime after the first Pack meeting, contact our Treasurer by email for pricing and availability.

Uniform Tips

Sizing: Buy all uniform items, especially shirts, in a slightly larger size so that your Scout can continue to grow in the item for a couple of years.

Avoid buying Class A online: It is possible to buy Class A uniform components online from the national Scout Shop website, but this is not recommended. When you buy from the local Scout Shop a clerk will help you, and it is possible for your Scout to try on the items in a fitting room. But the best reason to buy from the local Scout Shop is that the uniform shirts already come with several required patches sewn on for you, including one (the council shoulder patch) that is usually not available online, so you’ll end up having to visit the local Scout Shop anyway.

Pack 421 ‘Scout Closet’: The cost of uniform pieces can add up. Our Pack asks older Scouts to pass down gently used items, which are made available on a first-come basis at the first Pack meeting each year. Arrive early and look for the ‘Scout Closet’ table if you are interested in snagging some hand-me-down items.

Put your Scout’s name on EVERYTHING. A black Sharpie or fabric marker works well; but beware the ink might bleed through, so pick an inconspicuous place where it won’t matter if the ink bleeds through on the other side. Alternatively, custom clothing name labels with stick-on or iron-on adhesives (popular for clothes sent to daycares and camps) are available from Amazon and other vendors; these labels work very well, just make sure to allow the adhesive of freshly attached labels to cure before washing the first time (~24 hours).

Sewing on patches 🧵

Click here to see correct placement for all patches (pdf)

The best way to attach patches to the uniform shirt is the old-fashioned way: sewing them on by hand with a needle, thread, and thimble—or with a sewing machine. Using “invisible” thread (available from Michaels or Walmart) with a wide stitch pitch (5-7 stitches per inch) works best.

If sewing is not your thing and there is not a relative or neighbor nearby who is willing to help, you can have the local Scout Shop sew on badges for a small fee. Be sure to ask how long it will take because they send it out and sometimes it takes several weeks to get the item back.

Iron-on adhesives such as Badge Magic (and similar products) are sold in the Scout Shop and online. This is an easy way to attach patches without sewing. Many parents use this method, but like all shortcuts it comes with a tradeoff: After a while, the patches can start to lift at the edges and then additional work is then required to keep the shirt looking good. Also, if an ironed-on patch has to be removed (e.g., when the scout transitions from 5th grade to a Middle School-level BSA troop), the adhesive may leave a permanent stain or residue on the shirt where the patch used to be.

⚠️ Beware: Most patches come with a plastic backing that is meant to provide structural rigidity and should not be mistaken as a built-in iron-on adhesive to attach the patch to a shirt. If you try to melt the included plastic backing using an iron, the patch might start to stick after a really long burn, but it will soon fall off after a couple of washings.

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