Understanding the similarities and differences between Blousing and Tucking your boots is important when you want to make decisions on which to do or not.
Let’s get into the details.
What is blousing boots?
Table of Contents
Blousing boots can be described as a practice of tucking trousers into any high-lacing boots in such a way that leaves the fullness of the trouser hanging/bloused on the boot.
The idea of Blousing Boots originated among Military personnel in the World War 2 (WWII) to show that men in the Army were of elite society.
The tradition grew further when men in the Marine blouse their boots to protect their trousers from mud and also to prevent insects from crawling into their trousers.
This process is achieved when you insert the end of your pants into your boots and then you tie them afterward to ensure that the boot is tied tightly so that the ends of the pants find it hard to slip out.
Blousing does not only end with the Marines, people going on a hike can also benefit from the process of blousing.
When going for a hike it is advisable to blouse your boots to avoid wind from entering your pants and making your legs cold.
The wind from hiking can discourage a person from going hiking but if you have been introduced to the idea of blousing you will be good to go.
Blousing to avoid insects from crawling up the pants doing hiking is also important.
When going up the mountains the insects might make the hike experience unpleasant and might discourage a person from going on a hike again
What is tucking?
Tucking is a practice common among the Wild Westerners especially cowboys in the 19th century and has grown into a fashion style in this century.
Aside from the Western fashion style gotten from tucking, it also serves as a protective shield to the trouser when a cowboy is working or riding.
When doing some fieldwork, tucking your pant inside your boot is advisable to avoid dirt from slipping into your boots or pants.
Tucking is more common among cowgirls than cowboys. Cowgirls show off their boots a lot and this allows them to tuck in their pants almost every time.
But cowboys only tuck when they want to work on the field or when the situation calls for it.
The process involves tucking your pants inside your boots. This process unlike blousing involves slim but not too skinny jeans, that way the jean stays inside the boots and doesn’t slip out.
This process only works with boots that hang above your ankle and not ankle boots like the ones used to play football.
The lace of the boot is tied in a strategic way in which the boot is not laced to the top but rather tied around the back of the boot then brought forward for tying.
Another tool needed to wear this style is confidence. Doubting your choice only makes your style looked forced and unintentional.
Similarities between blousing and tucking
- Protection
- Style
- Technique
Protection
Both blousing and tucking of boots serve as a protective measure to protect the pants and legs from dirt, twig wind, and insects.
Marines blouse their pants to stop the wind from entering their pants when they are getting off an aircraft.
Most marines get to skydive from the aircraft and the altitude of the atmosphere allows excess air/wind to find its way into the pants of marines.
So, they devised a way of doing it by blousing their boots and protecting their skin from the harsh wind.
During the war, Marines also need to protect their legs from dirt like stones and sand from entering their boots so they can run properly and not have anything to stop them from doing that properly.
Cowboys also use tucking as a protective measure to protect their legs from twigs and branches when working on the field.
They also use the technique to protect the end of their pants from mud and stains. Cowboys also tuck their jeans into their boots when they want to ride on their horse so there is no obstruction and they do not fall.
They also tuck their jeans in when they need to rope in their field. All these show that both tucking and blousing play the role of a protective agent either you are a marine, cowboy, cowgirl, or a person going on a hike.
Style
Both blousing and tucking have both grown to become fashion statements. Blousing grew from World War II among the Marines and found its way into the 21st century as fashion styles.
Many people have embedded the idea of blousing into today’s vogue and they added more style to it to make it look modern and chic.
Tucking also has been incorporated by a lot of high school girls who find the idea of tucking boots appealing.
They show this style by tucking skinny jeans into knee-high or thigh-high boots and within a short period of time, the style was already everywhere and spoken of.
A lot of styles as we know originate from the lifestyles of our forefathers and with a touch of good pairing and confidence, they grew to become what we all love to wear in this modern age.
Blousing boots which used to show the rank of soldiers and individuals in the elite society are now being modernized and styled into casual wear.
During Halloween, we see a lot of people trying to dress up like soldiers adopt the style of their blousing boots.
We also see people trying to dress like a cowboy or a cowgirl also adopting the idea of tucking boots so pass out the information of who they are dressed like and if they are trying to be a marine officer or a cowgirl.
Technique
The technique of blousing boots and tucking boots are similar because they both involve tucking the pants in the boots and holding them stable with a rope.
Both blousing and tucking help protect the leg from cold air, dirt, and insects. Knowing how to blouse your boots or tuck your boots is a very important step to getting the adequate and full protection that you need.
The pant is to be secured into the boot and the boot must be inches above the ankle because using an ankle-length boot won’t work for what you are trying to achieve.
So, using combat boots, work boots, and hiking boots will be the most appropriate and efficient way to achieve your goal.
When the pant is adequately secure into the boot, you should tuck the bottom of your pant into the boot and fold the rest of the fabric from your pant over the boot to leave it hanging (bloused).
Then make sure the lace of your boot is tied tightly around and securely around the boot to hold the pant in well.
Differences between blousing and tucking boots
| Blousing | Tucking |
| Blousing works better with baggy pants | Tucking works better with skinny pants |
| Blousing is strictly done in the Military | Tucking can be adopted by hikers, cowboys, westerners, or anybody that wants to adopt the style |
| An elastic band or a rope can be used in securing the pant in place | The lace of the boot is the only way to secure the pant tightly |
Type of Pants
The style of pants in tucking and blousing is significantly different because only baggy pants can be bloused and only tight jeans can be tucked.
When blousing your boot if you use tight pants it will slip off and won’t give you the kind of comfortability you desire.
In tucking pant is advised to be tight but leave an inch and half spacing around the knee to get the perfect type of security around your boot.
If the pant is not secured well cold air, twig, branches, and insects can crawl into the pants especially when hiking which can cause a person to be uncomfortable.
The blousing method is specifically for people in the Army. Not only did the Army use the blousing method to protect their legs from cold air from the aircraft or to protect themselves from dirt and insects, but they also used it to show ranking and that they are part of the elite class of the society.
Method of tying
There is a clear difference between the technique of blousing and tucking which lies between the lacing and tucking of the pant.
Blousing boots involve different methods of tying. Put on your pants and boots, then tighten your pants legs.
Tie the boots tightly to stabilize the pants, but you can also use elastic bands, shirt straps, or uniform pants.
There are many strategies for blousing boots. Some military officers peg their pants to avoid the pants from snagging on things on the airplane and on the way down.
There is only one method involved in tucking but there are different methods of blousing boots.
In tucking boots, the boot’s lace is strategically knotted around the back of the boot before being brought forward for tying.
This is accomplished by inserting the end of your pants into your boots before tying them and ensuring that the boot is tightly tied so that it does not slip out.
Situations where blousing is needed
Blousing is usually efficient when you are in the army because when in the military.
People blouse their boots for a variety of reasons, including not having their pants flap in the wind after they exit an aircraft, keeping tilled up dirt out of their boots, and possibly other unexplained reasons.
It’s important to blouse your boots if you are in the marines or military. Blousing boots may be a tool to make your day-to-day movement comfortable and straightforward without obstruction.
The best way to get the blousing done is by tucking the pants in. You may tuck them into your socks for more security if the boots are not hanging below your ankle.
One disadvantage to the present approach is that security depends on high laced boots and does not work for shorter boots.
You want them long so that when you run and tug they stay in place and do not budge. Once you tie it properly do a fast run, jump, march and crouch for some minutes.
If it stays in place, then you recognize the method worked but if it doesn’t stay in place then you must try other methods of blousing boots.
You can decide to use a rope to tie your pants in place or adopt the elastic band method.
What situations can you tuck?
Tucking can be necessary for so many situations like working on a field, hiking, riding a horse, roping, and even as a fashion statement.
Cowboys and cowgirls tuck their boots when they have to work on the field and they want to work where there are a lot of mud and dirt.
They tuck their boots to avoid dirt and mud from staining their pants while working. They also tuck their boots when they want to ride on a horse and it is totally necessary.
The cowgirls tuck their boots more because they want to show off their boots but the cowboys only tuck their boots when it is necessary or they want to attend a function that requires them to tuck their boots.
It is also necessary to tuck your boots when you want to go hiking to prevent getting injured by twigs or getting beaten by insects.
You can also tuck to prevent cold air from getting into your pants while hiking. Tucking your boots can also be needed when you want to do it to make a fashion statement.
During the years, tucking boots have become really popular among fashion icons and celebrities who wear them as a representation of the “Western Style”.
Which is better?
Both tucking and blousing are good and there is no one that is better than the other.
Using the adequate method when needed is important and the most important thing is knowing the adequate method to use that will fit the purpose you want it to serve.
When going for fieldwork tucking is the most appropriate way but when marching in the marine it is advisable to use the blousing method.
It will look really awkward for a civilian to blouse their boots and walk around the community because it hasn’t developed into a fashion sense but tucking which has been accepted in the fashion world will look less weird and more fashionable on a civilian.
When going for a war blousing is allowed because the pant is free and allows free movement but in tucking where the pants allowed is tight then it won’t comfortable to wear a tight pant to war.
Using the appropriate method when needed is what makes the method efficient.