How to Wear Tactical Pants with Boots

How to Wear Tactical Pants with Boots

Stephanie Stephanie
5 minute read

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Table of Contents

Everyday Usage

Planning for Outdoor Activities

Planning for Police and Military Duties

Blousing your Pants With Elastic Blouse Bands

  1. Put Your Socks On
  2. Slide the Bands up Over Your Feet
  3. Put Your Pants on and Tuck Them
  4. Fold the Rest of the Fabric Over the Bands
  5. Put Your Boots on

Using Straps

  1. Put Your Pants and Socks On
  2. Tuck the Bottoms of Your Pants
  3. Bring Your Pants’ Leg Down Over the Strap
  4. Fold the Bottom of The Pants Up Inside The Leg
  5. Put On Your Boots

Tuck Your Pants In

Now that you’ve got yourself a pair of durable tactical boots, you’ll want to wear them with your tactical pants — and that’s where the military practice of tucking pant legs into boots comes in. Properly getting pants tucked into boots is key to maximizing the utility of your tactical gear and having

So why does the military tuck in their pants? This guide’s here to explain. Keep reading to learn how to best tuck in your pants.

Everyday Usage

You may not be part of the military when you decide to wear your tactical pants. They’re tough and comfortable, which means many civilians enjoy wearing them for day-to-day activities as well. Since you’re not doing anything too strenuous, it’s not as necessary to get your pants tucked into boots — but it does make your tactical outfit that much more effective.

Planning for Outdoor Activities

For outdoor activities, you’re going to want to have your pants tucked. The more intense your activity, the more necessary it will be. The best way to approach this is by emulating the law enforcement and military service members’ approach of tucking their pants, which is known as blousing. Blousing creates a barrier to keep out bugs, wet dirt, and poisonous plants. It also protects you from cuts and scrapes. It’s the most effective way for getting your pants tucked into boots.

Planning for Police and Military Duties

Why does the military tuck in their pants? For the reasons mentioned above: keeping out bugs, dirt, and other things military personnel might trek through. They’ve become a standard part of their uniforms for the same reason. Blousing your pants is the best way to go for a streamlined look and secure fit. Some pants will even come with built-in blousing straps, but there are still ways with elastic blouse bands — which is what we’ll look at next.

Blousing Your Pants With Elastic Blouse Bands

When you get your pants tucked into boots with elastic blouse hands, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Thick socks
  • Tactical boots
  • Elastic blouse bands
  • Tactical pants

1. Put Your Socks On

Man putting on socks

You’re going to want your socks on before doing anything else.

2. Slide the Bands Up Over Your Feet

Military boots

Bringing the bands up ensures your entire foot is secure. If your bands have Velcro, you can tie the bands around your ankles.

3. Put Your Pants on and Tuck Them

Tactical pants

Make sure the bottoms of the legs fit inside the elastic bands.

4. Fold the Rest of the Fabric Over the Bands

This is for getting the bloused look. You’ll want to pull the fabric down to hide your socks.

5. Put Your Boots On

Tactical boots

To get your pants fully tucked into boots, all you have to do now is put the boots on, and your look is complete. You now know why the military tucks in their pants and how to do it as they do. The only downside is that the bands can get uncomfortable after long periods.

Using Straps

An alternative to the blousing band method is to use blousing straps, but it takes more work on your part. You can see a video guide here.

1. Put Your Pants and Socks On

Like in the last method, this is the obvious first step.

2. Tuck the Bottoms of Your Pants

Bring your pants up and fasten the blousing strap around the top of your boot.

3. Bring Your Pants’ Leg Down Over the Strap

Remember to bring them over the strap to get your pants properly tucked into boots.

4. Fold the Bottom of The Pants Up Inside The Leg

Bring the strap up to secure them at the same time.

5. Put On Your Boots

And there you have it. This method doesn’t balloon your pants, but it keeps them secure. It’s also more comfortable than the band, but it can still become annoying after an extended duration. It’s also still possible to get debris inside your boots.

Tuck Your Pants In

If you want to forgo the above methods for getting pants tucked into boots, you can always tuck your pants in without straps or bands. When they’re on, flatten the pants’ fabric around your ankles and fold the extra in the back. That will make them easier to fit into your boots. This doesn’t create nearly as much of a seal against outside debris, though.

Hopefully, you know more than you did about why the military does tuck in their pants and how they do it. Knowing these techniques is useful for all scenarios, whether you simply want to look more professional or partake in intense outdoor activity. You can now wear your tactical pants the right way. Explore the rest of LAPG’s site for more tactical gear products and info.

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