Figure 1.--Shorts were still worn in the 1990s, but longs were very common. Some packs required shorts, but others left the chioce of trousers optional. The shorts worn in the 2000s were mostly knee-length shorts, quite often but not always baggy. Note that Cubs in the 200s are no longer wearing caps.

English Cubs from the beginning wore short trousers. Early Cubs wore knee-length dark blue, khaki or grey shorts, which in England were called short trousers or knickers. Virtually all Cubs by the 1960s were wearing grey school shorts. There were official Cub shorts, but most boys that attended schools with required uniforms wore their school shorts. Many mums for boys who did not attend schools with unifirms also bought school shorts as they were less expensive than the official Cub shorts. Thus there was considerable difference in the shorts the Cubs wore. An English reader explains this in detail as his brother was a Cub in the late 1960s. English Cub shorts were normally gray, but there were different shades and styles of the shorts. When the Scouts changed to long trousers, shorts were retained as the Cub uniform. The major difference in the shjorts over time was the length of the shorts. Cubs in the 1970s and 80s were often quite short as was the style at the time. This continued through the 1970s, but some boys began wearing long pants in the 1980s Shorts were still worn in the 1990s, but longs were very common. Some packs required shorts, but others left the chioce of trousers optional. The shorts worn in the 2000s were mostly knee-length shorts, quite often but not always baggy.