Figure 1.--American Cubs mostly wore knickers until the 1940s when they switched to long pants. Some Cubs wore short pants, but longs were more common. This image from classic small-town America was pribably taken in the 1930s. Note this Cub's perfect two finger salute. This was an early uniform as there is no pipibng on the shirt and pants flaps.

The American Boy Scout Association in 1930 created a blue and yellow uniform for American Cubs in that was mostly worn with knickers. It included the British-style peaked cap. Short pants were also introduced, but long pants became prevalent by the 1940s. The basic 1930s uniform was worn with few changes until 1980. Even in the 1970s when more Scouts began wearing short pants, most Cubs stuck to long pants inspite of efforts by the BSA to promoye the short pants uniform. The Cub uniform was redesigned in 1980, but retained the blue and yellow colors. A major feature of the new uniform was a baseball cap. Short pants had become more common by the 1980s, but many boy wore jeans instead of the official Cub pants, in part because of the cost.

The 1930s

The BSA established the American Cub Scouts in 1930. This was quite a bit after the English and other foreign Scouts had set up a Cub program for the younger boys. The uniform maintained the peaked cap style of English Wolf Cubs. Most American boys wore knickers rather than short pants like English and other foreign groups. The original Cub uniform of blue and yellow (always referred to as gold) would not look to unfamiliar to modern Cubs, except for the peaked cap and knickers. The matching blue kneesocks had yellow bands. The uniform was worn with leather shoes. I am not sure if Cubs wore shorts in the 1930s, if so it was not common. I have never seen photographs of Cubs in shorts during the 1930s.

The 1940s

Knickers were very widely worn by American boys in the 1910s and 20s. In 1930 when Cubbing was founded, knickers were still very common, but during the 1930s declined in popularity. By the 1940s knickers were rapidly going out of style, especially after the early-40s. We still see boys wearing knickers in the early-40s and very few boys substituted other blue pants as would become common un the 1950s. The BSA responding to this shift changed the Cub uniform which had knicker pants. Following the Boy Scouts, the Cub knickers were dropped in the 1940s. Cubs were given the choice of wearing long or short pants. The rest of the uniform remained unchanges. Just the pants were changed. The kneesocks with two yellow bands that had been wore with knickers were retained to be worn with the short pants uniform. Most Cubs wore long pants. Some Cubs wore the short pants uniform, but in general the short pants prioved not very popular with the Cubs. And unlike the Scouts, Cubs did not attend summer camops where the short pants uniform was commonly required. And just because the uniform was changed, boys did not all suddently stop wearing the knickers. While they did rapidly become less common, we see a few boys wearing them into the late-1940s.

The 1950s

The Cub uniform continued unchanged during the 1950s. The original peaked cap was still worn. The shirt had a collar and flap pockets. The pants had yellow piping on the pockets which had turn down flaps. The official uniform had both long and short pants worn with blue kneesocks. Few Cubs, however, wore the short pants. Most Cubs did wear the complete uniform. There were some Cubs that wore shorts, but mostly as a group. It would be rare for a boy to wear the short pants uniform if the other boys were wearing long pants. It was rare to see Cubs wearing jeans or other non-uniform pants with their uniform shirts. Most boys wanted to wear the full uniform. The uniform was usually worn with leather shoes.

The 1960s

We know of no significant changes in the U.S. Cub uniform during the 1960s. Boys wore the same peaked cap. The kerchiefs were still commonly the basic blue and yellow standard desisn. The pants still had flap pockets. There were both short and long pants uniforms, bur in the 1960s most boys continued wearing the long pants uniform.

The 1970s

Cubs began wearing short pants more commonly in the 1970s as short pants in general became more commonly worn. Most Cubs would always wear the official blue shirt. Many Cubs, however, began waring non-uniform pants with their uniform, long blue jeans, various blue shorts, or or other pants. This was primarily because of the fact the uniform was expensive. Many of the boys that did wear shorts, did not wear the the blue Cub kneesocks with them.

The 1980s

The Cub uniform like the Scout uniform was changed in the 1980s. The traditional peaked cap was exchanged for a baseball cap. The blue kneesocks were changed for atletic-style socks with yellow tops. Cubs began to wear short pantss more commonly with their uniform, but often not the official Cub shorts. Like wise the new athleric kneesocks were worn more than the old solid blue kneesocks, but many boys wore white socks, tube socks, or other socks.

The 1990s

Local Cub units often adopt varying policies about the uniform that diverge from the standard natiional Cub uniform. The most common variance is allowing Cubs to wear jeans rather than Cub short or long pants.

A representative Cub unit in the late 1990s has a uniform policy as follows:

Tigers - 1st Grade

Uniforms are optional for Tiger Scouts, but they are encouraged because it makes them feel like they are part of the pack and a Scout. Tigers might wear an orange Tiger T-Shirt and Tiger hat. Adult Partner uniforms are also not required but makes the meetings more fun. The adults wore orange Tiger T-Shirt and Tiger hat.

Wolf - 2nd Grade

Wolf Cubs wear the blue Cub Scout Shirt, with the U.S. flag. Shirts are available in either long or short sleeves. Many Cubs wear yellow Cub Scout neckerchief slides, but some wear homemade ones. Cubs wear Council patches, pack numbers, and the den patch. Special patches may be worn like the World Scout Crest Emblem worn in the mis-1990s.. Many packs don't require the regulation uniform pants. Blue jeans are widely worn by Cubs. The cap is often optional, but most Cubs have the yellow Cub cap (buy for a present or reward). The official Cub belt is optional, but needed to slide on the belt loop awards.

Bear - 3rd Grade

Bear Cubs wear the blue Cub Scout shirt, with U.S. Flag. The long or short sleeve blue Cub Scout shirt can be worn with neckerchief slide, either the official yellow Cub Scout or homemade slide. Cubs wear a council patch, pack numbers, and den patch. Special patches may be worn.. Many Cubs in the mid 1990s wore the World Scout Crest Emblem. Pants don't have to be cub scout, blue jeans are fine. The Cub cap is oOptional, but most have the yellow Cub cap. They can be bought for a present or reward. The blue Cub belt is optional but needed to slide on the belt loop awards.

Webelos - 4th and 5th Grade

Weblos can wear the blue Cub Scout Shirt, with U.S. flag, both long or short sleeves. They have the option of wearing the tan Boy Scout shirt, also with U.S. flag, long or short sleeve. They wear a Webelos neckerchief slide, either the officail Webelows or slide or a homemade slide. Weblos wear their Council Patch, pack Numbers, and den patch. Weblos can wear specuial patches. Many in the mid-1990s wore the World Scout Crest Emblem. Weblos wearing the blue Cub shirt can wear either the official Cub pants or in many packs jeans are accepted. If the tan Scout shirt is worn, most packs insist on the official Scout pants, but jeans are not unknown. Weblos wear the special blue Cub cap. Weblos may wear the blue Cub belt with the Webelos buckle or the Boy Scout green belt. Note that the Cub belt loop award do not fit the Boy Scout belt.

Leader

It is important that the leaders wear the uniform as an example to the Cubs. Shirts include the yellow shirts for Cub Scout den leaders and tan shirts for Webelos and pack leaders. The shirts should have the council patch, pack numbers, den patch, and leadership insignia. Leaders also wear neckerchief or scarf, and blue shoulder loops.

The 2000s