tiger cub uniform prices!!!!

[Rock'n Robin]

We just signed my DS up for boy scouts. He is so excited! He will be a "Tiger cub". Originally the uniform was to be just a TShirt and a hat. Well, this year for the first time they will wear the whole uniform. On the scout merchandise website, the whole uniform cost $101!!!!! Not including tax and shipping! That is two dance costumes, and he will be a "wolf" next year and not need it!
I have a cub scout hat and belt from a neighbor, but the hat is yellow, not orange. Truthfully, I cannot afford such an expenditure. Since it is the first year there are no tiger cub uniforms on EBay, only the Tshirt and hat. Any scout parents know of any way around this? I'm about to pull him out.
Robin M.

 

[The LK 4]

Robin, are you sure you have to purchase the pants? We never required the official pants in our Pack. The shirt he would wear all the way through Webelos (5th grade). We didn't require our boys to purchase a hat, either.

 

[Disfan1]

Try looking in thrift stores- sometimes they have Scout uniforms. Also, does the Pack have a uniform exchange program? Older Scouts bring in uniforms they've outgrown so others can still use them. Isn't the new Tiger uniform the blue shirt w/ an orange neckerchief? Also, some packs do not require you to buy the pants. My son's pack had a "waist up" policy on uniforms- if you had the belt & shirt you were OK (the hat was optional too) Please don't let the price of the uniform scare you away- he will have a great time in the Cub Scouts!

 

[Pam]

I know that the Tiger Scouts just got a new uniform this year but my 16 yr. old Eagle Scout - who is still active and involved in Boy Scouts - just wore an orange Tiger Cub t-shirt back in 1995.

I can tell you that a complete uniform in NOT required, especially in the early ranks of Cubs. Most Scouts just had the shirts, neckerchiefs, and shirts.

It was not until when my son crossed the bridge over into Boy Scouts that we purchased the entire uniform. He presently owns 3 Class A shirts, 3 pairs of the trousers, and 5 pairs of the Scout shorts. (I told you he was an involved Scout! )

DO NOT get frustrated and take your son out of Scouts! My son has had some of the best times of his life participating in Scouts! He's slept on a frozen lake on 15 inches of ice in New York with the temp a chilly -10 degrees. He's backpacked over 60 miles in the back country of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He's rapelled, whitewater rafted and visited a nuclear plant. He attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, Virginia and just this summer rode a bus for 18 hours to spend a week at Iowa State University for the National Order of the Arrow Conference.

If it is a blue shirt that you need - do what we all do - buy it a couple of sizes bigger - my son wore his blue shirt for 3 years and then moved into the tan shirt when he was a Webelo.

 

[Piglet's Pal]

I would check with your Pack to make sure he needs the whole uniform. We only require our scouts to have the official shirt and they wear that until 5th grade (buy it big!). You will also need the neckerchief & slide. Some of the boys in my den don't like to wear hats, so the parents didn't buy them. The hats really become a pain--they can't be worn inside, so the scouts always take them off and lose them. You will want to purchase the belt for when your son earns belt loops. Belts make a nice stocking stuffer!
I hope your son enjoys scouts, it has been a great experience for both of my boys.
PP

 

[minniecarousel]

ugh! No way would I buy a Tiger Cub uniform! Hey - a T-shirt and cap was all we needed back in 1987! Even our Cub Scouts never wore the official pants! Just the shirt, kerchief and hat.

Double check on this beofre you spend the $$!!

 

[zulaya]

Hi there!

Don't panic! Just like everything else, that list what they'd "like" you to have.

You don't change uniforms every rank in Cub Scouts. So he won't have a new uniform when he becomes a Wolf. The standard shirt is a navy blue button up shirt with short or long sleeves. If you get a large enough size, this will last him through his entire Cub Scout career. The only things that will change will be his rank patches that actually are added.

There are a lot of accessories that make up a nice fancy uniform, but no one - and I mean no one - is going to say your son can't belong if you don't have the whole get up.

My DS is a Bear this year. I am the Pack Committee Chair. My DH is the Cubmaster. I can tell you that the shirt is just about all our boys have. Some of the older ones havea acquired the belt and cap, but they all wear whatever pants they want. We try to encourage non-torn pants, kind of a respect for yourself type thing, but that's it. There's no formal uniform inspection.

As far as eBay, you could get a Cub Scout shirt and just remove the patches and add the appropriate ones for your son. Just wanted to tell you that the navy shirt is what EVERY Cub wears, not just Tigers.

The reason the change was made was to make the Tigers feel like part of the rest of the pack. This cam from parent feedback that they felt their boys didn't fit in because their uniform short was different.

And as far as I am aware, wearing the navy shirt is NOT a requirement for Tigers. I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that it was an option.

Personally, I wish my son had the navy shirt when he was a Tiger. You buy the t-shirt for one year and then nothing. At least with the navy you get many years of use out of it.

 

[tar heel]

None of my 3 boys did a full uniform with Tigers -- that's crazy. If any parts of it carry over (I don't even know what a Tiger uniform looks like), buy it very big so he can continue to wear it. Also, get short sleeves. You can always put a turtleneck under it if it's cold.

Many packs have a leftover uniform closet. You might ask about that or call the council office. There are usually some gently used free ones floating around.

I have three kids and we've owned one long-sleeved navy shirt (dumb move -- I was a new parent and they were out of short sleeves and only had little ones, too), one short-sleeved navy shirt, one pair of navy pants, one Khaki shirt, one khaki pants and one khaki shorts. We get hats new and also slides and neckerchiefs if I can't find the old ones. I've even managed to recycle den/pack patches.

 

[Fire14]

Try walmart and JCPenny I know I've bought Cub stuff from both places for my nephew.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Thanks for all the info. I know on Monday at a 'pack' meeting they will have a uniform guy, but hopefully we will only need the shirt. I live in a fairly well-off district (don't know why! ) and this probably won't be an issue for a lot of parents. I got a wolf hat from the neighbor but she thinks she gave his shirt to goodwill. Perhaps I can call the den leader before Monday and get the real scoop.
I know uniform shirts on EBay are REALLY popular--lots of bids!
Robin M.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I am a Cub Scout Cubmaster, let me see if I can put you at ease. Most Packs do not require pants, sock, or caps. The blue uniform shirt can be worn from tigers-Webelos, so buy it big. Do not buy the belt with the tiget emblem on the belt, buy the generic Cub Scout diamond one and make it last through Cubs. There is an older style Cub Scout cap that has gold on the front and a blue cub scout diamond emblem. As a cubmaster I would accept this no problem. The newer style caps have the gold on the front with a red wolf diamond, I would call the cubmaster and ask her input. Please, call your Cubmaster and ask what is required. if you need anymore help please PM me.

Kelly

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Thanks Kelly. I had some luck today; I ran into a mom from my son's school and I remembered I bought popcorn from her son a couple of years ago--he is no longer in scouts and she said I could have his shirt. Hurray! I have the light blue belt and a yellow and blue cap, so I think I'll maybe need the tiger kercheif, and possibly the orange hat if they don't want the yellow one. I just hope they are one of the packs that doesn't require uniform pants!!
Robin M.