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Webelos Scout Uniform

This information is out of date.
Use the new Webelos uniform information.

The uniform is integral to the Scouting program. It identifies the scouts and adults with Webelos and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. The uniform distinguishes Webelos from other Cub Scouts. Scouts and leaders should wear it to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.

Webelos no longer wear the blue Cub Scout uniform, and only wear the tan Scouts BSA uniform colors:

the oval Webelos rank badge is displayed in the same location that Scouts BSA rank badges will be placed
the tan shirt can be used in Scouts BSA
when doing Arrow of Light activities with a Scouts BSA troop the Webelos will fit in
further distinction as the 'senior' group in the Pack
many scouts outgrow their blue uniforms

Each Webelos den should learn to work as a patrol. To help with that patrol identity, each den can choose a Patrol Patch and create a patrol flag, name, and yell.

Tip: If you get a green Scouts BSA belt for your tan uniform, you will not be able to display any Cub Scout belt loops. The belt widths are different and the loops will not fit. Notice the blue belt in the photo.

The uniform shown here is known as the Field Uniform. The Activity Uniform is a custom pack T-Shirt and scout pants. These two uniforms (Field and Activity) are often referred to as Class A and Class B uniforms, but that is not correct BSA terminology.

Packs can design their own Activity shirt. The most well-known place for pack T-shirts is the ClassB.com web site. They are an official licensee of the Boy Scouts of America and have been providing high quality products to scouts since 1982.

The Webelos den leader wears the official Cub Scout leader uniform and the Webelos Cub leader neckerchief.

The Uniform Inspection Sheet has insignia placement guides. There is also a Male & Female Leader Uniform Inspection Sheet. See the BSA Insignia Guide for more info.

Costs for the Blue uniform are similar to the Cub Scout Uniform Costs. Uniform details, price changes, and other scouting gear is found at ScoutShop.Org - and you can now purchase online.

Retrieve a list of Scout shops and distributors in your area at this Scout Store Locator

These uniforms are a significant cost for many scouting families. Some possible ways to reduce costs are:

Have your scout earn the uniform or part of it.
Purchase only minimum expected items in your pack.
Buy used uniforms on eBay.com or local clothes store.
Check with your pack or district about a Uniform Exchange where you can pick up or drop off uniforms.

Please don't call any Webelos a Webelo Scout. Whether there is one or a hundred, they are always called Webelos with the 's'.

Comments:

Feb 28, 2016 - David Smith

I've recently become the single-point for ordering our pack's awards. My pack leader has requested that I order the Webelo Pin for six scouts going from I to II. As I read the uniform guidance, the Webelos Pin is not for uniform wear and for adults. Is this correct?

Feb 28, 2016 - Scouter Paul

@David - Webelos scouts receive the Webelos rank patch when they complete all the Webelos rank requirements. There is no pin to denote the Webelos rank, but there is a Webelos Parent Pin that can be purchased.

Mar 22, 2016 - Kim

For the new webelos adventure pins is there a certain order in which to display them on the webelos colors?

Aug 08, 2016 - Scott

My son has earned the outdoor activity award and is a new webelo and we have switched to the tan shirt. Can this award be displayed on this shirt.

Aug 08, 2016 - Scouter Paul

@Scott - Sure, it can. When he moves on to a Boy Scout troop, it should be removed.

Oct 02, 2016 - tressa Johnson

where do the activity pins (IE:aquanaught, scientist etc) go on the colors? does it matter which color each pin is posted on?

Oct 11, 2016 - Flo

My son has just gone to Webelos and has chosen to wear the blue belt. May he keep his loops on the belt?
Also, I was told at the scout store that the wolf belt buckle is considered to be a universal buckle that can be worn Bob Cat through Webelos. Is this correct?

Feb 08, 2017 - Mary

Our Pack's Webelos typically wear the Navy shirt thru Webelos I (or until they outgrow it, whichever comes first!). We recommend though that any new scouts go ahead and buy the Tan uniform. The question is, these new scouts earn their Bobcat badge, where does that go on the Tan shirt?

Feb 08, 2017 - Scouter Paul

@Mary - If you look at the uniform inspection sheet, it shows where patches belong. The bobcat patch goes on the same location on the blue or tan shirt. If a Webelos scout puts on the oval Webelos patch, then the other diamond patches are removed.

Feb 19, 2017 - Fabel Konicke

We are preparing for bridging. I bought the plastic holder to attach to the pocket to hold his bear and Weiblo badges. However, there is no button to attach it to on the left pocket, only the right???? He is in the tan uniform... do I attach to the right pocket or add a button?

Feb 21, 2017 - Scouter Paul

@Fabel - The Webelos patch should be sewn to the pocket while he is a Webelos. Then, it is removed when he joins a Boy Scout troop. His Scout rank patch is sewn on the left pocket when he earns it. Only one rank patch at a time is worn in Boy Scouts.

Dec 02, 2017 - Jeff

Hi,

My scout earned his Bobcat, Tiger, and Wolf badges in cub scouts. He skipped the Bear year, and is now starting back as a Webelo. His den wears the tan shirts. Should we go ahead and put his previous ranks on the shirt just as they were on his blue cub shirt, or leave them off and wait until he earns his Webelo badge?

Dec 02, 2017 - Scouter Paul

@Jeff - I would wait to sew on the oval Webelos rank patch when he earns it. Then, when he crosses to a Boy Scout Troop, it would be a simple replacement of that one patch centered on the left pocket for each rank, and there would not be any remnants of diamond patches on the fabric. (And it would save a bunch of sewing. :-) )

Dec 06, 2017 - Jane

@Jeff - You might also want to consider getting velcro for the Webelos rank patch. It might save some sewing after he joins Boy Scouts. I have purchased die cut Velcro from The Goose's Cache before. You can also search for Scout velcro ebay.

Mar 08, 2018 - Jodi

Update in 2018 states that Webelos are to be only in tan/green uniform

Mar 13, 2018 - Roger

That's an incorrect statement about Weblos are to be only in tan/green uniform. they can be in either uniform, once you cross over to Boy Scouts then it must be Tan.

www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/uniform/webelos/

Mar 13, 2018 - Scouter Paul

@Roger - Jodi is referring to program updates coming out this year.
She is most likely referencing this video, especially at the 3:40 mark. Also see BSA Family Scouting for more program info.

May 08, 2018 - Charles

Any comments or updates on the questions above about the no more blue shirts for Webelos? Our pack has a tradition of using the blue shirts for Webelos 1's to be able to show the bear badge for one year and then when they earn the webelo badge swap over to the tan shirt. This has worked so well. Why change it? By going to only the tan shirts does that not eliminate displaying the ranks of a cub scout. That is to bad since these boys have put in up to 4 years of hard work to earn these badges and now they don't get to finish?

May 08, 2018 - Scouter Paul

@Charles - Please read the comment just above yours. That is the latest update info, but I've not yet seen any other BSA info about "tan only" for Webelos. Read this page for current, official BSA Webelos uniform information.

Jun 02, 2018 - Roy Engle

Do the Webelos pins only get put on the outside yellow color? Are the red and blue NOT used?

Jun 02, 2018 - Scouter Paul

@Roy - The Webelos can put the activity pins on the Webelos colors however desired. There is no prescribed order or location.

Aug 27, 2018 - Nicholas Schiavo

Can my webelos den that wears the navy uniform wear a patrol patch even though the patch has a tan background? Thanks!

Aug 29, 2018 - Jane

@Nicholas - The BSA made some uniform changes earlier this year (2018). One of those changes is that Webelos Scouts wear only the tan uniform. Scouter Paul linked to the newest Webelos uniform inspection sheet above:

boyscouttrail.com/docs/uniform_webelos.pdf

Under the "old" uniform guidelines, Webelos Scouts could choose to wear the blue or the tan uniform. The den emblem (patch) could be worn on either the blue or tan uniform shirt.

Sep 19, 2018 - Chris

"These uniforms are a significant cost for many scouting families. Some possible ways to reduce costs are:"

I agree with this statement made by BSA on this site. I am also very disappointed with the lack of leadership in solving this issue by BSA. BSA in an effort to make scouting more inclusive should work to reduce the costs associated with the program, including uniform costs. A different vendor may be an option.

Sep 25, 2018 - Kimberly

My sons are WEBELOS and we just got the tan shirts. While they’re already earning pins, I would like to display their other diamond patches earned from previous years. Is this allowed on the khaki shirts? I want to make sure before placing them. Thank you!

Sep 25, 2018 - Scouter Paul

@Kimberly - Only the oval Webelos patch is worn on the left pocket, and the Arrow of Light patch can be worn below the pocket.
If your scout really wants to show the previous ranks, there is a plastic patch holder for them at ScoutShop.org.

Jun 25, 2019 - OldScout

If we're being sticklers, it would be nice if we kept to the terminology in the handbooks and website new parents would see. There is no "field uniform" or "activity uniform". It is only "the uniform". Just as the BSA doesn't recognize Class A or Class B - apparently there must be some reference to Field and Activity somewhere in training docs which never seem to make it to the things parents or scouts see.

In reality - the main issue for them in uniforms is the consistency of documentation and sizing. Especially for skinny kids. My son's green shorts are past his knees in the smallest size they make, they'll be fine although I can see where he won't be happy with them. Smartly, the green pants come ready to hem, so that's great. The blue pants never did fit and all we could find were the hideous zip offs which had the zipper down to his ankles. :) So he never did have an official uniform pair of blue pants to wear. It also seems odd they're only making the hats in fitted. Really odd for kids.

Jun 25, 2019 - Scouter Paul

@OldScout - There IS a "field" and "activity" uniform description in Scoutmaster Training as well as in many other BSA documents. See SM Training PDF as an example, page 150.

By using the correct terms, we can help parents and scouts learn the correct terms.

Scout On!

Jun 26, 2019 - Jane

The terms "field uniform" and "activity uniform" are also used in the Scout Handbook. They are in the "Your Scout Uniform" section (page 21 in the 13th edition, 2016 printing). You will also see the terms used sometimes at scoutingmagazine.org

Jan 12, 2020 - KIM

Need help with Webelos pin placement on the different colors? What I am finding online looks older and not current with pins the kids receive today.

Jan 13, 2020 - Jane

@KIM - According to the Webelos Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet:

"Webelos adventure pins are worn on the plaid front panel of the Webelos cap or on the optional Webelos colors, if selected by the pack."

No particular order for the adventure pins is specified, so Scouts may choose to wear them in any order they wish. The backs of the pins might scrape against the tops of the pins underneath, so Scouts / parents might want to be aware of this and put additional pins on the Webelos cap.

There is a link to the Uniform Inspection Sheet just above "Webelos Scout Tan Uniform Costs" on this page.

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