How to take your Measurements

We have customized our patterns for you and help you to get your individual size without looking through sizing charts and hoping that you picked the right size. This guide shows how to take your own measurements for pants. It is not difficult to take your own measurements. Use a soft measuring tape. Follow the Step-by-Step guide.

Pants & Trousers

Each individual measurement is placed in a sizing group to reflect the fact that people with different leg-lengths are on average also different in some other body proportions. The sizing group also reflects the fact that a stronger thigh circumference will need a different pattern to avoid restricting free movement.

Outdoor pants fit best if the bottom of the waistband sits right on the top edge of your hip bone. Additionally, all outdoor trouser patterns include additional length to cover your ankles when you lift your legs. This will prevent your trousers from sliding above your boots, and small debris or stones getting into your shoes.

The final length of your trousers can easily be adjusted by shortening or lengthening the pattern, sometimes by 2 cm (0.8") or even 3 cm (1.2"). 

Take exact measurements of your body. You don’t have to add an extra cm or inch to your measurements for comfort or length. This is already taken into account with all patterns.
However, it is important that you measure your inside-leg length so that the fit of your waist height and knee height can be optimized. Also, provide us with your hip and thigh circumference, so we can choose the right pattern group for you.

The waist and side length will add the final touch to your custom pattern.

For more detailed information, see the step-by-step guidelines.

step by step

Shell Layer Pants

Wear the layer of clothing you would normally wear under the trousers.
Take exact measurements of your body. Do not measure a pair of trousers,
as this will make the pants too loose.

Horizontal Measurements

The horizontal circumferences should not be measured too tightly or too loosely. Keeping one finger between the tape and the body is a good trick.

  1. The waist circumference tells how tight or loose you like to wear your pants. Measure exactly the part of your body where you wear your trousers.
  2. Measure your hip circumference over the widest part of your hip (over your glute). About 20 cm (7.9") below your real waist.
  3. The thigh circumference is measured around the widest part of your thigh. This is about 4-5 cm (1.6 - 2") below your crotch. This measurement ensures that the freedom of movement in the trousers is not restricted by too tight pants.

 

Vertical Measurement

For outdoor trousers take the measurement with shoes on, preferably the shoes you will use with the trousers. The final length of the trousers can easily be adjusted by shortening or lengthening the pattern, sometimes by 2 cm (0.8") or even 3 cm (1.2"). Wear a pair of trousers that fit best in the crotch to waist area. Remember, outdoor pants fit best if the bottom of the waistband sits right on the top edge of your hip bone.

  1. The inseam is measured on the inside of your leg from the floor to your crotch.
  2. The side length is measured on the side of your body from the floor to the top edge of your hip bone. This will be the bottom of your waistband.

If you do not have a soft measuring tape on hand, use a non-stretch string or cord instead, and wind it around your body. Measure the string or cord on your measuring stick or band.
See Step-by-Step guidelines.

Base Layer Pants

Base Layer Pants

Wear only a light layer of clothing. Take exact measurements of your body.

Horizontal Measurement

The hip circumference should not be measured too tightly or too loosely. Keeping one finger between the tape and the body is a good trick. Measure your hip circumference over the widest part of your hip (over your glute) about 20 cm (7.9") below your real waist.

Vertical Measurement

The inseam is measured on the inside of your leg from the floor to your crotch. Measure without shoes on for leggings, long underwear, boxers, and shorts. The final length of the pants can easily be adjusted by shortening or lengthening the pattern, sometimes by 2 cm (0.8") or even 3 cm (1.2").

Step-by-Step Measurements

Inseam Measurements

  1. Pull your pants up so they fit correctly at your crotch.
  2. Step onto the measuring tape with one foot.
  3. Slowly pull the tape up along the inside of your leg to the highest point of your crotch or the top edge of the paper.
  4. Read the number you can see on the measuring tape at the shoe or foot on the floor.

If you are not sure or feel uncomfortable placing the tape into the crotch, vertically place a piece of paper between your legs and measure to the top edge of the paper.

Hip Measurement

Place a soft measuring tape over the widest part of your hip (over your glute). About 20 cm (7.9") below your real waist.

The hip circumference should not be measured too tightly or too loosely. Keeping one finger between the tape and the body is a good trick.

If you do not have a soft measuring tape on hand, use a non-stretch string or cord instead to wind around your body. Measure the string or cord on your measuring stick or band.

Thigh Measurement

Place a soft measuring tape over the widest part of your thigh. About 4-5 cm (1.6 - 2") below your crotch.

The thigh circumference should not be measured too tightly or too loosely. Keeping one finger between the tape and the body is a good trick.

If you do not have a soft measuring tape on hand, use a non-stretch string or cord instead to wind around your body. Measure the string or cord on your measuring stick or band.

Waist Measurement

Nowadays we are used to wearing our pants below our 'real' waist girth. Men, with some belly, even prefer to wear their pants below their belly in the front and higher in the back. Women on the other hand, prefer to wear their pants just below the belly button.

  1. Wear a pair of trousers that fit best in the waist to crotch area. Remove the belt if you wear one.
  2. Place a soft measuring tape around your waist, underneath your trousers' waistband. Make sure you feel the measuring tape. It should not be too tight. Place a finger where the end of the tape meets the other end and read the correct number.

Side Length Measurement

Nowadays we are used to wearing our pants below our 'real' waist girth. Men, with some belly, even prefer to wear their pants below their belly in the front and higher in the back. Women on the other hand, prefer to wear their pants just below the belly button. Nevertheless, outdoor pants perform best, if the crotch fits and if the bottom of the waistband sits right on the top edge of your hip bone.

Wear a pair of trousers that fit best in the waist to crotch area. Remove the belt if you wear one.

  1. Pull your pants up so they fit correctly at your crotch.
  2. Step onto the measuring tape with one foot.
  3. Slowly pull the tape up along the side of your body to the top edge of your hip bone. This will be the bottom of your waistband.
  4. Read the number you can see on the measuring tape at the shoe or foot on the floor.
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