Some posts lately have me scratching my head and wondering how people are measuring their inseams. For example, I read a post where someone who’s 6’3" says he has an inseam of 34". Are they using the length of pants they wear?
I measure my inseam by standing in a door jam, putting a builder’s level between my legs, apply a fair amount of upward pressure to the level, level it, mark the wall, and then measure. I’m 5’9" and change, and my inseam meaures 33 1/2" using this method. I’ve never considered myself to have particularly long legs (I wear a 31" in pants), but now I’m beginning to wonder.
If you wear 31" pants, that is your inseam, assuming the pants are worn properly and not hanging down with half your ass hanging out and the bottom should touch the top of your foot without shoes.
One method commonly used is while standing in socks or bare feet against a wall, take a book with about a 1" thickness and put it between your legs similar to the level you currently use. Square it up against the wall (that way you don’t have to try to adjust the level). Basically it is about what you are doing but using a book instead of a level.
Most of my pants do ride pretty low these days, not because I have any hip hop/urban tendencies, but becuase I’ve lost so much weight since I last bought clothes, and I’m too cheap (and unconcerned about my wardrobe - I’m married with 3 kids) to replace them
So is there generally about a 2 1/2" difference between inseam and leg length?
Usually when measuring pants for an inseam, inches are preferred for most Americans. On the other hand is it 34" or is it 34 1/16th "? This is where the metric system probably be used. Inseam measurement and pant inseam measurement usually are two different measuremnts because of where pants sag and also where do they stop on your’ ankle area. The way that everybody here is measuring is the right way with a good amount of pressure pushing up into the crotch area. I like the book idea and is so simple that is a wonder how many “fitters” have never realized how easy that it is. It is a good idea to have a standardized way of measuring, whereas body fit measurements done by some are actually off and just wrong. It should be taken into account that not all fitters are IT people or even have knowledge of where the key body points are. Even if they do some still will measure from where they “feel” is the right place to take the notes from. Take care with fitters who are so sure of themselves and enjoy getting the numbers that they want because they are usually the fitters who do not listen to the clients (Can not climb out of the saddle without hitting the base bars or pads).
I use the book/level method. My inseam is just shy of 35". I am 5’9.5" I typically wear a 32 length in men’s pants. But I am female, and we’re known for our longer legs…my husband is 6’, and has a shorter inseam than i do.
