Before oversized children were buying fruity branded computers and expensive puffed-up coffees while thinking up names for their tiny imitation dogs, suspenders were what REAL men wore to their labor intensive jobs. This quick dive into the recent past of men’s utility/work accessories will present what the modern man can hope to gain by adding this one item to their work attire.
While in the Army at Camp McCall, NC, I became friends with another combat medic from one of the Ranger battalions who had just gotten back from a deployment to Afghanistan. I noticed he always opted to wear suspenders instead of a belt when he was road marching. Now a road march (or “rucking” or “humping the tick” as its also called) in our “Small Unit Tactics” course was our way of carrying all our equipment on our backs as we stalked as a platoon through the woods. Sometimes it’s also done for speed in a “timed road march” event, kind of like a marathon, but for men.
Military Tested
Having done this activity for years, I had never seen anyone wear suspenders until then. Once you’re walking with the “tick” on your back, you’re kind of stuck with whatever you’ve got on, in exactly the manner it wants to ride. There usually isn’t any time to adjust things when you’re on the move, so you need to be very certain about what you choose to wear.
I waited until we had finished a troop movement before I tried to gather intel on his setup. As I casually questioned the man about his over-the-shoulders method of commanding his pantaloons, I took mental notes and it all seemed to check out.
He explained:
“I went to a Korean tailor on Bragg Blvd where I had them sew buttons on my pants. These buttons were strategically placed so they wouldn’t rub on my back when the frame from my rucksack lay against my torso.”
God bless those tiny Asian hands.
Korean tailors are a form of “camp follower” around every Army base I’d been. They can customize any piece of gear or clothing for a good price. Additionally they give a mean hair cut and make some of the best BBQ you’ll ever have.
He continued:
“I bought the suspenders at Ranger Joe’s in Ft. Benning, Ga. They loop onto the buttons, and don’t rub sores on my back like the web belt normally does when you’re running through the woods or carrying a casualty on your shoulder.”
I’d spent many days in the rain, walking and running with the “tick” on my back. When your pants are weighed down by water and mud, your belt isn’t much good. The pants just keep sagging until one day you kneel down to take a break and the crotch rips out on your pants. I’ve seen this happen more times than I care to count. This wouldn’t happen if you wore a sturdy pair of suspenders.
You can, of course, wear both at the same time. A belt and suspenders may sound like overkill, but if you need the upward pressure on the belt line, but also desire the knife-wielding utility of a belt, I see no better way.
Suspenders in Civilian Life
If John Rambo had just worn suspenders, he would have been way more comfortable just building useful structures and being an asset to his community. Suspenders would have acted as an emotional anchor to the way of life that built the foundation of America.
The closest civilian activity to “road marching” is your good ol hiking and backpacking. Some of you may even be familiar with the practice of “orienteering.” You can click the link to read all about this valuable skill at Info Galactic.
I recently became reacquainted with the usefulness of these nylon shoulder harnesses. I was walking back and forth to the garage while working on my greenhouse, and noticed I kept pulling up my britches. Working outdoors on my feet all summer had trimmed down my love handles and I am back to being old Mr. Hipless Board Sides.
While at a farm and ranch supply store, I saw and instantly purchased a set of work suspenders. This, again, was a game changer for me. No longer hindered by saggy britches, I was free to run about and focus on crushing.
A Brief History
Although suspenders likely originated at about the same time that pants came on the scene, the first patent to improve the modern suspender was in 1871 by Mr. Mark Twain himself (under his actual name Samuel Clemens, of course).
Clemens wasn’t a fan of the same garment accessory used by Napoleon. In that day, my understanding is that the common French application was a couple strips of ribbon attached to pants with buttons. These were clearly not for those in the blacksmith trade or the carpentry and masonry fields of labor. For those tasks, you need something a bit more sturdy than Red Riding Hood’s hair ribbon.
It is likely that suspenders were also used by royalty because of their rotundness (being fat was a sign of wealth throughout antiquity). Large bellied individuals have trouble wearing a belt as any movement will send their knickers sliding. I sometimes wonder if comedian Chris Farley would have lived a few more years had he opted for a more definitive approach to trouser stabilization.
Farmers and ranchers have kept this tradition alive out of age old wisdom. I am very grateful for their longstanding wisdom. Nowadays, the stamped metal clamps that grip the belt line of the pants have improved slightly. You still have two basic designs, in case you were wondering. I opt for the clamps, but the button on ones are still widely available. With a needle and thread, you can place the buttons wherever you please. The design really hasn’t changed since my great grandfather was getting bucked off his first horse and Teddy Roosevelt was knocking teeth loose in university boxing matches.
My grandfather used to get bucked off his wagon (yes, it’s possible to be bucked off an entire wagon), and once he even break his leg. However, he never needed to break a sweat trying to realign his trousers because he was a man of suspenders.
So if you’re a hard working man, and share the frustration with belts, try on a sturdy pair of suspenders. You can thank me later by sending us a short description of something useful you’ve built or fixed! Send your completed article (aim for less than 1,000 words) with pictures to the appropriate section editor. I look forward to reading about your accomplishments. Until next time.
