Scrub pant styles: drawstring, elastic and straight

People spend a lot of time choosing a scrub top and very little thinking about the pant. Yet the pant is what you feel when you squat beside a bed, climb the stairs between wards, or sit for a long handover. A badly chosen waist or leg can make an otherwise good set uncomfortable.

Scrub pants come in a few common styles. Here is what each one means and how it behaves in daily work.

Drawstring waist

A drawstring is a cord threaded through the waistband that you tie at the front.

Good points:

• Fully adjustable, so it suits a range of waist sizes.
• Easy to loosen after a meal or on a long night shift.
• Simple to repair if the cord frays.

Things to watch:

• A knot can loosen during a busy shift; a double bow helps.
• On its own, a drawstring can bunch the fabric at the front.

Elastic waist

An elastic waist stretches and grips without any tying.

Good points:

• Quick to pull on and off, which helps when changing in a hurry.
• No cord to come undone.

Things to watch:

• Elastic slowly loses grip with hot washes and age.
• A full elastic waist can feel tight if your size is borderline.

Drawstring with elastic back

This combines both. The front has a drawstring for adjustment, and the back has elastic so the waistband stays flat and snug without bunching.

It is the style we use on our scrub sets, including the Women’s V-Neck Scrub Set and the Men’s / Unisex Round-Neck Scrub Set. The OT green set has a drawstring pant as well. For most nurses it is the easiest balance: neat at the front, comfortable at the back, and adjustable if your weight changes.

Leg shapes

The waist is half the story. The leg shape changes how the pant looks and moves.

Leg style	What it looks like	Good for
Straight	Same width from knee to hem	Everyday ward work, a classic look
Wide	Looser from hip to hem	Extra airflow, very relaxed fit
Tapered or jogger	Narrows or gathers at the ankle	A sporty look; keeps hems off the floor

Our sets use a straight leg. It suits most body shapes, looks tidy with both V-neck and round-neck tops, and keeps air moving in humid weather without flapping.

Pockets on the pant

Scrub pant pockets carry things you need fast: scissors, a phone, a roll of tape, keys. Our straight pant has two pockets. A few tips:

• Keep heavy items in the top pocket, not the pant, so the waistband does not sag.
• Empty pockets before washing; pens and tissues cause most laundry disasters.

Getting the size right

Because the waist adjusts, choose a scrub pant by your hip measurement, not your waist. Check the length too: the hem should reach the top of your footwear. In the monsoon, a hem that drags picks up water and dirt from the floor quickly.

If your top and pant sizes are different, you can ask for a single pant in another size. Our size chart lists hip measurements for each size, and our post on measuring yourself for scrubs explains how to take them.

Summing up

A drawstring with an elastic back and a straight leg is a practical everyday choice for most hospital staff. It adjusts, stays neat, and gives you room to move. Measure your hips, check the length, and then have a look at our full range of scrubs to pick your set.