For Old Guard Leathermen, formalism is both a Fetish and a way of life conduct. The discipline embodied by formalism requires effort, and only when there’s respect an effort is pleasurable and maintainable. Therefor, as Old Guard Leather comes from Military life, also the way you fold your own clothes and keep your “bunk” and the whole place you live, is important.
So here are some easy and practical clothes folding routines that will have you pass an inspection.
Why should you know how to fold clothing
Although it might seem something minor to learn and take on as a routine, learning how to properly fold and store gear and clothing is very important for proper Protocol, as a display of respect both towards your own self, and towards the other men living with you. Every single routine that we take on is a way of being strict to ourselves and educated (discipline), and from the dedication to strictness and rules follows a solid structure, which are key elements in defining a Leatherman (much more than owning any leather, per se).
As most of the structures and values in Old Guard, also the routines, terms and notions as “inspection” and “present” all come from Military life; if you did your homework, you’ll also know that historically the whole Old Guard lifestyle stems from Military life and specifically from how men would live together and the structure needed to achieve harmony in a pack of men.
So as much as it was back then, also today as long as you believe firmly in what you’re doing, following these rules will give you overall more stability and structure and control over your day to day life.
Also, for the purpose of this article, this fulfills proper Protocol within this Household and will make you pass a formal inspection.
Trousers Ranger Roll
The video demonstrates how to perform a “Ranger Roll” on ACU pants for military packing.
- Begin by turning the top part of the pants inside out to a degree based on pant size.
- Smooth out pockets to prevent interference during rolling and maintain center alignment.
- Turn pants upside down with drawstrings and fly at the bottom for securing the roll.
- Fold one pant leg over the center, then the other, and roll tightly while managing the sides.
- Secure with drawstrings to complete the Ranger roll.
Jacket Ranger Roll
The video demonstrates how to ranger roll an Army ACU top for efficient packing.
- Start by zipping up and securing the velcro on the jacket, then turn the collar up.
- Hold the sleeves over the shoulder line and fold them with the seams, doing the same for both sleeves.
- Fold one loose end under the other and turn the jacket inside out, leaving enough slack around the zipper area.
- Roll one side of the jacket over the middle, then the other side, adjusting any sleeve cuffs, and wrap the slack around for a tight ranger roll suitable for packing.
Underwear folding and storing
Let’s now see how to get a compact rolling of army underwear (drawers) for travel
- Start by turning the underwear inside out and leaving a couple of inches for wrapping.
- Trifold the underwear, folding each side over the center to reduce width.
- Roll the underwear tightly from top to bottom.
- Use one hand to wrap any slack around the roll to secure it.
Ranger Roll for T-Shirts
Demonstration on how to Ranger Roll your T-Shirts:
- Start with a widely folded or flatly laid out t-shirt, front facing you on a table.
- Begin by making a longer fold on the bottom, around three inches, ensuring it’s neat and aligned.
- Horizontally fold the shirt, about three inches from the bottom, focusing on the back side fold as well.
- Fold the sleeves back on themselves, ensuring evenness and alignment.
- Start rolling the shirt tightly from the collar end, making sure to roll over folds rather than inside them for a clean final form.
Shirt Tucked the right way
The video shows 4 ways to keep your shirt tucked in all day. General tips include buying a shirt with sufficient length, aligning the gig line, and avoiding excess waist fabric.
- Method 1: Basic tuck involves simply tucking the shirt into pants.
- Method 2: Military tuck uses folding to manage excess fabric at the sides.
- Method 3: Underwear tuck involves tucking the undershirt into underwear before the dress shirt.
- Method 4: uses shirt stays or garters to keep the shirt tucked in securely.
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