Waist size (with poll)

[Landroval]

I've had an ongoing debate with several male friends.

One perspective is that waist size is what size pants you wear (i.e., from the label what you can squeeze into)

Another is that it is measured by holding a tape measure around the widest part of your waist (while standing normally)

In many cases these are not the same -- so which of these do you personally use when describing your waist measurement?

 

[Zim Hosein]

so which of these do you personally use when describing your waist measurement?

The numbers on the label of my jeans

 

[shortspanishguy]

waist and hips are different. When I measure people I take both measurements.

 

[Baked]

I buy whatever fits and is comfortable when I wear it, which means I look at the tag.

 

[shortspanishguy]

BTW, I have a 30" waist.

 

[Landroval]

So if one wears pants low and has a belly hanging over that doesn't count, since it is not in the pants?

 

[homercles337]

I have a 33" waist and wear/buy 36" pants. So i guess "both?" I buy pants big and wear a belt because they are more comfortable that way, but i despise "phat pants."

[edit] I should have clarified that i buy jeans at that size not slacks. Slacks i go by what fits. [/edit]

 

[DAGTA]

Tape measure is accurate, but I don't own one so I go by the tag in my jeans and my belt.

 

[myusername]

I consider my waist measurement to be the upper hip region where I wear my pants, i.e. below the love handles. There's about a 2" discrepancy based on what brand my pants are, but my express jeans are by far the most flattering

IIRC women measure at the "real" waist i.e. over the belly area, but my way works just fine for me because despite the pictures that keep getting posted, I don't wear dresses.

 

[Landroval]

Originally posted by: myusername
I consider my waist measurement to be the upper hip region where I wear my pants, i.e. below the love handles. There's about a 2" discrepancy based on what brand my pants are, but my express jeans are by far the most flattering

IIRC women measure at the "real" waist i.e. over the belly area, but my way works just fine for me because despite the pictures that keep getting posted, I don't wear dresses.

As far as clothes fitting, you are totally right. Women's clothes are not really standard sizes (men's are not either, but are usually not too far off from each other), so I always try to get an actual measurement. I was thinking about when people are talking about health or working out, too. When a guy says he has 15" biceps, 32" waist and 12% bf, I assume he does not mean he wears size 32 pants. I was surprised to discover that most guys think of their pants size as their actual wasit size. For those who do measure it this way, it might be worth checking with a tape measure to see what the difference is!

 

[SWScorch]

Isnt waist size measured just below the belly button or something? If so, I have a 28" waist, but I wear size 32 pants as I don't wear my pants around my naval.

 

[BigJ]

From football, my thighs are much larger than your average person with my waist size. So instead of wearing a 38" waist, I'll have to wear a 40" or 42" with a belt.

 

[amcdonald]

Using a tape measure I'm 30"
But the jeans i wear vary in size aroudn that, usually smaller.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
Isnt waist size measured just below the belly button or something? If so, I have a 28" waist, but I wear size 32 pants as I don't wear my pants around my naval.

waist is measured at the narrowest point. hips are measured below the navel. waits and hip measurements are vastly different. For ex. i have 28" wast and 34" hips. that means i buy 30" or 32" pants.

 

[imported_Tomato]

I have a 23" waist, but I wear size 26 jeans.

My fiance wears 34x34 jeans.

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
waist is measured at the narrowest point. hips are measured below the navel. waits and hip measurements are vastly different. For ex. i have 28" wast and 34" hips. that means i buy 30" or 32" pants.

that's the same for me then, waist and hip are 28"

 

[apologetic]

34

 

[newParadigm]

Originally posted by: apologetic
34

 

[meltdown75]

i think my comfy jeans / pants are 38s. i can still squeeze into a 36 tho, AFAIK...

truthfully i don't even know what size my wife buys me anymore.

 

[shilala]

I have a Cinderella belly, so I have to go with panyt size.

 

[EyeMWing]

Uh, well, my waist is 38, I can fit in 40's, but my sizable man-ass requires 42's to be comfortable. Also, I have a sizable gut.

 

[sandorski]

Tape Measures are for wusses, my pants label says 38. I'll go with that.