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Best work pants?

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#22 ·
CoreyOnTheBrink said:
I’ve trusted the Carhartt brand (for work pants and overalls) since my apprenticeship years. This is the second recommendation for Patagonia workwear I’ve seen on this site and puts me over the edge to try them out. I joined the waiting list for their pants and bibs.
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I assume that Patagonia is on Amazon....???
 
#23 ·
cuba_pete said:
5.11 tacticals, but I don’t know how they’d wear on a real job site. I only wear them in electrical rooms, under raised floors, and light outdoor work. The darker colors get concrete knees pretty quick but haven’t worn through. I‘ve had the pocket liners in the hand pockets wear out in two pair with just keys and occasional tools, so they’re kind of thin, I’d say.
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I have those too, they look good enough to wear out to dinner and conceal a 44. Magnum if needed. For us, they are a bit heavy for outdooor winter work. Also Levi’s 505 if you don’t carry your fat in your thighs and ass. My summer go to are found at Bass Pro, they are a kaki color made by Columbia. They have regular pockets, and a long narrow pocket if you carry a torpedo lever or folding ruler. Con… the rear pockets are so deep regular side cutters will all of the way inside and are hard to remove. The front pockets are deep too. You will never have something fall out.
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#25 ·
Quickservice said:
Do they have cargo pockets?
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Yes, some open, some with flaps. I keep my wallet in the left side. 3 screwdrivers in the right that slip into a small Bucket Boss holder. It keeps the mouth open so the drivers are handy. That leaves my back pockets open. I hate sitting on a wallet.
 

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#27 ·
five.five-six said:
About a year ago costco was running a special, 12 pairs of their denim jeans $100 shipped. Best work pants I ever bought.
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I did wear the Kirkland jeans for several years at work, but they seemed to fade within a few months. I have had several pairs for over 10 years to work in around the house. They last a long time, just not presentable enough for a working office.
 
#28 ·
Carhart work dungarees for warmer weather, and the carhart heavy denim in winter (one size up) with thermals underneath.

Durable, comfortable, and plenty of pockets.
 
#30 ·
5.11 has the best pants I've ever owned, hands down. I've got a pair from them I've worn for 5+ years doing outdoors rec stuff like bushwacking and tree climbing (ie I beat the absolute **** out of them) and they don't have a scratch on them, nevermind they're comfortable as hell. I've got jeans from them too, they're also a perfect fit and the pockets are nice. You definitely pay for it, though.

Carhartt is a trash brand to me. Their sizing is completely off, and they tear out or rip up on me constantly. I do not get the love. Duluth looks to be the same, I've never bought anything there.

I've been buying Redhead lately. They're okay, but loose fitting and just mediocre build/pockets. When they break, well, they're like $15 or something.

NOBODY makes the pockets I want, though. A few will reinforce the lip, but nobody reinforces the bottom where the tools punch through every time. The lip doesn't matter, I've never had pocket lips tear out! Give me pants with a bunch of deep carpenter-pant-style pockets front and back with reinforced bottoms and I will throw money at you.
 
#31 ·
NoahsArc said:
5.11 has the best pants I've ever owned, hands down. I've got a pair from them I've worn for 5+ years doing outdoors rec stuff like bushwacking and tree climbing (ie I beat the absolute **** out of them) and they don't have a scratch on them, nevermind they're comfortable as hell. I've got jeans from them too, they're also a perfect fit and the pockets are nice. You definitely pay for it, though.

Carhartt is a trash brand to me. Their sizing is completely off, and they tear out or rip up on me constantly. I do not get the love. Duluth looks to be the same, I've never bought anything there.

I've been buying Redhead lately. They're okay, but loose fitting and just mediocre build/pockets. When they break, well, they're like $15 or something.

NOBODY makes the pockets I want, though. A few will reinforce the lip, but nobody reinforces the bottom where the tools punch through every time. The lip doesn't matter, I've never had pocket lips tear out! Give me pants with a bunch of deep carpenter-pant-style pockets front and back with reinforced bottoms and I will throw money at you.
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The work clothes place I use is an old established place. Nothing fancy or pretentious. Family owned and ran for as long as I remember. Intelligent people with a functional selection. With that said I noticed they carry several grades of Carhart work pants. Heavy weight which I find hold up well . The lighter weight ones are good for the summer but tear or wear out after 6 months. I guess they are good for the "metro" crowd who want to appear that they are working people. I did notice pockets on many pants are getting smaller because I know my wallet is not getting bigger.
 
#32 ·
Shake&Bake said:
I like the Wrangler Riggs workwear jeans.
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I got turned on to the Wrangler rigs shorts and they are the only work shorts I will wear now (Ah, the benefits of self-employment!!). Great feel, great pockets, and rugged.
I recently went to shop for flannel lined work pants and ordered the Wrangler rigs "ranger" pants. They are a very relaxed fit. But one of the things I really like about them is that extra layer of" knee pad actually goes from my upper thigh to about 2/3 of the way down between my knee and Ankle. That means whether I'm working in my lap, or kneeling on the ground or on top of a wall, my legs are protected. The material is very rugged; like they could almost stand up on their own. Lol. ... But because of the relaxed fit, they are surprisingly comfortable to work in (I was a little worried about this, so I washed them twice before using them).

For the price, they're unbeatable.

I also like Duluth pants, but they're kind of expensive and same goes for Carhartt.

My advice is don't buy "tactical" work pants. They are just stupid b*** for wannabe militias and proud boys who are saving their virginity for the foxhole because they'll probably fall apart the minute you actually duck for cover.
 
#33 ·
Greg Sparkovich said:
I got turned on to the Wrangler rigs shorts and they are the only work shorts I will wear now (Ah, the benefits of self-employment!!). Great feel, great pockets, and rugged.
I recently went to shop for flannel lined work pants and ordered the Wrangler rigs "ranger" pants. They are a very relaxed fit. But one of the things I really like about them is that extra layer of" knee pad actually goes from my upper thigh to about 2/3 of the way down between my knee and Ankle. That means whether I'm working in my lap, or kneeling on the ground or on top of a wall, my legs are protected. The material is very rugged; like they could almost stand up on their own. Lol. ... But because of the relaxed fit, they are surprisingly comfortable to work in (I was a little worried about this, so I washed them twice before using them).

For the price, they're unbeatable.

I also like Duluth pants, but they're kind of expensive and same goes for Carhartt.

My advice is don't buy "tactical" work pants. They are just stupid b*** for wannabe militias and proud boys who are saving their virginity for the foxhole because they'll probably fall apart the minute you actually duck for cover.
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These are my "tactical" work pants.😉
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#37 ·
#38 ·
Greg Sparkovich said:
I got turned on to the Wrangler rigs shorts and they are the only work shorts I will wear now (Ah, the benefits of self-employment!!). Great feel, great pockets, and rugged.
I recently went to shop for flannel lined work pants and ordered the Wrangler rigs "ranger" pants. They are a very relaxed fit. But one of the things I really like about them is that extra layer of" knee pad actually goes from my upper thigh to about 2/3 of the way down between my knee and Ankle. That means whether I'm working in my lap, or kneeling on the ground or on top of a wall, my legs are protected. The material is very rugged; like they could almost stand up on their own. Lol. ... But because of the relaxed fit, they are surprisingly comfortable to work in (I was a little worried about this, so I washed them twice before using them).

For the price, they're unbeatable.

I also like Duluth pants, but they're kind of expensive and same goes for Carhartt.

My advice is don't buy "tactical" work pants. They are just stupid b*** for wannabe militias and proud boys who are saving their virginity for the foxhole because they'll probably fall apart the minute you actually duck for cover.
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Being self employed allows one to permit oneself to wearing shorts in the summer.
 
#39 ·
A question for those who can wear shorts. I am finding the major brands only make an 11 inch short. Does any body still make a cotton 8 or 9 inch inseam? The 11 inch irritate the back of my knee and they look like the old " clam diggers". My Carhart 8 inch are getting the worn out look.
 
#40 ·
kb1jb1 said:
A question for those who can wear shorts. I am finding the major brands only make an 11 inch short. Does any body still make a cotton 8 or 9 inch inseam? The 11 inch irritate the back of my knee and they look like the old " clam diggers". My Carhart 8 inch are getting the worn out look.
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I'll try and remember to check the seam length on my Wrangler rigs, but As I've lost weight, I found that I can roll the belt loop area down from the top of the pants once and that makes the pants a little shorter and the waist a little tighter.
Might work if you can't find what you want?

Now, if your freelance loafing electrician like myself, you can also make your own cutoffs... Truly the advantage of being self-employed!
 
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