Work Pants That Breathe Well?

[BQuicksilver]

There have been a couple of solid work pant discussions here, with most preferring the Duluth Firehose, Dickies, or Carhartt pants, but I haven't read much about which is the coolest/most breathable?

I'd like some pants that I'll wear them when it's warm out instead of just tossing on gymwear that doesn't offer much knee protection.

Surely all of the above mentioned offer decent protection, but which won't leave me cooking?

 

[LeeG]

I wear my Duluth Firehose pants all summer long here in Phoenix. They don't seem any hotter than jeans.

 

[larry_g]

I find that light overalls with a waist size 4" over what my waist size is to be very comfortable in the heat. If you have the pant leg length at the top of your boot then you can have air movement up the leg and out the waist.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mustanginky]

Not ne essarily work pants, but check out 5.11 tactical pants. I have worn em daily for 5 years, oftentimes with a ballistic vest on in the hot summer projects and kept relatively cool.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I wear my Duluth Firehose pants all summer long here in Phoenix. They don't seem any hotter than jeans.

Well, that's certainly HOT. They breathe that well? Anyone from the southeast (more humidity) like them as well?

 

[logan09]

I have Duluth firehose pants I got for Christmas and I work in a plywood plant. The humidity is about 70-80% and even in winter its about 80-85°F in there. I honestly don't find them that breathable.

I had a pair of cheap pants from walmart(Thinking like $20) that are labeled as work pants that are much more breathable. But they don't last long at all.

 

[cheechi]

I would love some firehose pants. Man those things look awesome.

I wear Dickie's & Craftsman pants daily and in the colder months I wear long johns underneath. I couldn't just wear the pants they 'breathe' too well on their own. In summer time they're just fine. Mine are the slacks/painters/khaki/cargo style, nothing with reinforced knees (at least not compared to the Blacklader or Duluth anyway)

 

[BQuicksilver]

logan, I was a little concerned about them breathing, especially given that they have some sort of hydrophobic coating.

 

[dirtydogintex]

many decades of levi 501 jeans year round here in the Houston area.

bare legs don't cut it for dudes @ work....

 

[Voi]

I find that light overalls with a waist size 4" over what my waist size is to be very comfortable in the heat.

Any brands of overalls that are lighter than others then?

I'm the guy who started the "Work overalls for longer torsos thread" that you responded to. I've looked at a brand or two since then and most seemed to use very thick material. So if you know of a lighter brand that would be good for the customizations you recommended in that thread, that would be great.

 

[Crusty Drifter]

Carhartt make a line of "light duty" jeans that seem to be about 25% lighter than their normal jeans. I've never seen them online but a local retailer Thrifty Supply stocks them. I wear them in summer for my job at the steel mill. I'm not in an area that requires me to wear flame retardant gear but it's still plenty hot.

 

[tshetter]

Not ne essarily work pants, but check out 5.11 tactical pants. I have worn em daily for 5 years, oftentimes with a ballistic vest on in the hot summer projects and kept relatively cool.

^ This.

I have worn 5.11 Tactical Taclite Pro for a few years and they are awesome. They breathe very well, don't wrinkle up, look good, fit good, hold their color well.

They are made of a polyester/cotton mix that is rip resistant. It really does not continue a rip once one forms either from a knife cut or abrasion. The knees are doubled material, the seams are double stitched etc.

And my favorite part about them? You carry a knife daily...right? Well, you should, but anyway, there is 4-6x the material on that seam at the corner of the front AND rear pockets where your knife sits. No more ripped out corners!

They are a little pricey, so are good tools right, but they are awesome pants.

Even better are the Stryke pants, but they run $70-75. Those have a little spandex woven into the fabric that makes them move and fit a little better.

5.11 TacLite

5.11 Stryke

And while you are placing an order for 5 pairs, get your self a new belt.

Operator Belt

Best utility belt I have ever worn. Blackhawk also makes a nice operator belt but I haven't personally worn one, but some of the confined space rescue guys from the Mosaic plants have them and swear by them.

We all like to buy quality tools, and I think work pants are an extension of that mindset. Plus 5.11 does some good stuff for wounded vets, fallen officers, etc.

And I forgot to add, they have 7 belt loops, and not 5. I HATE pants with only 5 loops as they do not seem to hold the belt at the waistband all the way around.

I guess I am overly picky but whatever.

 

[DEERE G]

Subscribed.
I work outside in the summer here in GA. I am not permitted to wear shorts.
I also have to wear khaki colored pants. I have been buying Wrangler brand cargo pants from Walmart. They are not bad. I'm just curious as to what else is out there.

Thanks

 

[rhuff86]

I will be watching this also. I just got some Firehose Flex work pants and love them. But they have not been hot weather tested. They are the most comfortable work pants I have ever wore. I LOVE all the pockets. There are like 12-13 pockets. Very, very handy. Plus they are tough. Pair these with their underwear and you are set to work in comfort.

 

[mech-tech]

The $20 work pants at wal-mart is what I wear. It's about the lightest thing I can find, and it holds up well.

 

[Provincial]

Just one note of caution: don't wear anything other than natural fibers if you are around sparks and hot debris, like cutting and welding. Man-made fibers melt and stick to your skin while they burn!

I remember catching a pair of cotton coveralls on fire. They had some grease embedded in them from a really dirty disassembly job and I was using a 9" grinder to cut some brackets off when a co-worker sidled up to me and said in a casual "don't get too excited, but you're on fire." Because he wasn't acting excited, I kept calm and beat out the flames. He handled the situation perfectly.

 

[tshetter]

Just one note of caution: don't wear anything other than natural fibers if you are around sparks and hot debris, like cutting and welding. Man-made fibers melt and stick to your skin while they burn!

I remember catching a pair of cotton coveralls on fire. They had some grease embedded in them from a really dirty disassembly job and I was using a 9" grinder to cut some brackets off when a co-worker sidled up to me and said in a casual "don't get too excited, but you're on fire." Because he wasn't acting excited, I kept calm and beat out the flames. He handled the situation perfectly.

This is VERY true, if you are doing any HOT work, either electrical, cutting, or welding, think very carefully about wearing any nylon or polyester fiber clothing. It sticks to the skin and melts into it.

In a drunken stupor a roommate and I borrowed a neighbors webber grill and made some ribs one night, upon returning it, full of hot coals of course, the handle broke and I burned my arm pretty good.

The old navy thermal shirt I was wearing melted into my forearm burn.

We woke up in the morning and I had no idea why my arm hurt like hell and had blue material melted into it. He thought it was funny how I ran around the apartment courtyard cursing at 3am.

I still have that scar.

Ahhh college, good times....

/and yes, I did fix the handle on the grill.

 

[mustanginky]

^ This.

I have worn 5.11 Tactical Taclite Pro for a few years and they are awesome. They breathe very well, don't wrinkle up, look good, fit good, hold their color well.

They are made of a polyester/cotton mix that is rip resistant. It really does not continue a rip once one forms either from a knife cut or abrasion. The knees are doubled material, the seams are double stitched etc.

And my favorite part about them? You carry a knife daily...right? Well, you should, but anyway, there is 4-6x the material on that seam at the corner of the front AND rear pockets where your knife sits. No more ripped out corners!

They are a little pricey, so are good tools right, but they are awesome pants.

Even better are the Stryke pants, but they run $70-75. Those have a little spandex woven into the fabric that makes them move and fit a little better.

5.11 TacLite

5.11 Stryke

And while you are placing an order for 5 pairs, get your self a new belt.

Operator Belt

Best utility belt I have ever worn. Blackhawk also makes a nice operator belt but I haven't personally worn one, but some of the confined space rescue guys from the Mosaic plants have them and swear by them.

We all like to buy quality tools, and I think work pants are an extension of that mindset. Plus 5.11 does some good stuff for wounded vets, fallen officers, etc.

And I forgot to add, they have 7 belt loops, and not 5. I HATE pants with only 5 loops as they do not seem to hold the belt at the waistband all the way around.

I guess I am overly picky but whatever.

I must add that ive probably worn my lightweight tac pants probably 300-400 times with mild wear. If anything, they've broken in. Easily worth the $30-40 youll spend on them.
I must also add theyre stain resistant.