Need help finding some work pants

[Techie1961]

I know it isn't really tools but it kind of is. I have been buying a work pant for quite a few years that I really like and can't seem to find them anymore. Mark's used to carry them here in Ontario but dropped the line. I have tried Carhartt and Dickie's but don't like them.

The pants that I like are a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester. I think they were Denver Hayes but not sure. They are twill and have the hammer loop and small side pockets. I keep a small adjustable wrench in one and a small LED flashlight in the other. I also work in a lot of hot places so a heavy canvas gets really uncomfortable. I need something light.

The problem that I have with the pants that I have tried are that they look like **** (wrinkles and lint) really quick on the job. Even before I leave the house, the dog and cat hair are stuck to them. In the dry cleaning plants that I work in, there is a lot of lint as well and the cotton pants seem to really attract it and it sticks to them.

Anyone know of work pants (blue) that are still a blend and have the carpenter style?

 

[JKennedy]

May not be what you want, but a solid pair of wranglers will go a long way. Comfortable, durable.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Can you get or have you seen anything from Duluth Trading? It's pretty darn nice.

 

[Techie1961]

Can you get or have you seen anything from Duluth Trading? It's pretty darn nice.

I had a look and sent them a message to see what they recommend. Nice stuff, thanks.

 

[Techie1961]

May not be what you want, but a solid pair of wranglers will go a long way. Comfortable, durable.

I have thought about jeans but I prefer the professional look. Chief, cook, bottle washer, and president all wrapped up into one package.

 

[JKennedy]

I have thought about jeans but I prefer the professional look. Chief, cook, bottle washer, and president all wrapped up into one package.

In Texas, jeans are the professional standard of the "workforce". (that is outside of the cube farm lol)

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I had a look and sent them a message to see what they recommend. Nice stuff, thanks.

No problem. I'm finally able to help someone on the board. And turns out it's about pants. Lol. I just hope tax and duty don't kill ya.

 

[bob15]

Try Riverside Uniform....they are also American made for anyone who might be interested

http://www.riversideuniforms.com/RSProd/CorporateWeb_Home.nsf/Riverside_Uniforms_Home_Page?openagent

 

[Tronyadorable]

Right here is what you want. You'll throw all your others away
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U6LC48/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These too
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QYSWWW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[90zcar]

What didn't u like about dickies? They make so many types and styles. I wear the original 574's but get the newer slim version


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[Techie1961]

What didn't u like about dickies? They make so many types and styles. I wear the original 574's but get the newer slim version


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There were only a few available to try but they seemed to be really sticky with dog hair and lint. The pants were great but I looked like **** before I even got out the door. In dry cleaning plants, there is a lot of lint and it stuck to them like glue. The pants I have been wearing didn't really wrinkle and nothing would stick to them.

 

[Ign]

Right here is what you want. You'll throw all your others away
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U6LC48/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These too
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QYSWWW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Nice to see other options. On the top link, do they think all fisherman are short or fat? I need a 32x32, but to get a 32 waist the only option is a 28.5 inseam. Even in an alleged waist of 36-38, the inseam is spec'd at 29.

The Columbias look interesting, but clearly no one wants the "fossil" color. It defaults to that with prices in the low 30's but if I select "gravel" (much better color for a work pant) prices jump to $50 for something that might work for me. Still not outrageous however.

To the OP: I'm trying to make the switch to Duluth because I was also looking for something lighter in weight (and because Carhartt's wolf commercial pissed me right off but that's another story). The flex fire hose pants weigh a fraction of comparable Carhartts, which is really nice on warmer days, but I'm still not sure they breathe all that well. They do hold up surpringly well to light welding sparks in terms of sustaining damage, although they seem to let more sparks through and then "self-heal"

 

[Tejaas]

I tried the Dickies with the small cell phone pocket thing recently, as well as the original 574. My intention was to only use them on the few days every couple of months I am inside fuel cells.

I absolutely couldn't stand them. I washed them no less than 15 times before I even wore them and they still felt like they were extra heavily starched... And I went overboard on the fabric softener to say the least. Not to mention, they seemed really tight around the ankle... I wear boot cut only... So I had to split the seams at the ankle to make them work. I tried a couple of times to get used to them, and just couldn't. They became rags in the shop.

Got a lead from a buddy to try some old navy cargo pants. They are awesome, look professional and rugged... They have that "overseas government contractor" appearance.

They were $19 a piece, hold up great, and come in khaki, blue, and brown.

The pockets are stitched so that they lie flat when they are empty.

And they fit over the top of whatever footwear your wearing.




~Tejaas~

 

[justme-]

Those fishing pants and colombia's will wear out in no time as work pants if there's any ruggedness required in your wardrobe. I have several pants made like them (couple columbia) from my previous career (when I was warehouse everything and part desk jockey). They're summer wear and while they hold up great for that - they're not made to be used crawling around machinery of any kind except maybe when the outboard breaks on your Whaler 5 miles out and you need to get home.

I've got 1 pair of Dickies and I agree - a bit stiff for all day comfort, but it's the cut that does me in - day long wedgie. Love my Cintas and Red Kap 50/50's.

 

[justme-]

Try Riverside Uniform....they are also American made for anyone who might be interested

http://www.riversideuniforms.com/RSProd/CorporateWeb_Home.nsf/Riverside_Uniforms_Home_Page?openagent

Disappointingly, they're not 100% US made.
From their about me> history

The bulk of our products are sold in the United States; however, we ship into many other areas of the world. We manufacture domestically and in other offshore plants. Our domestic production allows us to be very responsive when a customer has immediate uniform requirements.

 

[SASORacing]

dickies panta re very thick and i like thema lot. I actually cut them into shorts which breathe better. But the trick is getting something that fits YOU right, that is the most important.

 

[MagnumForce]

What line of work are you in? As someone who fabricates at work a lot I find that spending a bunch on work pants is pretty useless as I just end up burning them up anyway. I like to have at least 5 pair and found I was spending 40 bucks a pair for carhartt's and buying a new pair every month. Ridiculous cost so now I shop simply on clearance for cheap store brand jeans and guess what, the Meijer Fall's Creek Jeans which I got for 7 bucks a pair last about 3 times as long as the carhartt's my mind was totally blown. They fit really well too. Another reason I don't always equate American made with good value.

 

[colin39]

I use helly hansen they are really good, but expensive.

 

[bob15]

Disappointingly, they're not 100% US made.
From their about me> history

I agree it isn't 100%, but they tell you the USA ones (or at least the pants I have bought)....apposed to Dickies which went to mexico.

 

[90zcar]

I love dickies pants. I been rocking the slim straight ones for years. Then I cut em into shorts come spring. These I got yesterday and they are "washed for softness"



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[Jwych]

I wear key brand jeans, I like them for $20ish a pair. Pretty durable and comfortable

 

[90zcar]

I sold dickies pants for almost 7 years and I can give some advice to anyone looking for some "do not buy them at walmart"
They are made cheaper and plain ****. Anyone who doesn't believe me....buy a pair there and then get a pair anywhere else....very big difference


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[bonneyman]

FireHose brand pants. Sold by Duluth Trading Company.

Not cheap, kinda stiff at first, don't breathe well in hot weather. But bulletproof construction. Cotton canvas like the old fire hoses used to be.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/mens-fire-hose-work-pants-92204.aspx

 

[ed_v]

I like RedKap work pants. RedKap is actually owned by Dickies, but to me it is better quality and way more comfortable than the Dickies brand.

Ed

 

[ChevyZ71]

I wear the Dickies loose fit double knee pants, love em so far.

 

[BioNerd]

Wrangler makes light working pants. I like them. Like $20?

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Carhartt make a thinner lighter pant B151 I think. Not hot and heavy like the original ones. watch the sizing though I buy 30X32 I normally wear 31-32 though. They have blue

 

[cheechi]

Can you get or have you seen anything from Duluth Trading? It's pretty darn nice.

Do any B&M stores carry these? I want some but can't justify them. Maybe if I wear some...

Among these options you should be able to find something that works for you;
5.11
Paramedic pants (pretty much any brand, you have to buy them and then get them hemmed to length)
Army/Navy surplus store

Got a lead from a buddy to try some old navy cargo pants. They are awesome, look professional and rugged... They have that "overseas government contractor" appearance.

They were $19 a piece, hold up great, and come in khaki, blue, and brown.

The pockets are stitched so that they lie flat when they are empty.

And they fit over the top of whatever footwear your wearing.

By far the most comfortable of all the options available. I hate that they stopped selling waist sizes larger than 40 in the stores, ON used to be really good for 42x29 while most other stores are 28/30/32 etc on the legs. But they aren't as durable as some of the other options discussed, and on some of their cargos, the pockets are somewhat bulky, like sitting down on the back pockets you want to keep the waist a little loose so you can move them out of your way, even empty. Another big plus is the hem on the legs is really wide so if you choose to you can cut slots and put a nylon ribbon in and make military style ties at the legs.

dickies pants ... "do not buy them at walmart"
They are made cheaper and plain ****. Anyone who doesn't believe me....buy a pair there and then get a pair anywhere else....very big difference

I haven't bought pants from there but a few shirts. Would you say the same about those? How about the belts? How about the Dickie's at Sears/Kmart?

I am very curious now since I have some Dickie's belts that have outlasted some others and all are about the same age but came from different stores. For the most part the shirts have all been good but shirts don't see the same kind of abuse as pants & belts (I'm not skinny) so you know..

As I type this I'm wearing Craftsman 'Dickie's style' (not sure what else to call them really) pants. It's basically a generic slacks clone and I bet this pair is 4 years old with no wear except maybe the bottom cuff (I'm short and I'm too lazy to hem them so I roll them up, but sometimes I forget and step on them so that wear is my fault not the pants).

I have several KEY brand pants and really don't think they're as good as Dickie's, at least in terms of the ones I have compared one for one style wise. I do like them, they're comfortable, but I think where they really excel is the 'lighter style' ie mostly nylon/poly mix shorts & shirts. Neither are as good as Carhartt but they aren't usually on sale for as low.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Do any B&M stores carry these? I want some but can't justify them. Maybe if I wear some.

They have their own stores, about a half dozen only, in MN. Reason I asked the OP is he lives in Ontario, and I don't know if they tack duty on that stuff for him.

 

[Techie1961]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. Really appreciated. It looks like I am going to have to loosen up my requirements though. For some reason, blue pants seem to be out of fashion right now. A lot of the suggested pants are available in everything but blue.

Believe it or not, dry cleaning plants are some of the dirtiest places around. If it isn't the grease that gets you it's the still sludge, rusty tanks, and disgusting air line sludge that will. Any clothing that is light coloured looks bad really quick and black is the worst for dust and lint. I am going to keep looking and go back through some of these posts (and their websites) to see if there is still something out there.

 

[Ign]

Duluth is super liberal about returns/exchanges. They have to be to be a successful (primarily) mail order clothing operation. Cutting firewood in my flex fire hose pants right now!

 

[blunn]

Redkap is NOT owned by Dickies . Redkap is made by VF Imagewear , a coalition of the VF Corporation . VF Corp also owns The North Face , Wrangler , Timberland , Jansport , Reef , Vans and several other clothing brands . Redkap has several styles of work pants from jeans to dress pants , even fire resistant (Bulwark brand ) .