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Coveralls for smaller humans

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Professor Gascan

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Dec 26, 2024
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Greetings All,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I was wondering if any of you people out there would have any suggestions I on where I might find some small, slim-ish overalls?

I bought some red kap size 36r off of amazon and while they fit height wise and in the chest reasonably well, the arms and legs are chuffing massive. I mean who with a 36" chest has 16" diameter arms or 24" diameter legs?

Full disclosure I'm 5'6", 120lb 47 year old so I'm about as big as I'm ever gonna get. Someone out there must be roughly my size to point me in the right direction, as jamming my hands and arms in a tight engine bay is annoying enough without having to fight a giant wizard's sleeve...

TIA and glad to see an old school forum still going strong.
 
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AEAdam

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I have the opposite problem you have, being tall. Maybe like you, I ask and take chances on stuff online and am often disappointed and left feeling like a freak. People think it’s great to be tall. No it’s not. I’m 6’6” 245lbs. I find carhartt stuff runs pretty big, which works for me. Sometimes when I buy XL, it’s just like L except wider. I don’t need wider.

Coveralls are really a different animal. They have to fit in every dimension. I think you will have to try them on. Unless someone here is your exact size. I had a pair I loved in the navy. I was 6’4” then and probably 190lbs.

If you have your heart set on coveralls, I’d seriously suggest having them altered by a tailor. There’s literally nothing worse than working in I’ll fitting clothes.
 
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BrandonV

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Professor Gascan said:
Greetings All,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I was wondering if any of you people out there would have any suggestions I on where I might find some small, slim-ish overalls?

I bought some red kap size 36r off of amazon and while they fit height wise and in the chest reasonably well, the arms and legs are chuffing massive. I mean who with a 36" chest has 16" diameter arms or 24" diameter legs?

Full disclosure I'm 5'6", 120lb 47 year old so I'm about as big as I'm ever gonna get. Someone out there must be roughly my size to point me in the right direction, as jamming my hands and arms in a tight engine bay is annoying enough without having to fight a giant wizard's sleeve...

TIA and glad to see an old school forum still going strong.
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5' 7" and a whopping 150 here.

No joke I'd seriously look at purchasing overalls from Japan or China. Anything resembling a men's small or a 36" here is insanely large.
 
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BrandonV

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sparky 1971

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Not being a smartass, but what about women's sizes? I have a friend that for sure isn't larger than you and might be a tad smaller that wears women's work boots because he can't find anything small enough in mens sizes locally.
 
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BrandonV

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sparky 1971 said:
Not being a smartass, but what about women's sizes? I have a friend that for sure isn't larger than you and might be a tad smaller that wears women's work boots because he can't find anything small enough in mens sizes locally.
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Was reading something the other day about that Paramount+ show Landman and I guess Billy Bob Thornton has some crazy skinny legs so he doesn't even bother with men's jeans... they don't even come close to fitting him.
 
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sparky 1971

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BrandonV said:
Was reading something the other day about that Paramount+ show Landman and I guess Billy Bob Thornton has some crazy skinny legs so he doesn't even bother with men's jeans... they don't even come close to fitting him.
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When my now 15 year old was about five we had to get him girls jeans because he was too skinny. I'd keep him distracted while momma tore the pink packaging paper off. He's now 6'3" and about 215 pounds with a size 13 shoe. I got a pair of hand me down boots from him a couple of weeks ago.
 
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Hakeem

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I’m not sure if long sleeves are a must but the shortsleeved Red Kap Speedsuit coveralls are slim-fitting.

Also, perhaps a shop coat may be worth considering? IMG_9524.png
 
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ChevyEFI

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Phoenix, AZ
Try stuff on where possible unless doing online doesn't bother you a bit.

Carhartt fits bigger than Dickies as far as I've found.

Tailoring is a good way to have things fit well. At a time where you have a perfectly fitting garment you can't just buy again, have a second (pair) tailored to match. Finding a good tailor who will work with bulkier fabrics may be tough.
 
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noid

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You're dimensionally closer to an average Japanese then you are to an average American.

Get coveralls from Japan, Amazon jp delivers globally.
 
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Professor Gascan

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Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, and I didn't think of having it tailored. Funny because I live right next to what used to be one of the largest fabric and garment producing cities in the world, so hopefully some of those skills and knowledge still exist.

I had looked around for kid sized coveralls but all I could find were bib overalls and as far as women's sizes I thought they might fit even weirder as I'm basically shaped like a stick figure.

I'll do some googling and call around this week to see if I can have the arms and legs taken in as they're the most ill-fitting parts and should also be the easiest to alter.

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate it!!!
 
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NUTTSGT

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I bought some RedKap pants when I started at the FD. The legs in those pants were small so I think it's their pattern makers being unrealistic.

I might suggest stopping by a drycleaner that also supplies factories with uniforms. They should have some "try on" sized stuff.
 
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neophyte

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BrandonV said:
Was reading something the other day about that Paramount+ show Landman and I guess Billy Bob Thornton has some crazy skinny legs so he doesn't even bother with men's jeans... they don't even come close to fitting him.
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Thornton has worked on numerous Hollywood productions.
While the costumers for Hollywood productions would probably like to use off the shelf clothing were possible, numerous items, from clothing to to footwear needs to routinely be custom made, or custom fitted.
How can Thornton not find somebody to modify jeans for himself if necessary, or even custom make some ?

One issue with modern clothing, and even modern uniform clothing, is that it’s not made with the expectation the tailoring will be adjusted to fit the individual wearer.
The design and construction of RedKap clothing is slightly better than some other brands in this regard, but it still doesn’t have the extra cloth at the seems, and lining fabric typical of older clothes made to be adjusted.
 
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Paul_The_Builder

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I've seen a glut of coveralls on Ali-Express lately. I've been tempted to order a pair, but have been leery of their sizing, that it won't fit an "American proportioned" individual like myself.
Might be the ticket for you though, they do list detailed measurements:
I have some button down shirts I bought from asian sellers, and while the overall sizing was pretty accurate, the sleeves were undersized. I could barely get my arm and hands through the sleeves to put it on, but everything else fit as it should.
 
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cannuck

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I have a very slim 13YO in shop every weekend and a 7YO coming up behind him. We go to farm store and safety supply store and always with a little searching get good fit, if not preferred colour. With these 2 we can do 'hand me downs' but very slim 5YO coming up in couple years.
 
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Beerhippie

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I'm about the same size as you--5'6", 30" inseam, 32 waist. I don't often wear coveralls but I'm a total bib junkie.

In the last five years or so, I've tried Dickies, OshKosh and Carharts. The Dickies are totally inconsistent in the cloth, with different colors actually being completely different cloth, and all are light and thin--I can wear a set out in a couple of months. Fit was also all over the place, OshKosh were so inconsistent in fit that I just sent the two pair (one of which was the size of a circus tent!) back without ever wearing them. Again, the cloth was too light for my likin'. The Carharts are the only ones I've tried with reasonable fit and good, heavy duck cloth in all colors. I do try them on before buying (one store in the county stocks them) as the leg fit is inconsistent.
 
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Beerhippie

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Toold_up

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Beerhippie said:
Damn! I'm about due for a new pair of bibs and those look great, US-made AND less expensive than MIC Carharts!

Thanks!
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I have a pair of their bibs that I love. The only jeans I wear are Round House, and I love them. I have two pair that I turned into cut offs and they have been washed hundreds of times and are still holding together. Their denim products are tough!
 
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Beerhippie

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Toold_up said:
I have a pair of their bibs that I love. The only jeans I wear are Round House, and I love them. I have two pair that I turned into cut offs and they have been washed hundreds of times and are still holding together. Their denim products are tough!
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First time I've ever heard of them! I'll be giving them a try.
 
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