Work pants discussion - your favorite?

weo

weo

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Good morning, all. I came across the recent jeans thread right as I was looking for replacement shop pants. As a blacksmith and welder, synthetic materials are not a good idea but double material on the knees is, and historically Carhartts were my go to. Unfortunately, as the years have gone by, either I've gotten a lot skinnier (this is true now that I'm in my mid-50s and no longer an active gym rat) or the makers of Carhartts think that all males are getting heavier, because my last few pairs of 32W-34L feel like I'm putting on a tent, and I sweat my ass off when working in the forge anytime outside of winter. Also, I feel that their quality control has gone to shit. My last few pairs over the last number of years, even though I get the same style, have all been slightly different. One pair only had 5 belt loops and one had the normal 7, one pair feels like a boot cut, and one pair was so oversized that I used them as coveralls when I had honeybees.

My new blacksmith apprentice suggested that I try Dovetail Workwear, as they might fit my skinny-assed body better. Dovetail is a local company here in Portland, OR and they advertise as female-owned company that designs and makes workpants for the female body.

I tried a pair and they are comfortable and fit pretty well. I've had them a week and so far, the only things I'd change if I could, would be (1) I wish they rode about 3/4" higher on my hips, they almost feel like what I would call 'low-riders'; and (2) the front pockets are significantly smaller than in men's pants. I initially thought it was merely because I have big hands, but the lead of our woodworking guild (a female) said this is a problem with women's pants in general, even with her smaller hands.

My question for the group: Any other suggestions for double front, 100% cotton work pants that will fit us slimmer guys?
Thanks
 
I use the Duluth fire hose pants too. The waist actually fits where it's supposed to, and the pockets are generously sized. I work mainly in wood, and the cargo pants have plenty of pocket space so I can spend longer patting myself down for a pencil or chalk than I would walking to my toolbox to get a new one. The larger pockets have flaps so they don't get filled with sawdust, and the smaller ones fit close enough they don't gather. Most of the metal work I do is with a cutoff wheel, grinder, or sander, and I've never had a problem with them taking damage from the occasional spark bath. The ripstop is pretty high too, I've had a few sharp contacts that didn't get more than a cosmetic mark, and that's on the single-layer standard pair, not the Loggers. The sizing is pretty good, even though Duluth has a bias towards large mammals in Shirts--I wear a 36" X 32", and they fit correctly.
 
Dickies. Not the most comfortable and the fly is too short, But they are reasonably priced and wear pretty well
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I wish I had enough $ to try some of these.
 
BitingSarcasm said:
I've never had a problem with them taking damage from the occasional spark bath.
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The danger with synthetic materials and metal working isn't the damage to the pants, but that synthetic materials tend to melt as well as burn.

So, if you happen to catch your clothes on fire when grinding or welding with cotton, you just pat the fire out quickly and continue working. When doing this with synthetic materials, the burning plastic will stick to your skin, pushing the melting/burning material deeper and making any potential burns worse..
 
weo said:
The danger with synthetic materials and metal working isn't the damage to the pants, but that synthetic materials tend to melt as well as burn.

So, if you happen to catch your clothes on fire when grinding or welding with cotton, you just pat the fire out quickly and continue working. When doing this with synthetic materials, the burning plastic will stick to your skin, pushing the melting/burning material deeper and making any potential burns worse..
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Yep, that's why I avoid synthetics as much as possible for work gear. It takes some serious effort to light duck canvas on fire, but it can be done. I was on a demolition crew where 3 guys managed to light themselves on fire with cutting torches in the span of 15 minutes--they should've taped up their pockets.
 
1620 FTW.
From their site:
    • CORDURA® STRETCH NYCO FABRIC
    • Up to 10X more abrasion resistant than 100% cotton duck
    • Proprietary development by 1620, inspired from US military BDU’s
    • 14 oz plain weave
    • PFC free water repellent finish
    • Meets NFPA1975 no melt/no drip thermal property
    • Dries 2X Faster than Cotton Duck
 
Thanks again, all.
FYI - Most blacksmiths, welders, and fabricators that use fire avoid synthetics. If some weld spatter starts to burn natural fibers, you can pat the fire out with your bare hand.
Do that with synthetics and you've just pressed melting plastic into your flesh making any burns worse.
 
weo said:
Thanks again, all.
FYI - Most blacksmiths, welders, and fabricators that use fire avoid synthetics. If some weld spatter starts to burn natural fibers, you can pat the fire out with your bare hand.
Do that with synthetics and you've just pressed melting plastic into your flesh making any burns worse.
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You weld bare handed? :p

Round House jeans. American made for a decent price, 14.5 oz denim, the real deal.
 
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ACfixer said:
You weld bare handed? :p
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Not often (an occasional tack or short weld here and there, and I'll even admit to sometimes welding small things without a helmet.)
As a blacksmith, I've had shirts catch fire a number of times over the years, but now that I think of it, I've never caught clothing on fire when welding.

Thanks for the suggestion.
 
GB940Rookie said:
511 Tac Lite
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weo said:
Not often (an occasional tack or short weld here and there, and I'll even admit to sometimes welding small things without a helmet.)
As a blacksmith, I've had shirts catch fire a number of times over the years, but now that I think of it, I've never caught clothing on fire when welding.

Thanks for the suggestion.
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They’re still my favorite work pant 😁
 
When I’m in my shop doing those things, I wear good old farmers overalls. You can’t beat them for comfort and function.

Dickies and Bernes are my favorites so far.

Edit: to add Round-House are my new favorites.

Liberty, Carhart, Robucks all fit funny.
 
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