How to Choose the Right Pair of Work Pants

If you happen to work on a construction site or have a similar job that gets you exposed to the elements outside, you are probably aware that wearing appropriate workwear is of major importance for keeping you safe, protected, and comfortable at the same time. Although there are some models of jeans, made of thicker denim and reinforced stitching designed to withstand lots of wear and tear on the job site, most jeans are still made as leisure clothing and aren’t specifically meant to be worn during any kind of job.

Utility work pants are specially designed pieces of clothing for on-site workers. They help you preserve your clothes and most of them feature many pockets that let you store all your valuable things such as phones, tools, and other gadgets.

If you are on the lookout for the right pair of utility work pants that can withstand some serious work and heavy daily usage you need to consider some important factors to make the right purchase. Here, in this article, we’ve made a list of all the features that should navigate you towards choosing the best pieces of workwear pants for your needs. So let’s have a look at each one of them in detail.

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Pair of Work Pants

Pick the Right Style

Work pants are specially designed for jobs like carpentry, construction, ranch work, or DIY projects. Since they are made specifically for work, they are designed for durability and comfort above all. Most types of utility work pants have triple-stitched seams for durability and flat sewn inseams for providing you with the utmost comfort. Moreover, they come with spacious pockets that can hold your tools, cellphones, and other accessories you need for the job. They are often known by the name cargo pants since their design allows you to carry all the important things required. They’re loose in the waist and around the thigh area which allows you enough freedom to walk, stand and sit with ease.

The so-called carpenter jeans are made from cotton-based denim as most other jeans, but they are designed with a few extra features that distinguish them from the rest. They are known as “carpenter jeans” because they are frequently worn by construction workers and carpenters. These types of pants are both strong and durable and don’t degrade as quickly as some other types of denim fabrics. Compared to the traditional jeans design, these pants have deeper pockets and carrying loops that allow you to carry small items with you. Moreover, they have loose-fit construction that feels incredibly comfortable to wear, enabling you enough freedom of movement during work.

Choose the Right Fabric

Since you will be using them for an extended period of time and in different weather conditions, selecting the right type of material that strikes the perfect balance between durability and comfort is of major importance. The most frequently used materials for manufacturing utility work pants on the market are cotton, canvas, cotton duck, or some other fire-resistant fabrics.

Cotton

Cotton fabric blend is a staple workwear fabric in the Australian workwear industry. This material is very soft to touch and comfortable to wear. It’s washable at up to 95 degrees. Different types of blend cotton fabric combine other materials such as elastane to provide better levels of comfort and wearability. The three main aspects you need to look for in cotton work pants are fabric weave, fabric blend, and weight. Subsequently, you have heavyweight, midweight, and lightweight cotton fabric.

The heavyweight fabric typically weighs around 310 gsm while midweight cotton weighs between 240 gsm to 280 gsm. Some lightweight cotton-made work pants’ weight is around 190gsm to 200 gsm. For this feature, you need to have in mind the work environment you live and work in. For instance, some types of work pants are made from ripstop fabric which is also a great option but tends to be of lighter weight and well-suited for warmer climates.

Canvas 

If you living in a colder climate, you may need to consider using canvas workwear as they are the most versatile and durable of all. Work pants made out of canvas are usually heavier, durable, but the tight weave of these work pants makes them not very breathable. There are two types of canvas fabric including plain canvas and duck canvas. Plain weave canvas is typically made out of cotton, it’s a lightweight material and absorbs moisture well thanks to the tightly woven fabric. Canvas workwear is best recommended for usage in colder climates with harsh weather conditions as this material offers the best protection from the elements.

Consider Comfort Above All

The next consideration you need to make is choosing pants that provide the most comfort. For this feature, you need to pay attention to choosing the right type of fabric, fit, and style since they are the most defining factors affecting the comfort level of your work trousers. Also, you should look for trousers that have patches that offer better knee protection. For instance, some caterpillar defender work pants designs are specially made for working in wet environments. This fabric features a blend of cotton, polyester, and water-resistant fabric, which allows the wearer to move in them with ease.

Pick the Right Size and Fit for Your Body Type

There are different types of work pant models specially designed for diverse body types. The classic fit pants are neither too slim nor baggy. In contrast to them, the loose fit design is baggy around the thigh area and seat which offers you enough freedom of movement. Choosing pants that are too slim can limit your range of movements and won’t feel as comfortable to wear when you require changing position often. Same with choosing a bigger size or loose design, as they won’t offer you enough protection when it’s cold as fitting snugly to your body is a must-have feature for feeling warm.