I’ve been wearing my old retired jeans for barnwork, but I just wear through each pair in a few months (not surprising, since they’re mostly skinny jeans with some stretch, not work-made jeans). I’m also on the short side and have some curves, so I just drown in men’s work pants. So, what are your favorite women’s work pants for durability and fit?
Check out Duluth Trading Company (and then wait for a sale…) it’s not cheap but their stuff fits well and lasts.
Oh oh oh. I know the answer! Duluth. Srsly.
I wear these all summer and beat the crap out of them. They’re awesome. (I’m wearing them right now! I worked the chainsaw all day, stacked a bunch of wood, and then cleaned stalls, they were great <3) If you don’t like the slim leg, they also come in a relaxed fit.
In the winter, it’s these and I still wear them every day and still beat the crap out of them. They’re also awesome!
I’m super cheap with my clothes and did jeans for a long time, but these are just SO much better. Go with the dark brown fabric–it’s great at hiding dirt (or crap or blood or whatever else you’re getting in to!) These are SOOOOO worth it.
And they’re all on sale right now, yaaaaaay!
I agree with this 100%. You can’t beat the Firehose products for longevity, but yes…not inexpensive. Extremely comfortable, too.
Short and curvy?
Wrangler jeans are known for fitting that.
These seem to last many washings and hard work:
These are what most have used for decades around here as work jeans, men and women.
I love their ‘gardening’ pants – articulated knees let you kneel without binding. Great for all the bending down and crouching that happens when working on horse’s legs/feet and during lots of other farm activities.
Well, first post was unapproved because of a link to Wranglers?
https://www.wrangler.com/shop/men-je…0947STR#hero=0
The regular fit cowboy cut stretch jeans is what everyone around here has used for decades now for work and some when new for going to town pants.
They take many washings and hard work and last long, while being comfortable.
Yes, Duluth! I have the Dry On The Fly for Summer, and Black Hills for most of later Fall to Spring. They’re both super lightweight, physically, but not flimsy at all, and the DotF are the best I’ve ever worn during hot humid weather.
I have the Heirloom Gardening pants too, but I don’t wear them much (only when the DotF are in the wash) because the upper seam for the knee pads rubs right across my knees and is incredibly annoying But, that’s a conformation deal, not a quality deal.
I’ve always worn wrangler relaxed fit. I’m not a label whore at all, they were just the first pants that didn’t bunch up my boys during the day.
I had a scary scenario a while back where I couldn’t find them anymore. Fortunately, our work clothing catalog has them which means I get them for free.
I’m a fan of duluth but it’s all so expensive. The wranglers are about $20 a pop and mine have lasted pretty well. Then when they get too wrecked for work, I save them for car work, painting, etc
I agree they aren’t cheap. Mine have come as b-day and Xmas gifts. I absolutely hate working outside in any sort of heat, let alone humidity, in jeans For me, they’re hot, and they stick
I’m a jeans guy. I buy unwashed “stiff” Levis 505 or Wrangler. But I like my jeans to stay nice after all the time it takes to break them in. So I pick my spots with the type of work I am doing when wearing. Jeans are too hot and sticky in our hot/humid summer months to work in and or ride.
I’m a big fan of Dickies brown cotton canvas work pants. Light comfortable to wear when it is hot and humid but made heavy enough to stand the test of time. Being brown hides stains better. Like jeans they get more comfy over time. At $20-25 good quality. Look good too.
I never thought I’d say this, but: sweatpants
Loose enough to be comfortable, cheap as heck ($5 or $6 at Walmart) wear like iron & who cares if they don’t.
I’ve found lightweight ones that are fine for all but the hottest Summer & heavier weight for cold weather.
I buy Men’s, as for whatever arbitrary reason the Women’s tend to have no pockets and no elastic at the cuff.
Both IMO, essential for barnwork.
Occasonally I can luck out & find youth sizes, which are cheaper yet.
Of course, if you mean pants that can go from barn to out in public, then No to sweatpants.
My 2nd Faves are yoga pants but not the skintight Lulu Lemon type, looser-fitting capri-length.
Great for hot & humid as they are long enough to keep fly bites & haypokes at a minimum.
For those of you who wear the Duluth pants - do they run true to size?
I’m not even sure what “true to size” is anymore LOL
I wear a size 4. I would say that these 4s are a little large, but not at all large enough to go down a size. So if you normally squeeze a bit into a 4, but 6 is too big, this would be perfect.
The Gardening pants are a little larger than the Dry on the Fly, to where I need a belt, but still not so large I could go down a size.
I think so. I don’t find the firehose pants to run a little large. I wear a belt with everything, but that’s because I really have no hips :-/
Thanks y’all. I’m going to give these a try.
Another Q about the Duluth. The size chart doesn’t seem to give length. Any info on the inseam length? I am the jolly green giant and need at least a 32" inseam so’s not to be in flood prep territory.
ETA: nevermind, I am a dummy, I see the error of my ways :lol:
Soooo…you choose the length. You found that, yes? :yes: :yes:
I’ll also say this about the skinny firehose pants: I wear wide calf boots and have always had muscular calves even when stick thin. The skinny pants are definitely skinny on my calves. Not soul sucking clingy but there’s not extra fabric sloshing around. I like it that way, but if you have calves and DON’T like that, go with the relaxed fit. (I have much less fabric around the calves than the model in the picture. She must be a slim calf tall boot person.)
I have relaxed, or maybe boot-cut, and LOVE it. Room and room and room, without a sloppy fit.
The mens’s sizes absolutely do. The woman’s sizes have multiple options depending on how a particular woman is shaped. They are very good about returns if you don’t like something.
I’m very much a fan and have been for years. Their stuff lasts for many years, too, which makes the initial cost inconsequential in my own experience. Honestly, pretty much every layer I wear on most days comes from Duluth Trading, with the exception of my socks.
They currently have 20% off plus free shipping on orders of $75 or more as I am typing this.