A GUIDE TO FINDING THE RIGHT WORK PANTS

Work trousers are an essential part of your workwear, along with work or safety jackets. But what makes them so important?

Work pants are an important part of your work gear, specifically, when the job is messy, or you work outdoors, you need a pair of work pants that are durable, comfortable, and won’t fall apart after a few washes.

Work Pants Materials

The fabric of your work pants plays a vital role in making them comfortable, so you should be choosing your pant material according to your specific working environment.

It is uncommon to find a pair of work pants made 100% from a single material. Those styles of pants are usually reserved for very specific use cases in specific industries. More commonly, work pants feature a blend of fabrics to offer the best qualities of each material. The following are some time-test work pants materials and the purposes they each serve.

Cotton

As the most used natural fiber in clothing today, it’s no wonder that cotton is present in many pairs of work trousers. Work pants made from cotton are highly breathable. At the same time, cotton is a heavyweight material, great for keeping warm in cool weather. Cotton does have some downsides, though: it’s prone to shrinkage and wrinkling, so keep that in mind. Cotton also tends to dry slowly when it gets wet, taking a long time to dry, even out in the sun.

Polyester

Polyester is a strong, durable fabric material, especially when compared to cotton. Known for its quick drying and stain-resistant qualities, it’s an excellent choice of work pants fabric when the job will be particularly messy. On top of that, polyester maintains strong wrinkle resistance, sure to keep your appearance neat and professional.
One of the biggest drawbacks of polyester is that it doesn’t breathe as well as cotton. As a result, polyester is often mixed with cotton to create work pants that are tough, breathable, and quick-drying. Most manufacturers craft work pants with a poly/cotton blend.

Spandex

A material known for its ability to flex greatly while still returning to its normal shape and structure, Spandex is used sparingly in work pants, but to great effect. It’s usually woven together with cotton or polyester (or both) to offer increased flexibility and mobility. It’s also frequently added to the waistband of a pair of pants — an area that usually needs some more stretch to maximize comfort.

Cordura

A material renowned for its toughness, Cordura is highly resistant to abrasion and tearing. It’s a great reinforcing material, typically added to high-stress areas like the knees and seat to prevent damage over time.

Insulating linings

Sometimes your job takes you out in the cold. If that’s the case, it’s best to wear a pair of work pants with some insulating material. Some pairs come lined with flannel to help keep wearers protected from the cold. Other pants, like cotton duck and denim offer great protection from the wind. This is essential for cold-weather workers, as cold and wind are an uncomfortable combination.

MOST IMPORTANT WORK PANTS FEATURES

Today’s work pants are loaded with features to help you work efficiently and effectively on the job. The features you select depend entirely on what your job requires.

TOOL ACCOMMODATION:

Hammer Loops
Hammer loops have been on work pants for decades. These ingenious fabric attachments are essentially a belt loop on your hip to store a hammer (or a variety of other tools and attachments) for quick, easy access.

Utility Pockets
Some work pants come with utility pockets that fold out from the front pockets. These pouches can be used to store tools, hardware, or whatever else you may need to keep close at hand.

Cargo Pockets
These versatile pockets are found around the thigh area. They are great for storing any small essentials you may use throughout the day. Cargo pockets close either with buttons or a hook and loop for secure storage.

Back Pockets
Pockets on the backs of pants aren’t usually as durable as front or cargo pockets; they’re highly susceptible to ripping. As a result, most work pants feature reinforced back pockets to assure they stay usable.

Knee Pad Pockets
A countless number of jobs require workers to work from their knees, and this can take its toll after a while. To help stave off pain and long term injury, some work pants come with pockets for knee pads to provide extra protection.

BELT LOOPS

Wide Belt Loops

Tool belts are big, and work pants need to be able to accommodate them. That’s why manufacturers add some extra size to the belt loops on work pants. Fitting your tool belt shouldn’t be an issue.

Sewn-on-Seam Belt Loops

Tool belts are also heavy. To hold up to the wear and tear of such a weighty attachment, the belt loops on work pants are often sewn directly on the seams for added durability.

REINFORCEMENTS

Rivets

Rivets are small, round pieces of metal attached to the parts of your work pants that carry a lot of stress. The rivets take on the weight of your bending and flexing while you work, preventing the pants from tearing.

Double and Triple-Stitched Seams

Sometimes, bartacks aren’t enough to prevent accidental damage to your work pants. Many styles come with double or even triple stitching on the seams to ensure maximum longevity.

CLOSURES

Buttons

The majority of work pants feature two closures at the waist: a button and a zipper. The buttons on work pants, in particular, are heavier and sturdier than normal to hold up to wear and tear.

Zippers

Some zippers offer a locking feature where, if you position the zipper downward, it won’t be able to move (and will, therefore, stay closed). YKK zippers are usually the industry standard; their quality and durability are unmatched.

8 Benefits Of Choosing The Right Work Pants

Choosing the right work pants for the job can mean more than just safety and comfort for the workplace. Here are just a few of the benefits of putting some effort into getting it right.

·       Increased uniform longevity, fewer replacement costs

·       Better visibility

·       Higher productivity

·       Improved personal and workplace safety

·       Excellent corporate branding opportunities

·       Instantly recognizable

·       Reduced injury costs

·       Reinforced business culture

At Mustang Workwear we offer a wide range of work trousers for professionals in all sectors of activity.  We are a specialist in manufacturing custom-made workwear and PPE.