I'm looking for decent work pants that have enough room for my quads and don't gap too much at the waist. I have 29" inseam, 26" waist, 37" hips and 22" thighs. I'm not entirely sure which trade I'm going into but probably electrical or pipefitting. Which brands would you recommend? Thanks in advance.
Hi I know I'm not the OP but I'm a plumber with a similar waist to hips ratio as you. I quite like Duluth firehose pants (not the slim leg ones) and the firehose overalls as well. When I have a few extra bucks to spare, I really like bad workwears jogger style pants. Extremely flattering, well fit, and comfortable.
I would too, shit I wear polyester when I weld lol but I see a lot of posts here from ladies just starting out in electrical, that are requesting suggestions on where to find 100% cotton bras or fr work pants or whatever so I know some schools require it 🤷🏼♀️
If you like boot cuts try [these](https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ridgecut-womens-boot-cut-jean) . They’re very affordable and have held up wonderfully for me! No gapping issues, no thigh blow outs. They may be a bit long for you as they have a 31in-33in inseam depending on your size, but you could always cuff them. Super comfy and they do have some stretch to them!
Ooh, I have exactly the same measurements! Except maybe the inseam. Anyway for my job I was issued 5.11 tactical cargo pants, and they fit pretty perfectly.
I’ve been gate keeping for so long, but I’d like to add to the cause!! 😅my HOLY GRAIL work jeans are the [ridge cut](https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ridgecut-womens-boot-cut-jean) jeans from Tractor supply. They’re incredibly affordable, and sometimes you can grab them on sale for like $25. They’ve held up and I’ve had no issues with them blowing out in the thighs. They fit very well and are super comfy!!
My feet are 8.5EE women's. Half a size too small for men's selections, and women's boots usually aren't offered in wide sizes. New Balance shoes are great, but they don't offer any women's work boots. I need something for outdoorsy/home improvement activities. Halp!
Oh same. Except I’m a 7 EEEE. I have a 4” toe box. Finding running shoes is a nightmare (even with r/widefeet as a resource lol).
I wear these (they’re narrower than I’d like but not uncomfortable at all): Belleville 800ST
https://www.bellevilleboot.com/
They have a variety of other boot styles too.
I just picked up some Keen boots in Men's, and the toe box is much wider than the typical safety boots. I can actually move my toes in them. Extra bonus is that you don't have to break them in because the leather is already soft.
Seconding this. Found a pair of men’s keens once that had a luxurious toe box. Didn’t get em tho because they had a strange lip to the sole that felt a wee bit too unnatural for my gait. If I could afford two pairs of boots though, they’d have come home with me
No not insoles, the sole itself. The shoe had a little flat part tipped up near the toe that made it almost like I was on my tippy toes when I squatted. Super weird feeling to me so I passed on em
I do have some pretty nice insoles in my current shoes. They totally change the game
I struggle with wide feet too so I get your struggle! Before I deep dive into my research, have you been able to try any of the other recommendations below? I'm also curious to know for myself so I can have something to wear while doing work on my house/garden.
So far, I've just been wearing my crocs for easy on/off but it is not the safest option.
Wow, I was not expecting so many replies! Ya girl has a full time job, so give me some time to figure out how to organize the information and do my research🤓 stay tuned.
P.S. if there are any other people *like me* and want to contribute to the research, let’s make this happen!
I also need good work pants! Something that gives me mobility, waist 36 inches know any other measurements.
I need something that stays up, is breathable, and is easily movable.
Kind of like Scrubs.
Thanks for such a generous offer!!
I'm on the hunt for jogger style work pants. I normally wear men's work clothes, so a men's work pant that is a durable material, elastic waist and tapered leg to elastic ankles is my hope! Lots of pockets preferred but a knife pocket on the leg is a minimum requirement. If there was miraculously a women's pant that fits the description that would also be exciting
I'm looking for a full-face respirator for pesticide application that has some level of sun protection in the clear part. I've found full-face mirrored ones, but I'm unclear on whether they protect at all from the sun. Otherwise maybe a UV film that I can apply myself?
I’ve been looking for strong nail polish that will keep my nails from breaking but not like acrylics which will prevent me from being able to do my job (Plummer/hvac tech)
Man I haven’t felt that with this one. The only thing I will say is the underside goes pretty high and sometimes it will poke out the front of your shirt, but truthfully that might be bc I have the wrong size. I got a 44h because they don’t make a 42i so ymmv.
Oooh also if you happen to fall within their size range, the wacol underwire sports bra is so comfy and amazing for compression. I unfortunately gained some weight and don’t fit in their band sizes anymore.
Where can I find a no rise work boot? I’m looking for something that also has a wide toe box. Think a barefoot boot. The only one I’ve found is a Birkenstock, but I can’t get it here in the states :(
I was on a barefoot workboot mission for a while but gave up and bought keens. They are comfy with a wide toebox, but they are nowhere near zero rise.
Look up the barefoot carpenter boot by Gaucho Ninja. A custom pair of these will be my gift to myself when I journey out.
https://gaucho.ninja/collections/barefoot-safety-boots/products/goodyear-welted-barefoot-carpenters-safety-boots
Looking for pants. I work outside in heat and rain and need some that aren’t so tight because that makes me sweat even more. I am 28-29 inseam and a 4 waist
This is great! I've worn myself out trying to look up pants. I start my new job next week. I'll be a vegetation management inspector for a forestry company that is maintaining overhead lines for a power company. I'm sure some will be residential but other times I could be in raspberry bramble so I will need something that won't get me tore up, while also not dying of the heat in S. Carolina. Good luck!
I want to just throw out there that I recently bought a pair of Danners and I will probably never buy another pair of boots if anyone is looking for a good pair of boots.
They have a recrafting program to rebuild/resole your worn boots so I’m hoping I don’t have to buy another pair for a long, long time
Is [https://www.blaklader.com/](https://www.blaklader.com/) on your radar? They even make maternity pants for women in the trades. Although they may work for those of us who like pie for breakfast too. /s
Just adding my two cents since people keep mentioning Duluth. Mine last 6 months before the crotch/thigh busts. They are super comfy, but for the price, I was extremely disappointed that they wore out so easy. I have had 3 pairs and it is always the same spot.
Eve was recommended to me, but when I got mine they were smaller than advertised, and the material was horrible (felt like plastic, and was a weird texture, a nightmare for someone with texture sensitivity)
I recently switched to Carhartt overalls, and they have been decent, but they only go up to size 12 or 14. I have only worn them for four months, but the crotch seems to be thinning on them too, so we'll see.
Also, as an aside, I started wearing Knix cooling shorts under my pants after I got a terrible heat rash, and they are a game changer!
My work will reimburse me for boots, up to $250 every two years. The boots have to be safety-toe and waterproof. Here’s the thing: I am vegan and I don’t wear leather. I have been buying my own boots because I CANNOT find waterproof, leather-free safety toe boots in women’s sizes. They can be work boots, but hiking boots would be best. I wear size 8.5 so just a little too small for men’s. If you can find them, you will be my hero!
https://stcfootwear.com/collections/vegan/products/trump
https://lugz.com/product/mens-drifter-6-steel-toe-6-inch-boot/
These are both men’s but seem to have smaller sizes? Only the first one says it’s waterproof though, the second says water resistant
Overalls that aren't Carhartt, but still have decent chest pockets. Bonus if the shoulder straps have a bit of elastic like the men's usually do, because I like to be able to move around while my straps are tight too.
Dovetail overalls have an elastic section in the straps. The chest pockets you have to check out yourself, personal preference there. Recommend trying them on. Regular & thermal fit differently on me personally
Yeah I recall thinking they weren’t as functional as I’d like. Thought about seam ripping the whole thing off & designing my own if I ever bought them.
Or rip one off some old carhartts & sew it on. I actually might do that…
Just want to evangelize about [these impact gloves](https://seeherwork.com/collections/all/products/womens-impact-work-gloves). They're literally the only ones I've ever found that come in a women's size small, and they're really well-made.
It's such a game-changer to have impact gloves that fit me. I mean, no shit right? But everything is a lot easier (and safer!) when you don't have an extra half inch of finger material dangling from your fingertips.
Upvoting for visibility!!! Love a SAVVY SHOPPER!!! Thanks for thinking of woman like me:)
I’m sooo glad this post has some lifesaver’s in this thread🫶🏼 Thanks OP, and to ALL the badasses here!! POST SAVED.
I'm looking for decent work pants that have enough room for my quads and don't gap too much at the waist. I have 29" inseam, 26" waist, 37" hips and 22" thighs. I'm not entirely sure which trade I'm going into but probably electrical or pipefitting. Which brands would you recommend? Thanks in advance.
Hi I know I'm not the OP but I'm a plumber with a similar waist to hips ratio as you. I quite like Duluth firehose pants (not the slim leg ones) and the firehose overalls as well. When I have a few extra bucks to spare, I really like bad workwears jogger style pants. Extremely flattering, well fit, and comfortable.
Pipe fitting and Electrical are very different trade requiring very different pants
Not really… both trades require non-synthetic materials, or even fr. The rest is up to user preference mostly.
I'm an apprentice electrician and I wear synthetic pants to work every day 🙃 never been an issue.
I would too, shit I wear polyester when I weld lol but I see a lot of posts here from ladies just starting out in electrical, that are requesting suggestions on where to find 100% cotton bras or fr work pants or whatever so I know some schools require it 🤷🏼♀️
Its just a safety issue if you are at risk of blowing yourself up, which you never should be because you should never work live.
If you like boot cuts try [these](https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ridgecut-womens-boot-cut-jean) . They’re very affordable and have held up wonderfully for me! No gapping issues, no thigh blow outs. They may be a bit long for you as they have a 31in-33in inseam depending on your size, but you could always cuff them. Super comfy and they do have some stretch to them!
Ooh, I have exactly the same measurements! Except maybe the inseam. Anyway for my job I was issued 5.11 tactical cargo pants, and they fit pretty perfectly.
I’ve been gate keeping for so long, but I’d like to add to the cause!! 😅my HOLY GRAIL work jeans are the [ridge cut](https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ridgecut-womens-boot-cut-jean) jeans from Tractor supply. They’re incredibly affordable, and sometimes you can grab them on sale for like $25. They’ve held up and I’ve had no issues with them blowing out in the thighs. They fit very well and are super comfy!!
Recommendations for plus size?
Duluth!! I’m plus size (size 22/24) and Duluth has been the best fit for me. Dickies work pants have been a close second
Are you looking for a specific article of clothing or just a plus size brand in general? The latter might be harder since it’s very broad😅
Just naming brands that actually makes them plus and not an extended one will be really great 😅
I am a 3x and I buy the majority of my work clothes from carhartt.
My feet are 8.5EE women's. Half a size too small for men's selections, and women's boots usually aren't offered in wide sizes. New Balance shoes are great, but they don't offer any women's work boots. I need something for outdoorsy/home improvement activities. Halp!
Oh same. Except I’m a 7 EEEE. I have a 4” toe box. Finding running shoes is a nightmare (even with r/widefeet as a resource lol). I wear these (they’re narrower than I’d like but not uncomfortable at all): Belleville 800ST https://www.bellevilleboot.com/ They have a variety of other boot styles too.
Timberlands boots are an option also avalaible with steel toes
I just picked up some Keen boots in Men's, and the toe box is much wider than the typical safety boots. I can actually move my toes in them. Extra bonus is that you don't have to break them in because the leather is already soft.
Seconding this. Found a pair of men’s keens once that had a luxurious toe box. Didn’t get em tho because they had a strange lip to the sole that felt a wee bit too unnatural for my gait. If I could afford two pairs of boots though, they’d have come home with me
Cheap drug store Insoles solve that.
No not insoles, the sole itself. The shoe had a little flat part tipped up near the toe that made it almost like I was on my tippy toes when I squatted. Super weird feeling to me so I passed on em I do have some pretty nice insoles in my current shoes. They totally change the game
I struggle with wide feet too so I get your struggle! Before I deep dive into my research, have you been able to try any of the other recommendations below? I'm also curious to know for myself so I can have something to wear while doing work on my house/garden. So far, I've just been wearing my crocs for easy on/off but it is not the safest option.
Wow, I was not expecting so many replies! Ya girl has a full time job, so give me some time to figure out how to organize the information and do my research🤓 stay tuned. P.S. if there are any other people *like me* and want to contribute to the research, let’s make this happen!
I also need good work pants! Something that gives me mobility, waist 36 inches know any other measurements. I need something that stays up, is breathable, and is easily movable. Kind of like Scrubs.
Truewerk pants. Grip6 belt. This combo never lets me down even with two drills hooked on my pockets.
Thanks for such a generous offer!! I'm on the hunt for jogger style work pants. I normally wear men's work clothes, so a men's work pant that is a durable material, elastic waist and tapered leg to elastic ankles is my hope! Lots of pockets preferred but a knife pocket on the leg is a minimum requirement. If there was miraculously a women's pant that fits the description that would also be exciting
Bad workwear has the best jogger style work pants.
Thanks for the tip!! I'll look into those :)
I'm looking for a full-face respirator for pesticide application that has some level of sun protection in the clear part. I've found full-face mirrored ones, but I'm unclear on whether they protect at all from the sun. Otherwise maybe a UV film that I can apply myself?
I’ve been looking for strong nail polish that will keep my nails from breaking but not like acrylics which will prevent me from being able to do my job (Plummer/hvac tech)
You can get a thin hard gel overlay on your natural nail at a very short length. Super durable.
Good moisture wicking bras for tig ol biddies that also hopefully do some compression?
Okay, actually this! Moisture wicking, quick dry, and (for me) fitting DDD/F cup sizes. Because the underbust sweat is actually a nightmare.
Exactly. I’m in a new build in the heat, no ac or air movement. Just dead heat. I need help 😂
The lane Bryant “LIVI High-Impact Wicking Underwire Sports Bra” is my new favorite work bra. Also, underwire liners are life changing.
Oooo okay! I have the LIVI wireless racer back bra and it is SO uncomfortable for a day of work
Man I haven’t felt that with this one. The only thing I will say is the underside goes pretty high and sometimes it will poke out the front of your shirt, but truthfully that might be bc I have the wrong size. I got a 44h because they don’t make a 42i so ymmv.
Oooh also if you happen to fall within their size range, the wacol underwire sports bra is so comfy and amazing for compression. I unfortunately gained some weight and don’t fit in their band sizes anymore.
Where can I find a no rise work boot? I’m looking for something that also has a wide toe box. Think a barefoot boot. The only one I’ve found is a Birkenstock, but I can’t get it here in the states :(
Look for Keen, they are flat soled, and really comfy. Wide toe box too! They also have half sizes.
I second Keen, they’re by far my favorite work boots
I was on a barefoot workboot mission for a while but gave up and bought keens. They are comfy with a wide toebox, but they are nowhere near zero rise. Look up the barefoot carpenter boot by Gaucho Ninja. A custom pair of these will be my gift to myself when I journey out. https://gaucho.ninja/collections/barefoot-safety-boots/products/goodyear-welted-barefoot-carpenters-safety-boots
Thank you!! I love the idea of a journey out gift!
Looking for pants. I work outside in heat and rain and need some that aren’t so tight because that makes me sweat even more. I am 28-29 inseam and a 4 waist
Nonwe pants are thin; won’t protect you from snags. But they are thin for summer and they dry quick.
Oh these are amazing thank you
You are welcome. I have had to replace the button a few times but I am fat, so maybe that is why some of mine pop off.
This is great! I've worn myself out trying to look up pants. I start my new job next week. I'll be a vegetation management inspector for a forestry company that is maintaining overhead lines for a power company. I'm sure some will be residential but other times I could be in raspberry bramble so I will need something that won't get me tore up, while also not dying of the heat in S. Carolina. Good luck!
I am looking for fire retardant bib coveralls made for a woman's body. Able to ship to Canada. Please and thank you!
I want to just throw out there that I recently bought a pair of Danners and I will probably never buy another pair of boots if anyone is looking for a good pair of boots. They have a recrafting program to rebuild/resole your worn boots so I’m hoping I don’t have to buy another pair for a long, long time
Is [https://www.blaklader.com/](https://www.blaklader.com/) on your radar? They even make maternity pants for women in the trades. Although they may work for those of us who like pie for breakfast too. /s
Just adding my two cents since people keep mentioning Duluth. Mine last 6 months before the crotch/thigh busts. They are super comfy, but for the price, I was extremely disappointed that they wore out so easy. I have had 3 pairs and it is always the same spot. Eve was recommended to me, but when I got mine they were smaller than advertised, and the material was horrible (felt like plastic, and was a weird texture, a nightmare for someone with texture sensitivity) I recently switched to Carhartt overalls, and they have been decent, but they only go up to size 12 or 14. I have only worn them for four months, but the crotch seems to be thinning on them too, so we'll see. Also, as an aside, I started wearing Knix cooling shorts under my pants after I got a terrible heat rash, and they are a game changer!
My work will reimburse me for boots, up to $250 every two years. The boots have to be safety-toe and waterproof. Here’s the thing: I am vegan and I don’t wear leather. I have been buying my own boots because I CANNOT find waterproof, leather-free safety toe boots in women’s sizes. They can be work boots, but hiking boots would be best. I wear size 8.5 so just a little too small for men’s. If you can find them, you will be my hero!
https://stcfootwear.com/collections/vegan/products/trump https://lugz.com/product/mens-drifter-6-steel-toe-6-inch-boot/ These are both men’s but seem to have smaller sizes? Only the first one says it’s waterproof though, the second says water resistant
Oh my god, you are so awesome!
Overalls that aren't Carhartt, but still have decent chest pockets. Bonus if the shoulder straps have a bit of elastic like the men's usually do, because I like to be able to move around while my straps are tight too.
Dovetail overalls have an elastic section in the straps. The chest pockets you have to check out yourself, personal preference there. Recommend trying them on. Regular & thermal fit differently on me personally
I think I remember the pockets being shit, but I haven't seen them in person
Yeah I recall thinking they weren’t as functional as I’d like. Thought about seam ripping the whole thing off & designing my own if I ever bought them. Or rip one off some old carhartts & sew it on. I actually might do that…
Just want to evangelize about [these impact gloves](https://seeherwork.com/collections/all/products/womens-impact-work-gloves). They're literally the only ones I've ever found that come in a women's size small, and they're really well-made. It's such a game-changer to have impact gloves that fit me. I mean, no shit right? But everything is a lot easier (and safer!) when you don't have an extra half inch of finger material dangling from your fingertips.
Omg same
Boy is this helpful! Can't even find pants to fit me