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You are here: Home / WORK / The Best Pants for Carpenters – Durable Buyer’s Guide

The Best Pants for Carpenters – Durable Buyer’s Guide

November 19, 2019 By Cos Jonson 5 Comments

If you’ve operated with any sort of machinery or possess a skill that requires some physical work, then you know that clothing choice can often make the job more or less easier to do. Things like comfort and the number of pockets you have to place tools in hand are important, along with how well the fabric in their makeup can keep your skin at a comfortable temperature as you move around.

Carpentry particularly calls for good work pants, although picking them isn’t the easiest thing to do, mainly from so many companies making knockoff carpenter pants that aren’t properly tailored for people that work in the field. However, the five below are proven to be reliable, relaxed, and carry enough sturdy pockets to fit your go-to tools without damaging the material. When you’re done with the reviews, head over to the Buyer’s Guide for the latest tips to help you pick the right pair. Let’s begin!

Comparison Table

ImageProduct 
Best Choice
Caterpillar H2o Defender Pant review
Caterpillar H2o Defender Pant
  • Sizes: 28-42
  • Pockets: 8
  • Fabric: Polyester, Cotton
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Also great
Carhartt Ripstop Cargo Work Pant review
Carhartt Ripstop Cargo Work Pant
  • Sizes: 28-50
  • Pockets: 8
  • Fabric: Cotton
Check Price

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Comfort
Dickies Straight-Leg Duck Carpenter Jean review
Dickies Straight-Leg Duck Carpenter Jean
  • Sizes: 28-34
  • Pockets: 8
  • Fabric: Cotton
Check Price

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Style
Wrangler Riggs Workwear Carpenter Jean review
Wrangler Riggs Workwear Carpenter Jean
  • Sizes: 29-42
  • Pockets: 5
  • Fabric: Cotton
Check Price

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Durable
Dickies Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pant review
Dickies Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pant
  • Sizes: 28-58
  • Pockets: 4
  • Fabric: Cotton, Polyester
Check Price

Check Price

Table of Contents

  • Top 5 Best Carpenter Pants Reviewed
  • Caterpillar Men’s Big and Tall H2o Defender Pant – Best Carpenter Pants for Work Use
  • Carhartt Men’s Ripstop Cargo Work Pant – Best Carpenter Pants for Home
  • Dickies Men’s Relaxed Fit Straight-Leg Duck Carpenter Jean – Best Carpenter Pants for Comfort
  • Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Ripstop Carpenter Jean – Best Carpenter Pants for Storage
  • Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pant – Best Carpenter Pants for Durability
  • Buyer’s Guide
    • How to Choose the Best Carpenter Pants
    • Getting the Correct Size
    • The Number of Pockets and their Quality
    • Material Strength
    • Putting Quality above Looks
  • Summary/Conclusion

Top 5 Best Carpenter Pants Reviewed

 

  1. Caterpillar Men’s Big and Tall H2o Defender Pant – Best Carpenter Pants for Work Use

Caterpillar Men's Big and Tall H2o Defender PantThe Caterpillar Big and Tall H2o Defender Pants almost resemble sportswear. Although you could use them for activities as such, these are 100% made with carpentry in mind. Having numerous pockets in their makeup, the pants are a solid and retain some level of water resistance. They won’t stay dry during a heavy downpour but you can expect the pants to keep small spills from getting all the way through.
The material consists of cotton and polyester, a nice combination that will stretch as you walk and move in them. This is helpful in two ways. First, it provides an anti-ripping effect. When you move your legs in ways that would cause tension, the stretch will never hit a critical point that could potentially break the threads holding the pants together.


The second is less risk from tears if they were to catch on to something, such as a two-by-four that you’re cutting. And if you work in a busy area with a lot of people, your presence will always be known for the reflective strips close to the knee area. They’re small but manage to pick up enough light to catch the attention of anyone nearby. If you’re going to machine wash these, remember to use fabric softener. The fabric will otherwise leave static, resulting in shocks whenever you touch metal. But this isn’t a big issue and shouldn’t keep you away from trying out the H2o Defender. In fact, place these at the top of your potential buying list.button_check-price
Pros
  • The fabric is mixed with polyester and cotton, making the material stretch ease movement
  • Can be washed by machine or hand
  • There are reflective strips in the front/back near the knee and joints for added safety in hazardous sites
  • Has water resistance throughout the pants
Cons
  • Difficult to get static out of the pants
  1. Carhartt Men’s Ripstop Cargo Work Pant – Best Carpenter Pants for Home

Carhartt Men's Ripstop Cargo Work PantThe Carhartt Men’s Ripstop Cargo Work Pants are sold in beige and darker earth tones. Since they’re cargo’s, you’ll be able to fit a lot of things in the side pockets while you work. But this isn’t the primary feature. The fabric is made from a cotton that’s marketed by the company called Ripstop. This will save the material from damages when something accidentally drags across it. If some equipment you’re working on does this, chances are high that nothing would rip. The pockets at the top of reinforced more than the cargo portions.
Place your keys are other pointy belongings, such as pens and pencils, inside with no worries of making holes. They’re shaped in a way that will let you reach into them whether you’re standing or sitting down. Depending on how long you plan on using the pants, you might have to buy them in a size that’s smaller than you would normally wear. The waist may stretch permanently over time. Of course, how often you wear them also plays a factor in this. Yet this aside, there’s nothing negative to say about the fit and comfortability of the Carhartt pants.
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Pros
  • Woven with ripstop cotton that makes it harder for the pants to tear when under stress
  • Has a reinforced pocket for specialized tools
  • The upper pockets can be reached quickly, even while sitting down
Cons
  • The waist stretches after being worn for some time
  1. Dickies Men’s Relaxed Fit Straight-Leg Duck Carpenter Jean – Best Carpenter Pants for Comfort

Dickies Men's Relaxed Fit Straight-Leg Duck Carpenter JeanThe Dickies Relaxed Fit Straight-Leg Jeans are built for carpenters, as the name implies. With them, you’ll never have them rip on you at an unexpected time, even after being worn years after they’ve been purchased. The cotton fabric in them is highly durable, providing protection against the wind and splinters from your work.

It’s also roomy around the crotch but not too big. They come on and off quickly as well; the zipper will never catch the fabric or jam as they age. General stains should flake off quickly, even before you have a chance to wash them. This applies mostly to food, but other thick liquids such as syrup will only linger on the surface, never seeping through the material.

But the thick fabric may also be a letdown, more so if you live in an area that has a moderately warm climate. Heat seems to have a sort of “greenhouse effect” on the skin when the weather’s hot, resulting in a higher chance of sweating and discomfort in such a situation. However, those residing in a cooler climate shouldn’t have any of these problems. In short, you’ll certainly enjoy wearing this carpenter jean, but more so during the colder months of the year. For people that don’t sweat much, the issues described could even be irrelevant.
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Pros
  • Made from strong fabrics, which doesn’t weaken in any area
  • Not too tight or loose around the zipper
  • Stains will never bleed through the material
Cons
  • The thickness of the fabric may be uncomfortable for some, particularly when the weather is hot
  1. Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Ripstop Carpenter Jean – Best Carpenter Pants for Storage

Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men's Ripstop Carpenter JeanThe Wrangler Riggs Workwear Ripstop Jeans are specially made for carpentry work, and quality of the material shows this. The variety is large, so you can either buy them in beige color or the style of traditional blue jeans. There are several factors that could make these pants are one of the best in the list, and here’s why.
If you were to look inside of the pockets, you would find that all of them have wool sewn into the linings. As you may already be aware, this is very uncommon among jeans of all kinds, both low and high quality. It’s a small attribute but one that could help immensely when you’re stuffing small tools and accessories inside them. As a carpenter, you know already how easily thin pockets can break when placed under the stress of jagged pieces of your possessions.
Yet this will never happen here, thanks to the thick wool resting at the bottom of the jeans’ storage space. Pockets are also built in the front and back, with the back being the largest. And best of all, additional pockets are made to store tape measure, a common accessory among carpenters that are frequently relied upon (and needed at a moment’s notice). The sizing is perfect, so your measure will go in easily and come out. Unfortunately, this same cannot be said for the total-sizing on the jeans.
You might have to purchase them in a size that’s larger than what you would normally wear. To ensure that you do get them in the correct size, it’s suggested for you to measure yourself first in the waist before checking out a pair. This is the only improvement that could be made with the product; there’s nothing physically wrong with the jeans themselves.

All points of stress are properly reinforced, and they will never be at risk of tears and break along the seams. Use them if you want a jean that has specific pockets for small items, or just need something that’s comfortable to wear during work. They also look great and style well with literally any top when worn casually.
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Pros
  • Has wool pockets in the front, stylized specifically for carpenters
  • Properly reinforced at all points of stress
  • Made with a pocket for tape measure
Cons
  • For some, the sizing could be off (going up a size could help)
  1. Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pant – Best Carpenter Pants for Durability

Dickies Men's Loose Fit Double Knee Work PantThe final product on the list is the Dickies Loose Fit Double Knee work Pants. You may have seen or worn these before, and are some of the most successful pants in the clothing industry. They have an almost canvas feel to them, something that helps give them quality in a lot of ways, the most obvious being its stain resistance. While liquids may seep through the material, things with the viscosity of a sauce would remain on the top layer of the pants.

The second feature is its anti-wrinkle design. With the average pair of pants, you’re going to have to iron them after they’ve gone through a washer and dryer. However, this isn’t the case here. Just hang them up and the wrinkles will fall off, whether or not you use fabric softer. Having fewer clothes to iron in the mornings could be a huge time saver, something you would grow to appreciate more the longer you’re in possession of this pair.

You’ll also get lots of breathability here. The pants do a great job of letting air inside as you move around, making sweating an unlikely issue when they’re on. It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re outside in the heat either; moisture will always be at a minimum when you’re working in them. The pockets are deep and sturdy, easy to reach whether you sitting up, down, or standing in an awkward position. This could also be a problem, as the back pockets are particularly large.

This could result in small items falling out of them if you’re not careful. But the biggest problem could be sizing. They run quite small; it’s almost a given that you’re going to have to go up an inch or two, possibly in length as well. If that doesn’t bother you, then don’t rule out the Dickies. You’re strong and look great, no matter if you’re wearing them on the job or as a fashion statement during your off hours.
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Pros
  • The material is very strong and difficult to rip, even when jagged objects drag across the fabric
  • Lots of breathability around the crotch and upper legs
  • Wrinkles fall out of the fabric naturally after the pants have been washed and dried; doesn’t need to be regularly ironed
Cons
  • Sizes run small and may need to be bought larger than what one would normally wear

Buyer’s Guide

This guide will make it easier for you to pick one (or more) pairs on the jeans that are shown in the reviews. It’s recommended that you read through it before finalizing your purchase.

How to Choose the Best Carpenter Pants

The most important thing to remember before buying any of the pants shown is to understand when they’ll be worn. Remember, you’re looking for carpentry pants, so put durability and your work location as factors in your buying choice. If you’re working from home, you might want something that’s built well, but could also function as normal jeans that could be worn anywhere you go. For employment, you should get something that will last a while, but functional and contain safety features that make the seams and stress points difficult to break.

This is a common complain among carpenter when wearing ordinary jeans, which is why carpentry pants remain in high demand. And most importantly, always look for fakes. No fakes as in fake brands, but fake carpentry pants. There are a lot of legitimate manufacturers that product pants that claim to be for home improvement and carpentry work but aren’t. You can generally tell by either the lack of pockets or reinforcement along the seams. If they appear to be thick and sturdy, then you’re probably looking at authentic carpentry pants. But if the material is thin and/or seems a bit off along the points of stress, consider finding a different brand.

Getting the Correct Size

This can be a tricky one, depending on your size. For individuals that wear sizes between a 33 and 42, finding jeans that will fit modestly isn’t that difficult to do. But for those who are larger or smaller, you’ve probably encountered the problem of getting the incorrect size. This could result in a swift return and is a big problem for people buying clothing online. You’re not getting the chance to try the clothes out for yourself in a clothing room, so know before you buy.

The best way to check the size of an item is to measure your own first, them compare it to what’s listed by the clothing company. For some, going up or down size is strongly recommended. If you feel that the brand’s sizing is inaccurate, measure the jeans yourself if they give the dimensions. To do this, it might even be necessary to visit the clothing line’s website. It doesn’t take a long as it sounds, so do it if there’s any doubt in your mind about the accuracy of the brand’s measurements.

The Number of Pockets and their Quality

Pockets are a huge deal with carpentry pants. If you end up with pants that aren’t properly fitted with good quality pockets, you may find yourself returning the item. If the manufacturer shows the material that the pockets are made from, be sure to pay attention. Sometimes, it might be an entirely different material than the rest of the jeans themselves.

Wool could be used, or even a polyester/cotton blend. You should look for jeans with pockets that are strong or stretch. The stretching gives more room for a pointed object to not rip at the bottom, such as pencils and pens. Dense fabrics like wood are best for people that put small tool accessories inside. Of course, you won’t want to store nails or screws inside but the pocket should hold up, even when temporarily supporting such items.

Material Strength

Most jeans that are built for carpentry work are made from either cotton, polyester, or a blend of the two. Blends generally are the best in terms of temperature comfort. Cotton is durable buy may get quite warm when it’s worn during the summertime, or in a hot room. If you’re working outside, 100-percent cotton is probably the best way to go. But for user in an indoor setting (or a mixture of both), blended fabric will be well received. If you’re not sure, just go for whatever you think is best in the comfort department. Remember, even the sturdiest pair of jeans may not be good for your carpentry work if they feel too awkward when put on.

Putting Quality above Looks

Each pair of jeans that are shown in the reviews can be worn on the job, or off. But always put quality of materials first before the way they look. This might be stating the obvious, but many shoppers will notice a pair that looks appealing and completely forget about their design, or how well they function when worn. Of course, this isn’t to say that you can pick your favorite color, but make this is secondary issue after first deciding on the jeans that will function well for your carpentry work. What looks well might be low-quality threads that can break quicker than you can cut a two-by-four.

Summary/Conclusion

Now that you’ve read through the reviews and guidelines, it’s hopeful that you have a general idea of what carpenter jeans you think is best for you. Remember to take things such as size differences and number of pockets into account before you settle on any one product. But if you’re still not sure which is best, there are two from the list that you should consider getting first. The Caterpillar H2o Defender and Carhartt Ripstop Cargo Work Pants are outstanding for either work or at-home (garage) environments. You can’t go wrong with either of them. But truthfully, each of the five reviewed have worthwhile qualities that make them highly recommended. If you can, it’s suggested that you try them all out. Either way, you won’t be disappointed with any of them!

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Filed Under: WORK

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarMarmaduke says

    June 17, 2020 at 8:55 am

    Really detailed guide, thanks so much

  2. AvatarNickT says

    June 26, 2020 at 8:52 am

    Can’t beat good old denim imo

  3. AvatarHenry says

    August 27, 2020 at 2:53 pm

    Not a professional or anything, just a home DIY dad who enjoys making stuff for my family and friends! It’s a little hobby I’ve taken up and I really do enjoy it. A good durable carpenter pants would help me feel in the zone during the activity though, haha! Would like the one that’s comfortable enough but with lots of pockets. Thanks for this list!!

  4. AvatarPeter says

    September 19, 2020 at 8:56 am

    Awesome list of pants here

  5. AvatarNickT says

    April 5, 2021 at 1:10 am

    Those Caterpillar H2o Defender Pants look like the way to go! Thanks for the list!

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