My grandpa passed 4 years ago. He was a WW2 Veteran and the hardest working man I've ever met. He had the patience of a monk. I can't remember a time of him ever getting upset. He wore Levi 501's till the day he passed.
Because when he was younger, and before you were born, he yelled at everyone. Trust me, nobody because is patient at an old age without tiring themselves out with productive rage when they were younger
@@unionironjoshI can’t think of any generation that liked being yelled at. The older ones tolerated it more. Didn’t like it but still took their licks without crying like a mulling babe.
I'm with you, brother. When Carharrt started making their work pants cheaper, I was heartbroken. I didn't mind paying more for the old ones; they were worth it. why can't some companies leave well-enough alone?
Profit incentives eventually mean producing goods as cheaply as possible and counting on your competitors to do just the same. A damn shame, but comporations have no motive to take pride in their products, only motive to make the bottom line go up
Ownership changes and the new blood wants to make money off of the brand and reputation. Largely because the new blood doesn't know anything about the product made by their new company, at least not to the degree of the founders, but riding on someone else's coattails is easy. Like so many great American companies, Carhart was a name with a reputation. Now, they are just a name with an inflated price tag. Hamilton Carhart is long gone. Just like Horace Smith, Dan Wesson, and Sam Colt.
Round House Jeans at this point on my end. Made in the USA and they offer 2nds if $$ is tight. No middle man and they aren’t fashion statements. Plus you will have your order history so you never forget what size you got.
I have a question would you choose jeans made in the USA over better pair of jeans? is where it’s made more important than the quality? Or is that secondary. Because I see people always going for American made when sometimes I find stuff made in other countries better for example I find boots made in Mexico better. Just wondering what’s the deal with that
When I started high school in 1961 Levi's were $4.25 and a madras shirt was $2.75 . Penny's pocket tee shirts $.98 ! The first day of the new school year was permeated by the strong aroma of new denim and the crisp feeling of a new short sleeve sport shirt . Truly the good days; a much simpler time . Love your outlook and channel .
I don't know if anyone will find this interesting - but adjusted for inflation: the Levi's were $43.45, the madras shirt was $28.12, the Penny's pocket tee was $10.02, and the bottled Coke was 72 cents. Which means the numbers are kinda close-ish. Quality is different though. And that $1.15 federal minimum wage would now be $11.76, instead it is $7.25, which is 42% lower. So that's a bummer.
Excellent!!! I remember the old Levi's that were so stiff that it took a full summers worth of wearing to be able to fully articulate the legs at the knees. 👍👍!!!
Well you still can buy those , they are a different process denim that they use now for mass production. Levi’s heritage collection have them but you will need to second mortgage your home to buy a pair. Heritage denim is a rabbit hole you may not come out of the same.
They were my go to, the first thing that failed was the crotch from walking and crouching. That took several years though. The double front did way better for wear leaning against machines than other pants did.
They'd be fantastic if they only used a proper zipper. The zipper on the pair I bought doesn't lock when flipped up, so the zipper is always opening my itself as I move around.
The new cargo wrangler pants ripped quickly after the pocket got caught on a jagged piece of metal at work. I was pretty upset about it seeing as they were from Wrangler and 100% cotton too.
Another vote for Dickies. First of all, I still love carpenter jeans for work even though they have fallen out of fashion, it seems. For the money ($30), I can't believe the value of Dickies. They are a heavy weight denim you don't find much anymore. They break in great and I now wear their non carpenter jeans for everyday. I have tried Duluth, Levis, and several others. AND...I wear a 33 waist and that is hard to find but Dickies does those odd sizes as well.
Dickies were good. Lately, they've changed the fit, like their carpenter denims, and I wear 36 waist, and the crotch isn't as comfortable as my Key jeans. But the Dickies are value and heavier weight, and I do prefer their work shorts with pocket for phone.
I got a pair of the Dickies double-knees (because of the price) and hated them. The side pockets are too wide and shallow, things fall out. Also, the main front pockets are "weird". I've got a pair of 33x32 that are fairly new. If you give me a place I can PM you, I'll send them to you.
Not a Dan of Dickies the crotch is so tight when I squat they get tight around the upper thigh area, doesn't matter the size. Great pants otherwise but I need to find something else
I found my boyfriend a pair of prison blues (black double knees with Bach buttons) by chance in a thrift store and they looked so nice on him, I was soooo jealous of the quality and the style and the sturdy denim. Bought myself a pair this summer and haven’t worn a damn thing since. I’ll wear them till they’re threads
My folks owned Sasby Island,outside of Petersburg, Alaska. As a third grader I was always uncomfortable in jeans. As I grew I was introduced to Levi’s. I too discovered they were and are not the jeans they once were. I’ve tried Carhart pants. I agree they’re as, well, cheap as Levi’s. I’m 71 now and I still use the chainsaw, work pretty hard for my age. I needed a pair of pants that doesn’t like to fade, to rip, to wear out, that fit my 33/32 size. It’s the Duluth Trading Company Firehose pants I now wear. They make a damned good pair of pants.
I've been wearing DTC for years. Different styles/materials but the last pair of firehose canvas I bought were way better than the new Carhart's I'd been wearing.
Construction Laborer here. My favorite pants are the Wrangler Riggs in the duck material. It’s a bit stiff and warm in the summer, but very durable with deep pockets and a good value.
Years ago when I was an apprentice I bought a pair of the Riggs double front logger jeans... Best work pants I ever owned. A bit warm in the summer but very durable and comfortable over a 10 or 12 hour day. I would probably still be wearing them but I married a woman who can cook and the pants shrank on me.😊
I’m definitely finding myself buying about 10 pair of pants when I find something i like that fits. I don’t like shopping, and I just know they’re gonna change in 5 or so years when I need more. Hard to plan waist size, but it’s worth it to stock up sometimes.
"Hard to plan waist size" - Haha, but maybe if you have a large stock of pants in a particular waist size, it will motivate you not to overeat and let yourself go like so many people do.
I loved my Duluth firehose work pants! Wore like iron. Unfortunately, they were a bad match for Louisiana summers. Temps over 90, humidity over 80, they weighed like iron. Took a step down to their regular work pants , wore them till I stopped physical labor.
I work in a scrapyard dealing with all types of metal & just everything you can think of. I’ve always wore Levi’s but your right. They don’t make them like they use too. This is what I needed to watch today. Thank you for making this video.
I used to only wear Levis. After the last 2 pair I bought wore holes in them in under 5 wearings, I'll never buy another pair. Clearly they are for people to wear to the club or something, not sure they would even hold up to that.
Gents you need a company called sugar cane and you need to take a ganda at the 1947 dugarees/ jeans these guys produce, they apparently bought the old looms off levis and are making the jeans the way levis used to using the selvedge method and also using the 1947 patten to make the jeans , purfect if you like old levis or you could just go straight for the iron heart 18oz work pants and they come in denim and duck kanvas camt see you f**king them up for a good couple of years
I’ve switched from Carhartt to Baileys Wild Ass double front denim logger pants and they’re very good quality, come with suspender buttons, super durable denim and require a good break in, but once they’re broken in they’re super comfortable. If you need a nice heavy duty pant I’d recommend them.
Scott your overlooking imo the best work pant out there. Baileys Wildass double front logger pants are worth a try. They are built like work pants used to be.
Scott, I'm also here as a contractor to put in a plug for Duluth Trading. Their 'firehose flex' foreman variant has been my go-to for a number of years now, after wearing through pair after pair of Carharts. The fabric is unbelievably tough, the fit is comfortable and slightly giving, and you can get a variant with a hammer loop. Give 'em a try, you won't be disappointed.
My experience with the Duluth pant was that the denim was great but the firehose pockets were awful and the zippers don't last. I tried 5 pairs and the zipper failed on two and the pockets got holes in the rest.
@@scotthenson5874 And my purchases are opposite. Had I the same experience as you I’d be one ticked off fellow too. I’ve got three pair and so far, so good.👍👍
Wrangler ATG pants have held up really well for me over the past 5 years doing carpentry. Reinforced knee/double front, somewhat stretchy canvas type material but not fragile so they're comfortable and I can get 2-3 years out of a pair. They look good as well if you prefer a non blue jean look.
Wrangler ATG and the Carhartt double front stretch are my go to. I'm usually kneeling on concrete or dirt/gravel doing industrial electrical so these things have been a game changer having double the lifespan. Plus they're not super baggy like most work pants seem to be.
@@caden01691 Yeah I agree 100%, I know there's the sentiment of a lot of folks in the trades wanting function over form but if you can have both why not go that route.
Ben Davis and Dickies Loose Fit (they have extra pocket and double front)are nice as of late. Used to be jeans only guy till i worked a job that required black pants. Military surplus BDU pants or Propper modern tactical pants are another great option with double front and a range of materials from cotton twill to ripstop.
Duluth Trading Ballroom (Heavy Duty) Jean is good. They now make lots of thin stretchy fashion jeans too, so you have to search for the Heavy denim ones in the descriptions carefully.
Scott: I wear Wranger Riggs Workwear Utility Jean In Antique Indigo. These are heavy duty jeans with the double knee front, hammer loop, and suspender buttons. The buttons are in the inside while the jeans you wear have the button on the outside. For the smaller guys, they can buy these jeans in some of the local "farm" stores. Take a look - might be what your are looking for. As always, thanks for the videos.
I use the same jeans, I’m on my second pair in 3 years I’m very unfortunate to have a small waist and long legs so trying to find a 30w 34l that are available in the uk is very hard
Sadly lots of the items in the Carhartt catalog I think are fashion pieces, not genuine workwear. I was gifted a pair of Carhartt composite toe boots last year, and they're basically sneakers. Thin leather upper that had chunks missing the first week I worked them in the cold and rubbed up against the snow plow, glued sole construction (no stitching) that started to separate in the heat in the field in the summer.
I don’t have the need for the double front loggers, but besides that, I’ve gone through the same transition for the same reasons from Levis to Carhartt, and now I have been buying Wrangler Riggs Workwear, specifically the Carpenter Jean. I am very satisfied thus far. Very good quality and heavy duty denim, sewing, etc. Has the hammer loop, lower leg pockets, deep back pockets and leather protectors on the pocket leading edges. This later feature I found to be really great because I often clip my tape measure on my front pocket, and this both protects it from wear and adds some rigidity to make clipping the tape measure on much easier. Also works well for a clip-on utility knife.
I used to wear carhart. I noticed they started getting tighter and consequently weren’t lasting as long because I was blowing out the crotch after climbing up and down stuff all the time. I switched to key because some people I worked with swear by them. They’ve been good to me since I switched to them. I also get crap for wearing suspenders now because I work as a steamfitter in a chip plant but my pants don’t sag when I fill the pockets with wrenches I need because I’m working away from my toolbox. Everyone else makes multiple trips back to their toolbox while I just keep working out of my pockets
I got sold on Key back in the 90's when we sold them at the family hardware store up to Oakridge. Still have one of the jackets from back then that even survived a winter on a stump where I forgot it.
I've been wearing rural king carpenter jeans and really like them. They are cheap (around $10) but hold up better than other other brands I've tried. My fiance did buy me a pair of green canvas Carhartts though and i really like those, although it feels strange not wearing blue denim. It also makes it obvious how infrequently I change my pants
Thank you for all the information old timer! Great video and great stories. I'd like to bring to your attention that Carhartt split into two brands somewhere in the mid 90's. One is called Carhartt WIP (Work In Progress) and the other is called Carhartt Workwear. WIP sells mostly streetwear, fashion items that are loosely based on the old(er) workwear items that we all grew to love. I can safely say right now though, that the Carhartt workwear items are pretty good quality (again). Just make sure you don't buy WIP. The logger jeans with double knee fabric are also back. Thank you again!
I bought 4 pairs of Carharts late 2015. 2 pair of logger double front and two pair of cotton duck double fronts. I added suspender buttons to the duck pants. I retired from the carpenter union in 2016. All four pair are still in service, though getting rather threadbare. They are, or were very good pants. Looks like I will be switching to Key, when I need to replace my Carharts.
Like you, I have worn and been a fan of the double front logger pants. I still have a few of the carhart's. The prison blue's brand is cut too short in the crotch area for me.( I'm 6'4"). Key pants are the reasonable alternative. I would ask you to look at Origin brand jeans. The company, people and mission to restart American manufacturing is an honorable and vital thing.
I write waist and inseam sizes on the pocket bags with a Sharpie marker. Turn the pants inside out, lift up a pocket bag, and write on the underside, which faces the front of the pant when worn. Black on white stays readable, and that surface doesn't rub against your leg or your hand. Survives many wears and many washings.
Interesting. I wonder when they started that again. I wore RIggs, back when they had the buttons on the inside of the waistband. They quit making those (Wrangler told me that when I called) and so for 5 years, I've worn Prison Blues and for what I do, the Prison Blues last longer and are made in the USA. They fit a bit more snug than the Riggs, but I've grown to like that.
Thanks for the video, growing up in a cowboy family I always (and still do) wear Wranglers. As a farrier, my apron is constantly wearing out the front of my wranglers where my knife sits and rubs on the pocket...so I might have to check out the keys.
I'm thankful wrangler started making the dark blue stiff jeans out of 100% cotton again. Those last the longest for ranch work, without the saggy butt from added spandex
Duluth Trading, and it's not even close. I love the Double Flex jeans. If I was capable of doing the splits, I could do them in these pants, no problem.
As a Oregon crane operator and rigger, Prison Blues double front loggers serve me well. Wear like iron, and can't beat the price. Oregon made, Oregon worn.
Scott, first pair of Carhart was 1977. Bib overalls canvas brown, framing in Norfolk, Nebraska. I could only afford one pair so they got worn 5 days a week and washed on Saturday. It was so hot and I soaked thru the pants everyday. I hung them in the basement and in the morning they were dry but stiff as a board (they would stand alone). They lasted for years. Fast forward 50 years, baught a pair of "Bass Creek" @ Walmart and they're not bad but doubt they'll last like the old Carharts.
Nice video and some valuable information for tradesmen and clothing manufacturers. I am a retired industrial electrician and most of my working career I wore coveralls that were provided by the company and laundered by them or I would by used work uniform pants. The used uniform pants were cheap and if I got them soiled badly with oil or grease I could just chunk them. Now days I really like the the Duluth flex fire hose pants. They are pretty tough and very comfortable.
I switched to Key dungarees a couple of months ago after watching one of your previous videos. Best fitting work pants I've ever had. Thanks for the tip.
Very good point, I think all working tradesmen feel your passion for quality and disappointment in the devolution of the products we rely on. I went down the same brand name list as you. Now that I’m retired my garments aren’t pushed as hard anymore and I have gone back to 501 again. I always loved the fit and the pockets are sized right. Keep up the good work 👷🏼♂️
I was very disappointed with the Carhartt rollover, I started as a production framer right before the change, and had an excellent experience with the first two runs of pants. You couldn't pay me to purchase them now. But also as life changes do occur, I am now in a management position (in Florida), and my Colombia pants have held up excellently, even for the days when I'm still slinging tools, and working production.
Don’t work construction but I do a lot of welding and fabricating as well as ranching and will only wear the wrangler 13MWZ cowboy cut it’s a good thick weight that is tough as nails (Been stomped a few times in them and still no rips) and the dye holds up great I’ve got pairs that have been going for three years with only small Knicks
Love you videos but I was REALLY hoping to hear you found a company that manufactured an excellent pair of sturdy pants! Oh well, the search continues.
Wrangler makes some great stuff. Way better than Levi's now. Their regular cowboy cut jeans and Wrangler Riggs pants are great. I own new Carharts, which I'd say are still better than Levi's, but the Wranglers I like the most.
I bought about 10 Levis during last ten years when visiting the US - not as workwear but for office. I think I bought them for 30-35$ at Sears. I Germany the same Jeans would cost at least 80€ or more. The problem I had with Levis ist, that the little loops that are holding the belt gave up and I had to reattach them at nearly every Jeans. But it was still a good deal. In Germany we usually wear Engelbert-Strauss as workwear - these are really great!
Im a wrangler guy. 13mwz pro rodeo cowboy cut. They fit me well, are tough and are under $30 a pair. Been wearing them since high-school (early 90s). I liked the old school 501s but just couldnt justify the extra expense.
I don't think there's anything else like them. No tool crap, no double front needed because they're thicker and stronger than two pairs of pants on all sides. There's nothing I'd rather slide down a rocky hill on my rear end with. You've got to add the bachelor buttons, but EC already covered that problem. (for anyone else reading, not all Wranglers are work jeans. You have to get the unwashed or 'rigid' kind. They're always dark blue, half the price and feel like 500 grit sandpaper)
This hasn't been my experience at all. I bought exactly the pants you're describing on Amazon for about $30. Super stiff, not very flexible even when fully broken in. Pockets are tiny and it hasn't been 11 months yet and the knees are shot, as well as the back pocket where I keep my phone. My carhartt 102808 pants last twice as long. Just my experience.
Can’t beat the wrangler I bought 15 pairs ten years ago I’ve kept five of them for out on the town wear but the other ten have been abused and are just now starting to develop little pin holes I believe at this rate I’ll probably get another three years out of them. Once they do finally wear out I will happily buy me another ten pair!
Wrangler Riggs utility jeans antique indigo by far the best I’ve worn, same sizing as the key pants but thicker softer denim, they have the bachelor buttons, double front, hammer loop deep back pockets and side pockets for a cell phone a sharp looking pair of rugged work pants you won’t be disappointed
For general work pants or just tough pants, Levi's raw denim 501s still hold up pretty well. They're fairly heavy and are stiff enough to practically stand up on their own.
I'd bet when Carhartt changed, that was when the kids took over. I went through that when I worked at Empire Level. The kid took over and the manufacturing processes changed from excellent to good enough for the pencil pushers at the reduced cost. Example: the milled edges went to a sanded edge. The mill needed to be replaced and the sander was less expensive and faster. The quality change was like going from a Snap-on tool to Ace hardware. This happened in the early 90s. BTW, Wrangler Riggs seem to be decent pants.
Still have a dwindling stack of Carhartt from sierra outlet, used to get b 11 s for 24_28 bucks a pair. Those days are long gone, so thanks to everybody for your suggestions.
I bought a pair of Key a few years ago, and they're nearly as good as Carhart was, the only issue is, is that the belt loops are too tight. You can't fit a very wide leather belt due to the small size, and you can't fit a very thick belt because the bachelor buttons are in the way. Charhart didn't have that issue.
i went through the same thing during that same time period with the dark grey carhartt work pants i used to wear. they changed the fabric completely, to something unusable for work. the new fabric has no give at all, particularly when soaked with sweat, and they started giving me horrible lower back pain before I had to give up on them
I tried them all for 15 years .. THEN I decided to buy Round House pin strip carpenter bib overalls with a much bigger waist size…and wore then for 15 years . on a cold day I wore them over my jeans .. on a hot day it was nice that the air could flow through n help keep me cool ! They saved me a lot of cash because they protect my shirts n pants from - dirt - paint - caulk - -glue and at the end of the day I could take them off n not get my car dirty when driving home !
My wife actually switched from Levi to Lee because the stretchy jeans that Levi made were too week. I'm a wrangler Riggs guy right now. But I like blaklader. Maybe I might try those one day.
Oh man the tip at the end is golden. Don't know how many times I've bought a pair at bi-mart only to be heading back the next weekend for the right size.
Good britches are a must, and the shift towards that godawful stretchy work wear is the absolute pits. I'm in a similar state with good button down work shirts. Cotton, crosshatch weave, two button chest pockets. Over the years, it seems that clothiers have been starting to target the Tyrannosaurus Rex demographic. The arms are too short, the shoulders restrict movement, and they have become some awful cotton polyester blend. As an aside, I've always wondered why folks carry wallets in the back pocket. My dad did and was appalled that I carried mine up front. My reasoning has remained the same, regardless. If someone tries to snag my wallet from my deep front pocket, they're getting some fingers broken.
Ive always felt like my wallet was more secure up front as well, I remember trying it in the back pocket in some Levi’s for two days and it fell out both times when I was sitting in a chair. They were regular 100% cotton 505s so I don’t know what the deal was there. I just don’t like it being where I can’t see it
I tried to carry my wallet in my back pocket but I noticed my but start to get sore after a couple days and I hear it is horrible for your hips as time goes on
My daughter is an environmental biologist. She works in the field and says the same thing about Carhartt !! Today she spend a 14 hour day plowing through bushes, weeds and shrubs. Pants are important. I will tell her about Keys. Thank you.
For the past 15 years I've been wearing Wrangler Riggs Workwear and I still enjoy them. Thank you for the tip on Key jeans, I'll try a pair. God bless.
I used to love the Carhartt jackets but when "The American Brand" switched to making making them in Mexico I was disgusted and vowed never to buy their products again. Carhartt if you're reading this , SHAME ON YOU!!!
I know these aren’t denim and they are only hand made down here here in little New Zealand BUT you’ll never beat a Cactus super trouser and even better, their trade plus version. Well worth a look!
For me, it’s Riggs Wrangler ranger pants. No more jeans. Double front leg, cargo pockets. They don’t wear out where they wrinkle when you sit down, like Levi’s do now.
I really enjoy your channel, the wit, wisdom, and humor. I've been wearing double front Dickies for a number of years. They don't have the hammer loop and a bunch of extra pockets, but I do have an extra layer of denim when I wear out the first layer. 😉
Duluth Trading makes a great pant. The Ballroom pant is extremely comfortable. Try a pair on and out stretch a leg. You’ll feel the extra material used for the flex in the crotch. Here’s the hard part. Finding 100% denim, for that you have to order them online or in store and they will deliver them to the house.
The ballroom pants are still decent (at least they were when I got new ones 1-2 years ago), but they dont sell the flannel lined jeans in normal material anymore. They are the crappy flex material now. I contacted them and asked if they would be bringing it back and they wouldnt say "no" and kept trying to upsell me on the flex material saying "a lot of our customers really like the new material". :(
@@ccvegita I don’t want that flex, give me an unwavering material, canvas and denim only. That’s why I have to order them online. They won’t sell 100% canvas/denim pants in their stores.
Key are great jeans. I came by key jeans by a different route, but for most of the same reasons as you. They proved to be durable and comfortable. Jeans for me.
The best I've used are Bläkläder. They're spendy, but it's really a case of you get what you pay for. Super durable, super comfy (they've got a stretchy gussetted crotch) and all the pockets and loops you could ask for.
Same here! I learned about them from my daily trips to dunn lumber where they're stocked. Duluth firehouse pants are comfy but the hammer loop is too small, and as a measure/ service tech my tape measure had the pockets in shreds within a month. The blaklauders have been going strong for years and the dickies Carpenters are also great
Blåkläder, well Blaklader works better in English, is a Swedish brand that started to develop modern working clothes. I am a general construction worker in Sweden, and I never see any professional craftsmen wearing pants without pockets for knee pads or those exterior pockets up on the hips. That kind of working pants has been around for more than 20 years, and I am amazed that they aren't the norm in America.
Have you ever heard of the double front logger pants sold at Bailey’s logging supplies. Also available with bachelor buttons. I haven’t ordered them in a long time though. Still available, not sure if they are the same as I remember.
Carhartt stopped making apparel in the USA back in 2009, so maybe that's part of the lower quality issue for the pants. Their upper body apparel is still really good as far as I can tell.
I used to have a supervisor who worked for Levi's in San Antonio in thr 1970s and she told me one afternoon there were jeans that had showed up which no one knew where they came from. They were told to "make sure they're good" and then send them out with the regular ones they were making. These batches didn't come in often but they did and over time, the ratio started to change of pants they made to pants they checked and passed them off. About the time yo say you noticed they were different, they went through San Antonio and Levi's went downhill after that
Nobody does pockets better than Carhartt, but I agree they've refocused towards fashion. I love Diamond Gusset for quality. The price is high but they're heavier and better made than almost every jean out there. Roundhouse is also pretty decent, very similar to Carhartt, but always low in stock. I will have to try out Key, I guess.
I was born and raised in San Francisco. My father was close to Walter Haas in business matters while Mr. Haas was CEO of Levi Strauss. This was back in the mid to late 60s. One weekend day, my father drove me to downtown SF where we came up to an ancient, multi-story brick building in the warehouse district. Upon entry, you were overwhelmed with the scent of denim. It was darkly lit, but you could see wall to wall, floor to ceiling shelves of Levi jeans. A grisly, old warehouseman greeted us, looked way down at me "so, your the lucky kid, huh?" My father followed "ok, pick out whatever and as many as you want; a gift from Mr. Haas." Was this heaven?
I buy from used clothes apps. Hit Goodwill and other second hand clothes and look for the double knee. Always, double knee or nothing. Good little talk, Old Man. You are much much appreciated 🙏🏽
I haven't bought a pair of Levi's for at least 40 years. Levi-Strauss is too woke, too PC for their own good, or mine. I went with Wranglers for a few years, but the fabric tended not to hold up. Right about 35 years ago, I went with Carhartt's. Man oh Manishewitz, they were the best, and the kind of work I was doing (commercial drywall, metal framing) required the excellent double front. In the winter in Western Oregon, I often wore their black overalls with the double front. I didn't wear suspenders except those holding up my tool bags. If I didn't do that, I would get blisters at my hip joints. After a few years, I started to notice a lowering of their standards, and I went with Key about 15 years ago, and have been working in them with no small amount of satisfaction. I quit hanging production drywall 12 years ago, but I still work in construction at age 73, in Key jeans. My dear, longsuffering wife complains about the looks of my double front jeans, especially when I wear them to church or anywhere else for that matter, but nothing beats the comfort of the rough, thick fabric of a good pair of jeans. Good faded jeans are something of a statement -- this is who and what I am, at least on the outside. My hidden, inner life is something else.
Hi EC, my wife and I (Aussie's) drove through Roseberg last week while on holidays. We took a drive to the spec house and it was amazing to see in person! I was hoping I'd see you in a store or something so I could say a quick G'day but no luck. Anyhow it's a lovely place.
Hey essential craftsman. I wanted to toss out this idea to you. Wrangler makes a pant that is pretty good for work. It’s the wrangler, Riggs ranger pants. They are rip stop cotton thick and have leg pockets and a hammer loop. Even has a leather tab on the pocket for your tape measure to prevent wear. I wear them everyday at work and they do me ok. Maybe it’s worth a shot for you to check out. Thanks for all the help you provide.
I would say don't dismiss the Carhart Flex denim. I've been wearing them since they came out and have been very happy with the durability (haven't try the double front). Because the fabric flexes there is less stress on the seams. And when the denim gets a little thin the stretch fibers hold everything together really well. Also, super comfortable right away.
Thank you for the support! We are glad you enjoy our Logger Dungarees!
If yall make a hickory stripe pant alongside your overalls that would be awesome!
My grandpa passed 4 years ago. He was a WW2 Veteran and the hardest working man I've ever met. He had the patience of a monk. I can't remember a time of him ever getting upset. He wore Levi 501's till the day he passed.
Because when he was younger, and before you were born, he yelled at everyone. Trust me, nobody because is patient at an old age without tiring themselves out with productive rage when they were younger
@@christiansantos8904 you might be right 😂
@@christiansantos8904it’s a DIFFERENT generation now. No one wants to get yelled at.
what did he do in the war?
@@unionironjoshI can’t think of any generation that liked being yelled at. The older ones tolerated it more. Didn’t like it but still took their licks without crying like a mulling babe.
I'm with you, brother. When Carharrt started making their work pants cheaper, I was heartbroken. I didn't mind paying more for the old ones; they were worth it. why can't some companies leave well-enough alone?
Greed! The only thing that matters now is keeping the shareholders insatiable Greed satisfied.
Profit incentives eventually mean producing goods as cheaply as possible and counting on your competitors to do just the same.
A damn shame, but comporations have no motive to take pride in their products, only motive to make the bottom line go up
Short term profits over their bread and butter customers.
Ownership changes and the new blood wants to make money off of the brand and reputation. Largely because the new blood doesn't know anything about the product made by their new company, at least not to the degree of the founders, but riding on someone else's coattails is easy. Like so many great American companies, Carhart was a name with a reputation. Now, they are just a name with an inflated price tag. Hamilton Carhart is long gone. Just like Horace Smith, Dan Wesson, and Sam Colt.
i bought some of the newer style ones with the white pockets, (my older ones had brown pockets) and the new ones ripped almost instantly!
Round House Jeans at this point on my end. Made in the USA and they offer 2nds if $$ is tight. No middle man and they aren’t fashion statements. Plus you will have your order history so you never forget what size you got.
I wear Round House, too. But they discontinued the double front jeans and stopped with suspender buttons.
Yes. I weld 6, 12's in roundhouse and their overalls at least are flawless.
They never have anything in stock
Their Bibs fit better than anybody else
I have a question would you choose jeans made in the USA over better pair of jeans? is where it’s made more important than the quality? Or is that secondary. Because I see people always going for American made when sometimes I find stuff made in other countries better for example I find boots made in Mexico better. Just wondering what’s the deal with that
When I started high school in 1961 Levi's were $4.25 and a madras shirt was $2.75 . Penny's pocket tee shirts $.98 ! The first day of the new school year was permeated by the strong aroma of new denim and the crisp feeling of a new short sleeve sport shirt .
Truly the good days; a much simpler time .
Love your outlook and channel .
And minimum wage was $1.15. For a young person that shirt and pair of pants was almost a full days work.
I don't know if anyone will find this interesting - but adjusted for inflation: the Levi's were $43.45, the madras shirt was $28.12, the Penny's pocket tee was $10.02, and the bottled Coke was 72 cents. Which means the numbers are kinda close-ish. Quality is different though. And that $1.15 federal minimum wage would now be $11.76, instead it is $7.25, which is 42% lower. So that's a bummer.
$4.25 in 1961 is $44 in today's $$
I remember!
And they probably lasted longer than 3 months.
I'm a shop teacher at a high school and wore the middle out of my Carhartts a lot. I now wear Duluth Trading Co. And love them.
Wrangler and pointer brand always works for me. I’ve wore wrangler for 45 years and 40 of them as a pipeline welder
Excellent!!!
I remember the old Levi's that were so stiff that it took a full summers worth of wearing to be able to fully articulate the legs at the knees.
👍👍!!!
Yes, too many jeans makers have forgotten that blue jeans were (and still should be) work pants.
Well you still can buy those , they are a different process denim that they use now for mass production.
Levi’s heritage collection have them but you will need to second mortgage your home to buy a pair. Heritage denim is a rabbit hole you may not come out of the same.
Too bad they don't just come out with "Levi's fashion" or "Carhartt fashion" so you know your getting a visual tool instead of a physical tool.
I really like the wrangler Riggs pants. The hammer loop is on the right hand side which is more convenient for me. And there pretty durable as well.
you use the hammer loop?
They were my go to, the first thing that failed was the crotch from walking and crouching. That took several years though. The double front did way better for wear leaning against machines than other pants did.
They'd be fantastic if they only used a proper zipper. The zipper on the pair I bought doesn't lock when flipped up, so the zipper is always opening my itself as I move around.
The new cargo wrangler pants ripped quickly after the pocket got caught on a jagged piece of metal at work. I was pretty upset about it seeing as they were from Wrangler and 100% cotton too.
Another vote for Dickies. First of all, I still love carpenter jeans for work even though they have fallen out of fashion, it seems. For the money ($30), I can't believe the value of Dickies. They are a heavy weight denim you don't find much anymore. They break in great and I now wear their non carpenter jeans for everyday. I have tried Duluth, Levis, and several others.
AND...I wear a 33 waist and that is hard to find but Dickies does those odd sizes as well.
Dickies were good. Lately, they've changed the fit, like their carpenter denims, and I wear 36 waist, and the crotch isn't as comfortable as my Key jeans. But the Dickies are value and heavier weight, and I do prefer their work shorts with pocket for phone.
I got a pair of the Dickies double-knees (because of the price) and hated them. The side pockets are too wide and shallow, things fall out. Also, the main front pockets are "weird".
I've got a pair of 33x32 that are fairly new. If you give me a place I can PM you, I'll send them to you.
Love Dickies but the ones I have now aren't as thick as those I had 15 years ago. These new ones won't last as long.
Not a Dan of Dickies the crotch is so tight when I squat they get tight around the upper thigh area, doesn't matter the size. Great pants otherwise but I need to find something else
@@Elimino_P are these still available? i'm interested.
I found my boyfriend a pair of prison blues (black double knees with Bach buttons) by chance in a thrift store and they looked so nice on him, I was soooo jealous of the quality and the style and the sturdy denim. Bought myself a pair this summer and haven’t worn a damn thing since. I’ll wear them till they’re threads
I love how he narrates and the back story. The nostalgia and all. I can just watch him talk about anything. Keep up the great work
My folks owned Sasby Island,outside of Petersburg, Alaska. As a third grader I was always uncomfortable in jeans. As I grew I was introduced to Levi’s. I too discovered they were and are not the jeans they once were. I’ve tried Carhart pants. I agree they’re as, well, cheap as Levi’s.
I’m 71 now and I still use the chainsaw, work pretty hard for my age. I needed a pair of pants that doesn’t like to fade, to rip, to wear out, that fit my 33/32 size.
It’s the Duluth Trading Company Firehose pants I now wear. They make a damned good pair of pants.
I've been wearing DTC for years. Different styles/materials but the last pair of firehose canvas I bought were way better than the new Carhart's I'd been wearing.
Construction Laborer here. My favorite pants are the Wrangler Riggs in the duck material. It’s a bit stiff and warm in the summer, but very durable with deep pockets and a good value.
Same here, I like that theyre double layered up front. Haven't tried the duck material ones but regular jeans. Also the super deep pockets on em.👌👌
Im with you
I just put a pair on 30 seconds ago
Years ago when I was an apprentice I bought a pair of the Riggs double front logger jeans... Best work pants I ever owned. A bit warm in the summer but very durable and comfortable over a 10 or 12 hour day.
I would probably still be wearing them but I married a woman who can cook and the pants shrank on me.😊
I’m definitely finding myself buying about 10 pair of pants when I find something i like that fits. I don’t like shopping, and I just know they’re gonna change in 5 or so years when I need more. Hard to plan waist size, but it’s worth it to stock up sometimes.
"Hard to plan waist size" - Haha, but maybe if you have a large stock of pants in a particular waist size, it will motivate you not to overeat and let yourself go like so many people do.
I do the same!
Yep, seems like every time I find something I like, it’s discontinued when I need to replace it.
I loved my Duluth firehose work pants! Wore like iron. Unfortunately, they were a bad match for Louisiana summers. Temps over 90, humidity over 80, they weighed like iron. Took a step down to their regular work pants , wore them till I stopped physical labor.
Duluth is the way to go yup!;bit just like you, I live in Texas and the heat, and humidity kill me dawg
Also, Duluth sizes run LARGE.
I work in a scrapyard dealing with all types of metal & just everything you can think of. I’ve always wore Levi’s but your right. They don’t make them like they use too. This is what I needed to watch today. Thank you for making this video.
I used to only wear Levis. After the last 2 pair I bought wore holes in them in under 5 wearings, I'll never buy another pair. Clearly they are for people to wear to the club or something, not sure they would even hold up to that.
Gents you need a company called sugar cane and you need to take a ganda at the 1947 dugarees/ jeans these guys produce, they apparently bought the old looms off levis and are making the jeans the way levis used to using the selvedge method and also using the 1947 patten to make the jeans , purfect if you like old levis or you could just go straight for the iron heart 18oz work pants and they come in denim and duck kanvas camt see you f**king them up for a good couple of years
Ridgecut flex canvas pants from tractor supply are my new favorite as an electrician. Durable, lots of pockets, and cheap!
I’ve switched from Carhartt to Baileys Wild Ass double front denim logger pants and they’re very good quality, come with suspender buttons, super durable denim and require a good break in, but once they’re broken in they’re super comfortable. If you need a nice heavy duty pant I’d recommend them.
I've been using Roundhouse painters pants in electrical construction, they kick ass and made in USA
Agreed.
Right on. They are the best there are nowadays.
What is the model # or how would I look these up?
Scott your overlooking imo the best work pant out there. Baileys Wildass double front logger pants are worth a try. They are built like work pants used to be.
Scott, I'm also here as a contractor to put in a plug for Duluth Trading. Their 'firehose flex' foreman variant has been my go-to for a number of years now, after wearing through pair after pair of Carharts. The fabric is unbelievably tough, the fit is comfortable and slightly giving, and you can get a variant with a hammer loop. Give 'em a try, you won't be disappointed.
Came here to say the same !! Great pants from Duluth
My experience with the Duluth pant was that the denim was great but the firehose pockets were awful and the zippers don't last. I tried 5 pairs and the zipper failed on two and the pockets got holes in the rest.
@@scotthenson5874
And my purchases are opposite. Had I the same experience as you I’d be one ticked off fellow too. I’ve got three pair and so far, so good.👍👍
Only pants i wear are Duluth firehose!
Most interesting video about pants that I’ve ever seen
Wrangler ATG pants have held up really well for me over the past 5 years doing carpentry. Reinforced knee/double front, somewhat stretchy canvas type material but not fragile so they're comfortable and I can get 2-3 years out of a pair. They look good as well if you prefer a non blue jean look.
Wrangler ATG and the Carhartt double front stretch are my go to. I'm usually kneeling on concrete or dirt/gravel doing industrial electrical so these things have been a game changer having double the lifespan. Plus they're not super baggy like most work pants seem to be.
@@caden01691 Yeah I agree 100%, I know there's the sentiment of a lot of folks in the trades wanting function over form but if you can have both why not go that route.
I have these too! Worn them hard last 2 years as a tree climber/cutter but they don't hold a torch to these old school pants
Ben Davis and Dickies Loose Fit (they have extra pocket and double front)are nice as of late. Used to be jeans only guy till i worked a job that required black pants. Military surplus BDU pants or Propper modern tactical pants are another great option with double front and a range of materials from cotton twill to ripstop.
I only use Duluth Trading Flex Fit Carpenter pants. Been wearing them for the last 6 years. Faded a little bit no wear at all despite rough use.
Duluth Trading Ballroom (Heavy Duty) Jean is good. They now make lots of thin stretchy fashion jeans too, so you have to search for the Heavy denim ones in the descriptions carefully.
Scott: I wear Wranger Riggs Workwear Utility Jean In Antique Indigo. These are heavy duty jeans with the double knee front, hammer loop, and suspender buttons. The buttons are in the inside while the jeans you wear have the button on the outside. For the smaller guys, they can buy these jeans in some of the local "farm" stores. Take a look - might be what your are looking for. As always, thanks for the videos.
I use the same jeans, I’m on my second pair in 3 years I’m very unfortunate to have a small waist and long legs so trying to find a 30w 34l that are available in the uk is very hard
Sadly lots of the items in the Carhartt catalog I think are fashion pieces, not genuine workwear. I was gifted a pair of Carhartt composite toe boots last year, and they're basically sneakers. Thin leather upper that had chunks missing the first week I worked them in the cold and rubbed up against the snow plow, glued sole construction (no stitching) that started to separate in the heat in the field in the summer.
Carhart Boots have never been good
Scott, another great video. I love how passionate you are about boots and jeans and all your tools. I feel the same way.
I don’t have the need for the double front loggers, but besides that, I’ve gone through the same transition for the same reasons from Levis to Carhartt, and now I have been buying Wrangler Riggs Workwear, specifically the Carpenter Jean. I am very satisfied thus far. Very good quality and heavy duty denim, sewing, etc. Has the hammer loop, lower leg pockets, deep back pockets and leather protectors on the pocket leading edges. This later feature I found to be really great because I often clip my tape measure on my front pocket, and this both protects it from wear and adds some rigidity to make clipping the tape measure on much easier. Also works well for a clip-on utility knife.
I used to wear carhart. I noticed they started getting tighter and consequently weren’t lasting as long because I was blowing out the crotch after climbing up and down stuff all the time. I switched to key because some people I worked with swear by them. They’ve been good to me since I switched to them. I also get crap for wearing suspenders now because I work as a steamfitter in a chip plant but my pants don’t sag when I fill the pockets with wrenches I need because I’m working away from my toolbox. Everyone else makes multiple trips back to their toolbox while I just keep working out of my pockets
I got sold on Key back in the 90's when we sold them at the family hardware store up to Oakridge. Still have one of the jackets from back then that even survived a winter on a stump where I forgot it.
Wrangler Riggs Work Pants are the absolute best. I have had pairs last five years of near daily wear.
I've been wearing rural king carpenter jeans and really like them. They are cheap (around $10) but hold up better than other other brands I've tried. My fiance did buy me a pair of green canvas Carhartts though and i really like those, although it feels strange not wearing blue denim. It also makes it obvious how infrequently I change my pants
Thank you for all the information old timer! Great video and great stories. I'd like to bring to your attention that Carhartt split into two brands somewhere in the mid 90's. One is called Carhartt WIP (Work In Progress) and the other is called Carhartt Workwear. WIP sells mostly streetwear, fashion items that are loosely based on the old(er) workwear items that we all grew to love. I can safely say right now though, that the Carhartt workwear items are pretty good quality (again). Just make sure you don't buy WIP. The logger jeans with double knee fabric are also back.
Thank you again!
I bought 4 pairs of Carharts late 2015. 2 pair of logger double front and two pair of cotton duck double fronts. I added suspender buttons to the duck pants. I retired from the carpenter union in 2016. All four pair are still in service, though getting rather threadbare. They are, or were very good pants. Looks like I will be switching to Key, when I need to replace my Carharts.
Like you, I have worn and been a fan of the double front logger pants. I still have a few of the carhart's. The prison blue's brand is cut too short in the crotch area for me.( I'm 6'4"). Key pants are the reasonable alternative. I would ask you to look at Origin brand jeans. The company, people and mission to restart American manufacturing is an honorable and vital thing.
That suspender slap. 💥
Sounded amazing. LOL
I write waist and inseam sizes on the pocket bags with a Sharpie marker. Turn the pants inside out, lift up a pocket bag, and write on the underside, which faces the front of the pant when worn. Black on white stays readable, and that surface doesn't rub against your leg or your hand. Survives many wears and many washings.
Wrangler Riggs double fronts are the best work pants on the market hands down and they also have bachelor buttons
Interesting. I wonder when they started that again. I wore RIggs, back when they had the buttons on the inside of the waistband. They quit making those (Wrangler told me that when I called) and so for 5 years, I've worn Prison Blues and for what I do, the Prison Blues last longer and are made in the USA. They fit a bit more snug than the Riggs, but I've grown to like that.
Been wearing Riggs for the past year and a half now, and I have to agree with you, they are one rugged pair of pants. 👍💯
These are definitely the best and the toughest made. They also have a gussetted crotch.
Thanks for the video, growing up in a cowboy family I always (and still do) wear Wranglers. As a farrier, my apron is constantly wearing out the front of my wranglers where my knife sits and rubs on the pocket...so I might have to check out the keys.
I'm thankful wrangler started making the dark blue stiff jeans out of 100% cotton again. Those last the longest for ranch work, without the saggy butt from added spandex
Duluth Trading, and it's not even close. I love the Double Flex jeans. If I was capable of doing the splits, I could do them in these pants, no problem.
As a Oregon crane operator and rigger, Prison Blues double front loggers serve me well. Wear like iron, and can't beat the price. Oregon made, Oregon worn.
I do construction in southern Oregon and northern ca, I’ve worn double knee prison blues for about 8 years and love them
Scott, first pair of Carhart was 1977. Bib overalls canvas brown, framing in Norfolk, Nebraska. I could only afford one pair so they got worn 5 days a week and washed on Saturday. It was so hot and I soaked thru the pants everyday. I hung them in the basement and in the morning they were dry but stiff as a board (they would stand alone). They lasted for years. Fast forward 50 years, baught a pair of "Bass Creek" @ Walmart and they're not bad but doubt they'll last like the old Carharts.
Nice video and some valuable information for tradesmen and clothing manufacturers. I am a retired industrial electrician and most of my working career I wore coveralls that were provided by the company and laundered by them or I would by used work uniform pants. The used uniform pants were cheap and if I got them soiled badly with oil or grease I could just chunk them. Now days I really like the the Duluth flex fire hose pants. They are pretty tough and very comfortable.
I love my Bailey's wild ass jeans.they take awhile to break in but the durability is unbelievable.
I switched to Key dungarees a couple of months ago after watching one of your previous videos. Best fitting work pants I've ever had. Thanks for the tip.
Very good point, I think all working tradesmen feel your passion for quality and disappointment in the devolution of the products we rely on. I went down the same brand name list as you. Now that I’m retired my garments aren’t pushed as hard anymore and I have gone back to 501 again. I always loved the fit and the pockets are sized right.
Keep up the good work 👷🏼♂️
I was very disappointed with the Carhartt rollover, I started as a production framer right before the change, and had an excellent experience with the first two runs of pants. You couldn't pay me to purchase them now. But also as life changes do occur, I am now in a management position (in Florida), and my Colombia pants have held up excellently, even for the days when I'm still slinging tools, and working production.
Don’t work construction but I do a lot of welding and fabricating as well as ranching and will only wear the wrangler 13MWZ cowboy cut it’s a good thick weight that is tough as nails (Been stomped a few times in them and still no rips) and the dye holds up great I’ve got pairs that have been going for three years with only small Knicks
Love you videos but I was REALLY hoping to hear you found a company that manufactured an excellent pair of sturdy pants! Oh well, the search continues.
Shop teacher here. Duluth Trading is the old Carhartt. Love the blue jeans!
Wrangler makes some great stuff. Way better than Levi's now. Their regular cowboy cut jeans and Wrangler Riggs pants are great. I own new Carharts, which I'd say are still better than Levi's, but the Wranglers I like the most.
I bought about 10 Levis during last ten years when visiting the US - not as workwear but for office. I think I bought them for 30-35$ at Sears. I Germany the same Jeans would cost at least 80€ or more. The problem I had with Levis ist, that the little loops that are holding the belt gave up and I had to reattach them at nearly every Jeans. But it was still a good deal. In Germany we usually wear Engelbert-Strauss as workwear - these are really great!
Im a wrangler guy. 13mwz pro rodeo cowboy cut. They fit me well, are tough and are under $30 a pair. Been wearing them since high-school (early 90s). I liked the old school 501s but just couldnt justify the extra expense.
I don't think there's anything else like them. No tool crap, no double front needed because they're thicker and stronger than two pairs of pants on all sides. There's nothing I'd rather slide down a rocky hill on my rear end with. You've got to add the bachelor buttons, but EC already covered that problem. (for anyone else reading, not all Wranglers are work jeans. You have to get the unwashed or 'rigid' kind. They're always dark blue, half the price and feel like 500 grit sandpaper)
This hasn't been my experience at all. I bought exactly the pants you're describing on Amazon for about $30. Super stiff, not very flexible even when fully broken in. Pockets are tiny and it hasn't been 11 months yet and the knees are shot, as well as the back pocket where I keep my phone. My carhartt 102808 pants last twice as long. Just my experience.
Can’t beat the wrangler I bought 15 pairs ten years ago I’ve kept five of them for out on the town wear but the other ten have been abused and are just now starting to develop little pin holes I believe at this rate I’ll probably get another three years out of them. Once they do finally wear out I will happily buy me another ten pair!
Wrangler Riggs utility jeans antique indigo by far the best I’ve worn, same sizing as the key pants but thicker softer denim, they have the bachelor buttons, double front, hammer loop deep back pockets and side pockets for a cell phone a sharp looking pair of rugged work pants you won’t be disappointed
For general work pants or just tough pants, Levi's raw denim 501s still hold up pretty well. They're fairly heavy and are stiff enough to practically stand up on their own.
I feel your pain! The old clothes were made to last! I use Wrangler 13MWZ as they are standard uniform for working cowboys.
You should look at Diamond gusset from Tennessee.
On board with everything here.
I’m 68, grew up with 501’s then Wrangler 13mwz’s.
A couple years ago REI Trailsmiths!!! They rule.
I'd bet when Carhartt changed, that was when the kids took over.
I went through that when I worked at Empire Level.
The kid took over and the manufacturing processes changed from excellent to good enough for the pencil pushers at the reduced cost.
Example: the milled edges went to a sanded edge.
The mill needed to be replaced and the sander was less expensive and faster.
The quality change was like going from a Snap-on tool to Ace hardware.
This happened in the early 90s.
BTW, Wrangler Riggs seem to be decent pants.
When did Empire level change?
Still have a dwindling stack of Carhartt from sierra outlet, used to get b 11 s for 24_28 bucks a pair. Those days are long gone, so thanks to everybody for your suggestions.
I bought a pair of Key a few years ago, and they're nearly as good as Carhart was, the only issue is, is that the belt loops are too tight. You can't fit a very wide leather belt due to the small size, and you can't fit a very thick belt because the bachelor buttons are in the way. Charhart didn't have that issue.
Thank you for the Key Pants suggestion! I bought several and they were perfect! Love the bachelor buttons too!
i went through the same thing during that same time period with the dark grey carhartt work pants i used to wear. they changed the fabric completely, to something unusable for work. the new fabric has no give at all, particularly when soaked with sweat, and they started giving me horrible lower back pain before I had to give up on them
The pants gave you back pain? Can you elaborate on that ?
I tried them all for 15 years .. THEN I decided to buy Round House pin strip carpenter bib overalls with a much bigger waist size…and wore then for 15 years . on a cold day I wore them over my jeans .. on a hot day it was nice that the air could flow through n help keep me cool ! They saved me a lot of cash because they protect my shirts n pants from - dirt - paint - caulk - -glue and at the end of the day I could take them off n not get my car dirty when driving home !
My wife actually switched from Levi to Lee because the stretchy jeans that Levi made were too week. I'm a wrangler Riggs guy right now. But I like blaklader. Maybe I might try those one day.
Oh man the tip at the end is golden. Don't know how many times I've bought a pair at bi-mart only to be heading back the next weekend for the right size.
The SNAP of the suspenders NEVER gets old. When Scot pulled that strap out, I held my breath and waited for that SNAP that I knew was coming.
I've got multiple pairs of double front prison blues. Never found a pair that has a hammer loop. And I agree about the pockets.
Good britches are a must, and the shift towards that godawful stretchy work wear is the absolute pits. I'm in a similar state with good button down work shirts. Cotton, crosshatch weave, two button chest pockets. Over the years, it seems that clothiers have been starting to target the Tyrannosaurus Rex demographic. The arms are too short, the shoulders restrict movement, and they have become some awful cotton polyester blend.
As an aside, I've always wondered why folks carry wallets in the back pocket. My dad did and was appalled that I carried mine up front. My reasoning has remained the same, regardless. If someone tries to snag my wallet from my deep front pocket, they're getting some fingers broken.
Ive always felt like my wallet was more secure up front as well, I remember trying it in the back pocket in some Levi’s for two days and it fell out both times when I was sitting in a chair. They were regular 100% cotton 505s so I don’t know what the deal was there. I just don’t like it being where I can’t see it
I tried to carry my wallet in my back pocket but I noticed my but start to get sore after a couple days and I hear it is horrible for your hips as time goes on
I made the switch from Carhartt B73's to Key Contractor Grade Double Front Dungarees a few years ago and never looked back.
My daughter is an environmental biologist. She works in the field and says the same thing about Carhartt !! Today she spend a 14 hour day plowing through bushes, weeds and shrubs. Pants are important. I will tell her about Keys. Thank you.
For the past 15 years I've been wearing Wrangler Riggs Workwear and I still enjoy them. Thank you for the tip on Key jeans, I'll try a pair. God bless.
Wrangler still good? The one imported to my country seems to not be made in USA.
I used to love the Carhartt jackets but when "The American Brand" switched to making making them in Mexico I was disgusted and vowed never to buy their products again.
Carhartt if you're reading this , SHAME ON YOU!!!
Thanks for this. I just bought a pair of Keys. Never considered them before.
I use to carry a trifold wallet. I’ve discovered a single fold wallet is much more comfortable and safer in my front pocket.
I came to the same conclusion a decade ago
I know these aren’t denim and they are only hand made down here here in little New Zealand BUT you’ll never beat a Cactus super trouser and even better, their trade plus version. Well worth a look!
For me, it’s Riggs Wrangler ranger pants. No more jeans. Double front leg, cargo pockets. They don’t wear out where they wrinkle when you sit down, like Levi’s do now.
I really enjoy your channel, the wit, wisdom, and humor. I've been wearing double front Dickies for a number of years. They don't have the hammer loop and a bunch of extra pockets, but I do have an extra layer of denim when I wear out the first layer. 😉
Duluth Trading makes a great pant. The Ballroom pant is extremely comfortable. Try a pair on and out stretch a leg. You’ll feel the extra material used for the flex in the crotch. Here’s the hard part. Finding 100% denim, for that you have to order them online or in store and they will deliver them to the house.
Duluth isn't what they used to be. The material is thinner, and the stitching is not as high quality.
The ballroom pants are still decent (at least they were when I got new ones 1-2 years ago), but they dont sell the flannel lined jeans in normal material anymore. They are the crappy flex material now. I contacted them and asked if they would be bringing it back and they wouldnt say "no" and kept trying to upsell me on the flex material saying "a lot of our customers really like the new material". :(
'cause they're more and more city folks in their suv's that never get dirty!
@@ccvegita I don’t want that flex, give me an unwavering material, canvas and denim only. That’s why I have to order them online. They won’t sell 100% canvas/denim pants in their stores.
Key are great jeans. I came by key jeans by a different route, but for most of the same reasons as you. They proved to be durable and comfortable. Jeans for me.
The best I've used are Bläkläder. They're spendy, but it's really a case of you get what you pay for. Super durable, super comfy (they've got a stretchy gussetted crotch) and all the pockets and loops you could ask for.
Me too! When I went to Ireland last year, practically every tradesman I saw was wearing a pair. still waiting for them to catch on in the States
Same here! I learned about them from my daily trips to dunn lumber where they're stocked. Duluth firehouse pants are comfy but the hammer loop is too small, and as a measure/ service tech my tape measure had the pockets in shreds within a month. The blaklauders have been going strong for years and the dickies Carpenters are also great
Blåkläder, well Blaklader works better in English, is a Swedish brand that started to develop modern working clothes. I am a general construction worker in Sweden, and I never see any professional craftsmen wearing pants without pockets for knee pads or those exterior pockets up on the hips. That kind of working pants has been around for more than 20 years, and I am amazed that they aren't the norm in America.
Have you ever heard of the double front logger pants sold at Bailey’s logging supplies. Also available with bachelor buttons. I haven’t ordered them in a long time though. Still available, not sure if they are the same as I remember.
WILD ASS!
Carhartt stopped making apparel in the USA back in 2009, so maybe that's part of the lower quality issue for the pants. Their upper body apparel is still really good as far as I can tell.
The Carhartt B01 is still made in the USA.
Not only pants and boots but the right socks I've always had a favorite style and brand of socks
I used to have a supervisor who worked for Levi's in San Antonio in thr 1970s and she told me one afternoon there were jeans that had showed up which no one knew where they came from. They were told to "make sure they're good" and then send them out with the regular ones they were making. These batches didn't come in often but they did and over time, the ratio started to change of pants they made to pants they checked and passed them off.
About the time yo say you noticed they were different, they went through San Antonio and Levi's went downhill after that
Nobody does pockets better than Carhartt, but I agree they've refocused towards fashion.
I love Diamond Gusset for quality. The price is high but they're heavier and better made than almost every jean out there.
Roundhouse is also pretty decent, very similar to Carhartt, but always low in stock.
I will have to try out Key, I guess.
I was born and raised in San Francisco. My father was close to Walter Haas in business matters while Mr. Haas was CEO of Levi Strauss. This was back in the mid to late 60s. One weekend day, my father drove me to downtown SF where we came up to an ancient, multi-story brick building in the warehouse district. Upon entry, you were overwhelmed with the scent of denim. It was darkly lit, but you could see wall to wall, floor to ceiling shelves of Levi jeans. A grisly, old warehouseman greeted us, looked way down at me "so, your the lucky kid, huh?" My father followed "ok, pick out whatever and as many as you want; a gift from Mr. Haas." Was this heaven?
I buy from used clothes apps. Hit Goodwill and other second hand clothes and look for the double knee. Always, double knee or nothing. Good little talk, Old Man. You are much much appreciated 🙏🏽
I wear wrangler jeans and cargo from Walmart
This would have to be the best insight on Jeans for manufacturers. Love it mate. We feel you cobber.! Cheers from Australia.
I haven't bought a pair of Levi's for at least 40 years. Levi-Strauss is too woke, too PC for their own good, or mine. I went with Wranglers for a few years, but the fabric tended not to hold up. Right about 35 years ago, I went with Carhartt's. Man oh Manishewitz, they were the best, and the kind of work I was doing (commercial drywall, metal framing) required the excellent double front. In the winter in Western Oregon, I often wore their black overalls with the double front. I didn't wear suspenders except those holding up my tool bags. If I didn't do that, I would get blisters at my hip joints. After a few years, I started to notice a lowering of their standards, and I went with Key about 15 years ago, and have been working in them with no small amount of satisfaction. I quit hanging production drywall 12 years ago, but I still work in construction at age 73, in Key jeans. My dear, longsuffering wife complains about the looks of my double front jeans, especially when I wear them to church or anywhere else for that matter, but nothing beats the comfort of the rough, thick fabric of a good pair of jeans. Good faded jeans are something of a statement -- this is who and what I am, at least on the outside. My hidden, inner life is something else.
Hi EC, my wife and I (Aussie's) drove through Roseberg last week while on holidays. We took a drive to the spec house and it was amazing to see in person! I was hoping I'd see you in a store or something so I could say a quick G'day but no luck. Anyhow it's a lovely place.
I switched to Key when Carrhart went GQ, I hope Key stays the course and continues with the traditional Loggers pants. 👍
Hey essential craftsman. I wanted to toss out this idea to you. Wrangler makes a pant that is pretty good for work. It’s the wrangler, Riggs ranger pants. They are rip stop cotton thick and have leg pockets and a hammer loop. Even has a leather tab on the pocket for your tape measure to prevent wear. I wear them everyday at work and they do me ok. Maybe it’s worth a shot for you to check out. Thanks for all the help you provide.
I would say don't dismiss the Carhart Flex denim. I've been wearing them since they came out and have been very happy with the durability (haven't try the double front). Because the fabric flexes there is less stress on the seams. And when the denim gets a little thin the stretch fibers hold everything together really well. Also, super comfortable right away.
I went from Levi’s to Carhartt to Duluth. Duluth are tough jeans and I love the way they fit.
Wrangler?
Great video. The tension builds and gets pretty close to grumpy old man territory, but it's true.