Workwear; or, Dandy rigouts in which to perform manual labour.

Then maybe go with the Amazon overalls then? They’re definitely much better quality than my most recent set of dickies.

Maybe we need a new thread? “Affordable workwear for people who wear it for work”

On that note, my colleague picked up a nice pair of Site hightop sneakers while he was on a screwfix run today. £40 and they look spot on for workshop/rigging work.

On the affordable front - got myself a smock for gardening etc from http://www.newlynsmocks.co.uk/
Had held up well to roses,blackthorn and hawthorn so far - pretty happy for £25

Onelesscardigan has got me one of these for Christmas. Great value.

I got given a few old scandi navy surplus smocks last year, not something I’d ever had before but ace for allotment and general pootling.
^ those look almost identical to mine.

Carrier Company do some nice women’s work wear but maybe a bit pricey depending on their usual level of garment destruction.

I bought some workwear from Yarmo recently after recommendations on ‘ere and it’s pretty decent, cheap too.

That’s homesteading-influencer grade workwear!
Fully accept that’s what clothes handmade in the uk should cost of course.

I don't own any clothes that cost that much let alone get them filthy down the allotment.

I get what you’re saying. But the less destructive your job, the more worthwhile it is spending more. Now I’m in maintenance, I’m happy to splash a bit more cash as stuff just lasts a lot longer.

When I was shop fitting - cutting shit with a grinder, constantly covered in dust or just generally ragging around - I just bought loads of stuff off vinted. Was much happier in a £20 berghaus softshell jacket or whatever that I could put holes in without caring, rather than proper workwear that would have cost a lot more.

For me it’s a little bit of the ‘Sam Vimes school of socio-economics’ from the discworld books as well.

Upmarket workwear certainly has its place, especially for those that enjoy having the right kit for every occasion, regardless of need, and of course there’s those that can afford it and do use it as well. I’m just pointing out it’s not a reality for the overwhelming majority of folks who work in workshops or tradesmen, pros etc.

Don’t get me wrong, I love quality, handmade items of any stripe(ffs I literally make luxury items for a living) but, to me at least the outlay for potentially better workwear is a privileged position for someone to be in.
It’s late, I’m rambling. I’ll be rigging at the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow in a fruit of the loom company tshirt, a pair of jeans from a charity shop and a £20 pair of safety trainers off Amazon.

I’m probably just bitter cos I still get covered in glass splinters and grinder dust every day ;)

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The average pair of boots bought by the rich should last 20 years, because they will rarely be worn. The rich will never find this out as the boots will be discarded in favour of something even more expensive.

This is very true. Buy less, buy better

But also, let’s not kid ourselves, the super boutique workwear isn’t really workwear - because it isn’t worn predominantly by the worker. IMO.

A tradesman I used to know always used to say to me “if you do something for someone, do it the best you can, if it’s for yourself, you do the best”

Whatever I do or buy I aim to get the thing that will do the best job for the longest time. It might not be cheap, but if you buy right the first time, there won’t be a second time.

Caveats are everywhere wears out eventually, just how quickly.

I actually have some overalls from a friend who works at Toyota. The only thing they don’t have is pockets for knee pads

Definitely, but it can’t be ignored that “having the best” can easily stretch beyond practicality and simply become a flex.

Totally agree. If you’re paying £299 for a pair of “work” trousers for your allotment then you clearly have more money than you need or have some interesting priorities.

The only workwear endorsed by James Ingram .

I have just bought two pairs of heavy canvas work trousers for £18 each. If anyone believes that the £299 ones will last longer than 16.6 pairs of the ones I bought (the 0.6 is presumably a pair if shorts) in actual daily work, they are seriously deluded.

Winter footwear is a different matter altogether, spend money on that!

Link?

Winter footwear is a different matter altogether, spend money on that!

Agreed. This is my first set of poncey boots (usually spend around £80-100 which is plenty fancy compared to most). But working outdoors in an often wet environment, with lots of nasty shit around - I wanted something that’ll keep me warm and keep the nasty shit out. Noticed my current boots are letting moisture in and said fuck it.

Consider altberg boots if your working outdoors in wet conditions. They do stuff for swamp conditions and dessert warfare.

The list of requirements I have after years of different boots is fairly long - metal free footplate and toecap, and low weight are main priority though. Those Altbergs look heavy!

It's true, with one alteration

Buy less, buy better, buy second hand

amen!

Scarpa gtx look nice

I’m yet to find winter workshop boots/trainers I’m happy with. Now I’m not working outside in all weathers I’ve not really cared as much about footwear.

The best chainsaw boots I had were the basic Meindl woodwalkers, used to get them for about £100 pre-Brexit, sometimes less if you paid cash or there was a sale on. I’d get 18months of daily climbing, dragging, general shit kicking before they started to leak. The cool red pro ones were a bit nicer to climb in but were £60 more and would be fucked in a year. I once made the mistake of spending £300 on some vegan chainsaw boots. They were so uncomfortable and shit I gave up on them after a week.

I notice the meindls have almost doubled in price since I last bought a pair.