Working in the yard - constantly tearing jeans - overalls too tight (what do you do?)

What do YOU use for backyard work clothes?

My mechanics overalls are too difficult to get in and out of as the zipper only goes down to the waist (I wish they made 'em like they do the Aerostitch motorcycle riding suits - where the zipper goes from your neck to your foot).

Yet, I'm on my third pair of backyard work jeans this year - and - well - I don't understand why they all tear either down the front leg from the crotch to the knee or down the rear seam along the side of the pocket down to almost the crotch.

Seems to me, when I was a kid, I wore holes in the knees and in the thighs but now I'm ripping straight down at the crotch level (and these are NOT tight - they're rather loose in fact, levi's 505, among others).

QUESTIONS:

1) Are there easy-to-don overalls online that zipper from head to toe? 2) What's going on with the jeans nowadays (tearing vertically in the front & back)?
Reply to
mmendozabn
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I wore Levi's 505 jeans since I was around 10 years old. They were durable and fit the way I liked them. Maybe 5-7 years ago, they completely changed the design of the 505 as well as the build quality. This new design was extremely uncomfortable to me. I wear jeans all day every day, so I buy them by the dozen. My size is 38 X 36, so they weren't easily available. After donating all the pairs I bought after this change, I went looking for a replacement. I went on line and bought one pair of every reasonably priced work jeans that were made in my size. I found that Wrangler "original cowboy cut" fit almost the same as the 505, but the build quality is way better. Carhartt jeans are also very durable, but they don't make my length. The companies with lesser known, or unknown names that I tried, tended to not fit well. The worst fitting, feeling work pants I've ever had, was anything from Deluth Trading.

Reply to
RBM

I wear Wrangler jeans only. I tend to wear them out at the knees. I think splitting is a factor of putting a ten pound bear in an eight pound sack. Buy bigger, and use suspenders. I like suspenders, even though I have a 34 waist because I'm not hoisting up the jeans all day. I also like Craftsman bib overalls for comfort, but the price sucks. Wrangler makes stretch versions, and various cuts, you would have to find what works for you. Levis are overpriced for their quality. I haven't bought a pair of Levis in ten years. You may check at your local thrift stores, as they have cheap pants, and some are Dickies, Wrangler, or other cotton pants that are good enough for working in the yard.

HTH

Steve

Heart surgery pending?

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Reply to
Steve B

Made in CHINA ?????? Even name brands made there now. Bought some pants from LL Bean. JUNK from China. They used to be a quality firm. WW

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Reply to
WW

I've lost a good deal of weight recently, so I've been in the market for some work-around-the-house pants.

Found them at my local thrift center - not more than $5/pair. If I continue to change sizes, stain the pants, or they get ripped, it's not a big deal.

Try your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, or other resale shop.

Reply to
HeyBub

My daughter recently found aGoodwill OUTLET store. There is something fundamentally wrong with that idea (grin).

Reply to
Kurt Ullman

Makes sense. Places like Goodwill always left lots of money on the table.

If say a family member passed on and you were charitable you might drop off stuff at Goodwill or similar where they would just cluelessly display it meaning buyers might get something for next to nothing. So instead of the charity making a buck as you intended someone was able to buy say grandma's cookie cutters for $0.35 and sell them on ebay for $120.

From what I read charities got smarter and now examine and price stuff more carefully and the outlet idea is to get rid of low value stuff.

Reply to
George

I recommend Haggar's! They have a stretch waist line ta boot. I recently lost a lot of weight, and am down to a size 64" waist. With the stretch waist line I can some what bend over, although I still fart when trying to bend. Haven't blown out the seat of the pants yet, and the farts do some rumbling!

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

I will check out the Wranglers. I've never worn 'em before (I'm not a horserider - just a backyard fixer-upperer). If they last l> I wear Wrangler jeans only. I tend to wear them out at the knees. I

I admit, at 200 pounds and a 39 inch waist, I'm overweight by about 50 pounds; but the pants I buy fit loosely so I didn't think 'that' was the real problem.

When I was a kid, the knees went; but now, especially with knee pads for those types of tasks, it's the vertical split down the inside front left pant leg from the zipper bottom to the knee and the vertical slice in the back from the top of the pocket along the edge of the pocket to the crotch.

Looks like I'll check out the Wranglers.

Are there any full-length zippered overalls?

Reply to
mmendozabn

I don't know, but I actively farm so am out and about and very tough on stuff...I still find the Levi's 501 outwear Wrangler, Lee, every other denim jeans have tried by quite a sifnificant margin. Invariably it is a knee that will give out eventually other than the inevitable billfold corner wear-thru in the rear pocket.

I'm not in the physical shape was 40 years ago, but I don't weigh what I did out of highschool either owing to no longer actively working out and playing sports that "bulked" up significantly over my more or less normal body structure (I'm pretty small at only roughly 145 lb altho was nearly 160 at maximum years ago. It was difficult in those days to get anything that had large enough upper leg capacity that had small enough waist to keep on, though).

Not trying to be critical, but failures of the type you describe seem to me more related to the load than wear given my experience w/ various denim sources.

I detest the zippers for same reason and have them only on cold weather gear. On farm for the convenience of the carrying capacity I have as I have gotten older an less fashion conscious :) gone to the buckle overalls that grandfather and father wore exclusively for farm work. They certainly have the ability to accomodate the size if, again, one isn't trying to make a fasthion statement. :)

I have to agree I don't think it's the denim or the change in construction of Levi's though that is the key player here, sorry.... :)

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Reply to
dpb

Hi, Maybe your jeans are too tight? I wear relax fit Levi's. Never get torn but two holes where my knees are. When I paint or work on our cur cars I put on mechanics overall, one size larger than my regualr size for loose fit for freedom of movement.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

I'm broad shouldered and can't yet find extra large overalls that accommodate my shoulders easily.

All that I've found zipper up from the waist. It would be great to find overalls that zipper from the pants leg to the chin, like motorcycle suits do.

Know of any?

Reply to
mmendozabn

I wear bib overalls, a t-shirt and boxers (TMI, I know). Yeah, I look like a farmer (and an ugly one to boot) but I have nothing against farmers.

No zipper needed. I buy them a bit big and they are very easy to get into and out of; just step in, pull them up, fasten the two strap buckles. Easy enough that I can drop them right inside the door if they are filthy from whatever. Since they are a bit loose, they don't restrict movement at all, but the straps hold them where they need to be.

They are a little hotter than just jeans and t-shirt, but cooler than full overalls. If I'm doing something where bare arms are not a good idea (working in poison ivy, for example), I just wear a long sleeve t-shirt.

Paul F.

Reply to
Paul Franklin

You need larger sized pants.

Reply to
frag

Hold your phone calls, folks, we have a winner.

Worn out knees,tears, rips, holes, etc, are one thing.

Splitting seems to indicate putting 400# into a 120# Spandex garment. The concussion could hurt someone in the next zip code.

Steve

Heart surgery pending?

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Reply to
Steve B

Sounds like you're eating too many young Mormon girls to me.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

Sadly, Levi Strauss is just a brand name now- they closed all their own plants, and hire the work offshore like everyone else. (Not to mention jacking their prices to where only rich kids with parent's credit cards can afford them.) They haven't been a 'work clothes' manufacturer for several decades- they succumbed to the siren song of being a 'fashion' company. Last time I saw traditional red-tab Levi blue jeans was at Sam's Club. Looked at the tags, and they were made in Vietnam. That is just wrong, on so many levels....

Last decent Levi 5-pocket clones (non-denim) I bought were by Dickie, but they apparently have dropped that line. That happens to me over and over- I find a brand and style I like, that actually fits and has a tolerable price, and they quit making it.

Reply to
aemeijers

I'm not saying I'm thin ... but my point is that the pants are loose. I need a belt, for example, although I don't generally use one. I'm always pulling them up, for another example.

So, while I am of generous girth, the pants are even more generous.

Yet, they still tear.

It would be best if I could find full-length zippered overalls!

Reply to
mmendozabn

I hadn't thought seriously of 'bib overalls' but maybe they'll work since they slip on easier than the full mechanic's suit.

I work a lot in the chaparral so every inch of skin needs to be covered, which is why I was looking for a full-length zippered overall.

Reply to
mmendozabn

"aemeijers" wrote

When I was welding in the oilfields, the costume du jour was Levi 507 boot cuts, and a Wrangler shirt, either khaki or denim. Comeaux hat. Red wing Wellingtons. Don't know if one can even find 507 boot cuts today, but if I did, I'd have to take a pair just to see if they are as good as they were.

When welding, some starch helps out a lot, but it sure makes them hotter.

HTH

Reply to
Steve B

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