What’s the best men’s workwear for trades?

Whatever you’re looking for in your work clothes, the chances are the best men’s workwear for you will be comfortable and long-lasting.

When your work clothes look their best, it also helps your business look good too. You may not have thought about it, but having some tidy and practical clothing can even help build trust and credibility with clients.

Read on for some key advice on men’s workwear options.

First off, you need to consider the needs and requirements of your profession. What’s your skill?

• Gardener?
• Carpenter?
• Electrician?
• Plumber?
• Cleaner?
• Chimney sweep?
• Builder?

As someone working in a trade, you’ll know the ins-and-outs of what you need on a daily basis. Need outdoor or waterproof clothing? Your options will be different to trades who predominantly work indoors.

When it comes to durability in workwear, the adage ‘you get what you pay for’ usually applies. The higher the price, typically the greater the manufacturing standard.

That means features such as double stitching, the use of high wear resistant fabrics, and increased consideration of end-user needs.

What are the best men’s workwear trousers?

As well as providing protection, comfort and warmth, workwear trousers can also be like a Swiss army knife. They can give you:

• Pockets
• Holders
• Straps
• Clips
• Zips

To find the right workwear trousers for you, have a think about the tools you need to keep on you while working. Roofers, for example, may consider the best men’s workwear trousers to have space for adding kneepads and hanging hammers etc.

As another example, electrician trousers can have more insulation or be crafted from different material to deal with the requirements of the job in hand.

Here are a few of our favourites:

• DeWalt Chester Unisex Trousers
• Stanley Huntsville Holster Trousers
• Caterpillar Nexus Holster Stretch Pocket Trouser
• Scruffs Worker Plus Trouser

The key is to find the right trousers to suit your budget and line of work. Checkatrade members can save on the cost of their workwear thanks to our partnerships with places like Selco,  Tradepoint and Wickes.

Choosing the best men’s workwear jacket

When you’re looking at buying a workwear jacket, think about your typical work environment. Is it predominantly outside? Will you have several jackets for the seasons or just this one? And will you be on-site at night?

When the colder months come around, you’ll need to wrap up warm if you’re working outside. But you’ll also need something that meets certain criteria:

• Safe
• Lightweight
• Functional
• Insulating
• Comfortable

Whether you’re looking for a jacket that is waterproof or not, there are a wide range of jacket alternatives to consider.

Bodywarmers and gilets

Really smart and ideal if a standard jacket is too cumbersome for your role, body warmers and gilets provide warmth, functionality and a professional appearance.

The difference comes down to sleeves. They don’t have them, so your arms can move more freely, allowing better movement when working on a job.

Most are similar in design and insulation, but tradespeople can make savings on these selections, thanks to our partnerships:

• DeWalt Force Bodywarmer
• Helly Hansen Kensington Lifaloft Vest
• Scruffs Worker Bodywarmer
• Selco Padded Warmer

When it comes to body warmers and gilets, think about the requirements of your job. When working on a skilled job, its good to think about how agile you need to be as some are bulkier than others.

A bodywarmer can make a surprisingly versatile addition to many work uniforms.

Softshells

Softshell has seen a huge rise in popularity, both in terms of leisure wear and workwear.

While the fundamentals of a softshell jacket are the same across manufacturers, there can be a big difference in features and quality.

Designed as an alternative to fleeces, softshell jackets are there to keep you warm while still presenting a professional look. Fashions may have changed, and clothing tastes may have changed, but the need to stay warm, dry and comfortable while working will never go away.

• Capstone Hooded Soft Shell
• Scruffs Trade Flex Softshell Jacket
• Helly Hansen Kensington Softshell Jacket

With softshell, it’s about how smart you want to look. Higher-priced, more designed jackets deliver a better fit and slicker, more professional appearance.

As most softshells are also windproof, they will help keep you warm when you change over to winter workwear.

Men’s waterproof workwear jackets

If you work predominantly outdoors in the UK, then waterproof clothing is an absolute necessity.

The cornerstone of clothing for gardeners, landscapers, builders and roofers, men’s waterproof workwear jackets should be big enough to cover your other work clothing and keep out as much rain as possible.

• Scruffs Graphite Waterproof Jacket
• OX Packable Lightweight Jacket
• Cotswold Waterproof Jacket
• DeWalt Hybrid Waterproof Jacket

Not sure where to start with your waterproof clothing? Why not read our other article for some inspiration?

Tops and t-shirts to think about

We’ve talked about jackets and trousers, but what about the best men’s workwear for warmer weather? Or even just for working indoors?

As tradespeople tend to lead very active lives, when choosing a work top, you’ll need to pick well. After all, your clothing will almost become your second skin based on how many hours you put in.

Here are some of the qualities to consider in a top:

• Breathable
• Flexible
• Able to deal with sweat
• Ability to be branded

When it comes to tops, there are now a number of different options for tradespeople to consider. It will really come down to the nature of your job and what you require.

• Shirts (long or short sleeve)
• Polo shirts
• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Thermo layers
• Microfleece
• Sweatshirts

As t-shirts, polo shirts and shorts all work better in warmer weather, it is important to consider how well your work clothes work in all seasons.

Protective men’s clothing for tradespeople

Naturally with any hands-on trade job, there will be hazards that you need to prepare for.

For example, as a builder or roofer, you want maximum protection from heavy objects, sharp items underfoot and the changing weather.

Thankfully there are a range of protective clothing options to think about. For example:

• Boiler suits
• Disposable coveralls
• Painters bibs & braces
• Overshoes

Keep your standard work clothes fully protected by covering up. Alternatively, you can choose different clothing entirely to make sure that you stay protected, such as with PPE and Hi-Vis.

PPE

As well as style and comfort, another key part of choosing the best men’s workwear is based on practicality.

Choosing the right PPE as a tradesperson will very much depend on the nature of your trade. Whatever your profession, it is important to stay protected at all times.

Personal protective equipment can consist of a wide variety of things, such as glasses, helmets, gloves, masks, respirators and face shields.

You won’t need every piece of protection, but it is important to factor into your overall workwear.

Hi-Vis men’s workwear

If you work on a construction site, being visible is essential.

For example, if you’re going to be working on a larger building project with other contractors, tradespeople and subcontractors, you’ll want to be seen. Almost everything you buy could be Hi-Vis, even your footwear.

Thankfully, for tradespeople, there is a wide variety of hi visibility clothing to choose from.

• Jackets
• Hats
• Trousers
• Waist coats / vests
• Gloves
• Rucksack covers

When you need to be seen, you can be. Make sure to consider your options and if you need to, plan to keep some to hand among your other work gear.

Branded and embroidered workwear

When it comes to putting your brand on your workwear, embroidered workwear has an added feeling of quality.

Helping show potential and existing customers your professionalism, having consistent workclothes is also thought to instil trust. There are many articles from suppliers outlining the benefits of having your work clothes branded.

As an employer, it is also a good way to maintain consistency among staff.

Make sure to check options with any online retailer, as there are some suppliers that specialise in workwear for tradespeople, in a variety of options.

Become a Checkatrade member to help you save on workwear

Did you know that Checkatrade tradespeople are able to get their workwear for less? We’ve partnered with people like Clothes2order, Wickes, Selco and Tradepoint so that members can enjoy a range of disco

If you want in on the action, then here’s how you can get money off your workwear.

Offers and discounts can be accessed within the dedicated Member’s Area. There is also an area within the Checkatrade trades app where members can claim their discounts.

On top of that, if you’re still not convinced about signing up, why not think about these other benefits as well?

• Membership options that you can rely on to provide you with leads
• We’ll guarantee your work if booked through us (T&Cs apply)
• Savings on business essentials with a range of suppliers
• Cheaper public liability insurance with Superscript

Why not speak to someone in our team today? Our fixed membership option lets you build the plan that’s perfect for you and your business needs.