Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: Bledlow on 04 May, 2021, 07:00:20 pm

Title: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Bledlow on 04 May, 2021, 07:00:20 pm
My two old pairs (jeans & chinos) reserved for such jobs fell to pieces almost simultaneously. I bought a pair of Dickies work trousers online, & they're almost good. Size, fabric, knee protection all fine, all the pockets I want & more, & at a very acceptable price indeed. I'd buy another pair, except for the one fault.

They have what I think should be called a builders cut. It is less than ideal for anything that requires bending over in cold weather. A bit draughty at times.

Does anyone have any suggestions for something cheap without that flaw?
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: giropaul on 04 May, 2021, 07:11:52 pm
Dungarees.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: robgul on 04 May, 2021, 07:23:25 pm
I think Dickies stuff is no longer available in the UK.

Scruffs is the other brand that looks good - no idea about the cut though.  Tip: wear braces with the trousers - 2nd tip - an overall/boiler suit is excellent for keeping warm.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: hbunnet on 04 May, 2021, 09:04:43 pm
I have a pair of Lidl workies trousers. Capacious, loads of pockets and lined.  £15 and worn most days since November.

Boiler suit over if working outside.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Bledlow on 04 May, 2021, 09:16:34 pm
Lidl? Interesting. One of their periodic sales, or permanently available?

I think Dickies stuff is no longer available in the UK.

Scruffs is the other brand that looks good - no idea about the cut though.  Tip: wear braces with the trousers - 2nd tip - an overall/boiler suit is excellent for keeping warm.
I bought my Dickies here in the UK about a month ago, online from a UK supplier. Multiple outlets still advertising 'em, including Screwfix.

Yes, overalls would solve that problem, but what I really want is some trousers with the waist at a proper height.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: woollypigs on 04 May, 2021, 09:18:31 pm
I've used these https://www.siteking.co.uk/ Trousers and shorts. One pair of the shorts the stitching did run and I had to fix it myself. The other pair I wore to death over a year or two e.g. I used them every day in the bike shop etc. Trousers I have had for a few years now and still going strong.

I find them good fit, nice and lose, and durable. Never had that issue of having to arrange oneself before crouching with regard to draft or pinch. OK they aren't on par with a pair of Fjällräven but you don't really wanna do DIY and gardening in them.

You can't go wrong for about £15-20 a pair and sometimes you can get them cheaper via ebay.

 
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Bledlow on 04 May, 2021, 09:36:20 pm
Ta. Look interesting.

Fjällräven? I have a very old Greenland jacket, worn in several countries. Still fine, apart from a minor stitching problem inside a pocket.

A few days I saw the price of a Kånken recently, & was shocked. I don't remember what mine cost, many years ago (1980s IIRC), but I recall it seeming not excessive.  So I looked to see if the Greenland jacket was still available. It is - & the price is mind-blowing, when I look at mine. It seems well-made, but it's a rather basic garment. Now £240 on the Fjällräven website. It's changed a little bit, but £240? Really? Maybe it's the organic cotton.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 May, 2021, 09:45:03 pm
I've used these https://www.siteking.co.uk/ Trousers and shorts.
Some of their safety specs look remarkably like cycling glasses but at a tenth the price.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: woollypigs on 04 May, 2021, 09:53:33 pm
Fjällräven have added a bit extra to their cost for sure over the years. The Fjällräven KÅNKEN (backpack) we used in DK in 80s a school bag and it was dear but not £85 dear. My mum would never have gotten me one, for me to treat like hell as most 12 year old boys would. A school bag last less than a school year, back then. But this one were bombproof, stuffed with clothing and used as a football, mud, water, sand, dragged after you on foot and bike even got it stick in the chain. Then in the later years brilliant help on the beer run or tool box. I have never manged to wear one out or snap the zipper etc but sadly I lost my last one.

Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Bledlow on 04 May, 2021, 10:01:15 pm
Mine wore out eventually. It'd been to a few continents, & heavily used in the UK.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: JennyB on 05 May, 2021, 01:11:12 pm
Combats from your local tacky surplus store? The standard British ones are surprisingly lightweight, but you can find interesting German, Dutch or Italian variants.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Tail End Charlie on 09 May, 2021, 09:46:22 pm
I buy two pairs each time Aldi have them in. They are excellent, good pockets and room for knee protectors. About ten pounds each pair.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Tom Joad on 14 May, 2021, 02:41:44 pm
From time to time Lidl and Aldi have bib and braces  in. Tough material and spot on for gardening and all sorts of other mucky jobs.  Obviously high backed so no Essex smile potential.
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Flite on 15 May, 2021, 08:53:20 pm
If any ladies are looking for workwear- have a look at Aardvark Clothing. Very good overalls and bib and braces in two different weights of material.  I'm in the lighter version for gardening at this time of year. Good pockets, well made and they actually fit!
Used to use Alexandra, but they have gone over to hospitality and beautician stuff, and anyway the Aarvark is better  designed.
I've given up on craghoppers, rohan etc - if they fit over my thighs and bum there is a huge amount of gaping material at the waist
Title: Re: Trousers for gardening & other manual work
Post by: Bledlow on 16 May, 2021, 12:11:10 am
Combats from your local tacky surplus store? The standard British ones are surprisingly lightweight, but you can find interesting German, Dutch or Italian variants.
There used to be one, but it closed down long ago & AFAIK there isn't one near me now.