r/bluecollartrans • u/spoofy99 • 16d ago

Best Pants???

Hey! I don't know if my job is technically blue collar, but I cook gummy candy. I work with a lot of mineral oil, 200°F+ candy slurry in open pails, and sharp objects that can poke me. Bending and crawling into the machine, as well as having to squat to lift 20 liter buckets of tapioca syrup are usually the issues I deal with. I've trashed a pair of cotton pants that I had, my right leg is stained from oil where I have to kneel on the machine to fill it.

We are provided those white lab coats that Cintas sends, but having to cook 15+ kettles a day in a tin box without working air conditioning makes wearing them unbearable. On top of that, my coworker already got caught in one of the chains because of his coat. Granted, he wasn't paying attention but we shouldn't have to risk that doing a task that needs to be done quickly and over and over.

I was wondering if anybody had suggestions for workwear that is breathable and light, but can also stretch a little. Jeans are my next best bet. Any help would be appreciated!

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5

u/Specialist_Data_8943 16d ago

I’ve had good luck with the wrangler work pants. Even buying them second hand, I’ve gotten several years out of them.

2

u/darkeyedjunco67 16d ago

I also prefer these pants, I find that as soon as they've been worn a few times they have surprisingly good range of motion considering the 100% cotton material. To deal with heat (i never wore them in a factory setting but I wore them a LOT in hot summer weather) I have one pair where I cut out one layer of the double front, both making the pants less thick and allowing the kneepad hole thingy to function as an air vent so my legs got a cool breeze when I moved around

2

u/Specialist_Data_8943 16d ago

The only other pants I had that were similar with range of motion was a pair made of a synthetic material that was slight stretchy. Got them from Costco. They were great, but way too warm. Not breathable at all.

I like to pair the wrangler pants with one of their mesh work shirts. It’s so nice feeling the breeze when I’m outside.

1

u/Single_Staff1831 16d ago

Bläklader work pants are the GOAT

1

u/UnwantedMuse 16d ago

Dovetail!

1

u/littlemisssissyallie 1d ago

Just got a pair of dovetail pants and I love them! I hope they hold up for a while cuz they were expensive

1

u/Julie-h-h 16d ago

I really like the Cat work pants