Coveralls?

Seeing as we're discussing clothing, are there any coverall users here?

What's good but not hideously expensive? They're only occasional use when I'm doing crawl space or other filthy work

Preferably I want something that comes in tall sizing, colour wise, black, navy, green, brown or beige are fine, white won't do.

Cheers

If I'm doing something nasty enough to make me want coveralls, I wear Tyvek. 

I wear them all the time. I worked oil and gas for 7 years and they were pretty common. I use red kapp ones around the house. Short sleeve for summer long sleeve for winter. I also have a set that is fire resistant that I wear when I weld. It saves a lot of clothes. I also find them cooler in the summer than wearing jeans and safer than shorts. 

I asked the same coverall question here probably ten years ago. I was referred here:

https://www.automotiveworkwear.com/Uniforms/coveralls.html

I wear the Red Kap twill and have been very pleased. I have about 15 pairs now, never broke a seam or zipper or had a hole in a pocket. Material will thin over the years and washing, I wear the thinner pairs in hot weather as new can be hot. Price has increased since I starting buying them but still worth it IMO. Periodic sales of 10-15% off. 

I'll wear them on my days off vs jeans. Comfortable and plenty of pockets for everything. 

Best kept secret: It's like wearing pajamas all day.

I wear Dickies over normal clothes if I'm wrenching at a friend's garage. It's just to keep the dust off so I'm not too filthy for my car.

They're light and not too durable, but they last long enough. There are different ones that are tougher though.

I have some insulated carhartt bib overalls. I wear them walking the dogs (RIP) in the winter, since they were winter loving dogs. Seem to wear like iron; use them working  in the garage or when I'm having a fire outside in winter as well.  I buy factory seconds. 

I bought a pair? set? from https://usedworkclothing.com/ pretty recently. They are in fine condition and seem nice enough, but unfortunately don't really fit since I'm all torso. They'll probably end up in this year's GRM box. I bought some work pants at the same time and I've been very happy with those - seems kind of silly to me to buy new clothes that I'm just going to ruin with grease and oil.

I use shop coats at work, and coveralls at home.

100% cotton feels best against my milky white countenance, and is much harder to inadvertently set on fire.

In reply to cmcgregor (Forum Supporter) :

I have bought used work clothes from Walt's as well and was happy. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

+1 for Walt's. I have a few sets of coveralls from there, they also have labcoats, fire resistant clothes, etc. It's worthwhile.

In reply to Toyman01 + Sized and :

Tyveks definitely have their place when you know you're not going to want to launder whatever you were wearing for that job. I like using them for insulation work.

That said, I find them to easy to tear in a crawl space and they don't breath so you sweat buckets.

Ok, sounds like I'm off to check out red kapp and Dickies

Coveralls are a really convenient way to keep clothes clean when you're rolling around in the dirt.

I feel like Walt's has been mentioned here before. They've got some great gear and good prices, but don't think they ship overseas

Nor to Canada. :(

My last set of "working onesies" has perished. It is a shame Walts is sold out. I need new ones. I bet I can harvest my name tag off the old ones.

Coveralls are great. Easy to slip in and out of, keeps your clothes from getting dirty and stinky. Lends an industrial chic look to everyday tasks. I like to pair them with traditional style safety glasses for a vintage shop teacher aesthetic

I've never considered coveralls, it's always been greasy shorts and t-shirts for me.  However, I hope to be doing a lot more wrenching next year, so maybe I should pick up a set or two.  Seems inexpensive enough.

Question, do you wear them over your clothes or go more "au natural" underneath?  I can't imagine in the Texas heat wearing multiple layers of clothing. 

-Rob

In reply to rob_lewis :

Typically I wear athletic shorts and a t shirt under them but when I was working in Texas it was as little as possible under them. I found underpants and light coveralls the best way to beat the heat working down there. 

+1 Dickies.

+1 Trent's aesthetic.

They all are good, but you must get them with the zippers covered when they are on. If they are exposed you will scratch something expensive like say some new chrome you just got in. 

Not that I am bitter or anything. 

I'm a huge fan.  Probably have 4-5 pairs in various states of decay.  They really do make your street clothes last longer and remain stain free.  I more or less exist in mine from October through March.

If you get a red pair, spend the $7 on a Gizmonics Institute patch.  

rob_lewis said:

Question, do you wear them over your clothes or go more "au natural" underneath?  I can't imagine in the Texas heat wearing multiple layers of clothing. 

One summer when I was taking CAD classes at the community college, I met an old shop teacher who wore (maybe the same?) coveralls every day. I guess when he decided to get set in his ways he also picked a uniform.

I don't think I can handle my shirt also being my pants.

Ethnic Food-Wrap Aficionado said:

If you get a red pair, spend the $7 on a Gizmonics Institute patch.  

Halloween's coming up so a tan pair with a Ghostbusters patch is an easy button.

I have a set and I love them. 

Especially great for jumping in with your regular clothes on, doing something, and then hoping back out without feeling like you need to shower or wash all your cloths 

Especially good if you are like me and try to spend a short period of time each day in the shop.

Also, Rosie the riveter costumes are easy.

I grabbed a set of Duluth Trading Co coveralls on sale last year and they've served me well so far.

YMMV because I bought mine in a women's cut, but I found the "fire hose" fabric to be sturdy but not too heavy, and I like how much range of movement they allow. Good for house work, yard work, and garage time.

I almost forgot, one of my clown costumes is coveralls. I started out with regular Red Kapp coveralls and there are lightning bolts down the side and a logo on the back with a lightning bolt going through a lug nut and the sleeves have wrenches down the arm. This type of clown is called a character clown. My clown name is Lug-Nut and the character is kind of a crazy mechanic type clown. Sorry for the lack of a good pic showing the coveralls.

New York Nick said:

...one of my clown costumes is coveralls.

ok, I'll bite. What are the other clown costumes?