Bingo.
My coworker and i discuss this at least once per week. We are outdoor enthusiasts, and compare technical clothing to work clothing.
Work clothes are made from plywood or cardboard, whichever the manufacturer can find cheaper. Then they use the same lasts theyve used the previous 80 years. Then sew the slats together with twine. They insulate them with either yarn or r20 fiberglass sheets. Whatever you do dont raise your arms past your waist and your fine. Dont wear it in the rain or youll be cold and wet.
Basically dickies, carhartt, arborwear, etc survives on brand recognition....if you want to look the part then wear those brands. Its like the Snap On tool shows once per year. Unless youre wearing realtree head to toe, navy blue dickies head to toe, or Snap On freebies head to toe youre not a real mechanic youre a pussy.
If the 'working man' manufacturers added some spandex and gussets they would probably be great for work....but the run of the mill work clothing is almost the price of the lower end technical outdoor stuff. personally I wear carhartt multi pocket scrub bottoms for work. They're great. They are made from ripstop cotton and I've yet to rip them or rip pockets off. I like clothes to fit properly instead of hanging so if they were a little slimmer and had a bit of spandex they would be perfect.
In the past several years I think prana has the best pants, specifically the Bronson pants.
I remember years ago J.B. had a pair of those firehose pants. He seemed to always have a painful look on his face and never bent down to pick stuff up....he kinda threw himself on his back then rolled around, grabbed what he needed, then dragged himself over to a tree to pull himself up. Those pants looked real uncomfortable. Or he just learned after the first time you never bend over around Garrett.
years ago I stopped in the orvis store downtown and figured I'd try a pair of mountain khakis on to see what all the rave was. Unfortunately the smallest pair they had were 36" waist and the longest were 32". I guess the market is short fat guys? My mother in law got me a couple pair as a gift. The 34x34's fit terrible, so I gave them away.
I agree with Garrett regarding the fit of the kuhl pants. They fit great and are made for an athletic fit. Imagine that, an outdoor company not marketing to the fat guy looking for the urban fit but want to look like they hang out in the mountains? i think its the Ryder pants, very simple and the canvas is just the right amount of toughness.
Now if im doing physical work that requires minimal repetitious movement and I don't care if they get ruined the carhartt double knee bibs are the only way to go. If you want to get fancy get some sno seal and a hairdryer and go to town on that canvas.
