Pros know there’s a difference between brands that say they make workwear and those that genuinely make good stuff. So who are the best construction clothing brands? We got our team together to take a closer look at the brands we wear when there’s work to be done.
We trust every one of these brands. Like everyone else, we have some favorites, so we’ve ranked them in order. Rest assured, you won’t go wrong with any of them, though.
Other brands make quality workwear of course — and our European readers likely have very different tastes (Mascot, Snickers, etc). In this article, we’re focusing on popular brands in the USA that cover you from top to bottom. These manufacturers also make gear for both men and women. Some even make work boots — but not all, so check out our best work boot recommendations.
Best Workwear Brands Table of Contents
#1 Best Workwear Brand
Truewerk
Truewerk Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 5 stars
- Comfort: 5 stars
- Catalog Range: 3 stars
- Price: $$$
Two significant revelations got Truewerk its start. Most workwear is either flexible or durable but not both, and most workwear is not cut for physically fit tradesmen. We were one of the first folks Truewerk reached out to and when we wore it for the first time, we knew it was something special.
Expect high quality and durability with outstanding comfort in the workwear Truewerk offers. Of our best construction clothing recommendations, it runs a mid-range price point and the catalog range isn’t as wide as some, but you’re going to love wearing the gear.
Wear what we’re wearing:
#2 Best Workwear Brand
Carhartt
Carhartt Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 4 stars
- Comfort: 3 stars
- Catalog Range: 4 stars
- General Price Range: $$$
An iconic brand, Carhartt is enjoying a resurgence in popularity as a clothing trend. Of course, it’s a perennial favorite among the construction and agricultural industries.
When you shop Carhartt, expect a wide range of options for shirts, jackets, pants, and even work boots. Excellent durability is one of the brand’s defining characteristics. The comfort level is good, though some of the best jackets and jeans need a bit of working and washing time before they get to their most comfortable wear.
#3 Best Workwear Brand
Duluth Trading Company
Duluth Trading Company Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 5 stars
- Comfort: 4 stars
- Catalog Range: 5 stars
- General Price Range: $$$ – $$$$
Despite the goofy commercials, Duluth Trading Company is definitely one of the best construction clothing brands for both men and women. In fact, PTR reviewer, Luke Smith, swears by them for his agricultural construction work.
While the prices are a bit higher than some brands, Duluth Trading Company workwear tends to have outstanding durability, excellent comfort, and a wide catalog range.
#4 Best Workwear Brand
Tecovas
Tecovas Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 4 stars
- Comfort: 5 stars
- Catalog Range: 4 stars
- General Price Range: $$$ – $$$$
As a western wear brand, Tecovas pours impressive quality into its materials and construction. Fitting well into the construction and agricultural industries, they have you covered from head to toe, including hats, belts, and boots to go along with shirts, pants, and other accessories.
When you buy Tecovas, most of the clothing is broken in out of the package. Their bread-and-butter handmade boots may need a little break-in time to loosen up, but you’ll love the quality, look, and fit. Plus, they’re motivated to take of you after the sale with easy returns and outstanding customer service.
Wear what we’re wearing:
#5 Best Workwear Brand
Filson
Filson Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 5 stars
- Comfort: 4 stars
- Catalog Range: 4 stars
- General Price Range: $$$$ – $$$$$
We think Filson makes premium outdoor wear that crosses over well into the agricultural industry and even into the trades. They built their reputation by outfitting miners, engineers, loggers, and other outdoorsmen with a history that dates back to 1897. It’s a brand that can cover you from head to toe, including headwear and some footwear selections. They also carry a range of accessories, bags, and some lifestyle gear.
Filson products are high quality and the price reflects that. Some of those materials do require some break-in and washing time to reach their peak comfort. Once they do, they’ll be your favorites for many years thanks to their inherent quality and durability.
Wear what we’re wearing:
#6 Best Workwear Brand
Dickies
Dickies Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 3 stars
- Comfort: 4 stars
- Catalog Range: 5 stars
- General Price Range: $ – $$
With a workwear heritage that’s more than 100 years deep, Dickies enjoys a significant presence as a trendy brand. Some of its greatest appeals are its affordability and an incredible range of options in its catalog for both men and women. The overall durability isn’t as high as some of the other brands on our list, but the comfort level is generally excellent.
Wear what we’re wearing:
#7 Best Workwear Brand
Milwaukee Tool
Milwaukee Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 4 stars
- Comfort: 4 stars
- Catalog Range: 1 star
- General Price Range: $$ – $$$
As the only power tool brand to make our list, Milwaukee has a more limited catalog compared to other brands. The brand continues to grow, however. You may be surprised to discover they make hats, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets (including heated jackets), gloves, base layers (for hot and cold days), and even a few bottom pieces. Unlike other construction clothing brands, Milwaukee also covers a lot of your PPE needs.
When you buy Milwaukee workwear, expect excellent durability, not only in the construction but also in the material choices. Overall, the clothing tends to maximize your movement on the job and offers comfortable wear. Some of the most durable gear requires some break-in time to reach its highest comfort level, though.
Wear what we’re wearing:
#8 Best Workwear Brand
Wolverine
Wolverine Profile
- Coverage: 4-season
- Durability: 4 stars
- Comfort: 3 stars
- Catalog Range: 3 stars
- General Price Range: $$ – $$$
Perhaps best known for its work boots, don’t overlook the Wolverine clothing line. It has a wide enough range to cover you literally from head to toe—even including flame-resistant clothing and wallets. The durability is generally excellent and the comfort level is very good. Most of Wolverine’s gear has a light to moderate break-in period, but nothing too extreme.
Best Construction Workwear Brands: What We Look For
Coverage
When we talk about coverage, we’re looking for how many seasons a workwear brand can cover you. A true 4-season brand keeps you working and comfortable from freezing winters all the way to 100° summer days.
Durability
The durability of your construction clothing comes from both the material choices and how they are put together. Weak materials tear or wear through quickly. Poorly constructed workwear literally comes apart at the seams. Since jobsites are tougher environments than most work areas, tradesmen and tradeswomen need tougher workwear.
Comfort
It used to be that wearing jobsite tough workwear also meant dealing with months of breaking in thick, stiff material until it had enough movement and washings to loosen up. That’s not the case anymore. The best workwear brands we wear are either 100% ready on day one or require far less wear to reach their maximum comfort levels.
Material choice plays a big part. Polyester is naturally soft and flexible but can rip/tear easily. Demin or ballistic nylon can be durable but stiff. Blends of these materials (and others) bring the characteristics of multiple worlds together to make comfortable, flexible, and durable workwear.
Catalog Range
Everyone has a style they like and some brands have a much wider range of choices than others. Just because a brand has a smaller range of options doesn’t mean you should ignore it, though. If you find just a couple of workwear items you really like, it’s a win.
General Price Range
As with most things in life, as you move up in construction clothing price, you tend to move up in quality, comfort, or both. Our crew spans the range from budget shoppers to folks willing to spend more for gear that’s going to last. One way to step up in quality without price is to look for end-of-season clearance deals. In some cases, you can save 50%. If you wear some of the more unpopular sizes, you can snag some fantastic deals.
Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves, and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.
We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.
Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.
Pro Tool Reviews consults with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.
We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites. We consult with them extensively on testing methods, categories, and practical applications.
