If you make workwear, you’ve got to be able to build a long-lasting pair of bib overalls. If you can’t—hang up your denim. Aside from their utility, toughness, and wholesome good looks, a well-loved pair of work bib overalls is a symbol of pride. Like a beat-up pair of work boots, it’s something a lot of hard workers appreciate.
Bib overalls are made from heavy-duty materials that stand up to the toughest jobs and hobbies. They’re abrasion-resistant, have a generous cut for mobility, and plenty of pockets for tools. Some pairs have insulation to keep warm in winter while others are DWR-treated to handle rainy days.
We gathered a range—in denim, duck canvas, and insulated options—and wore them over several weeks to help you find a pair that fits well and stands up to different jobs. Below are some of our tested top performers with in-depth reviews of the most worthy overalls as well as some others worth considering.
The Best Work Overalls
What to Consider
Examine the overall construction.
We sought advice from an experienced seamstress about how to inspect the construction of work overalls thoroughly and the details to keep an eye out for. She advised us to spend more time looking at the inside of the garments rather than the outside. The inside is where manufacturers hide slap-dash pocket construction, skimpy hems, and hasty serging (a serge is a type of sewing machine that binds fabric together with an overlock stitch created with three or four different threads). If you see snags or uneven stitching throughout the inside, chances are the overalls won’t last long.
The more stitches, the better.
Double- and triple-needle stitch construction are also a sign that your work overalls are durable. The bindings of the garment are bolstered by multiples seams like you’ll find in our favorite workwear jackets. She also advised us to wash the garments to see what threads come loose in the machine and how neatly, or not, the overalls come out of the dryer. Work overalls are going to need a machine-wash to get them clean, but it’s best to hang or lay flat to dry them if you can.
Regular vs. relaxed fit
Work overalls don’t fit like a pair of jeans. We broke our selection down to regular and relaxed fits. A regular fit has room in the legs and hips so you can move comfortably while you work, with a few extra inches to wear a cold-weather mid-weight layer underneath. A relaxed pair is cut more generously, allowing for bottom layers like jeans or insulated pants
How We Selected and Tested
We turned the work overalls we tested inside out to examine each pocket, strap, seam, hem, bar tack, and rivet. We used an 8x magnifying glass for close inspection of stitching on the seams of pockets, inside button holes, straps, and hammer loops. In addition to inspecting each pair for quality and construction, we wore these work overalls—sometimes multiple pairs a day—doing yard work, fix-up projects, and tool testing. We wore them to the office and on runs to the lumber yard.
We determined the best options based on fit, comfort, ease of movement, and how well the hardware (zippers, clasps, and buckles) works. (Pro tip: If you want a great conversation starter, wear some work overalls. People have fond memories of them and will often ask you where you got them.)
The Best Work Overalls Reviews
Dickies’s overalls are about as traditional as you’re going to find, and their workmanship is impressive for the price and availability. They feature triple-needle stitching on the inside and outside of both legs, and double needle stitching on the pockets and hammer loop.
The pockets have a traditional layout with organized slots at the chest and small extra pockets on the right leg. They have a full cut through the hips and legs so there’s room to move and can fit layers underneath on colder days. The plentiful bar tacks—18 to be exact—bolster durability and are sewn in red thread for a unique detail. If your tastes lean toward the traditional and you want a pair of work overalls that are durable, flattering, and have ease of movement, these are a good choice.
Grunden’s Tourney overalls are waterproof and lightweight. They’re ideal for people who need overalls for saltwater fishing, working out in spitting rain, or general light work outside.
They’re made from polyurethane-coated polyester and are reinforced at the seat and knees. Two waterproof pockets—a hip flap pocket and chest zip pocket—secure your belongings. Two snaps on the side help these overalls seal to your hips, and the absence of a zipper at the front (typical of waterproof overalls) provides additional sealing, though isn’t the most convenient when nature calls. The lightweight material fits and drapes well without being too baggy. There aren’t as many pockets as traditional overalls but there’s still enough storage space for odds and ends.
We appreciated the touch of stretch in the material, including the elastic suspenders which meet at an X-shaped juncture in the back. A plastic clip at the meeting point improves their adjustability.
Best Double-Knee Pair
Ariat Rebar DuraCanvas Unlined Bib Overalls
Pros
- Slots for knee pads
- Zip and snap legs for ventilation
Cons
- May be too lightweight for some
Key Specs
| Fabric | Stretch canvas |
|---|---|
| Fit | Relaxed |
| Weight | 9 oz. |
This versatile pair has a triple-stitch construction and a hint of stretch to give you maximum mobility. The 9-ounce canvas is durable but on the lighter side so they’re easier to wear in warmer months. They’re also cut generously and meant to be worn over jeans so there’s plenty of room to layer up underneath.
Buttons and a zip storm-flap down the leg provide some ventilation when you want it and keep out mud and rain. The canvas is also DWR-treated along with being wind-resistant. Multiple pockets on the chest and back hold all the necessary tools and the hardware—buttons, zippers, etc.—are powder-coated for extra durability.
Berne says this is one of its best-selling garments that it takes particular pride in, and we can see why—it’s about as fully featured as work overalls get. The B377 overalls are equipped with 11 pockets, zip legs for easy on-and-off, rivets and plentiful bar tacks at stress points, and elasticized straps and waist.
These exceeded our expectations in testing on the cold autumn mornings and kept us plenty warm in 30-degree weather. Depending on your base and mid-layers, it’ll work just fine for much colder weather. A final thoughtful detail that we like: the hanger strap between the shoulders on the back panel—a feature that should be standard on every heavy-duty overall.
Best Classic Denim
Round House 966 Rigid Denim Work Overalls
Pros
- Excellent workmanship
- Sturdy hardware
Cons
- Generous cut may be too big for some
Key Specs
| Fabric | 100% cotton denim |
|---|---|
| Fit | Relaxed |
| Weight | Unspecified |
We could only find two companies left in the U.S. making work overalls and one of them is Round House, a no-nonsense manufacturer in Shawnee, Oklahoma. This pair’s superior workmanship impressed us both at first glance and when inspecting deeper.
Our careful inside-out analysis found flawless seams and properly executed bar tacks—nothing was crooked, slightly off, or hastily serged. The hardware is also substantial and performed flawlessly. Every buckle, clasp, and zip was weighty and smooth to do and undo. The cut is true to size, with wide legs and room through the hips. If you bend, squat, and turn in these, you stay comfortable.
The overalls perform the work they’re called to do, but note they’re traditional and old-school, not built for turning heads.
This is an updated version of the brand’s workwear classic, the R01, but this has updated features such as a large cell phone pocket in the bib secured with a heavy-duty brass zipper.
There’s an elastic gusset where the legs and back panel meet to provide some stretch when bending and makes it easier to tuck in bulky sweaters or hoodies underneath. The 12-ounce duck canvas is substantial as is, but Carhartt adds panels at the cuffs and knees for added abrasion resistance.
These work overalls are cut true to size, same as your pants size. A base layer is about the only thing that’ll fit under these, so size up if you prefer to wear sweatpants or layer more underneath. We were impressed by the workmanship on this pair and found it to be almost as good as the Round House overalls—a line of demarcation for this test.
Best Broken-In Pair
Berne B910 Cobblestone Pre-Washed Work Overalls
Pros
- Soft and comfortable
- Large pocket has a zipper to secure your phone
Cons
- Contemporary cut may be too fitted for some
| Fabric | 100% cotton denim |
|---|---|
| Fit | Regular |
| Weight | 10 oz. |
These Berne work overalls are the only ones that we could describe as modern in their design and cut. They are pre-washed and very soft from the first time we put them on. They’re also slightly slimmer than classic pairs. The legs have a straight fit and they’re not as wide in the hips.
The large pockets are sized to fit a phone or a wallet, or both at the same time. The largest of the two pockets has a zipper to keep a cell phone from falling out when performing odd jobs. The Cobblestones are also the only pair of work overalls in the test with an extra pocket below the hammer strap.
Best Old-School Pair
Ben Davis 862 Carpenter’s Overalls
Pros
- Durable cotton-poly materials
- Attached nail apron
Cons
- Some fraying around the button holes
Key Specs
| Fabric | 60% cotton 40% polyester duck canvas |
|---|---|
| Fit | Relaxed |
| Weight | 12 oz. |
Ben Davis is the only company we found that makes work overalls with an attached nail apron, and we were pleasantly surprised by how this pair fit and performed.
It’s fashioned from perhaps the toughest duck canvas we’ve seen—a blend of 60 percent cotton and 40 percent polyester. We’re sticklers for all-cotton duck, but this stuff made a believer out of us as the added polyester made these super durable. Its post-laundry color retention is excellent, and it came out of the dryer almost as nicely as pre-washed denim. These are cut generously like traditional workwear and meant to be worn over other clothing or cold-weather layers.
Even then, Ben Davis recommends sizing up, which we did. You can slip these on right over chunky work boots, however, you’ll need to take your boots off to take the work overalls off. The knee padding provided flexible cushioning and added a little warmth in the winter. We suspect it will flatten with use, but it’s good while it lasts. The 12 pockets provide more than enough storage to see the average carpenter through a day’s work.
Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men’s style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men’s shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.
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