Women in hands-on industries often turn to men’s workwear to get by. But the landscape of women’s workwear is quickly changing, and with that, choice follows. There are now brands dedicated to finding the perfect balance between fit and function for women’s workwear. Gone are the days of needing to buy pants too big so our hips would fit, but then our legs were drowning in material.
You might be looking for an economic pick, like the Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants, or a pair of overalls: check out the Liberty Duck Bib Overalls. We tested a myriad of options and designs.
As both an equestrian and an outdoorswoman, our primary tester finds herself grabbing durable gear more often than most. She tested a wide swath of pants over a 6-month period and beat the heck out of them in the process. Between horseback riding and general mayhem, these pants passed the test.
Editor’s Note: For our November 12, 2024 update, we added a Price & Value section to show what buyers get with different price points.
The Best Work Pants for Women
Dovetail Britt Utility
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Broad size range to fit any body
- 11(!) pockets
- Rugged duck canvas material
- Ample crotch gusset doesn't limit mobility
- Knee slots for cushion
Cons
- Extended break-in period
- On the pricier side
We. Are. Obsessed. The Dovetail Britt Utility pants ($99) are not just the best overall work pants of all that we tried, but they’re also our favorite pants, period. The fit is high-waisted and ridiculously flattering. There’s a little stretch, but not too much to be flimsy. It’s a pair of pants made for many women’s bodies, with a wide range of sizes available from 000 to 24.
We followed Dovetail employees’ advice and ordered a bit small. We second-guessed them the first few times we werewearing the pants (it wasn’t a comfortable break-in period). But after a few months of use, they fit perfectly and show zero wear. These pants don’t stop there, though — 11 pockets make space for your shop essentials, and knee slots provide space to run pads for all-day work.
Offered up in canvas, reinforced denim, and thermal denim (a polyester-backed weave that Dovetail touts a 40% bump in warmth), these pants have a version for any season, and all sport the durability we’re after for year-long use.
The silhouette is also our favorite of the bunch. It’s a true boot cut, so we can wear them over our cowboy boots easily. But we can also tuck them into boots without extra bulk. The Dovetail Britt Utility pants are well worth the $99 expense. We foresee them being a part of our wardrobe for the remainder of our time on this planet.
Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 7 pockets
- Stretch
- Reinforced front panel
Cons
- Small hand pockets
- Runs large
Dickies’ Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants are the only pants in the bunch that we haven’t personally tried, but the price tag is certainly right, and reviewers tend to like these pants a lot. At $50, they are quite the steal.
One reviewer described them as “super great pants and a great value for the price.” Another said, “These pants are seriously awesome. Tool pockets on both sides of the legs, double paneled fabric in the front for all the wear and tear of the job, and they stretch well when you bend.”
The biggest gripe for folks tends to be sizing. The waist tends to be big, and the length tends to be long. Keep this in mind. Although, personally, we’d rather pants be too long than too short. Sizes run from 2 to 16.
Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stretchy
- Comfortable
- Multiple utility pockets
Cons
- Thinner fabric
The Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex ($70) is the flexible work pant we’ve been looking for. There are no issues climbing over fences or getting the full range of motion when squatting to lift feed bags. They are comfortable and provide a higher rise in the back, so there is no worry about exposing your lower back or butt when leaning over to grab the twine.
The Rugged Flex canvas feels thinner than traditional Carhartt pants, but that doesn’t make it any less durable. However, you might want something a bit thicker for those chilly winter days. The relaxed fit allows room to move but isn’t baggy or boxy. The midrise cut sits at the natural waist and doesn’t cut into your stomach when sitting. As another bonus, they have double knees with openings for knee pads.
These Carhartts are best for summer or fall days when you are in the garden or out in the field, needing maximum freedom in your movement.
Liberty Duck Bib Overalls
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Large zippered pocket
Cons
- Wash with care, may shrink
New from Liberty, these Duck Bib Overalls ($53) are the bee’s knees. We don’t usually wear overalls, as they tend to either be way too tight or giant and unwieldy.
Thankfully, Liberty found a balance. These bibs are flattering and durable without being bulky, and there was clearly some thought put into the cut. A wide range of sizing covers many, with S-2XL available. We wear these over leggings and sweaters to keep our gear clean at the barn, and on cold days, they provide a great layer against the sharp Montana wind.
Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fights odor
- Versatile
- FastDry technology
Cons
- Durability
Carhartt offers two types of leggings, the Lightweight Utility ($60) and the Carhartt Force Utility. Out of these two, the Lightweight Utility is an everyday staple. It has enough pockets to be helpful, and it wears like a yoga pant. We can scram for a 2-hour ride on our horse, then hit up a quick hike, and follow it with a couch lounge and be totally comfortable. Again, these run a bit short, and they’re available in size XS-2XL.
We did try the Force Utility as well, but we’re not sure Carhartt has nailed this design yet. The fit was a little funky. And we had issues with seams ripping, as some of the material has no give — but we like the idea of a more durable legging. If you’re looking to buy, we’d hold off on these until they update. However, Carhartt does offer these in plus-size options from 1X to 3X, which is the only legging we found in that size range.
Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wide range of sizes and inseams
- Durable
- Classic look
Cons
- Updated sizes run small
Not surprisingly, our favorite work jeans are the Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean ($55). The heavyweight broken twill denim is designed for comfort and durability. This classic style of work jeans is infamous and has been part of the Wrangler line in different cuts for many years.
They are comfortable and have wide hand pockets to store all sorts of loose bolts, change, and a phone. They are high-rise, ensuring that your waist won’t be out in the elements, whether riding horses or mucking out stalls. The legs are tapered but wide enough to slide easily over work boots.
Wrangler produces a bevy of hardworking jeans for working and horse folk, but these are the most enduring. They have five different inseams, so finding a pair long enough should be easy. They updated their sizing, so make sure to check the sizing chart, call Wrangler (they are actually super helpful!), or go to a store and try them on.
KÜHL Rydr Pant
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Multiple size and inseam option
- Durable
- Useful pockets
Cons
- Expensive
- No stretch
The KÜHL Ryder Pant ($99) is an excellent option if you are looking for everyday work pants that aren’t denim or traditional canvas material. The fabric blend is tough but surprisingly soft. They have pockets that are big enough to be useful and side pockets that can hold more oversized items like a phone or wrenches.
They have reinforced cuffs, with the heel cuff having an additional 2″ vertical reinforcement. We noticed our work pants fray from the bottom up, and these are designed to mitigate that issue. The knees are articulated for maximum movement.
The left thigh pocket has a softer fabric on the inside, which makes it perfect for a phone, but make sure to house nails, screws, and other sharp objects in the right thigh pocket, which is doubled up with the same material as the pant.
While the fabric is durable, it isn’t very stretchy, and there is a break-in period if you are squatting or swinging your legs over a fence. One thing we wished it had was a gusseted crotch. That would allow more flexibility when needing to high step over barbed wire.
With an internal drawstring, multiple inseam options, and relaxed vs. straight-leg, the KÜHL Ryder Pant is created to be customized to your preference and is one of our favorite daily work pants.
Women’s Work Pants Comparison Chart
| Women’s Work Pants | Price | Material | Inseam | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dovetail Britt Utility | $99 | Cotton, spandex | 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 | 000-24 |
| Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants | $50 | Cotton, spandex | Regular | 2-16 |
| Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex | $70 | Cotton, elastane | Short, Regular, Tall | 0-26 |
| Liberty Duck Bib Overalls | $53 | Cotton | N/A | S-XXL |
| Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging | $60 | Nylon and spandex ponte | Regular and Tall | XS-XXL |
| Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean | $55 | Cotton | 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 | 00-15 |
| KÜHL Ryder Pant | $99 | Cotton and spandex | 30, 32, 34 | 0-16 |
How We Tested Women’s Work Pants
Our Expert Tester
The GearJunkie team is made up of women who play and work in the outdoors. We are horsewomen, ranchers, landscapers, and all-around outdoorswomen. We need durable pants that fit and can keep up, literally.
Constance Mahoney grew up on a working ranch in Montana. Her family did it all: cows, sheep, goats, chickens, and horses. Work pants were hard to come by when she was younger, and she often left with her brother’s hand-me-downs.
She still remembers getting her first pair of brand-new women’s Carhartt pants. She put them through the wringer, raising 4-H steers, moving irrigation, welding projects, fencing, painting, mucking out barns, etc. She had them for over a decade. Transitioning into adulthood, Mahoney always stayed close to outdoor work. Currently, she is a ranch manager in Colorado and still wears work pants daily.
Our Testing Process
We tested these pants at work and when we were out having fun. We wore them outside doing daily chores, riding horses, hopping fences, and stacking firewood.
Let’s be honest: pants are hard to find for women in general. We first wanted to know how they fit when we put them on. How were the length and waist, and did they offer additional pockets? We love our pockets, even in work pants. We wanted to ensure they could move when needed, paying particular attention to the flexibility, stretch, and snagging and noting if the back crept down when we bent over.
After we put them to work, we inspected the pairs to note any noticeable fraying, pilling, or seam ripping. We did the same inspection after we washed them. We also tried them on again after washing them because there is nothing worse than finding your pants too tight the next time you go to put them on.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Women’s Work Pants
Whether on a construction site, in a barn, or working outdoors, finding the perfect pair of women’s work pants is essential for comfort, durability, and functionality. Finding the right women’s work pants involves balancing functionality, comfort, and style. Considering these factors, you’ll be well-equipped to make a smart and informed decision tailored to your work environment and needs. Here’s a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you make an informed decision.
It’s important to note that this guide focuses solely on workwear made for women. For lighter, more outdoor-oriented pants, take a peek at our GearJunkie guide on women’s hiking pants, or scope out our men’s-specific guide to work pants.
Material
The first thing you need to consider is the work you plan on doing. Will you be around large machinery, animals, or landscaping projects? Will you need to be quick on your feet, maximizing stretch and freedom, or will you need something heavier-duty with more protection?
The best women’s work pants are a combination of cotton and spandex/elastane. The spandex allows the fabric to “give” and creates flexibility. The cotton is usually spun into a tight weave called canvas. That makes the pants thicker and more durable. An even tighter cotton weave is called “duck canvas.” Pants made with canvas and duck canvas are resistant to wear and tear, ensuring longevity.
Dickies Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants are made with both spandex and duck canvas allowing them to be durable yet flexible. If you are looking for something with more stretch, the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex offers a canvas weave with more elastane, creating flexibility. Or if all you want is comfort and freedom and don’t need too much protection, the Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging is a stellar option.
Durability
Above, we discussed the material and what makes it durable, but there are more things to consider when looking at how long women’s work pants will last. Here are a few features of work pants that can help boost their lifespan and improve comfort on the job site.
Articulated Knees
It is when the knee area, think the top of the shin bone to above the knee, has either additional material, double/triple stitching, or darts sewn in at natural crease locations. It allows for extra movement to mitigate creating holes in the knee over time. Canvas and duck canvas can be stiff, and having reinforced areas helps strengthen the pants.
Crotch Gussets
If you need additional flexibility to swing your leg over a horse or a fence, or climb a ladder, look for a work pant with a crotch gusset. A crotch gusset consists of extra fabric (or a gusset) woven into the crotch area. It is usually in the shape of a diamond or triangle. This allows for more comfort and flexibility as you move.
Reinforced Areas
The best women’s work pants will have reinforced knees and cuffs. Adding extra material or stitching will help high-use areas maintain their integrity and last longer.
Stitching
- Bartacks: Bartacks are extra stitching added to stress points to prevent tears. They are typically done in short bursts around high-stress points.
- Double and Triple-Stitched Seams: To ensure maximum longevity, many styles come with double or even triple stitching on the seams.
- Rivets: Rivets are small, round pieces of metal attached to the parts of your work pants that take a lot of stress. The rivets carry the weight of your movement while you work, preventing the pants from ripping.
Fit
This is where it gets complicated. As we noted above, pants are problematic for women. Rarely can we buy from size charts and get the exact fit we want. With that said, work pants are generally less fitted, allowing for some wiggle room. The best thing you can do is try on the pants in a store to decide what fits you best. Some pants have a curvy and straight fit, which helps customize the fit better.
More and more brands are expanding their size chart, and we are so excited! Most of the pants we tested had inseam and size options to pick from. Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean had the best inseam options ranging from 30 to 38, while the Dovetail Britt Utility had the best size range from 000 to 24.
Even with the additional sizing, we sometimes need to wear belts to cinch up the waist. But sometimes, it’s a good way to show off some cool belt buckles! If you want to avoid wearing a belt, we appreciate the KÜHL Ryder Pant interior drawstring.
Style
Depending on what kind of work you are doing, your style choice might be made for you. If you are working with a lot of tools and need additional places to store things, you will want to look for more cargo-style pants. Cargo doesn’t necessarily mean loose or baggy, just pants with pockets on the thigh. Many of the best women’s work pants have pockets but are not too boxy. The Filson Canvas Straight-Leg Pant is an excellent example of straight-legged work pants.
A lot of the styles we tested ranged from regular fit to relaxed. Some might argue the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex is considered skinny jeans, but that is as skinny as it gets outside of the Carhartt Force Lightweight Utility Legging.
Some people prefer the bib function for work, and who can blame them? They have ample storage, and you never have to worry about them falling down. If you find yourself in that category, our top bib pick is the Liberty Duck Bib Overalls.
Again, depending on your job, you may need something with added knee protection. The Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex has reinforced knees and openings for knee pads.
Consider your color options, too. If you work with machinery or in a shop, dark colors tend to hide stains if that is something you are concerned about, but make sure you check to see if there are any dress codes you need to follow. The Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean comes in colors ranging from bleached to black.
Price and Value
Work pants can be an investment, but we found several great options that ran in the middle. The more expensive work pants will be made with a higher quality duck canvas, making them more durable and lasting longer.
Budget
If you’re shopping on a budget, you can find a solid pair of work pants for around $50. Our budget pick, Dickies’ Stretch Double-Front Duck Carpenter Pants ($50), have a reinforced front panel, plenty of stretch, and seven pockets to stash whatever you need. Despite the reinforced front panel, these cotton/spandex pants are probably not going to last as long as others on this list, and they run big and long for their sizes, but at $50, you’re getting a lot of pant for the price.
Mid-Tier
The $55 to $75 price range bumps you up into more rugged materials as you get with the Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex ($70). These pants are made with canvas blended with spandex for a good blend of durability and stretchiness. The knees even have double the material with sleeves for knee pads. They also offer something that should be required on every pair of work pants: The high-rise back prevents workers from the dreaded plumber’s crack.
Premium
Closer to the $100 mark, you’re getting top-level durability, plenty of thoughtful features, and some customization options. The KÜHL Rydr Pant ($99) is the perfect blend of soft and tough and comes with reinforced cuffs that have an additional two inches of vertical reinforcement. Since most work pants tend to fray from the bottom up, we especially appreciated that detail. The pants have an internal drawstring to dial in the fit and several inseam options, and they also come in relaxed or straight-leg, so you can get the exact fit that you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Always check your pant tags to see how to wash them. The most common way to clean them is in low-temperature water with a mild detergent and let them air dry. The dryer’s heat will wear them out faster.
Absolutely! While the market is changing and there are now more options for women, some body shapes just fit better in men’s style pants. Here is a list of our favorite men’s work pants.
This depends on how often you wear them, what type of job you wear them for, and how you care for them. On average, they should last three or more years.
You bet! Canvas pants are all the rage in the fall, and depending on how closely you follow fashion trends, they can be worn year-round! If you need a flannel to complete your fall look, check these out.
