Buying guide · Trousers
Trousers take more punishment than any other garment on this site — kneeling, crouching, loaded pockets, constant abrasion. The style names (cargo, holster, stretch) describe real differences in how they carry weight and survive the year.
The styles
| Style | Built for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo | Volume — the classic thigh-pocket workhorse | Loaded pockets swing; baggier cut |
| Holster | Fast access — external hanging pockets for fixings and tools | Holsters snag if worn empty and flapping; tuck or zip them |
| Stretch / slim | Movement — elastane blends that follow the knee | Lighter fabrics; check the gsm before assuming site-grade |
| Waterproof over-trouser | The wet layer over any of the above | Sized to fit over, not instead |
The knee detail
Trousers with knee-pad pockets pair with foam inserts under EN 14404 — the knee-protection standard, certified as trousers-plus-pads together. For kneeling trades (flooring, tiling, joinery, groundworks) this is the single highest-value feature on the garment: the knees are the career-length decision. Two details matter at order time: top-loading pockets hold pads in place better through a working day, and pads are consumables — order spares with the trousers.
Fabric and construction carry the rest: 240–300+ gsm poly-cotton or ripstop for trade wear, triple-stitched seams at the seat and inside leg, and bar-tacks at pocket corners. Lighter stretch fabrics are genuinely better for active fitting work — but check the weight; slim cuts sold on comfort can be summer-weight cloth wearing trade styling.
Buying
Questions
Cargo trousers carry volume in fixed thigh pockets; holster trousers hang external pockets you can load with fixings and tools for fast access — a joiner's and electrician's favourite. Holsters win for speed, cargos for bulk, and many trades run both by task.
The knee-protection standard — certified as a system of trousers plus foam knee-pad inserts. If your work involves kneeling, trousers with certified pad pockets (and pads actually in them) are the highest-value feature you can buy.
Good ones are — elastane-blend ripstops at proper weights handle site work while following the knee. The check is fabric weight: some slim styles are summer-weight cloth with trade styling. For heavy trades, look at 260 gsm upward or reinforced panels.
Everything in these guides is stocked, embroiderable and priced for teams.