Many of us rely on work shorts once the weather turns brutally hot. But finding the right type of work short to meet the demands of your job (and climate) can be critical.
There are 7 main things you will want to consider when buying work shorts. Each of these can greatly affect the performance of a pair of work shorts, and how they are designed.
- Durability – Do you need a canvas fabric?
- Comfort – Do you need a stretch fabric? A breathable fabric? A crotch gusset?
- Pockets – How many pockets do you need? Do you need a tool loop?
- Inseam – How long do you like work shorts to fit?
- Fit – Do you like a relaxed fit or a slimmer fit?
- Waistband – Do you like a flexible waistband? How many belt loops do you need?
- Cost – Are you on a tight budget this month?
In this article let’s discuss these 7 issues to consider when buying work shorts. I will use specific examples of my work shorts that I own to give you a better idea of what your options might be.
7 Things to Consider When Buying Work Shorts
Durability
How durable do you need your work shorts to be? The most durable types of work shorts will either use cotton canvas fabric, or a ripstop fabric. Quickly, here’s what you need to consider about ripstop vs canvas:
- Canvas – The most durable type of fabric you can find in work clothing. Very abrasion resistant and durable. If you need something very tough, this is probably your best option. The drawback is at first it can feel a bit stiff, and can trap heat. Canvas picture below. To read more, visit our article about the best canvas shorts.
- Ripstop – Ripstop is a lighter-weight more summer-friendly fabric. No, it’s not as durable as canvas, but it is designed in a way that discourages rips and tears. This makes it durable enough for most types of jobs and is a nice blend of toughness and breathability. Ripstop material pictured below. To read more, visit our article about the best ripstop shorts.
- Denim – Denim is another durable, and comfortable, fabric. Finding denim work shorts isn’t impossible, but they definitely aren’t as popular as canvas and ripstop shorts. I use the Wrangler denim shorts pictured below. I like denim, I just don’t use it in the extreme heat.
Yes, you can find lightweight work shorts as well, but just make sure that they make sense for your job. Will a lightweight work short hold up? If it will, it’s probably your best option, especially in the brutal heat.
Comfort
You need work shorts that are comfortable, otherwise, they will make long days feel even longer. Obviously fit can play into the comfort (we discuss that more later in article), but there are three very specific things that can affect the comfort of your work shorts:
- Stretch Fabric – Stretch fabric blends incorporate a small bit of spandex to give work shorts flexibility. This has become increasingly popular over the last few years. It allows you to bend and crouch easier. The drawback is these types of shorts may not always be as durable over the long run. To read more, visit our article about the best stretch work shorts.
- Crotch Gusset – A crotch gusset is extra material sewn into the crotch to take stress of, yes, your nether-regions. There are two types (pics below). A diamond gusset is smaller, confined to crotch. An inseam gusset stretches the full length of short. Both pictured below. An inseam gusset is the better choice for hiking and running, but both help on the job. To read more visit our article about the best gusseted work shorts.
- Breathable Fabric – A moisture-wicking, breathable fabric can make a huge difference in the heat. It allows body heat to escape, and some moisture wicking fabrics can even help regulate, to a small degree, body temperature. To read more visit our articles about the best lightweight work shorts and the best moisture wicking cargo shorts.
Pockets
How many pockets do you need? Having too many pockets can be overkill and just add bulk and weight to your work shorts. That doesn’t help anyone. But not having enough pockets can be a problem too.
There are a few design options you will want to consider:
- Cargo Shorts – As we all know, cargo shorts give you plenty of storage space. The only drawback is cargo pockets can be bulky. Sometimes, low-profile zip cargo pockets take away the bulk. To read more visit our article about the best cargo work shorts. For low profile, visit our article about the best cargo shorts with zip pockets.
- Carpenter Shorts – Carpenter shorts are better for those who need tool loops and tool band. They also are good for those who just don’t like the bulkiness of cargo pockets. Most carpenter shorts have small utility pockets down one leg. To read more, visit our article about the best carpenter work shorts.
If you prefer cargo work shorts, you will have plenty of options. Not only can you find tradition cargo work shorts, but they make stretch cargo shorts, and denim cargo shorts so you can find a material that works best for you.
Inseam
You will definitely want to consider the inseam of your work shorts. Obviously, your height matters, but a 10″ inseam will often hit near the top of the knee.
It is most common to find work shorts in the 10-11″ inseam length. Longer options may push up near 13 inches in some extreme examples.
For shorter work shorts, you will see options in the 8 to 9-inch inseam range. These will finish well above the knee for most people. To read more, visit our article about the best short work shorts.
If you prefer a longer inseam, visit our article about the best long cargo shorts.
Fit
Most work shorts are made with a loose, relaxed fit that gives your legs plenty of breathing room. Not only is this comfortable, it allows you more freedom of movement on the job.
But if you prefer a slimmer look, it is much more difficult to find options. Many workwear companies don’t make slim fit work shorts. But we put together a list of your best options – to read more visit our article about the best slim fit work shorts.
Waistband
It may be easy to neglect the waistband when choosing work shorts, but it is something you will want to consider. First of all, do you need extra belt loops?
I’ve found that typically the cheaper the work shorts, the less belt loops they have. This is one of the sneaky ways they cut down on material costs and hope nobody notices. Just be mindful of that.
But perhaps the biggest thing to consider is whether or not you want a flexible waistband. They are basically two types. The first is the more traditional, bunched elastic style that we are familiar with seeing. Here’s an example:
But you will also find a lot of work shorts that have hidden elastic waistbands. This means from the outside, the short looks like it has a normal, non-elastic waistband. Here’s an example of this type of waistband hidden on the inside of the short:
Both types of elastic waistbands can help your shorts fit snug and comfortable. To read more, visit our article about the best elastic waist work shorts.
Cost
Yes, cost can be an issue. Some of the more premium styles of workwear shorts can cost $50 or more. But if you are on a tighter budget, you can definitely find shorts cheaper than $30.
If you need budget-friendly options, I’d recommend considering Dickies. They are well-known for making a wide selection of workwear that is quite affordable, and still dependable.
Just be mindful that cheaper shorts may not have as many belt loops, may not have extra seam stitching, may not have pocket reinforcements, and the hardware may not hold up as well over the long run.