I recently put my hands on 6 of the most popular lightweight long sleeve coveralls for summer to compare them on many things, including weight, design, and breathability. My conclusion is this: I think the Red Kap Lightweight Speedsuit was the most breathable and best for summer hot weather.
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These are my choices for best lightweight long sleeve coveralls:
- *My Favorite* Red Kap Men’s Lightweight Speedsuit (click here to view)
- *Most Flexible* Dickies Long Sleeve Flex Coveralls (click here to view)
- *Most Lightweight* Red Kap Men’s Lightweight Speedsuit (click here to view)
- *Stain Resistant* Red Kap Lightweight Coveralls w/ Oilblok Technology (click here to view)
- *Most Pockets* Dickies Men’s Long Sleeve Blended Coveralls (click here to view)
- *Loosest Fit* Berne Men’s Exhaust Unlined Coverall (click here to view)
- *Slimmest Fit* Red Kap Men’s Lightweight Speedsuit (click here to view)
- *Thickest Material* Dickies Classic Long Sleeve Coveralls (click here to view)
- *Thinnest Material* Red Kap Men’s Lightweight Speedsuit (click here to view)
- *With Tool Loop* Dickies Men’s Blended Long Sleeve Coveralls (click here to view)
- *Best Women’s* Dickies Women’s Long Sleeve Temp-iQ Coveralls (click here to view)
My favorite lightweight long sleeve coveralls are the Red Kap Speedsuit coveralls, but it is important to not that these Red Kap Speedsuit coveralls do not have pass-through pockets. This is where you can view these Red Kap Speedsuit coveralls at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
If you need pass-through pockets, my favorite was the Red Kap Oilblok Coveralls. They use a thin, breathable material, but have extra stain-resistance and have breathable stretch panels that improve comfort and flexibility. This is where you can view these Red Kap Oilblok coveralls at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
Most lightweight coveralls for summer use a cotton/polyester fabric blend. The polyester adds durability, and a resistance to things like stains, wrinkles, and fading. It also helps prevent shrinking.
That said, one thing it doesn’t always add is stretch. If you prefer a stretch fabric blend (which can be very useful for those of you who bend and crouch regularly on the job), then the Dickies Flex Long Sleeve Breathable Coveralls will be the best option.
In this article, we are discussing only lightweight long sleeve coveralls, but I also did the same thing for the most popular short sleeve coveralls. To read more about those coveralls, visit my article about the best short sleeve coveralls for summer.
Let’s discuss the best long sleeve coveralls by taking a closer look at these six options. All measurements in this article are based on size medium tall with the exception of the Berne coveralls which use numerical sizing. The Berne coveralls are size 42 tall, which is the medium equivalent.
My Data for Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls
Weight
| Style | Weight (lbs) | View |
| Red Kap Speedsuit | 1.21 | click here to view |
| Red Kap OilBlok | 1.28 | click here to view |
| Dickies Flex | 1.30 | click here to view |
| Dickies Classic | 1.96 | click here to view |
| Dickies Blended | 2.06 | click here to view |
| Berne Exhaust | 2.16 | click here to view |
The Red Kap were the lightest in weight, along with the Dickies Flex coveralls. As we discuss in the next section, these three options use thinner fabric.
The three heavier coveralls (Dickies Blended, Dickies Classic, Berne Exhaust) might be the better options if you need a more durable fabric. They find a sort of middle ground between lightweight comfort and breathability.
Thickness
| Style | Thick (mm) | Material | View |
| Red Kap OilBlok | 0.32 | 4.25 oz | click here to view |
| Red Kap Speedsuit | 0.32 | 5.0 oz | click here to view |
| Dickies Flex | 0.33 | 4.6 oz | click here to view |
| Dickies Blended | 0.48 | 7.75 oz | click here to view |
| Berne Exhaust | 0.49 | 7.5 oz | click here to view |
| Dickies Classic | 0.52 | 7.75 oz | click here to view |
I measured both of the Red Kap coveralls to be 0.32 mm thick. The Red Kap OilBlok suit uses a 4.25-ounce material, and the Red Kap Speedsuit uses a 5.0 ounce material. Both felt very breathable to wear. As we discussed earlier, the Red Kap Speedsuit does *not* have pass through pockets and the Red Kap OilBlok does.
All of these breathable coveralls use a lightweight material, but the heavier options use 7.5-7.75 ounce material, which makes them thicker and heavier than the thin options. This thicker material may be a better option if you are worried about spills.
My Favorite Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls
Red Kap Lightweight Speedsuit
These Red Kap coveralls were my favorite lightweight coveralls for hot weather. Not only were these the lightest in weight, they also tied for the thinnest material per my measurements. They feel very lightweight and breathable, and allow heat to escape, and are a nice option for hot weather.
Here’s what mine look like:
This is the current price of these Red Kap Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Amazon.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these lightweight coveralls for summer:
- Material – These Red Kap coveralls are made with a 5-ounce cotton/polyester fabric blend that is wrinkle resistant and sweat wicking. The material is very lightweight and breathable. As we discussed earlier, if you are working in an environment where fluid spills are frequent, thicker fabric may be best. But if you are looking for lightweight coveralls for hot weather, I think these coveralls were the most breathable. In the picture below, I tried to capture how breathable the fabric is by holding mine up to the light:
- Elastic Waist – These coveralls have an elastic waistband that serves two purposes. One, it helps increase your flexibility while wearing these coveralls. Two, it helps prevent the coveralls from fitting baggy around the waist, which reduces the chances of loose material snagging on equipment in a work environment.
- Specs – My size medium tall Red Kap coveralls weigh 1.21 pounds. They measure at 0.32 mm thick. This made them the lightest in weight out of all the coveralls I tried, and tied with the Red Kap OilBlok coveralls for thinnest material.
- Flexibility – No, this isn’t a stretch material blend, but these lightweight coveralls do have a pleated back which improves the freedom of movement through the shoulders and gives me the proper space I need to move my arms while I work. You can see the bi-swing back on mine:
- Design – There is no exposed metal on these coveralls, which helps reduce the scratch risk (flap covers zipper and snap buttons). They have a two-way zip front. Again, these coveralls do *not* have pass through pockets. They do have two large hand pockets, two open-top chest pockets, and two back pockets. But they do not have pass through pockets.
I think these are the best long sleeve coveralls you can buy for hot weather, but I will add one small disclaimer. If you prefer a more flexible design, then the Dickies flex coveralls will be the better option. And if you are worried about stain-fighting, the Red Kap OilBlok coverall might be the better option.
The main takeaway is these Red Kap coveralls were the lightest in weight and are very breathable. They are designed to wick away sweat to help keep you comfortable in the heat. These are a great option for summer hot weather.
Click here to buy these Red Kap Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Amazon.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these coveralls fit true to size.
Other Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls to Consider
Red Kap Lightweight Coveralls with Oilblok Technology
These Red Kap OilBlok coveralls are a really nice option, especially if stain-resistance will be an important issue for you. They are made with Red Kap’s OilBlok Technology which “repels oil and oil-based fluids keeping garments looking new longer.”
Yes, these coveralls are very lightweight. They were the second lightest in weight. My size medium tall weigh 1.28 pounds and measured in at 0.32mm thick. The fabric is very breathable, but it is a ripstop fabric which helps discourage rips and tears.
In the photo below I tried to capture how breathable mine are by holding them up to the light. You can also see the ripstop squared fabric pattern:
Another cool design feature for these lightweight long sleeve coveralls is they have breathable stretch panels on the back which help improve air flow and flexibility. The fabric itself is also design to wick away sweat to help keep you dry and comfortable in the heat.
Overall, I found these coveralls to have a looser fit than the Red Kap Speedsuit we discussed first. These coveralls *do* have pass through pockets along with standard hand, chest, and back pockets, along with a two-way zipper.
Click here to buy these Red Kap OilBlok Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Amazon.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these coveralls run true to size.
Dickies Flex Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls
These Dickies Flex coveralls will be the best option if you prefer a stretch fabric blend. They are made with a polyester/cotton stretch twill blend. This makes them much more flexible than other options, which means they might be a nice option if you are bending and crouching constantly on the job.
Overall, I found these coveralls to be very lightweight. They were the third lightest in weight, and measured to be quite thin and breathable. My size medium tall weigh 1.30 pounds and measured at 0.33mm thick.
In the photo below I tried to capture how breathable mine are by holding them up to the light:
These coveralls also have a bi-swing back combined with a generous cut through the shoulders to help improve freedom of movement. If you need increased range of motion on the job, these might be your best option.
Click here to buy these Dickies Flex Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Dickies.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Dickies.com). In my experience, these coveralls run true to size.
Dickies Men’s Blended Long Sleeve Coveralls
Now we are getting into thicker fabric. Yes, these coveralls are still quite breathable compared to certain types of heavy-duty duck coveralls, but these coveralls use a thicker 7.75-ounce fabric, which might make them a good option if you need a more durable fabric.
My size medium tall weigh 2.06 pounds and measure at 0.48mm thick. This made them the second heaviest out of all the lightweight long sleeve coveralls that I tried. But it is also fair to point out that these coveralls use zipper pockets, which adds weight.
The fabric itself, although thicker, I still found to be reasonably breathable. Yes, the options we discussed earlier are more breathable, but these coveralls find a nice middle-ground between lightweight comfort and durability.
Here is what the fabric looks like when I hold it up to the light:
What also stands out about these coveralls are the extra pockets. They have many more utility pockets than other coveralls, and also feature a tool loop on the left leg. The chest pockets and one back pocket have a zipper closure. They also feature a small utility pocket on the side of the left arm. Yes, they have pass-through pockets.
Again, these coveralls do have exposed metal, so they won’t be scratch-proof. The chest pockets are zip-close, and so is one of the back pockets.
Overall, these coveralls are a nice option if you need extra pockets (especially if you need zip pockets). They find a nice middle-ground between lightweight comfort and durability.
Click here to buy these Dickies Deluxe Blended Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Amazon.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these coveralls run true to size.
Dickies Classic Long Sleeve Coveralls
This is another option with thicker fabric. Yes, they are still quite breathable, but they use a heavier 7.75-ounce fabric, just like the Dickies Deluxe Blended coveralls we discussed above.
My size medium tall weigh 1.96 pounds and measure at 0.52mm thick. This made them the third heaviest out of all the lightweight long sleeve coveralls that I tried, and the thickest. If you are looking for breathable coveralls for summer, but need a thicker fabric, these might be your best option.
Here is what the fabric looks like when I hold it up to the light:
These coveralls have a bi-swing back for increased range of motion, and have an extra side utility ruler pocket. They have an elastic waist and a two-way zipper.
Again, just like the Dickies Blended Coveralls from above, these use the heavier fabric. The biggest difference between these Dickies Classic Coveralls and those Dickies Blended Coveralls from above, is these coveralls don’t have exposed metal, which might make them the better option if you are worried about scratches.
Click here to buy these Dickies Classic Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Dickies.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Dickies.com). In my experience, these coveralls run true to size.
Berne Men’s Exhaust Unlined Coveralls
This is another option with thicker fabric. Yes, they are still quite breathable, but they use a heavier 7.5-ounce fabric. Again, just like we discussed with the Dickies coveralls, this thicker fabric might be a good option if you need durability.
My size 42 tall weigh 2.16 pounds and measure at 0.49mm thick. This made them the heaviest out of all the lightweight long sleeve coveralls that I tried. But overall, the fabric is still quite breathable:
These coveralls, in my opinion, fit a bit looser than other coveralls that I tried, so they might be a nice option if you prefer a roomier fit. They have pass-through pockets and also feature a side utility pocket down the right leg.
Click here to buy these Berne Exhaust Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls available at Amazon.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these coveralls run true to size.
What to Consider When Buying Lightweight Long Sleeve Coveralls for Summer
Flexibility
Most lightweight long sleeve coveralls are not made with a stretch fabric blend. But these lightweight coveralls do often have an elastic waistband in combination with a bi-swing, gusseted back which helps improve your range of motion.
That said, if you are doing a lot of bending and crouching while on the job, a stretch fabric blend is probably the best way to go. Not only does it improve comfort, it also helps take some stress of the seams, which may improve the life of your breathable coveralls.
The best option for stretch fabric will be the Dickies Flex Coveralls we discussed earlier in the article.
Durability
Lightweight coveralls help improve air flow and breathability, but sometimes the fabric can get so thin that durability becomes an issue. Many companies like to incorporate polyester into the material to help add some toughness.
If you need more durability, you will probably want to go with a heavier fabric. The Dickies Classic, Dickies Blended, and Berne Exhaust coveralls that we discussed earlier in the article all use 7.5-ounce or heavier fabric, which finds a nice middle ground between lightweight comfort and durability.
Extra Benefits
Some added benefits you may want to consider when buying lightweight long sleeve coveralls for summer:
- Are the coveralls stain fighting?
- Are the coveralls wrinkle resistant?
- Do the coveralls have a two-way zipper?
- Do the coveralls have exposed metal?
- Do the coveralls have a tool loop?
If you are shopping specifically for mechanic coveralls, and want to read about more options, visit our article about the best jumpsuits for mechanics.
Breathability
If you are interested in breathable work gear for summer, visit our other articles linked below:
- Cooling Short Sleeve Summer Work Shirts
- Cooling Long Sleeve Summer Work Shirts
- Lightweight Summer Work Pants
- Breathable Summer Cargo Pants
- Lightweight Pullover Hoodies
Pockets
Most lightweight long sleeve coveralls have front-side chest pockets, large waist hand pockets, and two rear pockets, which gives them a total of six pockets. And most, but not all, options will have pass through pockets.
If you prefer extra pockets, the Dickies Deluxe Blended Coveralls we discussed earlier have extra pockets (including some zip-close pockets). They also have a tool loop.