Patagonia Workwear Overalls Review

I get serious granddad vibes when I think about or see a good pair of overalls. Both my granddads rocked them daily, and had a range from Sunday morning Church overalls to a stall cleaning set and everything in between. After a couple winters in my insulated Carhartts, I thought I’d get a set for all those other build days, and I’m glad I did. I decided to try the Patagonia, aka PataGUCCI, Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Bib Overalls.

Initial Impression: Like most Patagucci gear, they’re pricey. That means higher expectations and less tolerance for anything coming short. But the brand’s environmental stance, activism, and commitment to sustainability really appeals to me. Also knowing that they back their gear with warranties and repair services gave me some extra confidence. There’s a theme in my life- I like to get good gear/ equipment, and then use the hell out of it. I liked what I was reading about the features, construction, and the brand behind the product. When they arrived, I loved the feel and color of the material.

Fit & Feel: I’m a tall, handsome, and lean trail building machine. Patagonia offers these in a short, medium, and tall cut, so I went with the tall 34’s initially. I’d leaned up a bit, so I exchanged them for the 32 longs, and they work much better. For reference, I’m a 32×34 in most pants. The shoulder straps are mega comfy, and stretch to keep things from feeling too stiff or bound up. The hardware and buttons all have smooth edges and snap together nicely, staying snapped all day.

Trail Building Pros: Most importantly, I can wear them day in and day out. I don’t live the kind of life that allows hot showers and laundry very often, so this is very important. They wear well between washes, and get softer without being blown out or “butt sprung” like some gear. The legs are long enough and cut right so that my ankles aren’t super exposed when I’m sitting in the machine. The side pockets are a good size and the chest pocket fits my phone, snack, and marker just right. The leg pocket is perfect for my Silky PocketBoy Saw. There’s also an opening to add knee pads, but I haven’t tried it out yet. Thinking of sacrificing some of my riding pads to try this feature out. On the bike, these overalls are a non-issue. They move well enough to ride and move without feeling bound up, which is a big plus for me.

Durability: I’ve had these for about five months now, and I love them more and more. While that doesn’t sound like a long time, I confess I wore them every day for over two weeks before their first washing. That was followed by another block of two solid weeks working in them before the next wash, and that’s been the basic rhythm of their life with me since. They just keep getting softer and more comfortable. On colder days, I find that I prefer to layer up underneath these rather than opt for my insulated Carhartts. Makes me wonder if I should take the plunge on the insulated Patagonias next…