The Best Carpenter Shorts

When summer arrives and temperatures rise, a reliable pair of carpenter shorts can be essential for staying cool and collected on the job. Carpentry is hot work, and sometimes a carpenter’s pair of jeans or pants are too restrictive. The best carpenter shorts will give more freedom of movement, and be airy, comfortable, durable enough for a hard day's work and able to carry your best tools. 

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1. Carhartt Men’s 10″ Canvas Work Short
2. Men's DuluthFlex Fire Hose Rlx Fit 11" Cargo
3. Relaxed Fit Duck Carpenter Shorts, 11"
4. Carhartt Women's Original Fit Crawford Short 
5. Wrangler Authentics Men's Loose Fit Carpenter Short

1. Carhartt Men’s 10″ Canvas Work Short

Carhartt, founded in 1889, has established itself as a favourite among tradespeople for providing quality workwear that blends street style with practical designs and materials.

Cut in their traditional “Loose Fit’, their 10” Canvas Work Shorts are specifically designed with a fair amount of movement in mind. These Carhartt work shorts are made from a lightweight 7.5-ounce cotton canvas and feature a hammer loop, utility band, multiple pockets, and a 10-inch inseam.

Pros:

• Comfortable loose fit.
• Reinforced pockets.
• A lightweight 7.5-ounce cotton canvas fabric.
• A left-leg ruler pocket; a right-leg tool pocket; two front pockets; and two heavy-hauling back
  pockets that are reinforced to prevent blow-out.
• Two tool loops. On the left leg, they have a traditional carpenter hammer loop, and on the right leg, they have a utility band. 

Cons:

• Lack of a small knife pocket.

2. Men's DuluthFlex Fire Hose Rlx Fit 11" Cargo

Bend, stretch or stab with a utility knife, these shorts are designed to resist pretty much anything (within reason)...

While Duluth Trading Company is known for its innovative and comfortable workwear, their Fire Hose shorts are their effort to throw the proverbial book of tricks at a pair of shorts. They are made from an 8-oz. Fire Hose cotton canvas with 3% spandex, they're also treated with a FendOff Finish® for stain and water resistance and come with 11 pockets, including cargo pockets.

Pros:

• Highly flexible, 3% spandex.
• Durable material which is resistant to abrasions.
• Ample pocket space for tools and personal items.
• Fire Hose cotton canvas is 30% lighter than their original canvas material, yet is just as abrasion-resistant.
• Stain- and water-repelling FendOff Finish® fabric treatment.
• Hidden Crouch Gusset® for extra ease.
• Has 11 pockets, including cargo pockets with in-or-out tuckable pocket flaps.
• Triple-stitched seams prevent rip-outs.

Cons: 

• Some customers complain of an initial stiff fit period. 

3. Relaxed Fit Duck Carpenter Shorts, 11"

Since 1922, Dickies has been a solid contender for reliable and tough-as-nails workwear.

The Dickies Relaxed Fit Duck Carpenter Shorts have a relaxed fit with room in the seat and thighs and sit just above the knees with an 11” inseam. They feature reinforced seams, bar tacking at stress points, utility loops, dual tool pockets, and are made from 100% cotton.

Pros:

• Durable fabric with reinforced stitching.
• Reinforced, triple-stitched seams.
• Bar tacking at all stress points helps protect against wear and tear.
• Utility loop and dual tool pockets.
• Button closure and zip fly with sturdy brass zipper

Cons:

• Some users reported issues with sizing and zipper quality.
• Lack of a phone pocket.

4. Carhartt Women's Original Fit Crawford Short

Carhartt's women's range is “custom-built for hardworking women”. They’ve provided a huge range of workwear options for female carpenters which promises to be just as stylish, practical and durable as their men's workwear.

Their Original Fit Crawford Shorts are designed for women, with a contoured waistband to prevent gapping. They are made from a cotton/spandex blend for slight stretch and feature several utility pockets.

Pros:

• Slight stretch allows for ease of movement.
• Utility pockets and loop.  
• Constructed from 9.5 ounce, 98% cotton/2% spandex canvas.
• Mid-rise and sits slightly below the waist. 
• Has a slightly fitted design through the hip and thigh. 
• Has a contoured waistband that prevents gapping in the back.
• Has utility pockets and a hammer loop. 
• Has triple-stitched main seams. 

Cons: 

• Some customers complain that the shorts have a different size range than the Crawford Pants. 

5. Wrangler Authentics Men's Loose Fit Carpenter Short

With the true spirit of an original style, Wrangler has banked on a solid reputation for practical and classic workwear for over a century to become a favourite of workers across the world.

These classic-style carpenter shorts are made from 100% cotton and feature a loose fit and multiple utility storage options with button closures. 

Pros:

• Comfortable loose fit.
• 100% cotton.
• Practical tool storage options.
• 2 slash pockets.
• 2 back pockets.
• 2 tool pockets on the right leg.
• 1 hammer loop on the left leg. 

Cons:

• Missing the Wrangler badge on the pockets. 

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