Essential Features to Look for in Insulated Work Pants

Insulated & effective work performance

When shopping for winter work clothes, it’s easy to focus on coats, gloves, boots and hats, but pants are just as important. Legs are less sensitive to cold, but they still need protection in freezing temperatures. Here’s what employers and employees should know when shopping for insulated work pants.

What’s special about insulated work pants?

Before you buy any pair of insulated pants, ask yourself if insulation is the ideal solution for your workplace. Insulated apparel isn’t the only type of winter gear, after all, and some may be better suited for your climate and employee activity levels.

• Insulated work pants: When you absolutely must prioritize the temperature, insulated should be your first option. Unlike other winter apparel, insulated products include an additional layer between inner and outer pant fabrics. More importantly, these thermal properties can retain heat in the coldest winter conditions.

• Shell snow pants: While shell pants aren’t quite as warm as insulated pants, they support a broader range of work activities. Thanks to breathable fabrics and water-resistant materials, shell snow pants keep the wearer dry while providing enough space for clothing layers to retain heat.

• Bib snow pants: Bib pants come in various styles but the most important feature is extending their coverage above the waist. Not only does this provide more heat protection, the wearer doesn’t need to rely on their coat. Instead, they can wear a sweater underneath the bib while maintaining full maneuverability of their arms.

Key features of insulated pants

Once you’ve established that insulated pants are the way to go, it’s time to consider the specific features and benefits you’ll need.

Breathability

Breathable fabrics are a vital feature of any winter clothing, as they allow sweat to evaporate and avoid freezing on the wearer’s skin. Unfortunately, insulated work pants are the least breathable kind of winter pants, especially if they include waterproof materials. Synthetic insulating material tends to be more breathable and comfortable for anyone maintaining a low activity level.

Ventilation & full-length zippers

If breathable fabrics aren’t an option, insulated pants need some other way to let air circulate. Ventilation zippers provide a way to quickly release excess heat and accumulated moisture before they become an issue. Ideally, these zippers should be located on the inner thigh—where they’ll have the greatest impact and wearers can reach easily.

Another key consideration for the best insulated work pants is whether they have full-length side zippers. These zippers make it easier to pull the pants on and off quickly while also letting them fit over winter work boots.

Waterproof or water-resistant

Breathable fabrics and ventilation can remove moisture from inner layers, and waterproofing keeps it from breaching the outer layer. Insulated work pants include a water protection rating that measures how many millimeters of water a given fabric can handle in one day before soaking through. Less than 5,000 millimeters is considered “water-resistant,” while 5000 and higher are officially waterproof. If your employees work in environments with heavy snow or rain, you might want to go even higher—15,000 or 20,000 millimeters.

Fabrics & materials

Since the entire point of insulated pants is staying warm, it helps to choose the right material. Different materials are better suited to different weather conditions and work situations. The choice of fabric impacts temperature along with weight, maneuverability, comfort and more.

Down

When it comes to insulation, down is one of the most trusted and reliable insulated materials you can get. Not only is down warm, it’s impressively lightweight allowing for a more maneuverable and comfortable fit.

The main drawback is that down pants perform poorly in wet environments. If the pants are not effectively waterproofed, the insulating material can clump up and become difficult to dry. Insulated work pants with down require either a water-resistant or waterproof outer layer to remain functional over the long term.

Synthetic

Some of the best innovations in insulation come from synthetic and blended fabrics, such as fleece or proprietary materials. For a start, they’re consistently warm, lightweight and also fast-drying. Synthetic fabrics are also much easier to clean in standard washers and dryers. Finally, synthetic insulated pants tend to take up less room when folded, which makes them easier to store in the off-season.

Reinforced materials

Winter pants need to do more than keep you warm—they should also protect against potential workplace hazards as well as ordinary wear and tear. Reinforced knees and seats, for example, can mitigate injuries and increase the durability of the clothing.

Warming up to Walmart Business?

Whether you’re shopping for insulated work pants for winter or an entire outfit, Walmart Business can help. Our apparel and workwear line has the clothing you need to get the work done, including coats, gloves, boots and pants.

If you already have an account, you can level up your savings with a Walmart Business+ membership. You’ll get free shipping,¹ free delivery from local stores on orders over $35² and 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards.³ That could add up to savings of over $500 a year!⁴ Click here to learn more.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).