Best FR Pants for Welding in 2023

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Carhartt has long been a favorite of farmers, ranchers, linemen and trade workers. The Carhartt 100791 Fire Retardant Wash Duck Welding Pants are some of the toughest pants you can buy. They’re cut from 13-ounce flame-retardant cotton duck-down canvas that’s tough as nails. They are known for being puncture, abrasion and tear resistant. Made from a single piece on each side, these weld pants provide a full hip and thigh, allowing room for bending and squatting without sacrificing durability with the addition of extra seams.

Each seam of the Carhartt 100791 Flame Retardant Work Pants is triple stitched. The pair has two front pockets and two back pockets, with a smaller pocket on the leg perfect for a scribe or soapstone. The waist snaps are non-conductive, resisting electrical currents and arcs. Some owners feel they are too loose. Carhartt describes them as loose-fit cargo pants, so you may wish to order them a size smaller than your usual denim size.

The Carhartt 100791 Flame Resistant Washable Duck Welding Pants are a sight to behold with their fire-resistant Nomex zipper tape, durable brass zippers (brass is self-lubricating), and reinforced pockets.

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Wrangler Riggs Workwear FR31 Flame Retardant Jeans are made from 14.75 oz, 100% FR cotton denim. This is a thick fabric that makes for very stiff pants. A woman has humorously claimed her husband’s trousers still stand up on their own after a year of washing. While she wasn’t serious, the pants did need a break in before they softened.

They are triple stitched with Nomex thread and brass zippers. They used Nomex tape on the zipper closure and a non-conductive button waist closure to minimize the risk of arcing. The Wrangler Riggs Workwear FR31 Flame Resistant jeans have a relaxed fit and are cut to fit over slip-on boots. These pants have reinforced pockets including a leg pocket for a knife, wrench or scribe. Wrangler also sews a gusset under the waist for added strength and abrasion resistance. This may be why some owners find these jeans to be a bit tight at the waist.

These Wrangler Riggs Workwear FR31 Fire Pants are a favorite in automotive, mechanic and welding shops. Thoughtful design, high quality, and great value are why.

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Welding generates a lot of heat on the workpiece, on the shop floor and on the welding personnel. If you need a good set of summer welding pants, your best solution might not be pants at all. The Black Stallion 40WS Leather Welding Pants are actually welding pants with a layer of cowhide wrapped around the pants – like an apron, so you can wear regular work jeans.

The Black Stallion 40WS Leather Welding Pants are reinforced with 17 rivets to keep the hems together in harsh conditions. They are fully adjustable to fit a variety of body shapes and sizes. Users report adjusting this welded chapter to fit waist sizes from at least 34 inches all the way up to 50 inches. Each leg opening has two straps above the knee and one strap below the knee for full adjustment.

Revco makes the Black Stallion 40WS Leather Welding Pants with Kevlar stitching. Cowhide is one of the most flame-resistant materials available for welder protective clothing, and it also blocks harmful radiation. The 40-inch overall length provides plenty of coverage for most people.

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SparkGuard is the name of Magid’s flame retardant treatment for its safety clothing. These Magid SparkGuard FR 12 oz. Green welding pants have a loyal following, especially in this price range. The design differs from most work pants in that the front and back halves are sewn together, rather than the left and right halves you typically see. Most owners seem to find the fit to be good, with some mentioning that the legs can be elongated.

Magid SparkGuard FR 12 oz. Green Welding Pants has multiple treatments on heavyweight 12 oz 100% cotton fabric. Not only are they flame retardant, they’re also cut and mildew resistant, chemical spill resistant, and antistatic. They come with the standard complement of two front pockets and two back pockets.

If you need cool pants for summer welding, the 12oz fabric is lighter than the others featured here, and the cotton fabric breathes well to keep you cooler than leather or thick denim. Magid SparkGuard FR 12 oz. Green Welding Pants also have a leather reinforcement patch for a stronger zipper.

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The Caterpillar 1810006 Flame Resistant Cargo Welding Pants are a little different than some of the other pants here in that they have cargo pockets and extra pockets for a scribe, tape measure, and cell phone. Their crotch is constructed with a diamond gusset for extra strength, protection and room to move. The knee features stitched panels to provide additional articulation to avoid binding the patella.

Made from a 9 oz cotton/nylon twill blend, these pants are lightweight and fire resistant. This makes them a good choice for summer welding pants as they are more breathable than denim, duck down or leather pants. On the other hand, they won’t be as durable as heavier pants in the long run. They come in many colors and many sizes. Some owners have reported that the pants are longer or shorter than the size indicates, so this is something to be aware of.

Caterpillar 1810006 Flame Resistant Cargo Welding Pants have an arc heat protection value of 9.5 which is a very good rating for welding pants. They are also anti-static treated and the zippers have anti-static closures as well.

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If you’re looking for a pair of UL listed flame and arc resistant uniform pants, the Bulwark Flame Resistant 9oz Cotton Twill Khaki Welding Pants might be just what you’re looking for. Made from 9 ounces of 100% cotton twill, they aren’t durable enough for a full day of heavy-duty welding in the shop, but they might be a good choice if you want to use your MIG welder for quick repairs.

The Bulwark Flame Retardant 9oz Cotton Twill Welding Pants have an arc heat protection rating of 11, which is excellent for pants of this weight. However, they won’t take a lot of abuse from welding sparks and spatter without drilling. These pants are lined at the waistband for extra strength and have a button closure.

These trousers are a bootcut style. Some owners feel that the legs of the Bulwark Flame Resistant 9oz Cotton Chino Welded Pants are too baggy because they are designed to be worn over pull-up boots. Sizing is inconsistent and reports vary wildly about fit, being too big, and being too tight.

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The Ariat Women’s FR Mid Rise Bootcut Welded Jeans are made from 12.5 oz FR stretch 100% cotton denim. They look like regular jeans. These pants feature a mid rise. They are Class 2 flame retardant certified by Underwriters Laboratories. Ariat gave them flat seams and added a gusset below the beltline for strength.

There have been reports of being too loose at the legs and hips, with many owners saying they “fit like men’s pants” from the hips and legs. Some people find it too tight around the waist, especially if they’re used to wearing low-rise jeans. The Ariat Women’s Flame Retardant Mid Rise Bootstrap Women’s Welded Jeans also tend to appear leg longer.

The Ariat Women’s Fire Resistant Mid Rise Bootstrap Women’s Welding Jeans feature a flared cut that fits over a pull-up boot and provides good protection in machine and auto shops, but in production welding environments that may need to be changed a few times a year. Owners are mostly very happy with the quality of these pants, which are made in Mexico from American fabrics.