The Top 10 Best Welding Pants for Summer in 2022

The Caterpillar Men’s Flame Resistant Cargo Pants feature a mix of 88% cotton and 12% nylon, for a thin and lightweight yet durable build. The mostly cotton design of these welding pants can protect against heat, sparks, and more, while the addition of nylon helps maintain breathability. They’re ideal for all sorts of welding jobs, yet are lightweight and breathable enough so that the wearer won’t overheat during the summer months.

These welding pants are certified NFPA 2112, NFPA 70E, HR/Arc2, with an ATPV value of 9.5, which means that they should be fully protective for all welding and related activities. They meet the minimum requirements for flame-retardant garments. To help prevent static from occurring, these welding pants come with an anti-static zip fly closure.

For convenience, the Caterpillar Men’s Flame Resistant Cargo Pants feature cargo pockets, bellowed back pockets, as well as ruler and cell pockets.

Moreover, these pants come with a wide 20 inch boot cut leg opening, so they should fit over all boots with ease. In terms of comfort, they also come with articulated knees, as well as a diamond gusseted crotch for great mobility and flexibility. What’s also convenient about these particular pants is that they are 100% machine washable.

The Bulwark Flame Resistant Classic Fit Jean is a good option if you’d rather wear something like jeans than cargo pants. Not only are they functional, but also quite stylish. Being jeans, they are decent for summertime use. They may not be the lightest or most flexible of pants out there, but they aren’t so hot that they cannot be worn during the summer.

These pants can be a bit stiff due to their nature, but they are also extremely durable. The mix of 88% cotton and 12% nylon provides a good mix of durability and breathability. The slim leg design could be more flexible and comfortable, but at least these pants come with a wide leg opening at the bottom, thus enabling them to fit over boots with relative ease.

Although they are not the most flexible pants, the addition of nylon, as well as their cut style, allows for a decent range of motion. The big advantage is the two-needle felled seam construction, which helps to substantially increase their overall durability. The Bulwark Flame Resistant Classic Fit Jean meets the standards as set out by CAT2 Arc Rating NFPA 2112, which means that they are certified safe for use with jobs such as welding and other high heat scenarios.

A drawback is that they only come with regular jean pockets, which means that they don’t provide quite as many storage options, such as cargo-style welding pants that are loaded with pockets. However, on the other hand, these pants are machine washable.

This is a pair of welding pants that you wouldn’t wear like jeans or cargo pants, like the options reviewed above. This is more of a cover for your existing clothing; you have the option to get the pants, the coat, or both together. Technically speaking, it’s more or less a protective full-body suit to be worn over other clothing.

A big benefit is that the Gazechimp Cowhide Welding Pants are made with 100% real cowhide leather, which is about as durable as it gets. These pants should last for years and years to come. Cowhide leather is resistant to sparks and flames, so they should definitely keep the wearer safe when performing welding tasks, particularly because these pants have been treated to be flame resistant.

Now, although the Gazechimp Cowhide Welding Pants are extremely protective and durable, they aren’t the most breathable or lightweight pants around. Yes, they are made to be quite soft, flexible, and comfortable, but due to their thick and durable design, they do have a good bit of weight to them.

Another drawback is that these pants don’t have any pockets, which can be problematic for some people. On the other hand, they do feature very wide legs with a wide boot cut opening, which is great for easily fitting over existing clothing and heavy duty welding boots. There are also Velcro straps on the leg cuff, so the leg of the pant can be tightened and secured around boots.

Here is another pair of what we would call casual welding pants. They are not specifically welding pants per se, but they are flame-resistant jeans, so they should work fine for basic welding tasks. In terms of safety, these pants meet the standards of HRC2, NFPA20, NFPA2112, so they can be used for welding, soldering, and other such activities.

The ARIAT Men’s Flame Resistant M3 Loose Fit Jeans are made with 100% cotton, so not only are they highly flame resistant, but also quite lightweight and comfortable. However, jeans usually are not the most flexible pants , as they can be a bit stiff, which is the case here to a certain degree.

However, they are also made to be quite thin, plus they have a loose-fit design, so they are fairly mobile and breathable. They should do fine for a hot summer day when you need protective gear for welding, but don’t want to wear leather pants that will cause you to overheat.

The ARIAT Men’s Flame Resistant M3 Loose Fit Jeans are machine washable, always a bonus. Moreover, they come with a wide boot cut design to ensure that they can fit over boots with ease. They come with 5 pockets, just like all normal jeans do, which is fine for basic use, but they don’t offer the same versatility as pocket-heavy cargo pants. The good thing about jeans is that they can also be worn outside of work.

If you prefer wearing dungarees, this is a good option to look into. One of the biggest features is how these pants are made with 100% duck canvas cotton. This means that they are much more tightly woven than other types of cotton pants, such as some of the jeans reviewed above. For one, this makes them extremely durable and resistant to wear and tear. The triple stitch main seams also help to increase durability.

Moreover, this also helps increase their resistance to flames, sparks, and heat, especially when compared to something like jeans. These pants are NFPA 2112 compliant, as well as HRC2 and ATPV 15 certified, which makes them perfect for jobs like welding and soldering.

The Carhartt Men’s Flame Resistant Washed Duck Work Dungarees are quite soft and flexible, which is important for all-day wear. That said, they are a bit heavy, and they are not overly breathable, but this is the tradeoff you get for durable and extremely flame resistant pants. To help provide you with more mobility and a bit of breathing space, they feature a full seat and thigh.

Next, these pants also come with two reinforced back and front pockets, as well as 2 extra pockets on the rear for increased storage capacity. It is also worth noting that the Carhartt Men’s Flame Resistant Washed Duck Work Dungarees feature an arc-resistant high tension snap closure combined with a brass fly zipper. The boot cut design allows these pants to easily fit over boots.

If you are going for something more stylish, casual, and relaxed, these Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Fr Flame Resistant Relaxed Fit Jeans are a good option. For one, these jeans are made with 100% cotton, which automatically makes them quite durable, and their level of durability is also quite high thanks to the top-notch stitching.

In terms of durability and convenience, these pants come with reinforced rear and front pockets, and an extra-large watch pocket. They may not have quite as much onboard storage as the dungarees or cargo pants we also reviewed, but they still hold their own.

The fact that they are made out of 100% cotton, plus the flame-resistant finish, ensures that they are flame and spark resistant, and certified safe for jobs such as welding. These pants are CAT2/2112/22 and CAL/CM2 certified. They also feature an arc-resistant button waistband combined with a concealed inner tack for reduced conductivity.

These are relaxed-fit jeans, so they are quite loose fitting, and therefore offer a good deal of flexibility and mobility. They may not be overly breathable, but they have a design made for comfort. Moreover, these pants also feature a boot cut leg opening to ensure that they can easily fit over any sort of work boot. The fact that they are machine washable is of course a bonus. Let’s not forget that these jeans also come in at a very budget-friendly price.

All in all, these are very simple and affordable jeans, that happen to be flame resistant. The Carhartt Men’s Flame Resistant Signature Denim Jeans are made with 100% cotton, a great material in terms of flame resistance. Yes, these pants are NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 compliant, which means that they are certified safe for welding, soldering, and other such purposes. To help increase safety, these Carhartt Men’s Flame Resistant Signature Denim Jeans also come with an arc-resistant button closure.

These denim jeans are quite durable, as denim jeans tend to be, which is especially true thanks to the double-stitched main seams which hold everything together. You also get reinforced rear pockets, as well as front pockets, and although the pockets are durably built, they are quite tight and really don’t have much room for storage.

What is surprising is that although these denim jeans are extremely durable, they aren’t too thick or stiff. They feature a fairly thin design that allows your legs to get some air during those hot summer months, plus the relaxed fit helps provide a good deal of mobility and flexibility. They’re actually quite lightweight as well.

With a wide leg opening, what most would call a boot cut leg, these jeans can easily fit over the chunkiest of work boots; these are more or less normal jeans and they can be machine washed like other jeans.

Whereas most of the other pants we looked at today were fire resistant pants, such as jeans, dungarees, and cargo pants, most were not welding-specific, but these MCR Safety Memphis Split Cow Leather Welding Chaps are. As you can tell by their name, they are specifically designed for welding applications, not just pants that happen to be flame resistant.

When it comes to durability and flame resistance, especially for summertime use, you probably won’t find much better than the MCR Safety Memphis Split Cow Leather Welding Chaps. Leather is very durable, plus these chaps also come  with double-locked Kevlar thread stitches combined with reinforcement. The chaps are rivetted in all major stress points, such as the crotch, to ensure that they stay in one piece for years to come.

Now, while these are somewhat lighter, more breathable, and more flexible than other leather welding chaps, they are not overly so; you may still get a bit hot in them. It’s a tradeoff to think about. They do have a good deal of weight to them as well.

A feature that you may appreciate are the quick-release buckle straps on the pant leg so you can tighten or loosen them as you see fit. The downside is that when the straps are not being used, they are kind of in the way and just flop around. However, the legs of these pants are made wide to fit over boots with ease. Let’s not forget that these particular chaps cost under $50, a great price for such a high-quality product.

In terms of price, we’re going in the other direction from the welding pants we just looked at, as the JOBMAN Workwear Welding Pants are fairly expensive — around $150 after all is said and done. That said, you do get what you pay for, and you get a high-quality pair of welding pants, an investment worth making.

First off, the JOBMAN Workwear Welding Pants are made with 100% cotton. Therefore, due to their cotton design, they are quite durable. Moreover, they are covered with a special flame-retardant finish to ensure that they are safe for welding. These welding pants are certified according to the new European Standard EN11611 and EN1161, which makes them extremely safe.

What is also beneficial is that these pants are quite lightweight and actually quite breathable; they may not look it, but they are. That said, be aware that these pants fit quite tight and are not overly flexible. It’s recommended to buy a couple sizes larger than you would usually wear due to their tight fit.

What is convenient about the JOBMAN Workwear Welding Pants is that they come with lots of pockets — two on the rear, two on the front, external kneepad pockets, and an extra pocket on the left leg too. They have plenty of storage capacity. Speaking of the kneepads, these are ideal because they keep your knees from hurting in case you have to kneel a lot. Their boot cut allows them to fit over most work boots with ease.

Just in case you are thinking about getting overalls instead of pants, these are a good option to look into. The HTWY Leather Welding Overalls are made with 100% real cowhide leather, heavy-duty and flame-resistant split cowhide. These welding overalls are extremely durable and resistant to abrasion, about as durable as it gets.

Keep in mind that not only are they made of flame-resistant cowhide, but they also come  with a fire-retardant lining stitched into them for some added protection.

They are quite heavy, so expect to carry around a good deal of weight, and no, they are not overly breathable, but at least they are soft and flexible. They feature a really loose and relaxed fit for increased comfort, so you can comfortably wear normal clothes underneath.

What’s cool is that the HTWY Leather Welding Overalls come with a wide boot cut design to easily fit over all boots, plus they even have boot flaps to protect your boots. The bottom rear of the leg features a strap so you can tighten the legs for a solid fit.

These are overalls and they come with adjustable buckle straps so you can get the right fit. They also feature an extra protective flap over the abdominal and crotch area, plus a little pocket over the stomach. This may actually be the only real drawback here, as it can be uncomfortable to store things right in front of the stomach. That said, these HTWY Leather Welding Overalls do offer extra protection when compared to any other welding pants, as is the nature of overalls.

Before you go out any buy just any old welding pants, whether for summer or not, there are a few main considerations you want to keep in mind at all times when making a purchase. Below are the top 10 purchasing factors you need to consider when buying welding pants.

Safety Certifications and Fire Retardation

If you really want the best and safest welding pants out there, they should be certified as such. One thing to look for is an NFPA 2112 rating — this is the industry standard on flame retardant gear to protect against flash fires.

Good welding pants should meet this standard. Ideally, the pants in question should also be NFPA 70E certified, which protects against electrical hazards. You may also want to look for HR/Arc2 certification as well. Buying welding pants that feature an extra flame retardant layer is not a bad idea either.

Material

Generally speaking, there are two main materials which welding pants or chaps will be made —cotton or leather. Cotton and leather are both extremely resistant to flames and sparks. Yes, some cotton options may include nylon, although this should be minimal.

Keep in mind that in terms of durability, weight, and breath ability, there are some differences to note, which we will discuss below. Either way, you want welding pants made of cotton, so something like cotton cargo pants, denim jeans, or leather — preferably cowhide.

Durability, Stitching, and Reinforcements

Going back to the materials, durability is always a key factor to consider. Leather is usually going to be the most durable, more so than cotton. Moreover, you also want to look for welding pants that feature double- or triple-stitched seams if possible, as pant seams tend to be weaker than the rest of the pant.

On that same note, if you can find pants that have reinforcements in key areas for extra durability, you’re on the right track. If you go for a jean or cargo-style pant, you will want to keep an eye out for top quality stitching and reinforcements.

Weight, Thickness, and Breath ability

Going back to the materials once again, although leather is going to be the most durable, it’s not going to be overly breathable or lightweight. If you want a more breathable and lightweight pair of welding pants, going for something made of cotton, like jeans or cargo pants, is the way to go. This is especially the case if you are looking for welding pants for the hot summer months.

Style/Type of Welding Pant

To sum up the previous points, you need to decide if you want a cargo style welding pant, something like jeans, leather welding chaps, or even coveralls. Weigh all of the factors we discussed in the above points in our buyer’s guide.

Pockets

Another feature you may want to keep an eye out for in a good pair of welding pants are pockets. This really depends on what your own needs are, but for the most part, welders are going to appreciate having a few good pockets.

Yes, there are some fire retardant jeans that have lots of pockets, but usually nothing like cargo pant-style welding pants. Welding chaps, such as the leather chaps reviewed today, may or may not have pockets. Pockets tend to be synonymous with convenience.

Size and Fit

You do of course want to pay attention to the size and fit of the welding pants in question as well. You do want something that is a bit loose, so the pants are not tight against your skin. This will prevent you from feeling the heat, plus it will allow for better flexibility and mobility too.

Although, you also don’t want pants that are too loose, as they may get in the way and cause a hazard. The right fitting pair of welding pants is what it is all about. Just make sure you get the right size, or if it’s a one size fits all type of pant, make sure to go for something adjustable.

Leg Openings

Something that every good pair of welding pants should feature is a wide leg opening, a so called boot cut leg opening. You do always need to wear heavy-duty boots for welding, and you need the pants to fit over these boots. If the pants in question don’t have a wide leg opening, you are probably best off continuing the search.

Knee Pads

Although not all welding pants come with knee pads, it is a definite bonus if they do. Welding may have you down on your knees, kneeling on hard surfaces. This is uncomfortable even for short periods of time. Therefore, some thick knee pads will at times be greatly appreciated. For more information on the best welding knee pads [Read our Full Guide]

Price

The other thing you want to look for is price. If you are operating on a tight budget, there are some budget-friendly options available. However, we would not recommend that price come before all other factors we discussed today.

With something like welding pants, you get what you pay for, and when it comes to safety, durability, and comfort, spending a few extra dollars for something high quality is usually always worth it.

There are several places to buy safety gear. For worry-free return policies, transparency in product quality and customer service, and fast shipping, head over to Amazon.

When you browse on Amazon, you can see what previous buyers thought of the product they bought and everything about material quality, protective features, weight dimensions, and design before adding anything to your shopping cart. You don’t need to go out to compare prices or features.

If you have any sort of problems with your sheet metal brakes, you can also quickly and easily return them hassle-free.