How you look on a jobsite reflects (to your clients, at least) how well you will manage a project or carry it through to completion. Thereโs something about a well-dressed tradesman or supervisor that sends the message: โThis is a person whoย cares about his or her own appearance.โ The perception is that theyโll care about the appearance and care of your jobsite as well. Conversely, someone whoโs not well put-together can give off the impression that he might not care as much about how your project looks in the end either. Details are important. Weโve long used Wolverineย boots for heavy-duty jobsite use, but lately weโve noted that Wolverine workwear provides a great professional look for contractors and tradesmen. With that in mind, I decided to order some clothes and see if this might be a great new source for every day workwear.
I ordered the following clothes Wolverine workwear directlyย from the company:
- Menโs Renegade Short Sleeve Henley (Dusty Red)
- Menโs Walden Long Sleeve Henley (Navy)
- Menโs Alto Ripstop Long Sleeve Shirt (Olive)
- Menโs FireZer0 Twill Long Sleeve Shirt (Khaki)
- Menโs Hammer Loop Pant (Khaki)
- Menโs Dayton Lace-Up Composite-Toe EH Work Shoe
โฆand justย to keep from being completely one-sided with respect to gender, I also picked up aย Womenโs Black Ledge FX Low Hiking Shoe (Wild Dove/Pink).
Menโs Renegade Short Sleeve Henley (Dusty Red)
The Wolverineย Menโs Renegade Short Sleeve Henley is aย 100% cotton jersey that includes a single pocket and three plastic buttons down the front. I love the feel of this shirt. It not only has the comfort of cotton, it does a remarkable job of wicking moisture throughout the day. When these clothes came in, itย began toย turn a bit more decidedly towards the warmer season here in Florida, and so while I donโt mind wearing long pants on the job, the shirts need to handle the hot days pretty well, or that professional appearance Iโm going for will get lost in a messย of visible perspirationโif you catch my drift.
The neckline on this shirt gives it a great look thatย has a โbusiness casualโ air about it.ย Worn with pants (I chose the Menโs Hammer Loop in Khaki) it gives you a great outfit for the hotterย Spring days when you need to go out in the field and inspect a jobsite, or otherwise work inย the quickly-warming climate. (My apologies to other parts of the country which may still be experiencing colder weather!) Itโs also available in Gravel, Marine, Navy, and Olive, so you have a lot of color options. These shirts only run about $17 and are also easily embroidered, so youโre company logo will look great on the right side opposite the pocket. As far as Wolverine workwear goes, this affordable shirt should be a staple.
Menโs Walden Long Sleeve Henley (Navy)
Theย Menโs Walden Long Sleeve Henley shirtย is almost a sweater in its consistency and comfort, but with the look of a thermal. Itโs super soft, likely due to the 60% cotton, 40% polyester waffle knit construction. Itโsย one of the most comfortable shirts Iโve ever owned, and at just $30, this Wolverine long sleeve shirtย is absolutely perfect for colder weather (with layers), or when you may be working indoors during the winter months in a facility lackingย heat. The three button neck gives you a nice look, much like the Short Sleeve Henley, and the shirt is available in 9 colors (Ash, Bison, Charcoal, Hickory, Mustard, Navy, Olive, Oxblood, and Russet). This shirtย is also easily embroidered with a custom logo.
Menโs Alto Ripstop Long Sleeve Shirt (Olive)
The $40 Menโs Alto Ripstop long sleeve shirt is made withย 100% cotton, but in a โripstopโ design that has a durable cross-hatch patternย which lends itself to a very professional lookโall while providing a durability beyond a typical cotton weave. To top it off, the shirt isย concrete washed, with a button-down collar, left chest pocket, and metal logo buttons.ย The pocket has a niceย button-through closure and a pencil opening for making sure yourย marking tool is right where you left it. This shirt provides a very polished, professional look, and the Olive looks great (Itโs also available in Bison brown).
Menโs Hammer Loop Pant (Khaki)
Theย Menโs Hammer Loop Pant is a smart-looking pant thatโs perfect for the contractor or tradesman who needs a comfortable, but dressy solutionย with someย design conveniences that donโt take over the entire look of the pants. Theyโre also extremely affordable at just $33/pairโI may redo my whole wardrobe! I was particularly fond of the oversized side thigh pockets that were perfect for my iPhone 5S. The secondary pocket was great for holding a tape, and the back pockets are really deep, so your wallet stays nice and secure. These pants are made fromย 100% cotton canvasย with triple needle stitching for reinforcement. Theย hammer loop on the left side is positioned below the back pocket and uses an oversized, but tightly-stitched loop for hanging a hammer. These pants really wear well. Theyโreย attractive, durable, and they have a classic fit that doesnโt either hang too loose or end up looking like skinny jeans. If Khaki isnโt your thing, you can also find these pants in Field Green, Gravel, and Hickory. You donโt want to wear these pants for doing jobs that involve grease or mortar, as theyย offerย more of a dressy look than a rugged designโat least that was my preference. Still, the low price and durable construction may cause you to think otherwise.
Menโs Dayton Lace-Up Composite-Toe EH Work Shoe
Finally, I rounded out my wardrobe with aย Menโs Dayton Lace-Up Composite-Toe EH work shoe. I love these shoes. For $120 they serve asย a great compromise when you want a high-quality, lighter weight shoe that isnโt as bulky as a work boot or Wellington boot. These shoes have a nice brown and blackย leather and mesh upperย with a molded EVA footbed andย compression molded EVA midsole (an impact-resistant polymer that is supportiveย yet flexible). Aย Vibram rubber outsole provides not only a unique design, but also a fierce grip on any surfaceโwet, oily, or otherwise.ย The compositeย toe is rated ASTM F2413-11 M I/75 C/75 EH meaning it hasย electrical hazard protection that keeps you safe in the event of walking somewhere that accidentally becomes electrified. The coloring on these boots is really sharp as well, and they go with just about anything. The red accents, while nice, donโt stand out too much, and the shoe has a nice professional feel to it.
Womenโs Black Ledge FX Low Hiking Shoe (Wild Dove/Pink)
I wanted to also get something in that could be worn by women, and I had access to a pair of feet that happened to beย attached to one! Theย Womenโs Black Ledge FX Low Hiking Shoe (Wild Dove/Pink) was a great choice, and itโs a nice pair of composite toe shoesย that look great for casual or business casual use. These affordable ($55) shoes featureย a full-grain leather and fabric upperย with a moisture managing mesh lining that keeps your feet from perspiring.ย A compression molded EVA footbed and midsole withย rubber outsole makes these as comfortable to walk on as they are durable. They flex nicely when walking, and we found them to be very good for womenย who will be on their feet for a good portion of the day. Since they lack a composite toe, these shoes are nice and lightโcontributing to their comfort.
Conclusion
Not pictured is Wolverineโs new Menโs FireZer0 Twill Long Sleeve Shirt (our sample was in Khaki). These shirts give you some protection from flame in that they are made from flame resistant twillย (90% pima cotton, 10% high tenacity 200 gsm nylon). The stitching is made withย 5.8 oz Aramid high tenacity flame resistant thread. The shirt is very nice, with aย button-down collar and buttons that are also flame-resistant.ย Finally, two buttoned chest pockets with flaps are present to help you store a small notebook or even your smart phone.
If you thought Wolverine only made boots, then hopefully, like me, your eyesย have been opened. Their entire clothing line presents a more-than-suitable selection for most small to medium sized businesses looking to purchase clothes that will look sharp and keep up professional image while remaining comfortable on the job. These are what I like to call โmanagerโ or โtrim carpenter clothesโ. Youโre probably not going to want to get under a house wearing thesesโtheyโre far too nice-looking. But if you are on the jobsite, or you can brush off a little sawdust, then Wolverine may just be your new favorite brand.
