- Recent Articles
-
Product Guides
-
Garments
- TOP 5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN THE WARMEST JACKETS
- WHY DO YOU NEED COLD WEATHER BIB OVERALLS?
- 5 ALL WEATHER JACKETS YOU CAN WEAR IN ANY SEASON
- 5 WORK SWEATSHIRTS AND HOODIES THAT ARE PERFECT FOR FALL TEMPERATURES
- 7 OF THE BEST WORK JACKETS FOR MEN
- 8 BEST HIGH-VISIBILITY JACKETS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
- COVERALLS vs. BIBS: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
- HOW AND WHY TO CHOOSE A PUFFER JACKET
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST INSULATED BIB OVERALLS
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLEECE JACKET
- BEST INSULATED GEAR FOR WOMEN
- OUTWORK ANY WEATHER WITH PREMIUM JACKETS
- THE BEST PANTS FOR COLD WEATHER
- TOP 7 FEATURES OF A SUBZERO SWEATSHIRT
- WHAT ARE THE BEST SWEATSHIRTS TO WEAR FOR COLD WEATHER?
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOWN JACKET AND A PUFFER JACKET?
- WHY AND WHEN TO WEAR A VEST FOR WARMTH
- TOP 4 OPTIONS FOR SPRING AND FALL GEAR
- 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIVIS WORKWEAR
- TOP 5 MUST-HAVE FEATURES FOR RAINWEAR
- WHY DO YOU NEED A FREEZER SUIT IN THE GROCERY BUSINESS?
- WHY YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR BREATHABILITY AND WICKABILITY IN COLD WEATHER WORKWEAR
- CUSTOMER STORIES: BEST INSULATED BIB OVERALLS FOR WOMEN
-
Footwear
- 6 MOST DURABLE COLD WEATHER WORK BOOTS FOR MEN
- CASE STUDY: KEEPING CREWS ON THEIR FEET WITH PROPER FOOTWEAR
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE WORKBOOT
- HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR WORK BOOTS
- HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT WORK BOOTS FOR LANDSCAPING
- THE SCIENCE BEHIND MOISTURE-WICKING SOCKS
- YOUR FEET WILL THANK YOU FOR WEARING THESE WORK BOOTS
- 5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST WORK BOOT
- Headwear
-
Gloves
- TOP 5 WATERPROOF WORK GLOVES
- 5 UTILITY GLOVES THAT KEEP YOU WARM IN EXTREME COLD
- GIVE COLD THE FINGER: TOP 5 FEATURES OF PREMIUM GLOVES
- HOW TO USE GLOVE LINERS
- TOP 3 ADVANTAGES OF PERFORMANCE GLOVES
- 3 WAYS TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER
- TOP 4 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN WATERPROOF GLOVES
- HOW TO WEAR GLOVE LINERS ON THE JOB
- 9 WORK GLOVES BUILT FOR SERIOUS PROTECTION AND PERFORMANCE
- 9 MUST-HAVE FEATURES FOR WAREHOUSE WORK GLOVES
- Use & Care
-
Garments
-
RefrigiWear Knowledge
- 10 ESSENTIAL PIECES OF COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR FARMERS
- 10 TIPS FOR WORKING SAFELY IN COLD WEATHER
- 3 REASONS WHY FREEZER SUITS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR WORKING IN THE COLD
- A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WORKING OUTSIDE
- ADVANTAGES OF SYNTHETIC INSULATION
- COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- HOW TO AVOID DRAFTS IN COLD WEATHER WORK CLOTHES
- HOW TO STAY WARM FROM HEAD TO TOE IN COLD WEATHER
- HOW TO STAY WARM ON THE JOB SITE
- HOW TO STORE WINTER WORKWEAR FOR THE SUMMER
- HOW TO USE REFRIGIWEAR COMFORT RATINGS TO CHOOSE INSULATED GEAR
- THE HEALTH RISKS OF WEARING TOO MUCH COLD WEATHER GEAR
- THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER FOOT CARE WHEN WORKING IN THE COLD
- THE ULTIMATE SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN COLD CONDITIONS
- WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR SNOWMOBILING?
- WHAT’S THE TOUGHEST GEAR FOR COLD WEATHER?
- WHICH TYPE OF SLEEVE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR WINTER ACTIVITY?
- TOP 5 COLDEST AMERICAN CITIES AND HOW TO STAY WARM
- TOP 4 TIPS FOR WORKING IN THE RAIN
- 5 TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLING IN WINTER
- HOW TO DRESS FOR THE COLD IN 4 EASY STEPS
- A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO STAYING WARM WHILE WORKING IN THE COLD
- HOW TO STAY WARM WHEN WORKING IN THE COLD
- Stories
PANTS OR BIB OVERALLS: WHICH IS BEST FOR WORKING IN THE COLD?
When your work keeps you in temperatures that make other folks stay wrapped up in blankets in front of the fire, you need the best insulated workwear to get the job done. And when the temps drop to freezing or even below-zero, you need full body protection, so you can't skip insulated gear for your legs.
Look, we dig denim, but jeans just don’t stand up to long shifts in the cold. Denim overalls might feel comfortable, but those button-up sides don’t do anything to keep the cold from creeping down your crack. You need tough, insulated workwear to stay warm and productive.
So, when the time comes to cover your lower half with cold weather gear, is it better to choose insulated work pants or insulated bib overalls?
Pros and Cons of Insulated Work Pants
Insulated pants for working in the cold have a strong "pros" list. They are versatile and pair well with many different types of upper body protection. Pants can be worn with sweatshirts, long jackets, multiple layers—whatever you need to be warm and still work hard.
Plus, pants are more practical for wearing on breaks, for commuting in the cold and they’re easy to put on and take off. They also take up less space when transporting to and from work. Pants are also a great substitute for those who currently wear low-cut bib overalls.
Insulated work pants might be the best choice for you if:
- Your lower half tends to feel colder than your upper body. Insulated work pants let you add warmth where you need it, not where you don’t.
- You spend most of your shift walking. Generating body heat through frequent movement means you don't need as much core protection as those who aren't as active.
- You spend most of your shift bent over boxes or equipment. For example, selectors and production employees in cold storage environments are often more comfortable in pants because they are frequently bending at the waist.
You might want to consider other options if:
- You find that wearing a jacket limits your movement. If you’re always lifting supplies or tools, you might find that wearing a jacket with your work pants keeps you warm, but it slows you down. An insulated sweatshirt under insulated work overalls would give your arms and shoulders a greater range of motion.
- You are less active on the job. For example, those who sit to operate machinery may find cold creeping in the gap between their jacket and pants and need greater protection for their core.
- You have health issues that make you more vulnerable to the cold. People with poor circulation, for example, feel the cold more intensely.
Pros and Cons of Insulated Bib Overalls
Insulated bib overalls, or bibs for short, offer lower body protection *and* core protection. Unlike pants, which are just for the lower body, or coveralls, which offer full-body protection, work bibs stretch from your legs to your chest while leaving your arms or shoulders free. You get unbroken protection for your chest, back, and waist all the way down to your ankles.
This continuous coverage means no cracks for cold to creep in and better protection for your core and vital organs.
Insulated bib overalls might be the best choice for you if:
- You really need your arms free. If you still need protection from the cold but jackets aren’t the most comfortable for you, a thick hoodie under work bibs gives you warmth for your upper and lower body without limiting use of your arms.
- You’re short…or you’re tall. Most work bibs have adjustable straps, so you can tighten them up if the pants feel a little long or loosen the straps to make sure you’ve got enough length for a good seal around your work boots.
- You are less active on the job. If you’re driving a forklift or operating heavy machinery, your body is too still to generate much of its own heat, but you’re also feeling the wind chill from moving equipment. Insulated bib overalls paired with an insulated jacket will block out cold from neck to ankles.
You might want to consider other options if:
- You spend your entire shift bent over boxes or equipment. Wearing insulated bib overalls adds protection for your upper body, but some folks find them constricting when frequently bending over. Look for low-bib overalls that are lower in the front and higher in the back, or stick to insulated work pants.
- You spend most of your shift walking or working up a sweat. When your body generates it’s own heat, you don’t need as much insulated workwear to stay warm.
Shop Insulated Work Pants
RefrigiWear offers work pants in several material types and temperature ranges, so you can find what works best for you.
Shop Insulated Bib Overalls
Like our insulated work pants, RefrigiWear offers a range of bib overalls for work so you can find the best one for the job.
Ultimately, the best protection depends on your preferences. Choose the fit and warmth that helps you stay a rockstar at work, no matter the conditions.