I ordered me some Blaklader pants and work vest. After a week, I ordered two more pairs of pants.
Let me be blunt: integrated knee pads are life-changing. I have no idea why they aren’t the industry standard for work clothing.
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Got a link with a photo? Sounds good but I'd like to see how they work in practice. For example, do they flex at the knee?
I have a couple of pairs of knee pads with velcro straps. On and off in about ten seconds each. Of course they fit my knee exactly. One pair has a flat exterior surface which helps to spread my weight, making the padding more effective. I wear them often.
http://www.blakladerusa.com/They're Swedish.The knee pads do not flex at the knee, but there's enough slack in the pant leg that I don't even notice that they're there. At all.For my job (I work for a builder) I'm all over the site, usually doing unexpected and spontaneous things. The only way I'd ever have knee pads is to wear them all day long. The pants let me do that.It's a revelation. ;-)
I have been wearing Blaklader http://www.thenewworker.com/index.asp?pageId=45&ProdID=62 Toughguy Pants with nail pockets, I'm a trim carpenter and these things are great! No more tool belt needed with these pants and they will last at least twice as long as any other US brand work pants made and they cost me less. I wear the knee pads too, I was putting in replacement windows above a kitchen sink last week and these saved my knees when I had to kneel on the counter-top, real nice. (I used to wear my knee out on the left side within a year, easy, not anymore. Blaklader pants have the knees covered in Cordura so they won't wear out.
I bought a couple of pairs of Blaklader Heavy Workers for winter and they are unbelievable. The most rugged work pants I have ever owned. I buy all my Blaklader from Jerry at http://www.thenewworker.com, He has the best deals on the web and I like the fact that he is a contractor by day (HVAC) too. Super good guy.
Do you load up your pockets every morning and empty them every night or just leave your pockets loaded with tools and pull your pants off ready to go at the start of the next day?Do they carry everything you wood in a tool belt? I am curious where you carry a cats paw and how you keep a chisel from cutting through the pants?I like the looks of them and am open to giving them a try if they are a relatively simple transition from a tool belt.Thanks,
Karl
I've got a couple pairs from Bjornklader, based on the same idea as the Blaklader ones. (Pick the construction/handycraft section here -- http://www.jr-distributors.us/cat/data/index.htm)I think there's more Cordura on the Bjornkladers, and they've got two hammer loops in the back, and some extra pockets on the front. Also some loops on the front pocket. Plenty of spots for a chisel or a cats paw.I love them. Especially the integrated kneepads.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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I looked at the link to the Bjornklader pants you mentioned and for the price they want (close to $80.00), I bought two pair of Blakladercotton Toughguy pants for $84.00. I bought this pair over three years ago fromhttp://thenewworker.com and they are faded abit but have years left in them. You just can't wear them out.
Man, if you need a 36" inseam or longer, yer hosed with many of these places. Unless the waist is big too.
I'm sticikn with Fire hose I guess.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
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You wear fire hose?
What do you find works best, two lengths of six inch supply hose for legs and a short section of inch and a quarter booster line in between?Amateurs talk strategy, Generals talk logistics.
naw- what I heard was "firehose" was sphere's Pee owe are enn name, LOL
stephen
Edited 10/30/2009 11:36 am ET by Hazlett
I was thinking the same thing.Of course I was wondering what kind of work that the OP was doing that he needed kneepads available without warning. Maybe this is a thread for the tavern <G>..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Maybe he's a shill for the mfgr."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I bought Skillers several years ago and the knee pads are great.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
No. I'm just excited about the knee pads, and think they're the smartest thing ever.I was getting shooting pains in my left knee whenever I'd kneel on something hard. I really noticed it when I was laying down rosin paper to protect 2000 ft^2 of hardwood in a custom home. I figured there had to be a good alternative to conventional knee pads, and I found these online.I might have a bit of the same disease that Frenchy has, being compelled to sell products in which I believe. ;-)
Unfortunately, the pants do seem to elicit that reaction.
Inch and three quarter? Naaahhhhh...Go with a deuce and a half in between. Gotta have room to breath ya know...
How do you buy them? I can only look at them.
I think these guys are the only US distributor. And their website is terrible (it only works in Internet Explorer)It does appear that you can purchase online if using IE, though. I've only seen them at JLC Live. I liked the pants so much that I got some shorts this year.http://www.jr-distributors.us/Otherwise get in touch with this guy, who's listed as the US contact.Regional Sales mgr.
Richard Silva
Phone: 508 993 1758
E-mail: [email protected]'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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That explains it, I have a Mac. Thanks.
I'm a finish carpenter and have been for over fifteen years. I use a bucket and a hand cart in which I keep most of the stuff I use themost. Tool belts are not something I favor, and only use them when absolutely necessary. These Blaklader pants for me (and yes this is how you spell it) store very nicely, a folding rule, a razor knife,pencil, nail set, cats paw, nails and screws, cell phone, hammer, chisels, and a square. For me the kneepads are great for a lot of situations like running base and shoe, building stairs, etc. Like I said before I gave these a try because the double knee U.S. brandswear out way to quickly for me and for what they cost I started looking for other options. I like to buy five pair at a time and weara different pair each day, they wear better that way, So no I don'tleave them loaded up with tools and fasteners each day, but you could. These other guys can joke all they want but I consider my workclothes just as important as any other tool I use every day and I insist on the best and I think I found the best work pants I can buy. Hope this answers your question Karl.
Thanks for the detailed and informative reply!
Karl
I ordered 4 pairs of the painter tough guys on sale for 25 $ a pair.
Thanks for the heads up
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Spoke with Jerry and ordered a pair for meself and au pair fer Dad. Also got the BiggLugg tool holder thing. Always looking for something to hang my jackhammer when up on that ladder.Bart
That's cool, what kind did you get?
New Worker has the Brawny pants in navy on sale for $30. Thanks for hooking me up with Jerry, he's a good guy. Bart
i have a pair of the moss color Blaklader Brawny pants that I bought from The New Worker, they are really nice and very rugged. You got a good deal at that price on the navy ones, thats great.
and if you like things more ... ventilated -
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I was thinking it would be more along the lines of this:
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(BTW, youse guys are spelling "Blackadder" wrong!)
A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
Niiiiiice!
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
They look interesting.
Do the knee pad inserts come as standard with the pants, or do you have to order the insert pads separately?
Mike D
I loved them too. The only problem I have with them is the metric conversion on the waist sizes tends to the narrow side. For instance, a 36 waist for me is just fine on most pants, but their 36 seems more like a 35
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
out of curiousity- it appears that they charge MORE for the same pair of pants WITHOUT the goofy pockets!
what's up with THAT?
stephen
I think you can tuck those pockets into the pockets that are right next to them (like regualr Levis pockets) and they won't be so obnoxious when not being useful.
I'm not sure I'd like wearing all my nails to go get lunch though. It's easier to drop a belt or take off a vest than to empty everything out of my pants pockets. Maybe you're just supposed to drop trow and go to lunch in your shorts?
It gets worse...if they have a batch that they forgot to sew up the crotch on, they call them "kilts" and demand $100 MORE dollars for them.Of course, maybe it's worth that amount to be able to teabag your fellow crewmembers if they are too slow going down the ladder in front of you. :)
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
The kilts are ridiculous.
Ridiculus you say!
View ImageYou get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
OK, if your kilt is shiney silver, you are now wearing a skirt... and that's not a tool pouch over your shoulder, it's a purse!
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
This was from a Habitat Blitz build I was in charge of. The guy with the silver kilt wouldn't go out and buy one so one of the gals made him one out of duct tape. It was pretty funny.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
I have seen utilikilts before. I go to several Celtic festivals a year-and there is ofrten a utilikilt booth selling the things.
stephen
I really, really like the goofy pockets. I believe Carhartt sells pants with similar pockets.
Couldn't agree more - softknees saved my knees. First time I used them I ordered a case - just in case they quit making them.
Even the cordura isn't durable enough for me - got a couple of carhartts, installed some softknees, and took them to the local leather shop. Had them replace the knee coverings with mocasin sole leather, with the softknees inside permanently. Those suckers don't wear out for any reason now.
Eventually you will be back to have them put leather in the crotch.;-)
>I buy all my Blaklader from Jerry at http://www.thenewworker.com, [snip]. Super good guy.<
You got that right!
Ordered a skillers vest earlier this week and Jerry called me personally to see if I was OK with an upgrade since the item I was wanting was out of stock @ skillers. Offered a few other things with no charge if I wasn't happy. wasn't happy? how do you beat service like that? Got the vest today (very impressive) and the Blaklader jacket was supposed to ship today.
Blaklader have only just appeared in the stores in England in the last year or so.Over here the market is dominated by Snickers(also swedish i think)Excellent quality if a bit pricey.My last 2 pairs have lasted about 4 years and the knees hardly look worn at all.They also have a range of clip on accessories for those tools you may not feel comfortable carrying in the pouches.
I make all my guys wear knee pads only wish someone had done the same to me 25 years ago!
Bjornklader in Canada
I have been looking to buy Bjornklader pants for a while in Canada and have just found http://Idealworkwear.com and bought a pair and they are great for me and it seems like they will last. They are like the Blacklader pants just a bit more heavy duty.
..and the vests?
Hi
Anyone use those vests and if so what do you think of them?
Thanks
John