Insulated overalls

I'm in the market for a new pair of insulated bib overalls.The last 2 pair I had were Dickies and I was not impressed. The material wasn't bad but their zippers are junk and broke within a few weeks. I used to have Carharts and they held up fairly well but Ive heard the ones made now also have cheap zippers. Anyone have a brand they're happy with?

I don't know about bibs
but I have a Carhartt coat
that the zipper went bad,
I took it to the retailer
and they sent it to
Carhartt and they
installed a new zipper for
free.

I've had the same Refrigiware since 1990, 25 of them right on the Arctic ocean. About the best you can get in my book. Snow don't stick to them and they keep the wind out.

Walls Blizzard Proof.....Had a pair for near 40 yrs.

These (and others from this source) are solid and guaranteed. Jim
Duluth Trading Co.

I have a lot of Carhartt stuff. I
have Carhartt extremes bibs coats and
coveralls. They're more of a nylon
material so they're not good for
welding or torching. And I have a
coat that the zipper went bad and all
I did was call Carhartt and they sent
me a new zipper and I had a
seamstress put it in for me. I'm
pretty sure Carhartt still guarantees
their zippers. Try the Carhartt
extremes. No they're not cheap.

The general consensus is the bibs work well with the arctic lined jacket. For most cold weather that works about the best here. I used to wear coveralls some. They got so they were a pain to get on and off I quit wearing them because of that.

Im very happy with Key brand insulated bibs!

I second Walls. Purchased mine at Farm & Fleet, reasonably priced. Nice solid brass zippers and snaps.

Dock workers where I used to work all
switched to refridgerwear. Said they are a
lot warmer than Carhartt or Walls. Not for
welding though. Like the Carhartt extreme,
more of a nylon fabric.

YKK is a company that makes commercial aluminum windows. The also make zippers. The best
zippers. So look for YKK on the thumb pull and buy that brand apparel.

I prefer bibs that zip down in the middle
of the front bib. And also have leg zippers
that go all the way up to the hip, and not
just up to the knee. With those zipper
preferences, your kind of limited on
brands. Some brands don't put zippers in
like that. No zipper in the bib. Or only up
to the knee in the leg. As much as I take
mine off and on, I really watch for that. I
walk away from some brands because of that
reason.

I also like the slit in the side so you can
get your hand into your jeans pocket
underneath. Some brands don't put those in.
Only a pocket whole for the pockets that's
in the bid overhauls themselves. I can't
stand not getting into my jeans pockets
without taking the bibs off.

As far as zipper quality, about all I can
tell ya on that, is just pay attention to
that when your shopping.

Another tip is, during this time of year,
selection in stores gets pretty picked
over. They might have a whole rack of extra
extra large, but not one pair in your size
(been my experience). About got to hit the
stores in the fall to find a pair that fits
right. Especially if you where a common
size.

All and all, I haven't really had any bad
luck with zippers. I guess I might just be
hard enough on the material, that the bibs
just don't outlast the zippers. About 2 or
3 years is about all I get out of mine.
Tough material or not. But, ... I do cattle
chores in them every day. So they see some
tough use.

X2 on the zipper design. Also, being vertically challenged (5'6), getting something I,m not tripping over is important. Just before Christmas, I got a new pair. Rural King had far and away the most diverse selection for me. As other said, the Carhartts I tried on were poor compared to what they used to be, had no front zipper and knee length leg zippers and the shortest anybody had were 4 inches too long. Luckily I have a 35 waist. Being short and fat puts you in a real bind, especially if you carry any type of tools on your belt.

I like Bern but haven't purchased any for several years . The coats are pleated in the back and allows more movement without riding up and the bibs come up into the arm pits. Have several of each and for some reason they are getting tight!

Your utility belt would make Batman jealous.

Guess I should have mentioned some of my preferences in the original post. I do like the zipper in the chest if it doesn't fall apart. Leg zippers seem to be my biggest problem. The Dickes brand zippers just constantly fall apart in the legs. Zippers to the knee would be better or no zippers in the legs at all would be fine to me.
Side slashes so you can get to your pants pockets are crucial though. Nylon material would not be good as I do a fair amount of welding. Ive set myself on fire more than once. I do a lot of mechanical work it them as well but most is indoors in unheated buildings so waterproof is not primary.

I would not buy Carhart if you intend to do any welding. The last pair of coveralls I bought melted a huge hole from a spark. Previous coveralls from Carhart
did not do this. Ellis