I get where you’re coming from—crawlspaces and attics chew up gear like nothing else. But honestly, I haven’t totally given up on finding pants that’ll last. I’ve been running the Blaklader work pants for about a year now, and while they aren’t bulletproof, they’ve held up way better than my old Carhartts or Dickies. The built-in knee pad pockets are a game changer, and the fabric’s thick but still flexible enough for all the weird positions you end up in.
I do agree, though, that nothing’s truly indestructible when you’re scooting over nails and splinters every day. I’ve patched mine a couple times, but at least the seams haven’t blown out yet. Maybe it’s just a matter of finding the right combo—good pants plus actual knee pads. The “disposable” mindset gets expensive quick, especially when you’re paying $80+ a pair.
Guess it depends on how much abuse you’re putting them through. Some weeks I feel like my gear’s holding up, then I hit a job with rough plywood and it’s back to square one...
I hear you on the crawlspaces—mine have trashed more than a few pairs over the years. I’ve tried Blaklader too, and they do outlast Carhartt for me, but I still end up with random tears from sharp subfloor edges or old screws poking up. I’ve started doubling up with knee pads on the worst jobs, but honestly, sometimes I just accept I’ll need to patch or replace sooner than I’d like. The price stings, but at least my knees aren’t shredded. Maybe it’s just the nature of the beast in this line of work...
I’ve had the same issue with random tears, especially around old HVAC cutouts. I started using those iron-on patches for quick fixes—doesn’t look pretty, but it buys me a few extra months. Honestly, I think some wear is just unavoidable in tight crawlspaces.
I get where you’re coming from with the iron-on patches—quick and easy, but I’ve had mixed results over time. Especially in crawlspaces, that adhesive just doesn’t seem to hold up with all the dust and moisture. You mentioned it buys you a few extra months, but I’ve actually had some patches peel up after only a couple weeks when things got damp.
“Honestly, I think some wear is just unavoidable in tight crawlspaces.”
I’d push back a little on that. It’s true you can’t prevent all wear, but switching to heavy-duty duct tape (like the kind HVAC folks use) has made a bigger difference for me than iron-on stuff. It’s ugly, sure, but it sticks better on dirty surfaces and flexes with movement. For spots near sharp edges, I’ll sometimes double-layer it or even reinforce with a scrap of canvas underneath.
Maybe not a permanent fix either, but at least I’m not redoing the same patch every month. Just my two cents—might be worth a try if the patches keep letting go.
“It’s ugly, sure, but it sticks better on dirty surfaces and flexes with movement.”
That’s the tradeoff, isn’t it? I’ve used that HVAC tape too—sticks like crazy even when things aren’t spotless. But I’ve noticed the adhesive starts to break down after a year or so in spots with big temp swings. Anyone tried those self-sealing butyl patches? Curious if they hold up better long-term under insulation or if it’s just another temporary fix.