So many people have suggested the smart thermostat! Thank you! It’s a great idea and I think it’s moving to my “to do” list.
I love my motion sensor lights and cameras too! I live alone, so I have a bevy of cameras and lights and an over-the-top alarm system (lol). But I genuinely use it almost every day and I even yelled “NO THANK YOU” just yesterday as a man was putting a doorknob flyer on my front door (directly next to the no soliciting sign, cool cool cool).
He ignored me and left it because he’d already attached it, but I did startle him pretty good.
Ok. I’m thread hogging.
But I also just started to understand what this thread is for. And I have a shopper need that I’ve tried finding for YEARS and gotten close, but haven’t found anything I like.
Pants!
Bod: I’m a beefcake. XL, but sometimes the waist is too loose. Big thighs, small-ish waist, average calves, and I’m rough & tumble. I rip and stain my clothes like… daily. Yet want to have some long lasting non fast fashion pant options.
Current: I currently wear ‘the gym people’ tights and I like many things about them, but they only last about ~8 months and are very tights looking when I’d like them to be pants, really.
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Flowing thoughts:
Skinny, straight, or bootcut
Full sized side pockets w/no flaps. Zipper pockets ok but not preferred. Back pockets preferred.
Zipper or no zipper/pull on fly, no preference.
Non see through material
Snag tolerant material
Single lined/not too hot/breathable
Prefer no swooshy sounding material.
High waist
Thick waistband
Belt loops would be a bonus
Prefer waistband grip to keep from sagging
Under $100
Under $75 preferred.
Summary Need/Must:
• Skinny straight or boot cut
• Not too thick, not see-through, a little snag resistant
• Full sized side/front pockets
• High waist
• Thick waistband
• Under $100
• full length
• Not ugly
Preferred/Wish:
• No swooshy sounding material
• Waist band grip
• Back pockets & side pockets
• Under $75
• can tolerate 7/8th length, can’t tolerate capri/mid.
• belt loops?
Have you checked out Duluth Trading? Just a quick skim through their pants and it seems like they’d have multiple options that fit most of your needs and wants!
Thanks! I have.
I’ve tried two different styles/models/whatever the term might be and the structural fit was really poor for my body type, but perhaps third, fourth, fifth try is a charm? : )
I’ve tried on a couple and they weren’t the right shape for my body, but I have a terrible time finding pants! Maybe it’s a universal thing with their pants though, so sorry for that rec! My first thought for you was the Prana Halle pant, which I love and they are so durable, but they don’t have the side pockets you are looking for. Patagonia also makes a few “work wear” style pants but they are missing the pockets as well. It’s so hard to find pants with actual usable pockets!
Not sure if it’s an option where you are, but at least pre-covid, my pants-buying strategy was to go to a thrift store, try on a bunch, find things that work for hips/waist, and then buy and hem to length. That specific process may not work for you, especially since from your wishlist you don’t live in jeans the way that I do, but the ‘try on as many options from as many different brands as possible’ might help you narrow in on a brand/style that works for you and then you could go to them directly.
Your best bet might be get the pants that fit otherwise and pay to have the waist taken in. There are “curvy cut” pants but they’re often very femme styles and not very durable.
I’ve heard good things about the fit of barbell apparel pants but don’t know price.
I often find myself looking for “tactical pants “or “tactical jeans“ vs “hiking pants “or “hiking jeans “I do not really understand the difference, but I find that adding the word tactical usually means more pockets. Lol.
^ but aaaalso, since I live in the United States, I have to be really careful not to make a purchase from a company that is tremendously against my morals, because I used the word “tactical” SIGH
Just remembered that a trans friend swears by Dapper Boi jeans for the fit at hips/waist, and he has the same habit I do of shoving everything into pockets. I’ve never tried them myself, but they might fit some of your qualifications.
I bought two pairs of pants from Glow and have liked them, though I am not sure they check all your boxes they are TOPS on pockets. So many pockets. https://www.glowworkwear.com/
Duluth trading had a high waist skinny flex fit denim Jean that I loved but I got them on closeout. So now they don’t have them. Now everything seems to be midrise.
Do you have access to REI or (even better) an REI garage used gear store? I feel like there has to be an outdoor brand that fits your spec (Kuhl? Prana? Patagonia? ) May take trial and error to not have “swooshy”. Oh, steepandcheap.com also has good outdoor brands on sale. Helps to know what brands fit you, though…
Thanks everyone! I’ll do some investigating based on these tips (says the person currently wearing equestrian pants as my everyday pants for the day without a horse in sight ).
It might be worth looking at the size charts for Dovetail workwear. They’re on the $$ side, but supposed to be sturdy, have a million pockets, and come in lighter ripstop fabric that I don’t think is too swishy. They’re not a great fit for my body and might not work for you (I get some gapping at the waist), but may be worth looking into.
I recently tried on a bunch of Everlane pants, and their barrel pants and ‘curvy’ styles actually mostly fit my hip to waist, and come in high waisted/skinny styles, and have very deep pockets. All the ones I’ve tried are a heavier weight denim, so not a great choice in other respects, but maybe fit your price point.
I recently went on a try on spree at REI and tried on just about all the their womens hiking pants, and they all sucked. Apparently outdoorsy girls don’t get to have hips or pockets, and the nylon fabric these days feels like its going to rip the instant I go outside. /complaining
The best fit/comfort was the Athleta Trekkie North, which is a jogger style, but the fabric didn’t seem sturdy.
A few years back I saved up to buy a pair of dovetail pants and sadly had the same experience you did.
I’m going to check out the other options you mentioned!
Thx!
These are definitely the top/over my price range but wow they’re nice! I wish the pocket wasn’t high contrast as I love just plain colors, not a “pop” kind of person.
How have these been for you in terms of durability?
To chime in with rural, my Litter Robot automatic litter box is the only kind I would use now.
Instant Pot because it turns off automatically. Remembering things is less and less of a strong suit for me.
George Foreman grill. I had a small one. Then my Aunt mentioned they have ones with removable plates to make cleaning easier. One of the best $35 I have spent. I have 2 RV’s now (long story) and my Aunt found me a second one that is extra fancy with temperature settings and timers at a thrift store. It was $7.50. I can cook a hamburger or small steak in minutes now.
I have 2 air fryers as well. I haven’t really mastered my small oven/air fryer yet. I used my small round one a lot to cook pork chops and hamburgers quickly. It will be in the winter RV so I’ll use it again there. At some point I’ll probably need to figure out how to get rid of one of these options, air fryers or grills.
).