Dickies

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Dickies

63 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 30, 2025

  What are some brands that you can actually get some thick heavyweight canvas/canvas-adjacent pants from?

  Dickies, carhartt both have good ones. I would look for a pair of dickies from 5+ years ago though, they seem to have had a swift downturn of late. I just went to go pick up a new pair the other day, same as the ones I already have allegedly, and there is a massive difference in quality and thickness.

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• #2Dec 29, 2025

  How do synthetic base layers compare to merino wool base layers?

  I take a different approach to winter dress, and we experience -40° at least a few times every year. I do wear a very thin synthetic base layer. It is polypropylene and its trait is extremely high thermal conductivity, it can take extreme temperatures and pass it to another surface very quickly and efficiently. (^(an excellent example I experienced of this was I wearing coveralls and by a wood fire an ember burned a hole through my denim and burned my leg but did not burn through the thermals) ). They also don’t hold water so they are ***easy to wash and quick to dry***, this is a huge pro for me. my thermals underwear are like $9.00 Dickies from a discount store. My top is a similar thing. From there I layer and layer and layer with a combination of air pockets and zippers to create vents and protection zones. I also carry spare pair of pairs of gloves and or mitts close to my body, it keeps them warm and provides insulation, in the event my hands get two cold I have a pair of Warmer preheated mitts, but if they get to warm I have a pair of more dexterous thinner gloves now stashed away. I even wear poly base socks with merino wool overtop or when it is really cold I wear very thick socks -40° wool socks over these socks. Either way, I just add a layer for every extra -10°C it goes down. When it gets to -40° if I am going to be outside for hours on end, I am probably wearing 3 layers of socks, 4 layers of pants (2 of which are insulated), 3 to 4 shirts tucked and untucked to create and heat extraction pump system, 2 coats one warm, one wind proof , and have 4 pairs of gloves on my person.

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• #3Dec 28, 2025

  What are some brands that you can actually get some thick heavyweight canvas/canvas-adjacent pants from?

  Carhart and Dickies both make duck canvas pants that are affordable. [These ones](https://www.dickies.com/en-us/products/relaxed-fit-heavyweight-duck-carpenter-pants-dk0019390af) by Dickies are 12oz duck canvas.

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• #4Dec 24, 2025

  Heavyweight hoodie and sweatpants, 44 waist

  Check out Carhartt their heavyweight hoodies are built like tanks and they actually carry sizes that'll fit you. The K288 hoodie is 13oz and their sweatpants go up to 4XL. Also look at Dickies heavyweight fleece, runs big and cheap as hell but lasts forever.

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• #5Dec 22, 2025

  I was gonna change the buckle on my hanks belt a found this

  Id have to warranty claim a pair of darn tough socks 10 to 20 times for them to beat my go to Dickies. Not to mention spend countless hundreds to fill a drawer. There's just no way to make that math work.

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• #6Dec 2, 2025

  Recommendations for quality Jeans or casual slacks that will last

  Seconding Dickies 874s, those things are tanks. I've put mine through hell and they just keep going For jeans tho you might wanna check out some workwear brands like Duluth Trading or even Wrangler Riggs if you can find em. Way better construction than department store stuff

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• #7Dec 2, 2025

  Recommendations for quality Jeans or casual slacks that will last

  none are BIFL but i just got a pair of carhartt regular relaxed fit jeans bc they were new at a secondhand shop for $20 and they’re actually really comfortable and obviously durable. for slacks i’d say dickies. original 874’s are notoriously fantastic. i really really like their wide double knees too but that’s not so casual

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• #8Nov 6, 2025

  What are some brands for good quality Trousers for men that lasts for life?

  I only wear the og Dickies work pants. They kinda fade when you wash them for the 100th time but aside from that you can bring them anywhere. Them things come ironed out of the wash and they cost less than 40 usd.

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• #9Nov 5, 2025

  Why is it so hard to find well-made clothes that aren't insanely priced?

  I have a Dickies flannel that I have worn every winter since 2016. Literally no issues. Cost me maybe 30 bucks.

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• #10Oct 9, 2025

  My belt got rubbed off after a short backpacking trip. What belt do you have that lasts?

  I've still using the same Dickies brand leather belt I bought at walmart ten or fifteen years ago.

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• #11Oct 9, 2025

  Which Full-Zip Hoodie(s) Would You Recommend For Under $110?

  I’ve had a Carhartt rain defender hoodie (no zipper) for over 10 years. While it may not shed water as good as it did new it’s still a fantastic hoodie. I ordered an insulated zip up hoodie from Dickies probably 5 years ago and it has been fantastic, still rocking it every winter and lots of miles on it on my motorcycle

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• #12Oct 9, 2025

  My belt got rubbed off after a short backpacking trip. What belt do you have that lasts?

  I second Dickie's. Go for a real leather one and it should last you.

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• #13Oct 8, 2025

  Work Pants That Last

  Dickies that don't contain spandex or other "flex" materials

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• #14Oct 5, 2025

  Bombas Socks have really let me down. Any recommendations welcome!

  For cheaper socks, I used to get Gold Toe socks. I am only just getting rid of my oldest Gold Toe socks after about 15 years of wear. They have reinforced the new ones on the bottoms, but some of the stitching came out immediately in the first wash. I am switching over to a different brand, Dickies. So far, I have had a good experience with their full crew. I just got a bunch of their quarter crew athletic socks. So far they have been comfortable and dry reasonably fast. You can get six of them for less than the price of a single pair of Darn Tough socks.

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• #15Oct 4, 2025

  Bombas Socks have really let me down. Any recommendations welcome!

  I like Burlington socks if you like rayon they are super thick though I also use dickies dri-tech which are a little thinner for tighter shoes

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• #16Oct 1, 2025

  Quality Versatile Pants + Pockets + Natural Fibers

  I'm female and dream about good pockets. while not dressy I love my Carhartt and Dickies. no fashion awards will be won but I can live with that becuase SO MANY POCKETS. [Carhartt Essential Ashland](https://www.carhartt.com/product/105113/the-essential-ashland-pant) pant has a little bit of stretch, too, but mostly made of cotton so they're comfy. I have some from last season in red. good luck, let us know what you decide!

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• #17Oct 1, 2025

  Levi's jeans failed after 2 years - what are the best hard wearing jeans that will last longer?

  I was looking for this recommendation. I bought a pair of dickies about a year ago and they’ve held up longer than all my other pants. I used them now as a mechanic but before they were for shop work/ general handyman use.

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• #18Sep 7, 2025

  Long-lasting shirt and pants for wood cutting work

  Dickies for me.

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• #19Sep 7, 2025

  Best Workwear Brand?

  I’m going to add Dickies 873 work pants. Wrinkle and stain resistant. They clean up nicely after a day of mowing grass. The 873 is slim fit. The 874 is relaxed fit. I purchased some from Amazon for $21 last week. They are long wearing. The black ones look nice as casual work pants. I’ve had Duluth before. I may try them again.

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• #20Sep 7, 2025

  Best Workwear Brand?

  Oh I had an incredible pair of Dickies work pants about a decade ago that I LOVED and have been searching for ever since. They were like a thicker canvas with hella pockets and they really broke in nicely. I wore them like every day and eventually blew out the crotch lol

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• #21Sep 7, 2025

  Best Workwear Brand?

  Like you I've been on a hunt for the "best" (or, best for me) work wear pants. After burning through many, many pairs of Weatherproof Vintage pants from Costco, I decided it was time to spend more and experiment, without breaking the bank on Japanese denim or in 1620 work clothes. I bought one pair from many brands I thought were affordable. Here's my ranking from best to worst. 1. Patagonia (the non-stretch version). This is heavy, heavy duck cloth. The fit in the waist can be tight because of the zero stretch. The pants take a beating with sweat, sawdust, paint, and other crap but they feel and move and breathe like new, and have protected me from lots of sharp things. I've washed them only a handful of times. The aesthetic can be kind of funny with the pocket design and zero taper in the ankles. 2. Dickies. The double knee pants. These both feel and look good. They're lighter while still being tough. They age nicely. Great pants. They're a touch long compared to other brands, so sometimes I roll them, but then they catch sawdust. Sometimes the crotch rides up when sitting. 3. Duluth. Maybe too heavy weight? I'm uncomfortable wearing these in warmer weather because they're just so heavy. In the winter I love them. The pocket design is also a little too wide, like things can fall out when working horizontal or if your likes are a bit elevated. 4. Carhartt. Not a fan so far. The sizing seems literally random. With a tool belt, they fall down a lot, even with a regular belt. They're flimsy. The pockets are frayed and roughed up from my multi tool. Best denim: Prison Blues. Without getting into any ethics or political debates, I'll just say that the denim is super high quality, 14.5ozs, and really well built pants. They can seem quite wide fitting, but the young kids tell me that's the style these days.

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• #22Sep 4, 2025

  Brands That Used to Be BIFL — But Aren't Anymore?

  mine did too but ill say this dickies has replaced every pair of pants I busted through no questions asked.

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• #23Sep 4, 2025

  Long-lasting shirt and pants for wood cutting work

  If Carhartt isn’t holding up like it used to, you’re not imagining things—lots of folks have noticed the quality dip recently. For wood cutting and chainsaw work, I’d look at a few solid alternatives: * Filson – Built like a tank, especially their Tin Cloth gear. Expensive but lasts forever. * Duluth Trading Co. – Their Fire Hose pants are tough as nails and super practical. * Dickies – More affordable but still rugged enough for heavy work. * Helly Hansen – Great if you’re outside in wet or cold conditions. If you want a true “buy it once” kind of setup, Filson or Duluth are hard to beat.

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• #24Sep 4, 2025

  Brands That Used to Be BIFL — But Aren't Anymore?

  I think they changed the fabric. I switched over to Dickies everything this year. They are at least better than the new Carharts so far. They have insulated bibs too if thats what you're needing.

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• #25Sep 4, 2025

  Brands That Used to Be BIFL — But Aren't Anymore?

  Dickies used to be the GOAT when it came to work clothes. Had a few pairs of pants and shorts working on our ranch growing up that lasted me for years, lasted through all the typical ranch work AND building a house ourselves. Bought a pair of pants a few years ago and they didn't even last a year before the button had fallen off, the hems were frayed and falling apart, not to mention they felt thin and stretchy from the get go, and that was just a year of normal wear, no physical labor done in them beyond maybe changing the oil in my car once.

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• #26Sep 4, 2025

  Brands That Used to Be BIFL — But Aren't Anymore?

  I switched to Dickies for carpenter pants and socks and haven’t looked back. Still have my Carhartt insulated bibs though.

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• #27Sep 2, 2025

  What work wear jackets, canvas jackets, denim jackets actually last you for life?

  Dickies Eisenhower. Had mine for 25 years with 15 years of daily wear. Mostly retired. Gonna actually replace it with a new one this winter. It fits like a well worn glove now. I can’t wait to break in the new one and wear it until *my* retirement.

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• #28Sep 1, 2025

  Where are the shirts that last this long???

  Dickies T-Shirts

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• #29Aug 4, 2025

  Best everyday socks for sweaty feet?

  I have always had really sweaty feet. Podiatrist recommended a few brands of socks, and I have found Dickies Dri-tech moisture control socks to work well. My own kid's feet *reek* and she uses those socks too with good results.

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• #30Aug 4, 2025

  what winter coat are yall using?

  Patagonia puffer. Or thick dickies workwear jacket. Both worth the investment imo. 

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• #31Jul 9, 2025

  Chinos in the UK - advice please

  Carhatt or Dickies.

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• #32Jul 8, 2025

  Which Shorts do You Recommend?

  Dickies 874 classic pants, cut off and hemmed at wherever you deem the correct place for shorts to stop.

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• #33Jul 6, 2025

  Stuff you will continue buying for life

  I second Danner boots and Dickies pants. My go-to pants are the FLEX regular fit duck. It has the 5 pockets like jeans but their duck canvas, like carhartt jackets, so they're super durable

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• #34Jul 6, 2025

  Stuff you will continue buying for life

  I'm a big fan of their long sleeve henley shirts. They're insanely comfortable and seem to last forever--I have two that have to be at least a decade old and that side from the color fading, they are still in vg+/ex condition. The same can be said for their jackets

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• #35Jul 6, 2025

  Which heritage brands are still good?

  Does Dickies count? I love the Temp-iQ shirts.

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• #36Jul 6, 2025

  Stuff you will continue buying for life

  Love mine. Going on two years and washes up like new every year. I’ve put it through the wringer with regular farm work. 10/10

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• #37Jul 5, 2025

  Stuff you will continue buying for life

  Their standard tshirt is incredible too.

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• #38Jul 3, 2025

  Your Top 3 BIFL Items

  1. Any generic French Press (for me it’s one with a double filter + removable cylinder for cleaning) 2. Any musical instrument (for me it’s a guitar) 3. Detroit style jacket (I rock a thrifted Dickies) since where I live I can wear it most of the year

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• #39Jun 12, 2025

  I am need of some men's work jeans for the trades, something that is breathable and comfortable. What are some good options?

  Carhartt, Dickies

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• #40Jun 11, 2025

  I’ve worn this belt every day since 6th grade. I’m 42 years old. The end is nigh though and the tag with the brand wore off of it so I don’t even know if they still make them. Got it at REI, brand was like the name of a person. Stuart Thomas or something along those lines? 😭😭

  I had a Dickies leather belt that lasted 20 years. You got me beat there bud!

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• #41Jun 8, 2025

  Great socks for everyday wear and running?

  I have always dried mine in the dryer. I suppose it's worth a try, but with socks I would worry that they would get a little stretched out without the dryer.

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• #42Jun 2, 2025

  I’m looking for some loose fitting women’s trousers/pants that I can use for yard work

  I love Dickies!! I wear mine almost daily. They’re great

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• #43May 10, 2025

  What are some items under $500 you’ve made so far that changed your life?

  I just buy white Dickies socks and black Dickies socks, and my life never felt simpler.

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• #44May 8, 2025

  Is this normal for brand-new Bombas?

  Exact same here. My first pair from early 2021 lasted a long time, my last pair from mid 2024 wore through before the end of the year. The old ones didn’t wear like this immediately, but the new ones do. Now I just get cheap Dickies socks, they’ve actually held up better for $1 a sock.

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• #45May 5, 2025

  Baggy jeans with at least 27cm/10.6inch leg opening

  If u want looser selvedge i think naked and famous strong guy fit is pretty loose fitting Not selvedge but u can get a pair of raw relaxed denim from prisonblues for like 50-60 I usually just get dickies or wranglers and make sure i get the 100% denim, regular models

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• #46May 3, 2025

  BIFL Socks that ARENT darn tough?

  I am fine buying a 15 pack of Dickies sock for $15 every 10 years. Its less inconvenient shipping back darn tough socks to return them.

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• #47May 2, 2025

  Actually Durable Clothing

  I switched from carhearts to dickies a while ago and the jump in quality was immediately noticeable as was the number of times I could patch them before they fell apart.

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• #48May 2, 2025

  Actually Durable Clothing

  Dickies work pants have held up pretty well for me. I’ve been wearing a couple $20 pairs for the last 3 years with no holes/fraying. I’m sure you could spend a lot more for a slightly better pair of pants, but they’re still producing high quality workwear at prices those of us who work outdoors can still afford.

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• #49Apr 12, 2025

  Am I missing something about Darn Tough socks?

  I know this is an old post but this is how I do it too. I can buy a 12 pack of dickies socks for the price of 1 of these, and since you can cycle them out the wear is minimal. Ive been using the same 12 pack of socks for like 3 years mow and don’t have any with holes.

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• #50Apr 5, 2025

  Darn Tough Glazers - Hot Garbage

  Thanks for the recommendation!

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• #51Apr 4, 2025

  Darn Tough Glazers - Hot Garbage

  Thanks for the recommendation, that's super helpful. I'll grab a pair next and see how they hold up!

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• #52Apr 1, 2025

  Best winter jackets or just warm jackets in general under 100 dollars?

  I don't know what temperature range you are going for, but Dickies jackets are both warm and last forever.

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• #53Mar 7, 2025

  Best chore coat for men?

  Filson right now is in chaos due to being acquired by a VC firm. I would not buy new Filson now. Go with Dickies.

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• #54Mar 7, 2025

  Best chore coat for men?

  You’ll need a second jacket for that I’d say. When you look at the fabric for Carhartt and Dickies, once it gets a good level of grease or dirt, it rarely washes out without still leaving dark spots. I’d suggest getting a used Chore Coat for work use and find something else for leisure.

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• #55Mar 7, 2025

  Best chore coat for men?

  Carhartt and Dickies. I have one of each. They’re at least 25 years old each.

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• #56Mar 7, 2025

  It finally happened! Looks like I’m due a new pair of socks! 🥳🥳🥳

  Man I’ve done great with the cheapo dickies socks. I wear then with steel toes for long hours and they last forever since I can get a pack to rotate for the cost of one pair of these.

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• #57Mar 3, 2025

  Long Lasting Jeans for Mechanic

  I cant kill my ancient Dickies overalls from walmart. I've tried really hard.

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• #58Mar 2, 2025

  Need crew socks that will last

  Dickies full cushion. I average 17,000 steps a day on hard concrete, these hold up. I prefer non-white socks, white gets dingy unless you bleach them, and bleach really shortens the lifespan. Dickies Men's Big & Tall Dri-tech... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SVT8TZS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

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• #59Mar 2, 2025

  Got nowhere else to go.. need Pants help.

  Try Dickies. The clothing there is ny-indestructible.

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• #60Mar 1, 2025

  Dickies Original work pants but not terrible?

  Yo compre unos pantalones dickies loose fit en londres y estan como el primer dia. Estoy muy contentos con ellos. Se ven resistentes y comodos. Lo que mas me gusta es la cintura, estoy harto de los pantalones que quedan bajos en la zona de la cintura y tienes que subirtelos constantemente aun usando cinturon.

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• #61Feb 10, 2025

  Do you think BIFL is actually cost effective?

  I don’t believe in BIFL socks. I’ve had em all. From smart wool to darn tough and beyond, I’ve found all the popular ones to be overrated and not worth the price at all. And keeping the same socks and undies forever is just gross. I wear socks as little as possible. If I need something sturdy in the cold as fuck winter months, I’m going with Dickie’s work socks all day long. I can get 6 pairs for $20, and I’ll replace them every five years or so. Their work pants are just as good as Carhart and much cheaper.

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• #62Jan 8, 2025

  I need Work Pants, None Last

  My ex worked doing installs at factories/foundaries. He wore dickies and they never wore through, even though he'd come home filthy from crawling through who knows what. No clue on the quality now, but at least mid 2010s they stood up well.

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• #63Jan 6, 2025

  I need Work Pants, None Last

  I have some 511's that have lasted nearly 7 years I have some Dickies that are over 8 years old. I'm a big guy and my biggest pants killer are thigh rubbing.

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