Builder Workwear Guide 2024

Working in all kinds of weather and handling heavy materials or machinery are all par for the course on a building site. As a builder, finding the gear that will protect you from the elements and keep you at your best on the job is crucial. Not only is it important to be comfortable in your work clothes, but they also double as protective wear on site, making you visible and keeping you safe from flying debris.

At BIG Boots UK, we have just the kit that you'll be happy to wear in and get mucked up. Specialising in a variety of workwear and safety boots, we wanted to highlight some of our favourite options, perfect for our customers working on building sites. 

Read on to discover our top picks for each piece of kit you need for the job, as well as a few tips and tricks for keeping your workwear in good condition - keeping you safe and comfortable. 

Why Use Builder Workwear?

What you wear on a building site can be the difference between another day on the job... and the day an injury happens. Workwear for builders needs to be hard wearing, resilient, protective and most importantly comfortable to wear. Normal clothing doesn’t tend to withstand the tough conditions of working in this industry and so you need custom-made workwear that is perfect for the job.

Life on the building site changes throughout the year and we have considered this, offering a range of workwear to suit all weathers, offering increased breathability in the summer, and enhanced insulation in the winter. Weather conditions also have an impact on the terrain you can expect on a building site, so ensuring that your gear is water-resistant as well as dust-tight will make sure that you can keep using it year round.

As always, consider your workplaces’ requirements for PPE and protective equipment. In order to blend protection and practicality with true comfort and style, read this guide for selecting your full kit for work on a building site. 

Choosing workwear designed for your trade will ensure that you are accessing the most suited garments for comfort, support and protection within your line of work. At times it can feel as though you are living in your workwear, so why not make sure it's as comfortable as possible? At BIG Boots, we sell a range of trusted brands from Australia, built from quality materials and built to last.

Explore our Builder workwear collection here.

Builder Work Trousers

Ensuring they have the flexibility to move about site, while also offering protection to your legs is the bare minimum for work trousers on site. From pencils and pens to your phone, all the essentials should be able to fit into your trouser pockets to easily transport around a building site. Sun protection should also be a factor in your trouser selection, as you can expect to be outside in all conditions. Having confidence in your clothes' ability to protect from UV rays can prevent overexposure to the sun and protect from burns.

We recommend the Bisley FLX & MOVE™ Stretch Utility Cargo Trouser with a stretchy cotton gusset; these trousers are highly breathable and support full flexible movement. These trousers also have kevlar reinforcement in crucial high-wear areas of the trousers preventing the development of holes. You can also pick up a pair of these trousers with Holster Pockets, for increased storage at your fingertips. 

We also get great feedback on these Elwood Workwear Slim Fit Trousers - a tapered slim fit trouser with Activemax 360 stretch canvas body fabric. Thanks to their double layered pocket bags, reinforced front button protection and triple needle stitching, these are some of the most popular work trousers in Australia, thanks to them lasting the test of time.

Our choice for women onsite is the Elwood Ladies Reflective Cuffed Trouser. Not only do these trousers offer enhanced visibility due to their reflective stripes, a fantastic safety feature for working onsite, they also have the feature of a tapered cuffed trouser leg. The elasticated cuff at the bottom of these trousers ensures that dust and other materials aren’t blown up your trouser legs. These trousers work hard to keep you safe from dawn to dusk as their reflective features increase visibility during poor light conditions, and their fabric offers 50+ UPF Excellent Sun protection. All the pockets of these trousers are double lined, making them more durable and reliable, especially the purpose made smartphone pocket.

When the heat becomes unbearable, it may be time to crack out the shorts. We love this pair from Elwood made from lightweight and stretchy nylon, these shorts are guaranteed to keep you feeling cooler during the summer on site. The pockets of these shorts are double lined, keeping your belongings secure.

Builder Work Boots

Your work boots are one of your greatest defences against injury in the workplace. Boots with higher ankle supports can protect from twists and sprains of the ankle and foot. Steel toe caps are essential for protecting our feet from falling heavy objects. Keeping your feet in tip top condition is what keeps you fit for work on the building site. Being in the outdoors and being on your feet all day can put strains on our feet leading to discomfort as well as painful conditions from damp shoes. Choosing the right and resilient footwear for the job will make sure you can stay out all day on site without developing foot aches.

Heavy Duty Boots with Enhanced Ankle Support

The ultimate protective and supportive boot for work on a building site is the Steel Blue Mens Work Boots Southern Cross Zip GraphTEC™ Scuff S3. We suggest for the heaviest wear and tear and greatest use that you invest in the black version of this shoe which is reinforced with graphene to create an enhanced protective outer.

Watch Ryan’s unboxing to learn more about these boots!

For women in this industry, we recommend Steel Blue Women’s Work Boots Southern Cross Zip S3 here we can see them in the sand colour which will blend well with the sands and building materials found on site, meaning they will look better for longer. With the taller ankle support, these boots will keep your feet comfortable whilst also avoiding ankle injuries. 

Lighter Boots for Warmer Weather

When the weather changes and once again days on site are filled with sunshine, you may want to switch up your footwear for something a little lighter. We recommend the Hard Yakka Mens 3056 Zip Sided Work Boots for a lighter option. These boots have a wide profile composite toecap, 300-degree heat resistant rubber outsole, and CME midsole to provide energy rebound and cross industry use. The design of these boots is not unlike popular trainer brands, giving them a stylish look and transitioning seamlessly from the workday to social events. 

The soles of these boots are made from memory foam, making them exceptionally comfortable, fitting even better to your feet as you wear them. Being puncture resistant, abrasion resistant, and with a shock absorbing midsole, these boots will provide protection from most scrapes on the worksite and will stay in better condition for longer. 

Our customers find that these boots are flexible enough to wear when driving to and from work, meaning you no longer need to change out of your heavy work boots before journeying home at the end of the day! With a useful side zip, these boots can be taken off easily. What’s not to love?

Watch Ryan’s unboxing of this brilliant boot to learn even more!

Slide on Boots for Quick Changes 

Whilst zip up boots undeniably offer greater levels of support for your ankles, we all know that there are times where a slip on work boot can come in handy. We think you should be able to easily slide on boots without compromising on protection through a wide steel toe cap. We recommend the Hard Yakka Mens BANJO Elastic Sided Safety Boots and for women the Hard Yakka Women's BANJO elastic sided Safety Boots.

The high quality leather used in these boots, is highly water resistant and wears in like a dream. With a memory foam footbed and elevated heel cushioning, the Banjo pull on boots offer ultimate comfort as protective footwear. These boots have been rated 5 stars by our customers, so don’t just take our work for it, read our customer reviews here. 

Builders’ Boots Accessories

Boots can only go so far to protect your feet at work. Another crucial part of protecting your toes is investing in high-quality, breathable socks. The Elwood Workwear Bamboo Crew Socks are the best pairs for the job. Suitable for both men and women, these socks encompass total toe reinforcement for added protection and are crafted from bamboo and cotton, ensuring peak breathability. They feature terry towelling on the soles, meaning your feet will feel like they are walking on clouds!

Keep your boots in tip top condition with the Steel Blue Dubbin Leather Wax Treatment. By keeping your leather work boots clean and waxed they will stay stronger for longer avoiding drying and cracking. Show your boots some love with our favourite conditioning treatment. 

Watch Ryan’s guide to Zip Tips to help you make your boots last longer!

Builder Work Jackets

The importance of visibility on building sites is known by all builders. One of our favourite products that combines comfort and visibility is the Bisley HI VIS Fleece Jacket. Available in either bright yellow or vibrant orange, this jacket also features reflective tape around the body to ensure you stand out on-site. The dual layering of this jacket makes sure it retains heat and will keep you warm even on bitterly cold days. This coat is entirely designed to keep water out - its showerproof jacket can withstand up to 22,000mm of water and its adjustable hood and cuffs will prevent water from running down your sleeves or neck.

For those looking for enhanced comfort with built in warmth, the Bisley FLX & MOVE™ Hooded Puffer Jacket is a fantastic option. This layer is built for movement, with enhanced range of motion, without compromising on warmth. Being showerproof, it can protect you from unexpected rain, and will also keep you toasty warm through its quilting. With a built in hood you can keep your head and ears warm on the job too!

BIG Boots UK for Builders

Look out for the things that matter onsite, comfort, support and protection. Keep yourself warm, cool, dry and moving safely in your work with this complete builders outfit. 

With next day delivery available when you order before 2pm, you can have this kit in your rotation tomorrow! We also offer Free UK shipping over £60 including free exchanges and returns. 

Take advantage of our amazing bundle deals and buy your workwear all together for up to 15% off your total order!

For those looking to buy workwear for the builder in your life, why not buy them a Big Boots gift card allowing them to discover our collection and select the perfect kit for their work. 

Make sure to follow BIG Boots UK on our social media platforms to stay in the loop about new workwear drops and for info on how to keep your kit clean and working well.