Tibby Singh Chodha gets kitted out in the Snickers Flexiwear range.
Working hard on site can be compared to working out in the gym. You’re going to get a sweat on but the hard work will pay off in the end. This is why workwear is the most important part of your kit and being uncomfortable would mean you’re in for a long session in which you won’t be able to perform to the highest ability.
To warm up I’ll start with the FlexiWork Camo Hoodie, made from 80 per cent cotton and 20 per cent polyester – which equals 100 per cent comfortable and durable.
For those jobs that need extra elbow grease, Snickers has reinforced the elbows for extra ruggedness – it’s a common 
place for work clothing to get damaged so this will be praised by many.
The hoodie features patented MultiPockets, consisting of two smart side pockets that are perfect for anything from your mobile phone to your safety glasses. Given that they’re fed on the inside of the hoodie, something you won’t see is the guided wire system protecting your audio cables.
Like motivational music in the gym, this idea adds music to your ears to get you into the work zone before your shift, or could come in handy as you take important work calls hands-free.
So working our way top down in this workout and not to skip the legs, you have the FlexiWork Work Trousers + Holster Pockets. The first thing I noticed once my legs were deep in these trousers was how unbelievably light and extremely flexible they were.
Surprisingly, they are still made of tough hardwearing Cordura Fabric with reinforcements in all the right places; at the knees, legs and pockets.
This enhanced durability maintains your dignity whether you’re bending for skirting or flexing to screw. In addition, these trousers also incorporate Snickers’ popular rip-stop fabric, preventing any rips.
As a carpenter/joiner there are days where you literally spend more time on your hands and knees than on your feet, so it’s important to wear protection.
That’s why you can slide two knee pads into their reinforced pockets before you assume any position. The Advanced KneeGuard with stretch fabric has been designed to keep your kneepads in optimum position.
This provides superior comfort and prevents any accidents with your protection slipping off. I’ve been testing the trousers in conjunction with Snickers Lite Craftsmen Kneepads and after several days of fitting skirting boards I can honestly say it doesn’t feel like my knees have done a day’s work.
This makes you appreciate every day of the 18 months it’s taken Snickers to develop them.
It can be a constant up and down motion like a game of snakes and ladders on the job, but with these trousers you have the perfect high-tech body-mapped design and freedom of movement that makes you feel you really are ready for a good workout.
Like any other sports wear these too are ventilated. To complement this design is an integrated yet detachable hardwearing belt that ensures that everything from front to back is tucked away.
Finally, for further functionality there’s a variety of pockets from easy access holster pockets to zipped compartments. Snickers have really thought about every daily routine by including a knife fastener, mobile phone compartment and even a detachable ID-badge holder just in case you forget that you’re actually going to work.
Solid Gear
The final step is to select the right safety boots and, across its two brands of Solid Gear and Toe Guard, the Hultafors Group has a choice of 23 different pairs. They’re available in a variety of styles including trainer, shoe and boot styles, depending on the work requirements. I tested three different types to see if they walked the walk or just talked the talk.
First up was Solid Gear’s Revolt GTX trainer style safety shoes, which are exceptionally lightweight and, thanks to the aluminium toecap and composite plate, feel like you’re wearing any other trainers. A GORE-TEX membrane provides a waterproof function to keep the water out, yet maintains breathability to keep your feet fresh.
This is achieved by microscopic pores that are smaller than a drop of water, to prevent water entering your shoes, yet larger than water vapour to allow the sweat to escape. This is further enhanced by the anti-bacterial insoles which can be a common problem with people in the trade. On the other side you have the anti-slip rubber outsole.
The Griffin safety boots have many of the same features as the Revolt GTX but combine a Cordura ripstop fabric into their material, whilst an oil and slip-resistant Vibram TPU outsole is great if you’re working on ice, snow or low temperatures, and will ensure that you never get cold feet on the job again.
The heat resistant sole on the Toe Guard Nitro safety boots will withstand the toughest abuse and the harshest environments. Another hot feature is their puncture resistant plate which makes these great if your boots usually take a good kicking.
To conclude I can say I’m extremely impressed at how light yet safe the full range of these Snickers Workwear products are. They feel like they’re the love child of a quality sports brand with Snickers usual range of products.
For more information on the Snickers range click here.