Blaklader pants are an interesting blend of style and function. While the Bantam work pants we reviewed some time ago might manage to blend in on job sites, the same can’t be said for the Blaklader X1600 Work Pants. Like the two-tone lovechild of a ménage å trois between cargo pants, chainsaw chaps, and your tool box, the X1600 defies convention. Not content to simply use these on home projects, I decided to field test these a little more radically – at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year, and at a couple other industry-related events. As flashy as Vegas and CES are, I still managed to raise a few eyebrows wearing these pants. Read More
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Blaklader Bantam Pant Review – Get Euro and Ditch the Tool Belt
Do you ever notice those contractors with the 700 pound tool belts loaded with every tool on the planet? They’ve got suspenders, suspension systems, and those little proximity sensors from car bumpers so they don’t accidentally back into something. Don’t get me wrong. We’re all for having a lot of tools on-hand. But there comes a certain point of diminishing returns. Eventually, you’re carrying so many tools you’ve lost your mobility, efficiency, and ability to get the job done. For the typical DIY’er or even contractor doing relatively specialized jobs, sometimes all you need is just a few tool essentials. In Europe, it’s not uncommon for tradespeople to not use a tool belt at all. They just have silly looking overalls with lots of pockets. And, they also have some kick-ass pants from Blåkläder (yup, I even found the umlaut button for their name)! Blåkläder sent us a pair of their Bantam Pants with Utility Pockets to review, and we’ve been strutting euro-style and practicality since. Read More