At 5'10+" and 185 lbs, I ordered the green twill coveralls in Large Regular. Inseam length is perfect with boots on. Torso height is just right to allow sitting, kneeling on lake ice, squatting while tying wire, turning wrenches, pushing a wheelbarrow and jacking up a dock without feeling constricted or having to hike them up.
Welding rod pocket on the left leg below the hammer loop is something I use daily to retain keys clipped onto the hammer loop. (Would've missed that pocket if it weren't already on these coveralls.) Double pliers pockets on the right leg were also used this afternoon. All other pockets expected by a multi-project handyperson are plentiful and in proper locations. Seat pockets are large enough for a pair of insulated leather work gloves on one side and a knit hat on the other. There are no snaps or velcro on the back pocket flaps to slip under the edge of one's thumbnail (ouch!) - only cloth flaps to keep dirt out when those pockets are empty or thinly filled. Left side Interior chest pocket is just right for sun or safety glasses. Right side interior chest pocket cups my ultra-modern Samsung S-10 smart phone vertically, but is at least 2" shallow for the velcro closure to secure over the top of the phone. The pocket is not wide enough for the phone to lay horizontally either. (This seems like a design oversight worthy of an adjustment on your next version, Key Apparel.) Even old phones are too valuable for a working person to need to replace because that person was not able to securely zip the phone into an interior pocket - both to keep the battery warm and to avoid having to check to see if the phone is still in one's possession during an active, multi-location, multi-vehicle workday. A couple more inches of interior chest pocket depth and another metal zipper would fix that concern.
(Good thing that phones belong on the wall in the kitchen.)
Finally - regarding pockets- the only pocket I will miss from the old set of Unitog insulated coveralls which these Keys replace is a pair or three pen/pencil/tire pressure gauge sheath pockets on the exterior tricep area of the left arm. A velcro flap over the top of those pen/gauge sheaths on the arm will be great for people like me who have to crawl/roll around on the garage floor.
The thin metal zippers on the chest pockets will have to prove their durability over time. Those zippers are a bit narrow in width for guy hands to reach beyond with more than two fingers and a thumb. They already have me wondering how long they'll hold up. Gratefully, all zippers on this garment are metal. I'll probably only be using these narrow-opening, exterior chest pockets for earplugs and note paper since they're harder than expected to reach into. They are plenty deep.
After ordering dark green for a change of pace, I was wondering (pre-delivery) if the twill fabric would be heavy-duty enough or if I should have chosen the canvas duck fabric used on the brown and black versions. After working in these coveralls all afternoon today at 30 degree temp. with light snow falling, the twill seems like it will hold up just fine over the years. Additionally, the twill might be more flexible than the duck, but I won't know for sure until I own a pair of those too. The twill seems fine for this first pair and is already a heavier material than the polyester/cotton fabric of the Unitog insulated coveralls being replaced.
Within minutes of starting work outdoors, I was putting my knit hat in the right back pocket and never took the insulated leather gloves out of the left rear pocket all afternoon. As usual, I was already wearing 2 thin layers and a turtleneck fleece base layer under a stretchy sweater inside the house, so pulled these coveralls on over that and didn't need to add a chore jacket on top. (That'll be next month.) I also wore mid-weight, wicking, base layer long johns. This arrangement was pleasantly warm for light/medium work in zero wind. The insulating material of these coveralls is twice as thick as the heavily mended and patched, 41-year old coveralls being replaced. Will have to see how well this insulation retains its thickness and how the twill fabric and dye work out after being run through the laundry once or twice over the winter.
Frankly, I'm considering ordering another set of these coveralls immediately to have a clean, "indoor" one to wear inside the house for watching tv or during desk/computer hours instead of a using a lap blanket. Coveralls work nicely to keep drafts away!
Being unseasonably warm today for December 30th, it''ll reach 60 and even 70 degrees colder than this several times in the next two months. That "real winter" weather will give these coveralls a test as a middle layer under a chore coat for snowblowing and firewood work. Another nice attribute of coveralls is having a full "suit" to easily pull/zip on over one's house clothes to quickly go outdoors in any weather conditions or dirtiness/abrasiveness of a task.
With one afternoon under their belt, I can recommend these coveralls for price, accuracy of fit, build and fabric quality, features and warmth.
After 4 decades of wearing "C" brand clothing on the jobsite, in driver's and operator's seats, on the machine shed floor and at the woodpile, Key Apparel will now become my go-to for both comfortable everyday and heavy work clothes.
I'll submit a review on the button-down denim shirt I received in this order after I wash and wear it. Having just gone into town today to pick up this package from Key, it'll be a couple of weeks until I'll need to don any "fancy clothes" like that new shirt.
This order arrived in the mail on the fourth day after placing it. Purchasing more than $75 of Key products equalled free shipping for the 24"x16"x6" box.
Proof-reading this review makes me think that these descriptions could sound to someone elsewhere as though I must have exaggerated, but it's verifiable. Depends what a person is accustomed to and comfortable with. It's why I want/need comfy, warm and sturdy clothes. Thanks for making them at a reasonable price, Key Apparel!
Happy 2024, everybody...
KEY Heroes
