On our site, Hard Yakka is mostly pants and shorts. The core is the 3056 range in a 240 to 260gsm cotton blend, with the heavier 340gsm Legends Xtreme above it, plus a handful of Core hi vis cotton shirts, a fleece crew and women's work pants. Pick the pant by fabric and fit first; the full line-up is in our Hard Yakka collection.
Hard Yakka pants by fabric and fit
| Pant | Fabric, as listed | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| 3056 Ripstop Slim Fit Cargo Y02255 | Ripstop, 240gsm | Slim, tapered from knee to hem |
| 3056 Cuffed Cotton Cargo Y02340 | Ripstop, 240gsm | Slim and tapered, elastic cuff on hem |
| 3056 Raptor Comfort Fit Y02441 | Ripstop, 240gsm | "Active Fit Waistband" |
| 3056 Raptor Cuffed Cargo Y02717 | Ripstop, 240gsm | Active Fit Waistband, ankle cuff, heel guard |
| 3056 Stretch Canvas Cargo Y02880 | Stretch canvas, 260gsm | Double layer knee, Regular and Stout fits |
| Slim Fit Stretch Canvas Cargo Y02855 | Canvas, 240gsm | Reflective segmented tape, double layer knees |
| Legends Xtreme Cargo Y02210 | 100% cotton Panama weave, 340gsm | Cordura on knees and pockets, Regular and Stout fits |
All the 3056 pants above, and the Slim Fit Stretch Canvas, are the same blend: 60% cotton, 38% polyester and 2% elastane. The listings say the polyester is REPREVE®, "made from recycled polyester from post-consumer waste materials, including recycled plastic bottles". The Legends Xtreme is the odd one out: 100% cotton, much heavier, with "Cordura reinforcement on key abrasion zones such as knees and pockets" and "Swing away pockets". In practice the choice comes down to five things.
- Cut. The Y02255, Y02340 and Y02880 are listed with a slim, articulated fit, tapered from knee to hem, and the Y02855 is an "Articulated Slim fit". If someone on your crew doesn't like a slim leg, the Raptor Y02441 and Y02717 and the Legends Xtreme aren't described as slim.
- Cuff or open hem. The Y02340 and Y02717 have an elastic cuff at the ankle. The other listings don't mention a cuff.
- Weight. The 3056 pants are 240 or 260gsm. The 340gsm Legends Xtreme is the heaviest here, with Cordura on the knees and pockets, so it suits crews who are hard on their pants. On hot days, the lighter 3056 fabrics are usually the more comfortable choice.
- Knees and stretch. The Y02880 is a "Stretch canvas for comfort and freedom of movement", and both it and the Y02855 add a reinforced double layer knee. That combination makes most sense for work with a lot of kneeling and climbing, such as fit-out or maintenance. None of the ripstop listings mentions a double layer knee.
- Colour. Colours vary by style. Black, Desert and Navy are common, the Y02880 adds Khaki, the Y02255 adds Charcoal and Military Green, the Y02855 is Black or Navy only, and the Legends Xtreme comes in two-tone Khaki/Black and Navy/Black. Check that every pant in a mixed crew order comes in your colour.
Some Raptor titles (the Y02717 pant and the Y05160 and Y05161 shorts) say "Rip Resistant", but the listings don't explain what that means or how it's tested, so we'd treat it as a name rather than a rating.
Sizes and fits
Pants are listed by waist size with an R or S suffix. The Y02880 and Legends Xtreme listings label these as Regular and Stout fits, and the Y02880 runs from 77R to 132S. The slim 3056 ripstop styles Y02255 and Y02340 stop at 102R, so larger waists should look at the Y02880, the Raptor styles (to 112R) or the Legends. For women, the Raptor Cuff Work Pant Y08382 is listed in sizes 6 to 18 in the same 240gsm ripstop, with an Active Fit Waistband, elastic ankle cuff, heel guard and "Pocket systems to utilise key reach zones and functional tool storage". Ask us which sizes and colours we can supply before you plan around it.
Shorts follow the pants. The 3056 Raptor Rip Resistant shorts come in a mid length (Y05160) and a short short (Y05161), both in 240gsm ripstop, in Black, Desert and Navy, 67R to 112R. They make sense for hot-weather workshop or yard days, but some sites require long pants, so check before ordering shorts for a crew.
Core hi vis cotton shirts
We list three Core hi vis shirts and one women's taped shirt, all in 145gsm cotton:
- Y04620, short sleeve, untaped, relaxed fit. Its listing quotes "AS/NZS 4602.1:2011" and "For day use only".
- Y07940, long sleeve, two-tone with "Reflectec Tape", mesh venting at the back yoke and an underarm mesh gusset. No standard is quoted on our listing.
- Y07950, the same long sleeve shirt without tape. No standard is quoted on our listing.
- Women's Y08420, Safety Orange, sizes 6 to 24, with "ReflecTec 50mm retroreflective tape, in Vic Rail and Biomotion configuration". No hi vis standard is quoted on our listing.
Why cotton and vents? The Y07940, Y07950 and Y08420 list "Venting at back yoke with mesh" and an "Underarm mesh gusset" to let air through on hot outdoor days, and the Y04620 is a "Relaxed Fit" that "Softens with washing". The three men's styles come in Orange/Navy and Yellow/Navy; the women's shirt is Safety Orange only.
The Y04620 is listed for day use only, and the 2011 joint standard it quotes has since been replaced by AS 4602.1:2024. Tape on the Y07940 and Y08420 doesn't tell you what they're rated for, and our listings don't say. If your site specifies day/night garments or a particular edition, check the garment's label against it before you order. Our pink hi vis guide explains day and night ratings in more detail.
For the cooler months
The Crew Neck Fleece Jumper Y19324 is "320gsm, 65% polyester/ 35% cotton brushed fleece" with a kangaroo pouch, two side utility pockets and a twin pencil pocket on the left sleeve. It comes in Black and Navy, XS to 6XL, and suits cold starts in the workshop or on site. It isn't hi vis, so on a hi vis site it goes under a vest, not instead of one.
Branding
For a logo, cotton shirts and fleece are the usual base for embroidery, and our embroidery or printing guide explains how to choose a method. On hi vis, keep logos clear of the reflective tape and check your site's rules first.
Fitting out a crew? Send us the styles, sizes and your logo through our custom workwear enquiry form.
