My husband puts in long days. I’m talking a minimum of 12 hours and sometimes up to 20 hours a day. Not only that, it’s seven days a week.
Yep, he’s a hardworking dairy farmer! We milk about 90 cows while also raising our own young stock and growing the majority of the feed needed for the farm. Because we’re a smaller, family-operated farm, we don’t have any hired help. (Unless you count our kids, who are great about pitching in with milking and fieldwork when needed!)
But the person pulling the majority of the weight is my husband.
His alarm goes off at 2:30 a.m. every single morning. And by lunchtime, he’s typically already put in about nine hours of work. He’ll grab a quick nap when he can and then head right back outside, usually working until around 7:30 p.m.
And that’s on a normal day.
During planting, chopping, or other busy fieldwork seasons, it’s not unusual for him to stay out until midnight or later. Only to get up at 2:30 a.m. and start all over again. I truly don’t know how he does it because I know I sure couldn’t! Just filling a few days recently when all three of our middle kids were gone was exhausting! I was definitely glad to see them arrive back home after their little trips!
Hard Jobs = Hard On Gear
With such a labor-intensive profession, though, having the right gear is important. His clothes and boots aren’t just something he wears ‘to work’. They’re put through mud, manure, water, heat, equipment repairs, climbing, bending, kneeling, and thousands upon thousands of steps.
So when it comes to workwear, comfort, function, and durability are what matter. That’s why we were excited to put three new pieces from BRUNT Workwear to the test. We’ve been customers of BRUNT for years now and have loved everything we’ve bought. So it’s always extra fun to team up with brands we already love and trust to check out more of their gear.
Good Workwear Should Do More Than Survive the Job
When you’re wearing that gear for 12+ hour shifts, an uncomfortable shirt, stiff pair of pants, or mediocre pair of boots can become a pretty big deal. That’s one reason my husband has come to appreciate that good workwear isn’t just about durability. Because if you’re actually wearing it day after day, it also needs to be comfortable, breathable, flexible, and practical.
For this BRUNT Workwear review, my husband tried a complete head-to-toe setup:
- The Ohman 6″ 90° Heel Waterproof Work Boot — Soft Toe
- The McKenna Tech Shirt — Short Sleeve
- The Costello Tech Pant
Here’s how each one performed.
BRUNT Ohman 6″ 90° Heel Waterproof Work Boot
Footwear is probably the single most important piece of work gear for my husband. He’s on his feet for hours at a time. In the barn and parlor, he’s walking on concrete. Throughout the day, he’s climbing in and out of equipment. Between feeding and caring for the livestock, he’s navigating plenty of wet and muddy conditions. So on a dairy farm, waterproof boots are a must. If his feet get wet or cold, he is absolutely miserable; especially come winter time.
For this review, he tried the Ohman 6″ 90° Heel Waterproof Work Boot in a size 10 1/2 Wide with a soft toe.
One feature that immediately makes the Ohman stand out is its 90-degree defined heel. This style of heel can be especially useful for anyone regularly climbing ladders or getting in and out of equipment because it provides a more defined edge than a flat-bottomed boot.
My husband goes between a 10 wide and 10 1/2 wide. For the Ohman’s he went with a 10 1/2 wide and is glad he did. They fit really well but he immediately said he thinks a 10 wide would have been too tight. So if you’re between sizes, he suggests going up.
- AVAILABLE IN WIDE: For anyone with wider feet, they’ll definitely appreciate that BRUNT offers wide sizing. My husband has to wear wide shoes to accommodate hammer toes. Anything else rubs his toe raw, which creates difficulty even walking.
- WATERPROOF: I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys walking around with wet socks inside their shoes/boots. Because farm life includes so many different (wet and dirty) working conditions, waterproof is a must.
- GOOD TRACTION: Traction is another extremely important factor for farm life. Wet concrete and muddy ground can get slippery fast. These boots feels secure underfoot, which is a major plus.
Overall, the Ohman is designed like a traditional work boot but includes features aimed at people who actually spend the entire day wearing it. Which is exactly what we were looking for! And he loves how easy they are to slip on and off.
The McKenna Tech Shirt: Made for Hot, Sweaty Workdays
Next up is The McKenna Tech Shirt. And I’ll just say it: farm work gets HOT. When I was helping milk morning and night for several days in a row, it was during an especially hot streak. And it was MISERABLE! We were both dripping sweat constantly.
But we all know Summer brings plenty of days where the temperature and humidity climb. Yet the work doesn’t stop on a dairy farm. Cows still need to be milked, animals need to be fed, equipment breaks, and fieldwork needs to get done. A heavy cotton T-shirt that soaks up sweat isn’t necessarily ideal for those days.
The McKenna Tech Shirt is specifically designed as a lightweight work shirt. It’s made with a 4.87-ounce fabric with four-way stretch and features mesh side panels for additional ventilation. The material is also quick-drying and moisture-wicking. And not just that. It also features UPF 50+ sun protection. Perfect for when my husband is spending countless hours spent outdoors, especially during fieldwork season.
Another notable feature is the McKenna features flatlock seams designed to reduce rubbing, along with drop-shoulder seams intended to reduce abrasion and chafing.
My husband got the short-sleeve McKenna in Blue Heather, size XL. He tends to teeter between size large and extra large; but typically feels most comfortable in and XL. The slightly larger fit tends to offer more flexibility. So the overall fit and function of this top makes it a big-time winner for us.
The Costello Tech Pant: Work Pants for Summer?!
Finally, we have The Costello Tech Pant. Anyone who works outdoors knows the dilemma when summer rolls around. Shorts might be cooler, but they aren’t always practical, or safe, for certain jobs. As a matter of fact, my husband says shorts are NEVER safe on a farm. But traditional heavy work pants can get downright miserable in the heat. So then what?
The Costello Tech Pant is BRUNT’s answer to that problem. These are specifically designed as lightweight, breathable work pants and feature four-way stretch mini-ripstop fabric. They’re also treated with a DWR coating to help repel moisture. That combination immediately sounded promising for farm work.
- COMFORT STRETCH: The four-way stretch is especially useful for anyone who has a physically demanding job, not just farmers!
- WORKS WELL FOR A VARIETY OF SHAPES AND SIZES: BRUNT describes the fit on these pants as relaxed from the hip to the ankle. Plus, these pants are available in a broad range of waist and inseam sizes.
The first comment out of my husband’s mouth about these pants was how comfortable they are! He was super impressed (and surprised) about the stretch. Since he’d never had a pants designed like this before, it was a completely new experience. And after wearing? He says the Costello Pants are a great option for men who need to work hard and don’t want to roast while doing it.
Final Thoughts: Is BRUNT Workwear Worth It?
My husband is probably the toughest product tester as you could ask for. He doesn’t baby his workwear. He’s not changing into a different outfit because something might get dirty. (Even with manure!) If he’s wearing it, it’s going to encounter cows, grease, mud, water, machinery, sweat, and whatever else the day decides to throw his way.
And he gives his newest BRUNT gear an enthusiastic thumbs up. They’ve been holding up well to daily use and abuse. He’s been enjoying the comfort, durability, and performance of each item and couldn’t be happier. So if you’re on the hunt for the best work gear, BRUNT is a name you’ll want to know.
Shop BRUNT
Check out BRUNT Workwear to learn more about their work boots, pants, shirts, and other gear for hardworking men and women.
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