These Work Pants Are Damn Near Perfect
The Proof Rover pants finally find a balance between durability and comfort
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Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen men’s blue jeans get completely reinvented, thanks to the addition of Lycra (which also goes by spandex or elastane). Lycra, when mixed with cotton, adds stretch, so jeans are comfier and better for everything from commuting to climbing.
Proof has taken that concept one step further and added Lycra to a pair of work pants. Its model is called the Rover (as in Land Rover), and they’re the first pair of work pants I’ve ever worn that don’t feel like they need a two-month break-in period. The pants are not as comfortable as stretch jeans, because they’re made from a thicker, more durable cotton, but they’re miles ahead of the work pants you’re used to suffering through.
Proof also mixed in quite a bit of Sorbtek, a synthetic material that excels at wicking moisture. So if you wear these pants to dig out a buddy’s car in the snow, or put them on to tackle a sweaty summer-construction project, they’ll stay a lot drier and softer than what you’re used to.
Other features include a gusseted crotch for an increased range of motion and a pigment dye that allows the pants to develop their own unique patina over time. Plus, because the Rovers forgo double knees and hammer loops, they don’t scream “work,” which means you can wear them off the jobsite, too.
Are the Rovers as durable as the work pants you’ve had for the past five years? Probably not. Proof did give up a little strength in the trade for luxury, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. They’re that much nicer to wear and tough enough to put up with at least a couple years of abuse.