The 10 Best Shop Aprons
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in January of 2016. Butchers, chefs, carpenters, welders, gardening enthusiasts, and anyone else who routinely performs messy or dangerous work will benefit from one of these shop aprons. Not only will they protect your body and clothing from flying sparks, dirt and splashing liquids, many are equipped with multiple pockets for keeping tools and accessories close at hand while you’re on the job. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Editor's Notes
August 20, 2020:
Removed the Craftsmans Guild Utility and the Readywares Waxed in favor of the Texas Canvas Wares 9001 and the Angry Beaver BRN1APR.
If you've done any woodworking or welding, you quickly learn that you need to take steps to protect your clothes. Welding spatter will burn through non-protective clothing and most wood finishes will never come out in the wash. The Texas Canvas Wares 9001 is an excellent option for woodworkers and carpenters. While it doesn't have as many pockets as models like the Angry Beaver BRN1APR, I haven't found that I need any more pockets. I can comfortably fit a pencil, a combo square, a speed square, a tape measure, a marking gauge, a screwdriver, and several bench chisels. The straps distribute the weight over your shoulders instead of on your neck like some models, and it is very easy to adjust. It does come with shoulder pads but I don't carry enough weight for it to be a problem so I just removed them for comfort. The rivets and the steel grommets should keep the pockets and the strap holes from deteriorating. I can foresee a gripe about not having a hammer loop but that'll depend on your shop's layout and where you do your hammering.
March 14, 2019:
By all accounts, the Readywares Waxed is a well-crafted, versatile model, but we found several complaints that the neck strap — which consists of a single band instead of crisscrossing fabric — focuses too much weight on the back of the neck, which leads to discomfort. We dropped it in the rankings for this reason. The Ergodyne Arsenal is one of the more functional, adaptable options out there, as evidenced by the fact that interior designers, sheet metal workers, maids, carpenters, and other professionals have all expressed their satisfaction. For this, we upped its already solid ranking a little bit. The Gidabrand Brown is a quality addition to the list, as reports indicate that users are quite happy with its rugged, handsome appearance and the extra level of comfort provided by its shoulder padding.