Iron Forge Hemp Canvas

25% more abrasion resistant than conventional cotton duck canvas.

To make the most durable, comfortable work pants possible, we turned to a material relied on in the past. Historically, hemp’s long fibers were harvested for making rope, sails, tackle and other gear that required high-tensile strength—not to mention the first United States flags. But the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act lumped hemp, of the cannabis family, in with its psychoactive cousin, even though hemp can’t get you high; in 1970, anti-dope laws even made hemp a controlled substance, like heroin or acid.

Needless to say, that all made industrial hemp more difficult to source, but it’s worth the trouble: Hemp’s grown free of the chemicals used on conventional cotton, the fabric used for most work pants today. Our Iron Forge Hemp canvas is a blend of hemp, organic cotton and recycled polyester and reduces the need for herbicides, pesticides and petroleum-based materials.

What matters most, of course, is how it held up to daily abuse. When we first sent prototype work pants to Bodie Johansson, a timber framer in Colorado, he wore them out rolling beams in three months or less. After we fortified the next batch with Iron Forge Hemp, however, they fared better.

“The pants are holding up well,” Bodie reported back. “The material seems very durable and is not wearing thin, and the pocket design is great for dropping in small tools when you need to go without tool bags.”

Independent testing also proved that Iron Forge Hemp canvas was more abrasion resistant than its competitors, and its durability was buttressed by another useful benefit: needing no break-in. It’s ready to work from day one.

Materials:

55% Industrial Hemp

Improves soil health and is grown without pesticides

27% Recycled Polyester

Reduces dependence on petroleum to make raw materials

18% Organic Cotton

Uses nature-based solutions to manage pests and build healthy soil

Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Double Knee Pants

Heavy-duty work pants that stand up to the toughest tasks; double-knee design accommodates knee pads

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right—which, in this case, meant matching the toughness of Iron Forge Hemp canvas with fine-tuned features, construction and fit. We started with a roomy cut that won’t bind or constrict when you’re on the move and added large double-knee patches and pockets that are big enough to stow key tools when a full tool belt isn’t needed. These pants are solid but don’t need breaking in and have a supple and easy-wearing feel.

Men’s Iron Forge Hemp ® Canvas Double Knee Pants$79.00 I 55296 I 28-44/even + 31, 33 I Relaxed fit I 950 g (33.5 oz)

To some, the unique curved-top seat pockets might look like we’ve got our pants on backward. But the design serves a dual practical purpose—derived from our trusty Stand Up Shorts ® , it makes room for a hammer, ratchets or other essential tools, and it adds another layer of fabric for greater durability.

Product Details

1) Contoured Waistband: Sits comfortably under a tool belt; the men’s pants have seven belt loops for increased strength when heavily loaded

2) Back Buckle: The women’s pants have a buckled cinch strap at the back waist for an adjustable fit

3) Front Pockets: Deep drop-in pockets at the hips have horizontal gussets at the bottom joint to easily clip on a knife or tape measure

4) Back Pockets: The drop-in back pockets are deep enough, and stitched strongly enough, to keep your hand tools in easy reach

5) Doubled Knees: The large double-fabric knee patches accommodate knee pads; bottom openings allow easy cleanout

6) Wide legs: Cut to fit over work boots, but can also be easily tucked into boot tops on wet job sites

Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Cargo Shorts & Pants

Offering additional carrying capacity, the Iron Forge Hemp ® Canvas Cargo Shorts and Pants have a similar construction to our Double Knee Pants, but with standard patch pockets on the seat and bellows pockets on each side. The cargo pocket flaps can be tucked in for quick access to nails or smaller tools. Imported.

Men’s Iron Forge Hemp ® Canvas Cargo Shorts - 11"$69.00 I 57080 I 28-44/even + 31, 33 I Relaxed fit I 723 g (25.5 oz)

Men’s Iron Forge Hemp ® Canvas Cargo Pants $79.00 I 55276 I 28-44/even + 31, 33 I Relaxed fit I 938 g (33.1 oz)

This season, our hemp-blend Workwear pants, shorts, jackets and shirts are Fair Trade Certified ™ sewn, sending more money back to factory workers and strengthening our partnership with Fair Trade USA. More at patagonia.com/fairtrade.

Eric Paulson makes hay while the sun shines: With autumn closing in, he bucks the first of a few hundred bales on a ranch in the Gallatin Canyon, Montana. Bryan Gregson

Sometimes work really is for the birds. Ecologist Amelia DuVall weeds out invasive plants on Anacapa Island, where non-native species (most notably rats) have made life hard on nesting seabirds. Today, DuVall (of the California Institute of Environmental Studies) and others are making Anacapa more welcoming for the double-crested cormorant, Cassin’s auklet and the California brown pelican. Channel Islands National Park, California. Colin McCarthy

All Seasons Hemp Canvas Pants & Shorts

Men’s All Seasons Hemp Canvas Double Knee Pants$69.00 I 55785 I 28-44/even + 31, 33 I Relaxed fit I 777 g (27.4 oz)

Built for increased comfort in warmer weather; hard-working but lighter weight than our Iron Forge Hemp ® canvas pants and shorts

At 9.6 ounces instead of 12.9 ounces, our All Seasons Hemp Canvas is a cooler-wearing—yet still highly durable— adaptation of our flagship work cloth. Aside from the lighter fabric, the men’s pants have the same design as the Iron Forge version; the women’s shorts are a touch longer than most to protect the thighs, with deep drop-in back pockets that let you keep tools and work gloves close at hand. Imported.

Michael O’Casey of the Oregon Natural Desert Association removes old barbed wire fencing in the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area, allowing native wildlife to move freely about the landscape once more. Sage Brown

All Seasons Hemp Canvas Bib Overalls

Tough but cool-wearing work overalls with a women’s-specific fit; double-knee design accommodates knee pads

There’s a reason overalls have endured: They’re supremely functional. We found our rugged-butbreathable All Seasons Hemp Canvas to be the best material for these—and they’ve quickly become a favorite for builders, farmers, field scientists and many other women (as well as some men) muscling through long days on the job. Imported.

Madison Lowery straightens railing pickets using a Hossfeld bender at Santa Barbara Forge & Iron. Santa Barbara, California. Bernd Zeugswetter

Women’s All Seasons Hemp Canvas Bib Overalls$99.00 I 56425 I XS-XL I Regular fit I 819 g (28.9 oz)

Product Details

1) Adjustable Fit: Double-button suspenders and waist for custom fit over layers

2) Chest Pocket: Spaciously sized for notebook or small tools, and has built-in pencil sleeve

3) Front and Back Pockets: Two front slash pockets with horizontal gussets; two drop-in patch pockets on the seat

4) Leg Pockets: Two drop-in utility pockets on the right leg for knife and tools

5) Doubled Knees: Large double-fabric knee patches accommodate knee pads; bottom openings allow easy cleanout