Knowing what to wear in a warehouse is vital to working in such a physically demanding role. As you spend a significant amount of time on your feet and operating machinery, you should choose personalised workwear that ensures your safety and comfort. Although your specific workplace may have its own dress code, there are some general guidelines you should always follow.
We sat down with our Warehouse Manager, Stephen Coyne, to give you all the best tips when it comes to your workwear choices.
Whether you’re just starting out or have long been a part of the industry, read about how you can maximise your comfort and safety on the job with quality construction workwear.
This article will cover:
What is Warehouse Workwear?
Before we address the niche that is warehouse workwear, it’s important you understand the value and function of all workwear. Feel free to read our other article, which answers the question “What is Workwear?” to find out more.
Stephen states that workwear specifically for the warehouse must be exceptionally visible and “should always feature plenty of pockets, should be hard-wearing [and] durable but still flexible for movement.” His most essential items are hi-vis vests or jackets (depending on the weather) as well as comfortable safety shoes, hats, and gloves.
With all the forms protective and supportive gear can take, the exact configuration of your outfit will vary with the seasons. So long as you maintain certain safety aspects of your workwear, you’re free to layer and mix the appropriate garments to your heart’s content.
So, let’s get into the specifics of what you should be wearing to your warehouse job throughout the year.
What To Wear in a Warehouse
Hi-Vis
As Stephen puts it, your wardrobe “must stand out and be easily visible due to the nature of the job,” meaning the most essential piece of kit to have is some form of personalised high-visibility workwear.
He personally recommends the Portwest PW2 Hi Vis Short Sleeved Polo Shirt for warmer weather or layering, as it is both stylish and easy to work in.
Why do you wear hi-vis? Hi-vis clothing is most frequently worn to alert drivers and equipment operators of where workers are located. In a space full of forklifts, pickers, and other moving machinery, you need to be as noticeable as possible. Warehouses also often have darker aisles and corners; the reflective strips attached to hi-vis garments are particularly useful in these areas.
Multiple clothing and PPE items are created with bright, neon colours and reflective strips for maximum visibility. At Clothes2order, we stock a selection of hi-vis trousers, custom hi-vis polos, custom hi-vis vests, and custom hi-vis jackets, among other items. We can also help you customise these garments by adding your logo and helping you create your very own range of personalised hi-vis workwear.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Personal protective equipment includes clothing and other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer from physical, electrical, heat, chemical, biological, and airborne hazards. PPE can be categorised as the following:
- Head protection
- Eye protection
- Hearing protection
- Respiratory protection
- Hand protection
For a more in-depth look into each PPE category, you may wish to read our post which breaks down all the types of workwear.
Protective Footwear
When working in spaces with a risk of falling objects, it is crucial to protect your feet from impact. Similarly, it’s important to be well supported in positions that involve standing and walking for extended periods.
Stephen’s preference is the Portwest Steelite Monsal Safety Boot. He asserts that it’s comfortable, safe, and will last for years.
Portwest and Scruffs are two brands that create shoes specifically designed for manual labourers, including warehouse workers. You can browse a selection of their work safety boots on our site; they range from trainers to hi-tops, but mid-rise boots are the most commonly worn fit. Depending on the climate in your specific warehouse, you may prefer less or more coverage.
Custom Workwear
In addition to the safety essentials, sporting custom workwear tailored to physically demanding roles will enhance your comfort levels further. And while a major part of workwear is the security it provides on the job, it also serves the secondary purpose of representing your brand.
According to Stephen, branded workwear is beneficial for the following reasons:
- It’s a great representation of your company and shows professionalism
- It creates awareness of your company brand and logo
- It can bring people together; people like to feel part of something, a uniform can unite in this way
- It makes life easier for everybody; no more worrying about what to wear to the office
- It can also be fun if everyone is involved in the design process
What To Wear in a Cold Warehouse
Jackets
As you might expect, the quickest and easiest way to warm up your warehouse attire is by adding a jacket or coat. Personalised work jackets come in a range of durable fabrics, including hi-vis options that are sure to make you stand out.
When choosing what to wear in a cold warehouse, Stephen recommends the Result Hi Vis Soft Padded Jacket for its comfort and warmth.
But if you prefer a more subtle outerwear look, you can still fulfil your hi-vis needs via reflective strips on the sleeves and a hi-vis vest over the top—just bear in mind you may have to size up if you opt for this approach.
Long-Sleeved Tops
With your hi-vis protection coming from either a vest or jacket layer on top, you can afford to branch out to other types of performance gear underneath.
Tri-Dri supplies a great range of breathable t-shirts, hoodies, and more—explicitly tailored to physical activity.
But the easiest item to layer is probably the long-sleeved top. We stock a vast selection of these, by a range of brands, including ones designed with performance in mind. The AWDis Long Sleeve Just Cool Wicking T-Shirt, for example, is made of Neoteric textured fabric, giving it an inherent wickability without compromising on comfort. It fits perfectly inside thick, warm outer layers and even has room for something else underneath.
Thermal Trousers
In addition to your torso, it’s important to keep your legs warm (without compromising on mobility). Thermal trousers, leggings, or long Johns are perfect for this, because they fit inside your normal work trousers. You get to keep all the storage and durability of your typical layer while also trapping your body heat inside this added one.
Gloves
Gloves are essential in a cold warehouse for two reasons: general safety of the hands, and protection from the cold. And because we know how vital they are, we offer a vast selection of hand protection options, from oil- or heat-resistant gloves to simple latex ones.
If you work in a particularly chilly warehouse, you may wish to invest in some Portwest Apacha Cold Store Gloves. But if your requirements are more seasonal, we would advise wearing a pair of inners, such as the Portwest String Knit Liner Gloves—which come in packs of 300—under your usual, role-appropriate style.
Hoods & Masks
And lastly, you may wish to add a hood or personalised face mask to your ensemble.
If you’d like some additional warmth around your neck and face, these types of garment are ideal for the warehouse. When working in roles that require a lot of physical labour and machine operation, you want to wear items that stay close to the skin and have no loose, dangly ends (like a normal scarf would) but nevertheless keep you toasty.
Enter: the snood.
Conclusion
When deciding what to wear in a warehouse role, the two main factors you should consider before all others are safety and temperature.
Naturally, you want your workwear to be protective and supportive in the appropriate ways. But on top of this, you need to take the climate within your warehouse into account. Whether it remains constant or changes throughout the year, knowing all the ways you can layer and combine your high-visibility, durable clothing will keep you as safe and comfortable as possible on the job.
So, if you’re feeling equipped to start picking out your own pieces, go ahead and have a browse of our personalised workwear range! But if you think you could use a little more guidance, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team; we’d be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
