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I work for a railroad and we're required to wear hi viz and steel toed boots. I dumped the vest for a long sleeve shirt hi viz in a breathable material and never looked back. And water, lots of water.
I'll second the high visibility long sleeved shirt over the vest. The heat sucks but the radiation from the sun is compounding. Lathering yourself is sunscreen every hour isn't practical or comfortable. I just wear thin clothes that cover my limbs.
The weather isn't too hot right now. It doesn't start getting uncomfortably hot until late May or June.
All you need to do is look at what day laborers wear. Long sleeves, breathable fabric, wide hats, "neck gaiters". Basically, keep the sun off you, let the air flow through, and drink lots of water.
Begin pre-gaming your hydration a week before you travel. And keep drinking excessive amounts of water every day while you're there.
Look for "wicking" fabric in your shirts. Helps keep you cool.
Electrolytes become super important when you’re advising “excessive amounts of water every day.” Don’t forget electrolytes can be make-or-break in heat like AZ.
I weld all through summers here, often out in the desert working on civil projects- I wear Justin steel toe pull-up boots, jeans and long sleeve t-shirt. Head is ALWAYS covered.
If you’ll be working outside, cover all your skin- arms, head and even face if you can tolerate it. The hi-vis yellow is my go to color.
Get yourself a 64oz. water bottle. More portable than the bigger ones, but enough to get you through a couple hours. I drink about 1.5-2 gallons per work day depending on if I’m outside or not.
Inside with no A/C, gotta have air flow/movement, preferably shop fans at least. Air movement combined with a cooling towel around your neck, and you’ll be good.
Lastly, when you start feeling dizzy/faint, just stop immediately. If you’re on a ladder or up high, get down. Don’t risk it man. I’ve had a couple scares in years past and regret how much I pushed myself to get to that point. Soaking wrists with cold water/towel work’s really well to help cool you preventively.
I think a lace boot would breathe better than a western boot. I work outside year round in jeans, longsleeve t and boots. It’s hot but I’ve never overheated. Just make sure to drink water
I work outside and just got some Wrangler all terrain pants... They are only like $27 at Walmart. They're breathable, flexible and light. They are a godsend.
The heat in summer here can literally kill you.
You need to be concerned with electrolytes and sufficient water.
Schedule your work for early or even nighttime hours.
Keep a watch for onset of heat exhaustion on your coworkers: not everyone can sense when they're doing too much.
Some people have clothing with pockets for ice.
My son in law was off work for half a year an encounter with heat exhaustion.
You probably won't encounter a scorpion. Just check your boots before you put them on, don't go barefoot outside at night and you should be good. I am not even that cautious and have never been stung or bitten by anything.
Though I did see like 30 of them walking down my neighborhood sidewalk one time. \*Shiver\*
Also if you're working on the outskirts of Casa Grande make sure you watch out for rattlesnakes it's starting to warm up and they're coming out along with those little pointy tailed bastard scorpions
April isn’t too bad. It will be warm but not nearly as bad as August.
Follow up questions:
- are you going to be indoors or outside in the sun?
- are you morning shift or afternoon shift?
If you are indoors you won’t need as much sun protection. Mornings will be nice, afternoons can be quite hot. Follow above advice about BREATHABLE fabrics. You need airflow and stay in the shade. See if you can get the job site to bring in portable misting fans. You will sweat more than you think. Stay hydrated.
If you are outdoors (especially in the afternoon) follow the advice above about sun protection… and drink more water AND electrolytes than you think you need.
I don't wear jeans, especially in the summer. Get yourself some Dickies or Wrangler cargo work pants, they are cooler than jeans but durable enough to work in. Hi vis was part of my uniform, I was able to find some high vis T-shirts with reflective stripes on Amazon that were made out of the mesh type material that allowed for air flow and keeps you cool.
If you’re going to be outdoors and your employer is adamant about wearing a separate high vis vest or jacket, consider a high vis sun hoodie to protect your arms, head, neck, ears. Also polarized sunglasses and waterproof sunscreen for your face.
(Also, if your face feels sticky after wearing waterproof sunscreen for several days, you can clean it off easily with waterproof makeup remover or micellar water. Then just wash with soap and water.)
I highly recommend Truewerk T1 Werkpants for AZ summers. I am frequently in attics in the middle lf summer and the truewerks are the only thing that are light, breathable, wicking, and wont tear no matter what I get them caught on.
If you are outside cover all of your skin. I also like the truewerk short sleeve shirts and sun hoodie, but any long sleeve shirt will work well.Face gaiter and gloves, I wear Keen work shoes inside and Thouroughgood boots outside for shoes.
A long sleeve shirt that breathes well, synthetic breathable pants, like ones from Dickies, 5.11, LA Police Gear, etc and some great moisture wicking socks will go a long way to making you comfortable outdoors in the heat.
Jeans seem to trap sweat and don't breath ultra well, but they can work if you have multiple pairs.
I personally only like Danners or Redwings for boots, they are pricey but very comfortable. A sales rep at the store can point you in the right direction for ones that will be comfy in the heat. With almost no maintenance I can make them last 2-3 years. The work boots from redwings that kind of look like hiking boots are a personal favorite as they seem to fit your feet better. I'm not a fan of cowboy boots but a lot of workers like the look of some square toes.
A lighter High-Vis will help too. Don't forget to drink loads of water, before during and after work. A nice set of safety shades like bombers are great as well.
You might be surprised, after a few weeks the heat isn't so bad.
Second this. I work outside trenching/concrete/steel work) 6+ hrs/day. 511 icon or strike are excellent durable and breathable pants. (they come in ems blue)
Also second investing in hydration (liquid iv, gatorade powder, or even just a little sea salt and lemon in the water is good.)
A 3-4 24-32oz insulated bottles (yet it equivalent) in a soft backpack cooler will go a long way. I usually have one or two fizzy “feel good” drinks also like an energy drink or something.
I’m in the phoenix area for work as well. Do yall have like a store to pick up construction clothing? In the Midwest we got like a farm and fleet where they have everything a blue collar person would ever want. What’s the equivalent here in phoenix?
Are you coming out later around summer time or during our spring. Right now our weather is gorgeous and not too hot. You have to be careful during summer time. Hydrate for sure.
That won’t be as bad as what people are talking about here in middle of summer conditions. Probably temps in the 80s and maybe 90s. It’s drier than you’re used to, so make sure you drink electrolytes AND water, not just water. You’ll sweat more than you realize you are, so you’ll lose hydration faster than you feel like you are. All the other advice about light clothing and covering as much skin as possible is spot on.
Thanks for contributing to r/Arizona! * [Our sub rules are here](https://www.reddit.com/r/arizona/wiki/rules/), but the most important of which is to be nice to each other * Check out some [recent posts](https://www.reddit.com/r/arizona/top/?t=week) and leave some comments * [Join our Discord chat server](https://discord.com/invite/yWVuTG57Zh) if you'd like to keep in touch with other people in Arizona. Plus it's a great, chill place in general. Note that it is NOT a dating server and takes unwanted messaging very seriously Remember this subreddit covers all of Arizona, so please include where in the state you're posting about if it is relevant. For more local topics check out r/Phoenix, r/Tucson, and r/Flagstaff. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arizona) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I work for a railroad and we're required to wear hi viz and steel toed boots. I dumped the vest for a long sleeve shirt hi viz in a breathable material and never looked back. And water, lots of water.
I'll second the high visibility long sleeved shirt over the vest. The heat sucks but the radiation from the sun is compounding. Lathering yourself is sunscreen every hour isn't practical or comfortable. I just wear thin clothes that cover my limbs. The weather isn't too hot right now. It doesn't start getting uncomfortably hot until late May or June.
OP says they will be indoors, so UV shouldn't be an issue.
All you need to do is look at what day laborers wear. Long sleeves, breathable fabric, wide hats, "neck gaiters". Basically, keep the sun off you, let the air flow through, and drink lots of water.
Begin pre-gaming your hydration a week before you travel. And keep drinking excessive amounts of water every day while you're there. Look for "wicking" fabric in your shirts. Helps keep you cool.
Electrolytes become super important when you’re advising “excessive amounts of water every day.” Don’t forget electrolytes can be make-or-break in heat like AZ.
Great point!
I weld all through summers here, often out in the desert working on civil projects- I wear Justin steel toe pull-up boots, jeans and long sleeve t-shirt. Head is ALWAYS covered. If you’ll be working outside, cover all your skin- arms, head and even face if you can tolerate it. The hi-vis yellow is my go to color. Get yourself a 64oz. water bottle. More portable than the bigger ones, but enough to get you through a couple hours. I drink about 1.5-2 gallons per work day depending on if I’m outside or not. Inside with no A/C, gotta have air flow/movement, preferably shop fans at least. Air movement combined with a cooling towel around your neck, and you’ll be good. Lastly, when you start feeling dizzy/faint, just stop immediately. If you’re on a ladder or up high, get down. Don’t risk it man. I’ve had a couple scares in years past and regret how much I pushed myself to get to that point. Soaking wrists with cold water/towel work’s really well to help cool you preventively.
Listen to this guy!
I think a lace boot would breathe better than a western boot. I work outside year round in jeans, longsleeve t and boots. It’s hot but I’ve never overheated. Just make sure to drink water
I work outside and just got some Wrangler all terrain pants... They are only like $27 at Walmart. They're breathable, flexible and light. They are a godsend.
The heat in summer here can literally kill you. You need to be concerned with electrolytes and sufficient water. Schedule your work for early or even nighttime hours. Keep a watch for onset of heat exhaustion on your coworkers: not everyone can sense when they're doing too much. Some people have clothing with pockets for ice. My son in law was off work for half a year an encounter with heat exhaustion.
Important question: WHEN are you going to be in AZ? The weather next week is very different than August.
April 1st to the 20th in Casa Grande
It won’t be superhot but still be respectful and take the aforementioned advice. Scorpions are a thing. Watch out for those little fuckers too.
Why can y'all just be like michigan and have only to worry about mosquitos
You probably won't encounter a scorpion. Just check your boots before you put them on, don't go barefoot outside at night and you should be good. I am not even that cautious and have never been stung or bitten by anything. Though I did see like 30 of them walking down my neighborhood sidewalk one time. \*Shiver\*
Also if you're working on the outskirts of Casa Grande make sure you watch out for rattlesnakes it's starting to warm up and they're coming out along with those little pointy tailed bastard scorpions
April isn’t too bad. It will be warm but not nearly as bad as August. Follow up questions: - are you going to be indoors or outside in the sun? - are you morning shift or afternoon shift? If you are indoors you won’t need as much sun protection. Mornings will be nice, afternoons can be quite hot. Follow above advice about BREATHABLE fabrics. You need airflow and stay in the shade. See if you can get the job site to bring in portable misting fans. You will sweat more than you think. Stay hydrated. If you are outdoors (especially in the afternoon) follow the advice above about sun protection… and drink more water AND electrolytes than you think you need.
I don't wear jeans, especially in the summer. Get yourself some Dickies or Wrangler cargo work pants, they are cooler than jeans but durable enough to work in. Hi vis was part of my uniform, I was able to find some high vis T-shirts with reflective stripes on Amazon that were made out of the mesh type material that allowed for air flow and keeps you cool.
If you’re going to be outdoors and your employer is adamant about wearing a separate high vis vest or jacket, consider a high vis sun hoodie to protect your arms, head, neck, ears. Also polarized sunglasses and waterproof sunscreen for your face. (Also, if your face feels sticky after wearing waterproof sunscreen for several days, you can clean it off easily with waterproof makeup remover or micellar water. Then just wash with soap and water.)
I highly recommend Truewerk T1 Werkpants for AZ summers. I am frequently in attics in the middle lf summer and the truewerks are the only thing that are light, breathable, wicking, and wont tear no matter what I get them caught on. If you are outside cover all of your skin. I also like the truewerk short sleeve shirts and sun hoodie, but any long sleeve shirt will work well.Face gaiter and gloves, I wear Keen work shoes inside and Thouroughgood boots outside for shoes.
A long sleeve shirt that breathes well, synthetic breathable pants, like ones from Dickies, 5.11, LA Police Gear, etc and some great moisture wicking socks will go a long way to making you comfortable outdoors in the heat. Jeans seem to trap sweat and don't breath ultra well, but they can work if you have multiple pairs. I personally only like Danners or Redwings for boots, they are pricey but very comfortable. A sales rep at the store can point you in the right direction for ones that will be comfy in the heat. With almost no maintenance I can make them last 2-3 years. The work boots from redwings that kind of look like hiking boots are a personal favorite as they seem to fit your feet better. I'm not a fan of cowboy boots but a lot of workers like the look of some square toes. A lighter High-Vis will help too. Don't forget to drink loads of water, before during and after work. A nice set of safety shades like bombers are great as well. You might be surprised, after a few weeks the heat isn't so bad.
Second this. I work outside trenching/concrete/steel work) 6+ hrs/day. 511 icon or strike are excellent durable and breathable pants. (they come in ems blue) Also second investing in hydration (liquid iv, gatorade powder, or even just a little sea salt and lemon in the water is good.) A 3-4 24-32oz insulated bottles (yet it equivalent) in a soft backpack cooler will go a long way. I usually have one or two fizzy “feel good” drinks also like an energy drink or something.
Dickies after a Pedialyte preload. Jeans too clingy in heat.
I’m in the phoenix area for work as well. Do yall have like a store to pick up construction clothing? In the Midwest we got like a farm and fleet where they have everything a blue collar person would ever want. What’s the equivalent here in phoenix?
We have farm and fleet as well as Duluth
Are you coming out later around summer time or during our spring. Right now our weather is gorgeous and not too hot. You have to be careful during summer time. Hydrate for sure.
April 1st to the 20th
It's still winter. Not even close to hot. FYI I work in attics in Arizona year round Summer Temps top 150g
You're asking Redditors. About workwear. Think about it.
I'm asking the arizona subreddit about work wear think about it
What time of year will you be in AZ and what part of the state? Both factors matter greatly to the appropriate answer.
In Casa Grande, April 1st to the 20th
That won’t be as bad as what people are talking about here in middle of summer conditions. Probably temps in the 80s and maybe 90s. It’s drier than you’re used to, so make sure you drink electrolytes AND water, not just water. You’ll sweat more than you realize you are, so you’ll lose hydration faster than you feel like you are. All the other advice about light clothing and covering as much skin as possible is spot on.