220gsm ripstop. 65/35 poly-cotton. Teflon-coated for water, oil, and stain resistance. 10 pockets. Wear-resistant crotch gusset. Built for electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and carpenters who need pants that survive 10-hour days on the jobsite.
One pair of Teflon-coated ripstop replaces 4-6 pairs of $35 cotton per year. See the math
Cheap cotton pants are disposable on a jobsite. Every time the crotch blows out, the knees rip, or the cargo dumps — that's another $35 out of your pocket and another Saturday running to the store. The Rig 2 was engineered for a different outcome.
Real tradespeople. Real jobsites. No models. No studios. Tag @ilumeworkwear to get featured.
Before we launched, we seeded 200 pairs to active electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and carpenters across 23 states. We asked them to beat these pants into the ground and tell us the truth. Here's what they said.
"I ran 4 weeks of copper re-pipes in crawl spaces. Zero seam issues. The Teflon kept PVC primer from staining the fabric. The ripstop handled dragging on concrete slab without a single snag. I'd pay double for these."
"Five months of daily crawl-space work — zero knee wear. The crotch gusset held through ladder climbs and squatting into cabinets every hour. My cheap cotton pants were blowing out in 8 weeks. These feel like they'll last 5 years."
"The spec sheet sold me — no other brand publishes fabric weight, coating type, and ripstop grid density. 5 months of framing later, the wear-resistant crotch gusset is still holding. Hour 10 on a jobsite and these feel lighter than my Carhartts did at hour 1."
Your $35 Carhartts last 2-3 months of daily trade use before the knees blow out and the cotton soaks through. The Rig 2's Teflon-coated ripstop outlasts cotton in every dimension. Do the math.
Lasts 2-3 months of trade use.
Replace 4-6x per year.
$35 × 5 replacements =
Lasts 2 months of trade use.
Replace 6x per year.
$30 × 6 replacements =
Lasts 12+ months of daily trade use.
Replace once per year or less.
Lifetime guarantee if it fails.
Most brands say "tactical ripstop" and leave it at that. We publish the exact numbers so you can compare for yourself. If a brand won't tell you the fabric weight, ask yourself why.
Every detail is a response to a specific failure mode of traditional work pants. Nothing decorative. Everything functional.
Factory-applied Teflon fabric protector across the entire garment. Repels water, oil, and jobsite grime on contact. Rain beads off. Hydraulic fluid beads off. Stains wipe clean.
Reinforced grid pattern woven into the fabric at regular intervals. If the fabric snags on a nail, screw, or sheet metal edge, the tear stops at the grid line instead of running.
Reinforced crotch design eliminates the stress rip point where seams converge. Full range of motion for ladder climbing, squatting, and crawl-space work.
Two hand pockets, two large velcro-flap cargo pockets, two rear velcro pockets, plus thigh utility slots. Every pocket reinforced at entry. Velcro flaps keep contents secure when climbing and bending.
Built-in D-ring style hanging loops on the waist for clipping carabiners, tape measures, key rings, or tool lanyards. Keeps essentials within reach without stuffing pockets.
Built-in elastic on the waist sides provides flex and comfort under a loaded tool belt. Accommodates natural movement without ride-down or constant adjustment.
Heavy-duty metal button closure and YKK-grade smooth zipper fly. No cheap plastic snaps that pop under stress. Built for daily use under a loaded tool belt.
Oversized belt loops accommodate heavy-duty work belts and padded tool belts up to 2" wide. Distributes weight evenly. No tearing at the loop base.
Straight-leg cut with enough room for movement without excess bulk. Loose leg openings accommodate work boots. Looks professional on client-facing jobs without being baggy.
We publish this comparison because we think you should have the data. Every spec listed is independently verifiable.
| Feature | Ilume Rig 2 | Carhartt Canvas | Dickies | 1620 Workwear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $35–$60 | $20–$40 | $130–$170 |
| Annual Cost (daily trade use) | $99/yr | $150–$240/yr | $120–$240/yr | $130–$170/yr |
| Fabric | 220gsm 65/35 Poly-Cotton Ripstop | Cotton Canvas | Cotton Twill | NYCO Ripstop |
| Protective Coating | ✓ Teflon™ (water + oil + stain) | ✗ None | ✗ None | ✓ DWR (rating unpublished) |
| Tear Resistance | ✓ Ripstop grid weave | ✗ Tears propagate | ✗ Tears propagate | ✓ Ripstop |
| Breathability | ✓ Poly-cotton blend | ✓ Cotton (when dry) | ✓ Cotton (when dry) | Moderate |
| Crotch Reinforcement | ✓ Wear-resistant gusset | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pockets | 10 (velcro cargo flaps) | 5–7 | 5 | 10 (double-knee) |
| Tool Attachment Points | ✓ Triangle hanging loops | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Published Full Specs | ✓ Every number | ✗ | ✗ | Partial |
| Guarantee | Lifetime | Standard retail | Standard retail | Limited warranty |
| FR Rated | ✗ (poly-cotton — not for open flame) | Select models | Select models | ✓ No-melt/no-drip |
Specs sourced from published manufacturer data and independent lab testing. Where competitors don't publish a spec, we note it. If any number here is wrong, contact us and we'll correct it within 24 hours.
If these pants fail on the job, we replace them. No time limit. No fine print. No questions. We can offer this because the product is built to outlast the guarantee — and we want you to know that before you buy, not after.
Poly-cotton ripstop with Teflon coating is low-maintenance. Follow these steps to keep the Teflon protection active and the fabric performing.
Warm water, normal cycle. The poly-cotton blend handles regular machine washing. No bleach. Avoid fabric softener — it can reduce the Teflon coating's effectiveness.
Low to medium heat tumble dry. Heat helps reactivate the Teflon fabric protector. The 65/35 blend dries significantly faster than pure cotton.
Dry cleaning solvents will strip the Teflon coating. Machine wash only. The ripstop weave and poly-cotton blend are durable enough for regular machine cycles.
After 40-50 washes, apply a spray-on Teflon fabric protector to restore water and stain resistance. Takes 5 minutes, extends the coating's performance indefinitely.
The Rig 2 runs true to size with a relaxed straight-leg tactical fit. Select your waist (28–44) and length (30, 32, 34, or 36). If you wear a 34x32 in Carhartt, start with the same in the Rig 2. The elastic waist-side panels give some flex, but this is a woven ripstop — not a stretch fabric — so the fit is structured. If you're between sizes or prefer room for layering, size up one waist. Free size exchanges mean there's zero risk in trying your normal size first.
The Rig 2 is a midweight ripstop pant that works across three seasons. The 65/35 poly-cotton blend breathes well in spring and fall, and the 220gsm weight keeps it from being an oven in moderate heat. For sustained 90°F+ summer work, the Rig 1 (our lightweight pant) is the right call. For sub-freezing, the Rig 3 insulated pant is built for that. Being honest about this saves you a return and us a negative review.
No. The Rig 2 is not FR-rated. The 65/35 poly-cotton blend contains polyester, which can melt if exposed to sparks, grinding debris, or open flame. If your job involves welding, grinding, or torch work, you need FR-rated pants. We're developing the Rig 1 FR specifically for that use case. We'd rather lose a sale than sell you the wrong product.
The Rig 2 is a 65/35 poly-cotton blend, so it's closer to cotton feel than full synthetic fabrics. The ripstop weave has a slightly crisper hand than plain cotton canvas, but the 35% cotton content keeps it comfortable against skin. Most guys find the transition from pure cotton seamless — it feels familiar but lighter and tougher. By the end of your first full workday, the fabric breaks in. If you genuinely don't like the feel, free returns — no questions asked.
Any manufacturing defect or material failure during normal trade use. Seam blowouts, ripstop fabric tears, Teflon coating failure, zipper failure, pocket rips, crotch gusset separation, button failure — all covered, forever. Normal wear (fading, minor abrasion after years of daily use) is not covered, but if the pant fails structurally in a way that prevents you from wearing it on the job, we replace it. No receipt required — we track your order.
The Rig system is organized by weather: Rig 1 is the lightweight summer pant for 80°F+ — maximum breathability. Rig 2 (this page) is the three-season workhorse — 220gsm Teflon-coated ripstop for spring, fall, and mild winter. Rig 3 is the insulated cold-weather pant for sub-40°F. Most tradespeople end up owning at least two: a Rig 1 for summer and a Rig 2 for everything else.
Fair question. We publish every material spec — 220gsm, 65/35 poly-cotton, Teflon coating, SGS/ISO certified — because the product speaks for itself at the data level. We offer a lifetime guarantee bolder than any competitor because the product quality supports it. And we seeded Rig 2s to 200+ working tradespeople before launch and asked for honest, unfiltered reviews (scroll up to read them). If the specs, the guarantee, and the reviews from guys in your trade don't earn your trust, we understand. Bookmark us, come back when you see a crew member wearing them.
220gsm Teflon-coated ripstop. 65/35 poly-cotton. 10 pockets. Wear-resistant crotch. Lifetime guarantee. Published specs. Real reviews from real tradespeople. The Rig 2 is built for electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and carpenters who need gear that keeps up.
If these pants fail on the job, we replace them. No time limit. No fine print. No questions. We can offer this because the product is built to outlast the guarantee — and we want you to know that before you buy, not after.
Tell us what you wear in another brand and we'll match you to a Rig 2 size.
| Measurement | 30/30 | 32/30 | 34/32 | 36/32 | 38/32 | 40/34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waistline | 74/83 | 79/88 | 84/93 | 89/98 | 94/103 | 99/108 |
| Hips | 102 | 107 | 112 | 117 | 122 | 127 |
| Rung | 63 | 65.5 | 68 | 70.5 | 73 | 75.5 |
| Knee Width | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 |
| Leg Opening | 26/36 | 27/38 | 28/40 | 29/42 | 30/44 | 31/46 |
| Front Rise | 22.5 | 23.5 | 24.5 | 25.5 | 26.5 | 27.5 |
| Back Rise | 34.5 | 35.5 | 36.5 | 37.5 | 38.5 | 39.5 |
| Inner Length | 76.2 | 76.2 | 81.28 | 81.28 | 81.28 | 81.28 |
| Outer Length | 103 | 104 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 |