Levi’s rigid denim shop apron – review

Rating

• Retail Price: $54.50
• Purchase Price: $27.71 w/ shipping & tax
• Model / style: # 771620018
• Size: one size – 75 cm. x 88 cm (29.5 in x 34.6 in)
• 100% cotton denim (weight not specified)

A good shop apron serves multiple functions; part tool belt, part Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and it needs to be comfortable (and maybe fashionable) while you’re wearing it. It should be able to take a blast of sawdust and remain relatively easily cleaned. They come in just about every shape, size, material and price points ranging from cheap to eye watering. In the end, a shop apron isn’t something you want to think that much about…you put it on when you start work, take it off when you’re done, and it needs to have served its function well.

Over the years I’ve worked with no shop apron (bad idea) and I’ve had several expensive shop aprons (more bad ideas). As with many things in life, I’ve found that unfortunately, expensive does not translate to being useful or durable.

So what was I looking for?

1. the material needed to be durable and relatively heavy, but you don’t want to feel like you’re wearing armor. A shop apron isn’t going to protect you from a full-on kickback, but it splinters or other objects are going to hit you at high velocity, better they first encounter a heavy material rather than a t-shit or bare skin.
2. It should have enough pockets to carry the tools you want to have on hand (ruler, pens, pencils, marking/utility knife, small square), without turning yourself in to a walking toolbox. When your apron has a lot of pockets, you feel obligated to fill them, and it quickly becomes uncomfortably heavy. You should also be able to bend down without everything you’re carrying falling out of those pockets.
3. Ultimately it needs to be comfortable; not too lose, not too tight. You should quickly forget you’re wearing it.

Unpacking – The shop apron comes folded-up in a box and would otherwise make a short and boring unpacking video.

On initial examination, just about anyone would quickly come to the conclusion that this is a Levi Strauss product. Aside from the red tab and iconic leather “levi” patch, the heavy denim material and extra stitching and rivets at stress points reminds you of the Levi jeans you used to get as a kid.

The apron itself has three pockets; one in the center of your chest which includes a dedicated slot for a writing instrument, and two lower pockets. There is a non-adjustable neck strap, and two ties to secure the around your waist. You’ll notice the extra heavy stitching where the neck strap and tops of the lower pockets meet the body of the apron.

Set-up – About the only decision you need to make is will you tie it in front or in back? Initially I was tying it in back, but just found it easier to tie the waist straps in front. If you’re of a larger circumference, then the only option may be to tie the straps in back.

Use – So it’s now been about five weeks of almost daily use, and besides a patina of sawdust, it has no signs of wear. The center pocket is by far the most useful, holding my marking tools and small ruler. The larger pockets, less so. While large, they fit very tightly to the body of the apron, and have less room than you would expect. I just keep a utility knife in the left pocket.

Overall, I’ve quickly grown to like this. It definitely fits well, and when tied at the waist, there’s hardly any weight on the neck strap so it’s comfortable. The denim has also begun to loosen-up and become a bit more plyable.

While it fits well on me, I’m 5′ 8″, and because the neck strap isn’t adjustable, if I were shorter or taller, finding a comfortable fit would definitely be a challenge. That’s always the issue with “one size fits all”; if you’re in the middle of the target range, it is indeed likely to fit well, but for those on either end of the range, far less so.

Final Thoughts – If you’re looking for a shop apron more on the minimalist side, and maybe have a coupon or two handy, then I would definitely recommend that you give the Levi rigid denim shop apron a try. I expect that mine will last for many years.

I think some small tweaks could raise this from a 4/5 to 5/5. An adjustable neck strap would be helpful, but more than anything, angling the opening of the large pockets, like they are on an actual pair of jeans, instead of the opening being perfectly horizontal, would make then far easier and natural to use.