About Volcom Workwear
Skateparks don't build themselves. Behind every bowl, ramp and backyard mini there's someone pouring concrete, cutting timber and putting in long days on the tools, and plenty of them skate, surf and ride too. Volcom Workwear is made for those people: tough work pants, shorts and layers with stretch where you need to move, reinforcement where things wear out, and a look that works just as well after knock-off.
Volcom has been a boardsports brand since 1991, but its dedicated Workwear range is much newer. It launched in Australia in 2021, arrived in New Zealand soon after, and has grown with every season since. We run New Zealand's only official Volcom brand store in the heart of Queenstown. Instore or online you'll find Volcom work pants and work shorts in several fits, lightweight hybrid shorts that go from the job to the water, plus jackets, vests, hoodies, shirts, tees and headwear.
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Built for the People Who Build
Volcom introduced Workwear by going straight to the makers in its own community. The launch campaign featured bespoke craftsman Ryan "Cowboy" Cowell of Magic Axe, custom painter Kyle of Smith Concepts and cabinetmaker and skateboarder Lewis Wood. Later campaigns profiled pro skater and mechanical engineer Rob Pace, and skater and carpenter Nick Dunn. The idea behind the range is simple: lots of people who skate, surf and ride also earn their living with their hands, and they want clothes that keep up with both.
The Southern Lakes Connection
Volcom's 2024 "All Day, Every Day" Workwear campaign was shot close to home, with locations at Coronet Peak, Queenstown and Wānaka. It starred Volcom mountain bike rider Matt Begg, a Queenstown local who builds trails with Fluxtrail, and it's a good picture of the kind of day the range is designed for: dig, build and shape in the morning, then get out and ride. You can read Volcom's interview with Matt Begg.
What Makes It Workwear
Features vary from style to style, but these are the details you'll see across the range:
- Reinforced wear points: the Caliper, Meter and Carpenter pants all have reinforced knees, and many styles also reinforce the hems and belt loops, the places that usually wear out first.
- Nylon 66: the original Caliper fabric has Nylon 66 yarns woven in for extra resistance to abrasion and tearing.
- Stretch: elastane in the fabric lets you kneel, squat and climb without fighting your pants, and the hybrid shorts use four-way stretch.
- Triple-needle stitching: multiple rows of stitching on key seams across the Caliper, Meter and hybrid styles.
- Metal buckle button: a metal closure anchored with bar-tacking, used on the Caliper pants and Slab shorts.
- Ripstop: the Meter pant and Rack shorts use lighter ripstop fabric, with a grid weave that helps stop small nicks from spreading.
- Useful pockets: dual-entry cargo and utility pockets on the Caliper and Meter, a ruler and pencil pocket on the Meter, and a hammer loop on the Carpenter.
Which Volcom Work Pants Suit You?
The main differences between Volcom's work pants are the cut and the weight of the fabric. Here's how they compare.
| Style | Fit and leg | Good for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caliper and Caliper II | Modern fit, straight leg, 16-inch leg opening | An all-rounder that's tidy enough to wear anywhere | Reinforced knees, hems and belt loops, with a 32-inch inseam |
| Caliper Cuffed | Modern fit, tapered leg with elastic cuffs | Keeping hems clear of boots, mud and sawdust | Caliper toughness with a jogger-style ankle |
| Caliper Relaxed | Relaxed fit, straight leg, wider 18-inch leg opening | Anyone who wants a looser Caliper | Reinforced knees, heels and belt loops |
| Meter Lightweight | Modern fit, 16-inch leg opening | Warmer days and active work | Lighter 200gsm ripstop canvas and a ruler and pencil pocket |
| Carpenter | Loose fit, wide 19-inch leg opening | A classic carpenter look with plenty of room | Hammer loop, angled front pockets and a reinforced knee area |
Work Shorts or Hybrid Shorts?
Caliper work shorts use heavier, cotton-rich stretch canvas and twill, with the same cargo and utility pockets as the pants. They're the pick for summer work days, in fixed-waist 19-inch and 20-inch versions or a shorter elastic-waist 17-inch.
Hybrid shorts are lighter and quicker drying. Made from polyester and elastane with four-way stretch and a water-repellent finish, they're designed to take you from the job straight to the lake or the beach. The Rack has an elastic waist and ripstop fabric, while the Slab has a fixed waist, metal buckle and zipped and hook-and-loop cargo pockets. Water-repellent isn't the same as waterproof though, so keep your phone somewhere dry.
The number in each name is the outside leg length: 17 inches is about 43cm, 19 inches about 48cm and 20 inches about 51cm. Where they sit on your leg depends on your height and how you wear them.
Layers for Cold Mornings
Plenty of work days here start with frost on the ute. The Volcom Workwear Jacket is a heavyweight insulated bomber with a brushed lining, 5,000mm water resistance and a non-fluorinated Teflon EcoElite water-repellent finish, so it handles cold, showery mornings, though it isn't a full rain jacket. The Freshdust Workwear Vest is a lined canvas vest that keeps your core warm while your arms move freely, and the Workwear Pullover Hood is heavyweight fleece for smoko and after work. The range also includes woven shirts, like the stretch canvas Debasser with its corduroy collar, organic cotton Workwear tees, and headwear from beanies to boonie hats and water-repellent caps.
Getting the Fit Right
Fixed-waist pants and shorts come in waist sizes in inches, while elastic-waist shorts, tops and jackets use letter sizes. As a guide, Volcom sizes a 32 waist at about 81cm, a 34 at about 86cm and a 36 at about 92cm. If a pair feels too tight or too baggy through the leg, try a different cut rather than a different size. The Relaxed and Carpenter pants give you more room, and the Cuffed gives a slimmer finish at the ankle.
Work pants need to move with you, so when you try them on, squat, kneel and sit down to check the fit through the seat and thighs. Always follow the care label, as care can differ between styles. If you're not sure which fit suits you, come and see us in-store and our team can help you compare them side by side.
Is Volcom Workwear Safety Gear?
No. Volcom Workwear is hard-wearing everyday workwear, not certified protective clothing. It isn't sold as hi-vis, flame-resistant or cut-resistant gear, and the reinforced knees add durability rather than padding or impact protection. If your job or site requires certified PPE, you'll need gear that's rated for it, and Volcom Workwear is a great option for everything else.
