For the spring and summer season, there’s no doubt that the modern man needs all the right gear. And when we say all the right gear, we mean it. Picture this: You’ve got your next big project in mind. You have the right tools, you’ve planned it all out … and yet, you don’t have an apron. The best aprons for men can solve this situation handily. It might not seem like a big deal at first (any old apron will do, right?), but when you look at what the pros use — and the companies that make these aprons — you’ll realize that the right apron is every bit as essential as what you’re grilling and what you’re sipping on.
Plus, a durable apron can be worn for summer projects aplenty. It can add an element of safety to go along with crucial functionality & the ability to keep your most-needed tools close at hand. Plus, men’s aprons actually look cool and well-suited to pair with the rest of your summer gear (whether that’s slim chino shorts and a retro camp-collar shirt for grilling, or tough work pants and a heavyweight tee). After all, if you want the best possible results this summer, you better use the best possible gear — apron included. You’ll recognize plenty of brands making aprons for men, so start your journey toward summer grilling and home project perfection with at least one of these picks below.
Flint and Tinder Waxed Apron
Be ready for anything with the Flint and Tinder Waxed Apron. Made using a tough seven-ounce waxed New Jersey sailcloth canvas, the apron is resistant to water, stains, spills, and even the heat of a grill’s open flames. Like all waxed canvas, it will grow more beautiful as it develops a unique patina over time. It’s also built to last for years, with sturdy cotton waist and neck straps and metal peekaboo rivets to reinforce all the stress points.
It’s also got all the storage space you could ask for: three large pockets at your waist, two pen pockets, one large chest pockets, and even a strap to hang a utensil or tool from. When you want durability and reliability, this US-made apron is the choice for you.
Filson Tin Cloth Apron
Filson’s Tin Cloth fabric is the stuff of legend to begin with, so it’s very fitting — and seriously cool — that they went ahead and made the Filson Tin Cloth Apron. This is an apron to break out on the daily, perhaps while wearing a Filson heavyweight tee. Five utility pockets give you plenty of space for your grilling and everyday carry essentials — seeing as this is one of the toughest aprons you can purchase, it’s more than ready to be worn while working on home projects, too.
Barbones Tradesman Leather Apron
Whether you’re welding metal, sawing wood, or scaling and cleaning fish, the Barebones Tradesman Leather Apron is a truly top-notch choice. It’s made using full-grain buffalo leather, which is thicker, denser, and more naturally water-resistant than bovine leather.
The apron is handmade in Pakistan and built to last for years of hard daily use. The adjustable cross-back style ensures that you can adapt the apron to your unique physiology so it always stays securely in place without hindering free movement. Thanks to the integrated pockets and straps, you’ve got storage space for your most-used tools. Best of all, the waxed “saddle leather” finish makes it both durable right out of the gate and guaranteed to grow more beautiful with every year of use.
Milwaukee Boot Co. Iron Block II Leather Apron
Looking for something handcrafted and American-made? With the Milwaukee Boot Co. Iron Block II Leather Apron, you can both support local commerce and get your hands on an apron you can trust to last. Made using premium full grain leather, it’s aniline-dyed to give it a bit of color without hiding the leather’s unique personality.
The antique brass hardware not only adds elegance and flair, but also increases durability by reinforcing all the usual stress points. It’s tough enough to stand up to the wear and tear of any job, and it’ll look absolutely gorgeous while doing so.
Wolf & Badger Original Black Canvas Apron
Painters, sculptors, and artists of all types, this one’s for you. The Wolf & Badger Original Black Canvas Apron incorporates the natural resilience and water-resistance of ten-ounce cotton canvas and adds the elegance of leather for the neck and waist straps.
The integrated bib pocket is large enough for all your paints, brushes, chisels, and hammers, and you can trust the apron will bear up under the weight of your tools thanks to its reinforced corners and nickel-plated brass hardware. But when you need to throw the apron into the wash, you can simply pop off the leather straps to prevent water damage. It’s the versatile, washable, ultra-comfortable apron your art studio or workshop needs.
Readywares Tool Apron
The Readywares Tool Apron was built specifically for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and contractors, with a design you can’t help but love. The cross-body buckle straps on the back keep the apron firmly in place and stops it from pulling forward even when it’s heavily loaded with tools, and the lightly padded shoulders prevent the weight from causing strain.
It also features two loops for your hammers, a chest pocket for your notebook, two chest pen and pencil pockets, and six waist pockets for your speed square, measuring tape, pliers, nails, screws, and other essentials. You can say goodbye to tool belts because this apron’s got all the storage space you could ask for. Plus, it’s made from a rugged waxed canvas that will be naturally resistant to stains, scuffs, and scrapes.
1620 Workwear Utility Apron
Looking for an apron that is lighter, more versatile, yet still tough as nails? The 1620 Workwear Utility Apron may be just the thing for you. Made using a fourteen-ounce plain weave military-inspired “Stretch NYCO” proprietary fabric, you’ll find it’s far more resilient and resistant to abrasions, scratches, and damage than your average canvas. It’s also finished with a PFC-free water repellent coating to keep off stains, rainfall, and spills when you’re on the job.
If you’re working in high-heat environments, you’ll be glad to know it meets NFPA1975 no melt/no drip thermal regulations. Thanks to its five pockets, you’ll have plenty of space to keep your most important items close at hand. When it comes right down to it, this is just a good-looking, hard-wearing, and long-lasting apron you can use for just about any type of work.
Abide Waxed Canvas Tool Apron
Need a tough apron but don’t want to break the bank? The Abide Waxed Canvas Tool Apron is a budget-friendly choice you’ll be happy to wear on your next job site, DIY job, or in your workshop. It’s crafted with gardeners and woodworkers in mind, including sixteen pockets sized for hand tools, pencils, pens, and knives.
The high-quality oxford cloth canvas is tough enough to last you for years of use, and will hold up to dirt, sawdust, and heavy use. The adjustable waist (from 32 to 52 inches) makes it compatible for wearers of all shapes and sizes, and it’s long enough to provide ample protection for even taller users. For the very wallet-friendly price tag, you won’t find any better options around.
Wren & Ivy Shop and Cookhouse Apron
Whether you’re smoking a brisket, cleaning your gun, or butchering a carcass, you’ll find the Wren & Ivy Shop and Cookhouse Apron is well-suited to your work tasks. The apron is crafted from vegetable-tanned bridle leather, a material that’s both incredibly tough but also surprisingly comfortable to wear once properly broken in.
The waxed twill canvas straps and brass hardware will bear up under the weight of fully loaded pockets, and the placement of the pockets (at your chest) means you can move freely even if the apron is cinched tight at the waist. Both the Lifetime Guarantee and the option to add on embossing and a customized logo makes it a great gift, too.
Rustico Journeyman Waxed Canvas Apron
Waxed canvas seems to be the way to go if you want a durable and tough apron, and Rustico knows this. The Journeyman Waxed Canvas Apron truly is one-of-a-kind, and a fitting addition to your workshop or garage. The use of top-grain leather straps and pockets adds another dimension of durability and functionality (plus cool looks).
Hudson Durable Goods Waxed Canvas Work Apron
Waxed canvas essentials, in short, don’t mess around. Hudson Durable Goods recognizes that right in its name, after all. Made with water-resistant 16oz. Waxed canvas in a no-nonsense black colorway, gun metal pocket rivets add some real toughness to this multi-purpose apron Cross-back straps also alleviate pressure on your neck.
Readywares Waxed Canvas Utility Apron
A waxed canvas apron can meet darn near any challenge you throw at it. Readywares designed the rugged, no-frills Waxed Canvas Utility Apron with this in mind, intending this apron be used for everything from BBQ to bartending to long hours in the workshop. The use of brass hardware ensures this apron can take a beating.
Hardmill Industrial Apron
The right apron, first and foremost, has to be able to provide some serious bang for your buck. Hardmill’s Industry Aprons, available in surprisingly stylish waxed canvas colorways, do just that. For a shade under $150, you’re getting one of the best aprons on the market. Made from a blend of oil-tanned leather and duck waxed canvas, it’s suitable for any project you dream up.
Outset leather Grill Apron
The best grill and the best cuts of meat for the season aren’t worth much if you’re not able to get them done up right — while wearing one of these aprons, of course. The Outset Leather Grill Apron fills in that gap quite nicely, and we’d wager that you might find yourself wearing it night after night while grilling on your patio.
OLPR Waxed Canvas and Leather Apron
OLPR makes some of the best aprons for men, no doubt — the kind that consistently draw praise from those in the hospitality industry (and if that happens to be your field, then you need one of these aprons ASAP). This durable waxed canvas and leather apron blends durability with utility and breathability, making it a must-have behind the bar or in your workshop.
iKamper Apron
Pack the iKamper Apron for your camping trips, DIY home improvement projects, or for working around your shop, and you can always trust that it’ll protect you. It’s made using a waterproof, breathable poly-cotton canvas that is resistant to stains and shrugs off water. As with all of iKamper’s “ReCovery” collection items, it’s upcycled from tents (iKamper’s Skycamp 2.0), so you know it’s as tough and reliable as it is eco-friendly.
It even incorporates some of the elements of the original tent (including the buckle straps and the zipper-edged pockets) to reduce waste and give you an apron that will deliver long-lasting, reliable performance.
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