By Jayden Mark
Welding has it it’s risks, and fire is one of these. Flame resistant shirts are one of many items that should be on the safety gear list for any welder. If you’re in search of a good deal or want the best quality FR welding shirt, you’re at the right place. Our review of the best FR shirts for welding has it all.
Even if you’re on a tight budget, you should never compromise on safety, especially when performing hazardous tasks like welding. Fortunately, we’ve found some very affordable, good quality FR welding shirts. This review also features some of the very best FR shirts for welding that will obvious cost more but are still very good value for money.
Top Fire Resistant Shirts for Safety at Work
1. Carhartt Men's Big & Tall Flame Resistant Classic Twill Shirt
Carhartt FR gear has earned a reputation for outstanding quality and excellent design. Definitely one of the leaders in safety workwear. While I wouldn’t call the Carhartt Men’s Flame Resistant Classic Twill shirt super expensive, it does cost more than the cheaper brands. I believe this level of quality and reassurance is worth paying for.
This comfortable shirt is made from 88% cotton and 12% nylon. It is a delightfully lightweight 7-ounce flame resistant shirt that’s perfect for welding. Two chest pockets with buttons are practical and quite elegant. It has a reinforced button closure, and all the buttons are made from flame resistant melamine.
This an NFPA 70E compliant FR welding shirt made to the highest specifications. It is available a range of sizes and colors. It is supremely comfortable and wonderfully functional. Strong stitching and superb attention to detail make this an exceptional FR shirt. Keeping things easy, the Carhartt flame resistant shirt is machine washable.
Practical, durable, and wonderfully functional. This what makes the Carhartt Big and Tall FR classic twill shirt one of the best FR shirts for welding.
2. ARIAT Men’s Flame Resistant Button Down
A work shirt with a touch of style. The Ariat button down FR shirt is comfortable, durable and looks great. There’s also a lot of clever technology in its design. At the higher end of the price range, it is a top-quality product.
Made from 88% cotton and 12% nylon, it’s a comfortable soft twill work shirt that can handle the punishment of a harsh working environment. The Ariat FR welding shirt comes in wide range of styles and patterns. From a purely utilitarian look to something a bit more stylish, you can look good in the knowledge that you have some of the best fire resistant protection.
You can machine wash Ariat FR button down shirts. It’s quite-hassle free and easy. Quality metal buttons and super strong stitching ensure that this product will last a very long time and always look great.
This work shirt meets some pretty high safety standards. It is has a good hazard risk rating (HRC 2) and is very high on the Arc Thermal Performance Value rating too (ATPV 9.5). To keep you cool when the going gets tough, Ariat use advanced moisture movement technology to control the movement of sweat.
For a high quality FR work shirt, that can just as easily be worn for any occasion, the fashionably elegant Ariat FR shirt range is truly unique. It looks as good as it is tough and practical. Along with great styling the design also makes for a wonderfully comfortable fit.
3. Titicaca FR Workwear Flame Resistant Shirt
I believe that if you want to make a cheap FR shirt, you should keep things simple. Eliminate any unnecessary items and avoid complexity that requires a lot of skilled labor. This is exactly what Titicaca FR Workwear have done when designing their inexpensive FR T-shirts.
A simple design, with no buttons, cuffs, or collar, means that expensive labor and FR buttons can be cut from the costs. Instead, attention has been focused on making a comfortable 100% cotton FR shirt that is perfect for welding or any job where fire resistant PPE is needed.
The high-quality 7 Oz knit is gentle on your skin yet tough enough to withstand treacherous conditions. In terms of high safety standards, the Titicaca FR T-shirt certainly makes the grade. Using top-quality PROBAN FR treatment, it will stand the test of time and keep you well protected form flash fire and arcing. The list of high-level certifications says it all: NFPA 2112, NFPA 70e, CAT 2.
For a cheap FR shirt, Titicaca FR Workwear has an amazing product. It is comfortable and rugged. The basic design, without complicated cutting and stitching, means you’re paying mostly for high-quality materials and little else. If you’re looking for a quality FR work shirt, at a very affordable price, this is definitely one of the best options.
4. Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men's Flame Resistant Shirt
Affordable quality defines Wrangler Riggs Workwear to a tee. These FR welding shirts offer a great selection of designs and colors that can be worn for work, play, or casual dress. High-quality materials and great workmanship make for a very durable work shirt.
Made from 88% cotton and 12% nylon, the Wrangler Riggs FR welding shirt is as tough as they come and perfectly comfortable. They fit snugly with enough room to move with ease. An elegant, yet durable, snap enclosure is easy to use and very practical. The wide collar and longer cuffs look pretty cool and make for a good comfortable fit. The two chest pockets use the same durable snaps.
Down to every detail, the emphasis is on supreme durability. The stitching is really strong and reinforced in crucial areas. Apart from the requisite FR protection, Wrangler Riggs FR welding shirts are also water resistant and delightfully cool to wear in a hot environment.
There can be no question about safety. Wrangler Riggs Workwear FR shirts have an outstanding 9 Cal/CM² ATPV rating. Safety orange detailing improves visibility which is, of course, another level of safety in the workplace.
Regardless of your personal style preferences, you will find the perfect Wrangler Riggs FR work shirt. They have an enormous selection of styles and colors. Supremely durable, with a high level of fire resistance, these inexpensive work shirts are a perfect combination of quality vs price.
5. Bulwark Men's Flame Resistant 7 Oz Cotton Work Shirt
Bulwark have specialized in making affordable workwear for over 50-years. This American company has shown a strong dedication to providing practical apparel for every type of industry. The Bulwark Men’s Flame Resistant 7 Oz Cotton Work Shirt is by no means a fashion statement, it’s a traditional hard wearing work shirt.
This is a purely practical, utilitarian FR work shirt. With no frills or fancy design traits, it is made to work as hard as you do. Super strong 100% cotton, with immaculate workmanship, ensure that you get a comfortable ultra-durable FR welding shirt.
The button enclosure is practical and easy. Two pockets have button down flaps and a pencil opening. The one-piece lined cuff, with button closure, gives some extra strength where you need it most. The collar is also double reinforced for extra protection and durability.
The arc rating is excellent – 8.6 Cal/CM² ATPV. It is also machine washable, with liquid detergent being recommended to prolong the FR coating lifespan. No matter how big or small, you’ll definitely find the right size, ranging from small to 6 X extra-large. There are eight colors to choose from, including neutral khaki and safety orange.
For the consummate workman, unphased by fashion trends, the Bulwark 7 Oz cotton FR shirt is a practical garment. With an emphasis shift in design from styling to durability, this shirt has all the traits of a highly durable work shirt. It’s, quite simply, a rugged FR shirt for welding that’s made to last.
6. Ur Shield FR Shirt for Men
Like the Bulwark work shirt, the Ur Shield FR shirt for men is designed for hard work, not to win any fashion awards. It’s a thoroughly practical FR shirt for welding that’s designed purely for comfort and hard work.
A comfortable loose fit with button enclosure makes it easy for you to move around without restriction or chafing. It has a button down collar and two chest pockets with button flaps. Quality all the way. The FR coating is machine washable for up to 50 washes.
The 100% cotton fabric is tougher than most – 8.1 Oz. It won’t rip easily and will hold up to extreme conditions very well. It meets the standards for most fire hazardous professions – NFPA 2112. The open cuffs make the Ur shield FR shirt easy to slip on quickly and great for extra comfort.
Available in four basic colors, and sizes from small to XXX Large, there isn’t a great variety to choose from. Then again, fashionably stylish is obviously not a priority in the design of these ultimately practical FR work shirts.
Ur Sheild FR shirts are very affordable and are of a particularly high quality standard, especially for the price. They are designed for workmen who value durability and comfort over style and elegance. This is pure workwear, not a statement of any kind.
7. Rasco FR Men's Henley T-Shirt
The Rasco FR men’s Henley T-Shirt is one of the cheapest yet one of the best for high-level FR protection and very strong. Like the Titicaca FR T-shirt (reviewed above), this work shirt has a simple low cost design. Money is spent on good-quality materials, rather than intricate design features that push up manufacturing costs.
Th 100% cotton 7.1 Oz knit fabric is as tough as it gets yet soft and comfortable to wear. The rib knit collar and cuff offer a comfortable firm fit and provide extra durability in these hard wearing areas. It also has a single patch pocket and a 3 button front placket. This is a cool and comfortable FR work shirt to wear.
Safety ratings for the Rasco FR T-shirt are about as good as it gets. This product has UL certified NFPA 2112, ASTFM F1506, and NFPA 70e ratings. Arc ratings are also amongst the best with a 10 Cal/CM² CAT 2 (HRC 2) rating. It doesn’t get much better than this. Astonishing for one of the cheapest FR welding shirts.
Many prefer an FR T-Shirt to a button closure for it’s easy-waring comfort. Because the design is simplified, it’s possible to make a high-quality FR T-shirt much cheaper than more complex work shirts. This means that, although the Rasco FR Henley T-Shirt is one of the most affordable, it is one of the best for quality and outstanding fire protection ratings. Certainly one of the best cheap FR shirts for welding.
A Quick Guide to Buying the Best FR Shirt for Welding
After reading the FR welding shirt review, you may still have many questions on how to set about buying the best product for your needs. Here’s a brief summary of the important things to look for when buying an FR welding shirt:
Caring for Your FR Welding Shirt
Since most FR welding shirts are made from flame resistant material, extra care needs to be taken to ensure that it lasts as long as it should. FR shirts can generally be machine washed so it’s not a hassle keeping it in good condition. Typically, expect around 50 washes for an average FR shirt before it may be less effective at resisting flames. Avoid using harsh chemicals and bleach. A liquid laundry detergent is the best for FR clothing. This will provide the longest lifespan for the fire resistant coating that is so essential to your safety.
Conclusion
Regardless of your size, budget, or welding PPE needs, if a great FR shirt for welding is what you’re looking for, this review has your back. We’ve looked at quality, comfort, and maximum safety as top requirements for the products chosen to be reviewed.
We know that everyone wants good value when spending their hard earned cash. So we’ve placed a high emphasis on what you’re actually getting in terms of genuine good value for money. To this end, the cheaper FR welding shirts chosen for this review are certainly not junk. In the same light, those that cost a little more have to be of a suitable quality standard to justify the extra dollars spent.
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