July may be National Grilling Month, but true believers know that cooking outdoors year round is the way. My patio has a collection of “tools” for making meals. Whether it’s smoking, grilling, or even baking a pizza, it all tastes better when made outdoors. It just so happens that Dickies is my brand when it comes to clothing too. When I commuted by motorcycle, my work clothes consisted of jeans and Dickies work shirts. Later, it was Dickies shorts and a t-shirt. For someone who spends his days in the sun, and cooks on the patio, the new Ultimate Grilling Collection was intriguing. Even if maybe I don’t have a Traeger. Which is really surprising, because they are a local company, based out of Salt Lake City. But this is about the clothing, so I’ll stick to that.
Traeger x Dickies Ultimate Grilling T-Shirt
It’s no secret that I spend a lot of my time outdoors, shooting guns for fun, and testing gear. While this shirt was designed with features that make it ideal for grilling chores, it’s great for more than that. A blend of 60% cotton and 40% polyester is soft, shrink-free, and shrugs off stains. And UPF 40+ sun protection is handy, whether I’m ringing steel or sipping a cold beverage while preparing a meal. It’s got a front pocket (if you wear glasses, you know how important this is) and some cool graphics on the back.
Dickies Cooling Temp-iQ™can help you stay cooler or warmer, as needed. With our daytime highs going from mid 90s to 100+ since I got the shirt, it’s hard to say how much that feature really works. While I can’t definitely state that it kept me cooler, it was certainly comfortable in the heat. And Moss Green looks good on me, per my wife. So it’s a definite win on all counts. Ash Gray and black are also available.
Traeger x Dickies Ultimate Grilling Shirt
I didn’t get a chance to check out this shirt in person, but I’m plenty familiar with the Dickies button down work shirts. This one’s made from 65% recycled polyester and 35% twill. It’s their original fit, which means it’s got plenty of room in the shoulders and chest. You know, for moving around and reaching and lifting, and swinging tools. Work stuff. Or play. Dickies calls it Dickies® FLEX fabrication. I call it comfort. If movement is important, this is the sort of fit you want.
Other features include Cooling Temp-iQ™, some nice big dual chest pockets, a sleeve pen pocket, and secret back pocket for stashing a cold drink. Well, it’s not a secret any more. Their stain release finish keeps it looking good, even if you get a little sloppy at meal times. Available in black or a dark blue, it should hide all the but the worst stains anyway.
Traeger x Dickies Ultimate Grilling Shorts
Like most of this year, my review of the Ultimate Grilling Shorts did not go to plan. I got my order in late, and the size I ordered was not a good fit. This is partly due to the main feature of the shorts, but it was too late to swap them for a different size. These shorts are 9 ounce Duck, which is 63% cotton, 35% recycled polyester, and 2% Spandex. That makes them durable, with a little extra stretch. Triple stitched seams also ensure that they are going to last. An 11″ inseam provides enough frontal protection at the grill, yet still lets you show the ladies that you don’t skip leg day. Or something like that. Fashionable colors include Brown Duck and Slate Gray.
What makes these “Grilling shorts”? They have a pair of removable apron pockets on the front, for grilling tools. There’s webbing, and even a carabiner. If your grilling tools include a water bottle, extra sauce, thermometer, tongs, a towel, or a cold beverage, they can all find a home in these pockets. I can find another hundred uses for them when not cooking too. But at the grill, they look ideal for keeping tools handy. Might even skip my plans for a custom holster for my pizza stone thermometer. As mentioned, they’re removable. So the shorts are pretty much regular shorts when you don’t need the pockets. I think the added material on the waistband for this feature may be the cause of a less than ideal fit for me. Moral of the story? Be sure of your size before ordering. Or try them on in the store. If you still shop at a store. People still do that, right?
So who is the Ultimate Grilling Collection for?
This collection is a great crossover from two great brands, and I’m going to take it a step further. Dickies is known for durable clothes that transition easily from work to play. And Traeger? Well, whether your grilling or smoking, meat or veggies, they’ve got you covered. It just so happens that the features here work well for other activities. The Cooling Temp-iQ™shirts are great for hot or cold weather. And those apron pockets on the shorts? I could fit a box of shotgun shells, or a plenty of spare magazines in them. If your ideal day involves busting clays, ringing steel, and slow-cooking some meat, this collection is for you. And despite the fact that I only covered the men’s line, they have these same products in the women’s line. Because neither grilling nor just being cool and comfortable is exclusive to any one gender. Check them out at Dickies.com.