AIW WP25 unisex ripstop stretch work shorts

The WP25 is a work short built around a ripstop weave, the grid pattern that stops a small nick from running into a full tear. AIW has paired that with a stretch element, so the WP25 is aimed at the crew who want hard-wearing shorts that still move with them on site. The fabric is a 65% polyester, 33% cotton and 2% spandex blend at 240gsm.

The cut is described as modern with slim legs, and the waistband is a ribbed flexi style with draw strings rather than a rigid belted band. There are four-way stretch panels worked into the ripstop, plus the usual reinforcement you want on a working short: bar tacks at the high stress points and stitch reinforcement at the major seams. A D ring hook sits on a front belt loop for clipping a tag or a small tool.

The unisex sizing makes the WP25 a straightforward option for mixed crews who want one short across the team. If you want to check the full size run and the listed UPF rating, you can view the AIW WP25 on Done Right Safety.

Work shorts come down to a few practical calls: how tough the fabric needs to be, how much you move in them, and how warm the work is. The WP25 sits in the middle of that, with a lighter 240gsm fabric that leans on the ripstop weave and stretch panels rather than sheer fabric weight for its durability.

Choosing the right pair

If your day involves a lot of squatting, climbing and reaching, the four-way stretch panels are the feature to weigh up, since a rigid short fights you on every movement. The ripstop weave is the other selling point: it is built so a snag stays a snag instead of running into a tear. If you instead spend the day dragging shorts across rough concrete or steel, a heavier cotton drill short will give you more raw abrasion fabric to wear through, so match the weight to how punishing the surface is.

Sizing and fit

The WP25 is cut unisex with slim legs and a ribbed flexi waistband, so it is worth confirming the size run on the product page before ordering for a whole crew, especially if some of the team prefer a roomier leg. The draw strings give you a bit of adjustment at the waist on top of the flexi band. Check the listed measurements on Done Right Safety so the leg length suits your crew rather than guessing from a usual size.

Care and getting the most out of them

The bar tacks and seam reinforcement are the points that usually decide how long a work short lasts, so it is worth a quick look at the stitching after heavy days to catch any wear early. Follow the care instructions on the listing or garment label to keep the stretch and the UPF 50+ performance intact, since aggressive washing can shorten the life of both. The YKK fly and zipped pocket are quality hardware, but a zip still benefits from being kept clear of grit.

The three alternatives here are genuine like-for-like work shorts, so this is a same-type comparison rather than a stretch across categories. The real differences are fabric weight, fabric type and how each one is positioned, which is what should decide your pick.

Pick the AIW WP25 if you want a balance of tear resistance and movement: the ripstop weave plus four-way stretch panels are its real point of difference, and the listed UPF 50+ rating is a bonus for outdoor work. Go heavier with the Bisley cotton drill (BSH1007) at 310gsm if your day is mostly abrasion against rough surfaces and you want more fabric to wear through, noting it also lists a second standard, AS/NZS 1020:1995.

If the priority is staying cool, the Biz Collection BizCool (ST2020) is the lightest of the group at 160gsm in a breathable mesh knit, suited to roles where heat and mobility matter more than full coverage. The Bisley utility short (BSHL1999) lands close to the AIW on fabric weight at 240gsm and leans into utility, cargo and pen pockets, so it is the call if pocket layout matters more than ripstop and stretch.

On the listing, the WP25 reads as a sensibly built mid-weight work short. The combination of a ripstop weave, four-way stretch panels, bar tacks at the stress points and YKK hardware is the kind of spec you want on shorts that need to last a season of real work rather than just look the part. At 240gsm it is not the toughest short going, but the ripstop construction is doing the heavy lifting there, and that is a fair trade for the added comfort and breathability.

What is confirmed is the fabric blend, the 240gsm weight, the stretch panels, the reinforcement, the YKK fly and the UPF 50+ rating to AS/NZS 4399:2017. The D ring hook and load bearing pockets are listed too. What the listing does not spell out in detail is the exact size run, the leg length and the number of pockets, so those are the things to confirm on the product page before you order for a crew.

For a mixed team wanting one unisex short that moves well and resists tearing, this is an easy one to shortlist. Just match the fabric weight to how punishing your surfaces are, and verify sizing on the Done Right Safety product page.