I spent years wearing workwear designed for somebody else. Sleeves past my hands, shoulders sagging, crotch hanging mid-thigh. Eventually you just roll up the sleeves and cinch a belt over top, and tell yourself that's normal.
It's not normal. And it's not just about comfort.
The wrong size is a hazard, not a detail
An oversized high-visibility garment creates three concrete problems on a construction site or mine site:
- It snags. Excess fabric near moving parts, a ladder, or a conveyor is a snag point.
- It displaces your reflective stripes. The CSA Z96 and ANSI/ISEA 107 standards position the stripes to draw a recognizable human silhouette. If the coat is floating around your body, the stripes aren't where they should be, and your visibility suffers.
- It slows you down. Sleeves that are too long over gloves means less dexterity.
A garment that's too tight isn't any better: it limits your range of motion and prevents you from layering, which becomes a real problem at -30.
The three measurements to take
Take your measurements over a t-shirt or a thin sweater, not over a coat. Keep the tape flat, neither tight nor loose.
- Chest. At the fullest point, tape horizontal, passing under the arms.
- Waist. At the natural crease, above the belly button. Don't suck in your stomach.
- Hips. At the widest point, usually mid-buttock.
For a coverall like the CREST, add a fourth measurement: your total height, barefoot, back against the wall. That's what determines whether the inseam and legs fall in the right place.
The rule everyone forgets: layering
Our SCREE coats are built as a 3-in-1 system. The waterproof shell zips over the quilted coat or the BOULDER fleece using a double zipper and sleeve fasteners.
That changes how you should size:
- The outer layer (waterproof shell) needs to accommodate whatever you're wearing underneath. If you plan on wearing all three layers in January, size the outer layer up for extra room.
- The mid layer (quilted coat, fleece) should be your normal size. It should fit closely without compressing.
In other words: measure yourself once, then think about how you'll use it. A worker who stacks all three layers doesn't buy the same shell size as one who wears it alone in April.
The LOAM size chart
Compare your measurements to the chart. Sizes range from XS to XXL.
Between two sizes? Here's how to decide
This happens often, and the right answer depends on the piece:
- SCREE waterproof coat (outer layer): size up. You want room for layers and to move.
- BOULDER fleece or SCREE quilted coat (mid layer): size down. A loose mid layer creates dead air space and makes you colder.
- SLOPE vest: size up if you wear it over a coat, size down if you wear it over a sweater.
- CREST coverall: go by your total height first, then your hips. This is the piece least forgiving of guesswork.
What if it still doesn't fit?
It happens. No chart replaces trying it on, and we know that. Here's exactly how it works:
- You have 15 days from receipt for an exchange or return.
- Email us before returning anything, at info@loamsafety.com. You need a return authorization. Without it, we can't process your request.
- The item must come back unworn, with its original packaging and tags.
- We cover return shipping on items $100 and over.
Full details, including exceptions for sale items, are in our return and exchange policy.
One last thing: if you take a moment to tell us your height, weight, and the size you chose, you're helping the next woman who orders. That's exactly the information we're all looking for before buying a coat online.
Ready to choose?
See all LOAM PPE or check the full size chart.
Maude Lagacé Charette is a geological engineer. She works rotations at an iron mine in Northern Quebec and founded LOAM after years of wearing equipment that didn't fit her.
