Portwest ES1 Essential Hi-Vis Rain Trouser

Complete Waterproof Protection From the Waist Down

Upper body protection is only half the story. In sustained heavy rainfall, unprotected legs become cold, soaked, and heavy within minutes — affecting concentration, comfort, and ultimately performance. The Portwest ES441 Essential Hi-Vis Rain Trouser completes the waterproof package, delivering certified, lightweight, and practical waterproof protection from the waist to the ankle with minimal fuss and maximum effectiveness.

Designed to layer effortlessly over the wearer's own trousers, the ES441 requires no change of clothing and no significant delay — simply pull them on when conditions turn, and continue working. Certified to EN ISO 20471 Class 1, EN 343 Class 3:1 X, and ANSI/ISEA 107 Supplemental Class E, the ES441 is an internationally compliant addition to any hi-vis wet weather ensemble, and pairs directly with the ES440 Essential Hi-Vis Rain Jacket for a fully coordinated, head-to-toe waterproof and high visibility solution.

Genuinely Waterproof — Taped Seams and PVC Coating

Like the ES440 jacket it is designed to complement, the ES441 delivers genuine, tested waterproof performance rather than simple water resistance. The 190T 100% polyester plain weave shell fabric is finished with a REACH-compliant PVC coating that forms a continuous, reliable waterproof barrier across the entire trouser surface.

Critically, the ES441 features fully taped seams — the defining specification that separates truly waterproof garments from water-resistant alternatives. Seams are the most common point of failure in waterproof outerwear, and taped seams seal every stitch line completely, preventing water from tracking through needle holes and seam joins during even the most sustained and heavy rainfall.

Twin-stitched seams provide an additional layer of structural integrity, reinforcing the seam lines against the mechanical stress of active physical work and repeated donning and doffing — ensuring the ES441 retains both its waterproof performance and its structural durability across an extended working lifespan.

The combination of PVC coating, taped seams, and twin-stitched construction is independently verified by the EN 343 Class 3:1 X certification — the European standard for protective clothing against rain, with Class 3 representing the highest level of waterproof protection within the standard.

PFAS-Free Texpel™ Splash Eco Outer Finish

In addition to its PVC waterproof coating, the ES441 shell fabric features a Texpel™ Splash Eco outer treatment — a highly water-resistant, PFAS-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish that causes water to bead immediately on contact and roll away cleanly from the fabric surface. This prevents the outer layer from saturating and becoming heavy during prolonged exposure to rain, maintaining the trouser's lightness, performance, and the visual integrity of the fluorescent hi-vis fabric even in sustained wet conditions.

The Texpel™ Splash Eco finish achieves this performance entirely without the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) — the persistent, environmentally harmful synthetic chemicals that have historically been used in many DWR treatments and are now subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny and restriction across Europe and internationally. For organisations with environmental procurement policies, sustainability commitments, or supply chain chemical compliance requirements, the PFAS-free specification of the ES441 is a meaningful and increasingly important differentiator.

EN ISO 20471 Class 1 — Certified Lower Body Visibility

High visibility trousers are independently certified to EN ISO 20471 as a lower body garment, with Class 1 representing the appropriate certified classification for hi-vis trousers. When worn in combination with an EN ISO 20471 Class 2 or Class 3 upper body garment, the ES441 contributes to the overall high visibility ensemble, extending certified reflective and fluorescent coverage down the legs — improving the wearer's full-body conspicuity from all angles, including from low viewpoints such as vehicle cab positions.

Reflective tape positioned around the lower legs ensures that the ES441 returns light in low-light and night-time conditions, making the wearer's leg movement visible to approaching vehicle and plant operators. This 360-degree lower body visibility is a genuine and important safety contribution, particularly in environments where workers move around vehicles and machinery at varying heights and angles.

Certification is maintained for 25 washes, providing documented assurance that the ES441's high visibility performance remains compliant throughout a realistic working lifespan under normal care conditions.

ANSI/ISEA 107 Supplemental Class E — US Compliant Lower Body Hi-Vis

The ES441 carries ANSI/ISEA 107 Supplemental Class E certification — the US occupational safety standard designation for high visibility lower body garments. Class E trousers or coveralls are designed to be worn in combination with ANSI Type R or Type P Class 2 or Class 3 upper garments to achieve the highest combined level of US hi-vis compliance.

For organisations operating across both UK and US regulatory environments — or procuring workwear for multinational operations — the combination of EN ISO 20471 Class 1 and ANSI Class E on a single garment eliminates the need for separate product specifications for different geographic markets, significantly simplifying procurement and inventory management.

Layering Design for Practical On-Site Use

The ES441 has been specifically designed to be worn over the wearer's existing trousers — a practical and highly valued design approach for working environments where conditions change throughout the day. Workers do not need to change clothing, remove boots, or interrupt their shift to deploy the ES441 — they simply pull the trousers on over whatever they are already wearing when conditions deteriorate, and remove them just as quickly when the rain passes.

This layering capability makes the ES441 an ideal companion garment for workers whose days include a mix of dry and wet spells — such as outdoor construction, highways maintenance, utilities, and grounds maintenance — where carrying a dedicated rain trouser as a standby layer is far more practical than changing into separate waterproof workwear for every passing shower.

Elasticated Back Waist for a Comfortable, Secure Fit

The ES441 features an elasticated back waistband that allows the trouser to accommodate a range of waist sizes comfortably and securely without requiring a belt. The elasticated back flexes to accommodate movement, crouching, and bending during physical work — preventing the trouser from dropping, shifting, or becoming uncomfortable during active use. This is a particularly important feature in an over-trouser context, where the garment must comfortably fit over varying thicknesses of underlying clothing without being restrictive.

Stud-Adjustable Hems for a Sealed, Secure Ankle Fit

Stud-adjustable hems at the ankle allow the trouser leg opening to be tightened and secured over boots or footwear, preventing wind-driven rain and water from entering the trouser leg at the base. In heavy rainfall and exposed conditions, an open, uncontrolled trouser hem is one of the most common routes for water ingress — and the ES441's adjustable studs seal this vulnerability effectively, ensuring waterproof integrity from waist to ankle.

The adjustable hem also allows the ES441 to be worn neatly over different boot heights and footwear types — from standard safety trainers to tall rigger boots — without pooling or bunching at the ankle.

40+ UPF Sun Protection

The ES441 shell fabric carries a UPF 40+ rating, blocking 98% of harmful UV radiation. While the primary function of the ES441 is wet weather protection, its UPF rating ensures it provides meaningful sun protection when worn in bright conditions — a useful characteristic for outdoor workers who carry the ES441 as a standby layer and may find themselves wearing it in varying weather throughout the day.

REACH Compliant PVC Coating

The PVC coating applied to the ES441 shell fabric is fully REACH compliant, meeting the European Union's regulations on chemical safety in manufactured goods. For procurement teams with chemical compliance obligations or supply chain due diligence requirements, REACH compliance on the PVC coating provides important documentation assurance that the garment has been produced to rigorous standards.

Suited to a Wide Range of Industries

The ES441's combination of certified waterproof performance, EN ISO 20471 hi-vis compliance, ANSI Class E certification, and lightweight practical layering design makes it an appropriate choice across a broad range of outdoor and exposed working environments:

• Road and highway maintenance
• Rail maintenance and infrastructure
• Construction and civil engineering
• Utilities — gas, electricity, water, telecoms
• Grounds maintenance and landscaping
• Logistics and transport
• Waste management and local authority
• Traffic management
• Airport ground operations

Key Features at a Glance

• Fully waterproof with taped seams — EN 343 Class 3:1 X certified
• REACH compliant PVC-coated 190T polyester shell
• PFAS-free Texpel™ Splash Eco water-resistant outer finish
• Twin-stitched seams for enhanced structural durability
• EN ISO 20471 Class 1 certified lower body hi-vis
• Certified to EN ISO 20471 after 25 washes
• ANSI/ISEA 107 Supplemental Class E certified
• Reflective tape for all-conditions lower body visibility
• Elasticated back waist for a comfortable, adaptable fit
• Stud-adjustable hems for a sealed, secure ankle fit
• Lightweight layering design — fits over existing trousers
• 40+ UPF rated fabric — blocks 98% of UV rays
• CE certified

Technical Specifications