Engelbert Strauss Alternative UK: Is Strauss Workwear Good?

Written by the Tauro Workwear team, ex-tradesmen turned workwear trouser designers

Short answer: Engelbert Strauss workwear is good. The range is huge, the colours are excellent, and the e.s.motion trousers are certified for knee protection when paired with Strauss's own pads. The reasons a tradesman might want an Engelbert Strauss alternative in the UK are price, a 4 to 7 working day delivery estimate, and a cut that is sporty rather than slim.

We see a lot of people searching for an Engelbert Strauss alternative in the UK, and asking whether Strauss workwear is any good in the first place. Fair questions, because Strauss has become a big name on UK sites in the last few years. We are a small team of ex-tradesmen who make slim-fit work trousers, so we are not neutral. What we can do is give you the facts from Strauss's own UK listings, credit what it does well, and be clear about where something else might suit you better.

One thing first: the brand now trades as STRAUSS, and engelbert-strauss.co.uk redirects to strauss.com. Same company, same kit.

Is Strauss workwear good?

Yes. Here is what it genuinely does well.

The range is enormous

The Strauss UK work trousers category listed 197 products when we checked. That covers the e.s.motion, e.s.motion 2020 and e.s.motion ten lines, e.s.concrete, e.s.roughtough, e.s.dynashield, e.s.vision multinorm for specialist protection, and holster trousers in the e.s.vintage and e.s.line ranges. Whatever your trade, there is probably a Strauss trouser built for it.

The colour choice is unmatched

The e.s.motion 2020 trouser comes in 16 colour variants. The standard e.s.motion has 13, from plain black to plaster/clay, reed/moss and cobalt/pacific. If you want to look smart on a customer's driveway, or your firm wants every van crew in matching colours, Strauss does that better than almost anyone.

The knee protection is certified

The e.s.motion, e.s.motion 2020 and e.s.motion ten trousers are all listed as meeting EN 14404-3:2024, type 2, performance level 1, when used with Strauss's certified e.s. knee pads. For anyone kneeling on screed or tiling a bathroom floor all day, that matters.

Returns are fair

Strauss's UK terms allow returns of unworn products in original condition within 30 days of delivery, and Strauss pays the return postage if you use the UK return label it provides. That is better than many people assume of a German brand.

It also has a reputation to back it up: Strauss scored 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot when we checked. So, is Strauss workwear good? On quality, range and certification, the honest answer is yes.

What do Strauss work trousers cost in the UK?

These are single-pair prices including VAT from the Strauss UK site, checked October 2026.

Delivery is extra on orders under £90 before VAT (about £108 with VAT): Strauss's UK terms put the charge at £4.95 plus VAT. The product pages quote approximately 4 to 7 working days for delivery. Some postcodes carry extra surcharges in Strauss's terms, including £30 plus VAT for BT (Northern Ireland), IM, HS and ZE, and £45 plus VAT for GY and JE.

Strauss also does volume pricing. The e.s.motion 2020 drops from £80.28 to £74.28 each from five pairs, and £68.28 each from 20. For a firm kitting out a crew, that is a genuine advantage.

Why look for an Engelbert Strauss alternative in the UK?

None of this is a knock on the quality. These are the practical reasons a UK tradesman buying for himself might go elsewhere.

Price for one pair. At £80.28 for an e.s.motion 2020 plus delivery under the threshold, and more again for the certified e.s. knee pads, one pair adds up. The bulk pricing helps a company, not a sole trader buying one pair.

Delivery time. 4 to 7 working days is fine if you plan ahead. It is less fine when you have split your only good pair on a scaffold clip on a Thursday and need something for Monday.

The cut. Strauss describes the e.s.motion 2020 as an "ergonomic cut with sporty modern silhouette" and the e.s.motion ten as "slightly tapered". That is a long way better than old-school baggy workwear, but it is not a slim fit. If you want a trouser that fits like your jeans, Strauss is not built around that.

Holster pockets. The main e.s.motion lines list ruler, pen, phone and safety pockets, but not holster pockets. Strauss does sell holster trousers, in the e.s.vintage and e.s.line ranges, and holster add-ons for e.s.roughtough, so you can get them. You just have to go looking.

Fabric detail. The UK product pages we checked left the fabric weight field blank, and the standard e.s.motion lists only "mixed fabric" for the outer. The e.s.motion 2020 is 65% polyester, 35% cotton, and the e.s.motion ten is 45% cotton, 40% elastomultiester, 15% polyamide.

Strauss vs Carhartt: how do they compare?

This is the other comparison people search for, so here it is. Carhartt's strengths are real: heavy, hard-wearing fabrics and a look that has been on building sites for generations. Its Steel Rugged Flex Relaxed Fit Double Front Cargo trouser uses 59% cotton, 39% polyester, 2% elastane stretch ripstop at 339 gsm, with Cordura top-loading knee pad pockets. Carhartt's UK site listed it at £130.49, with free shipping over £75. The lighter Steel Rugged Flex Double Front Utility trouser (271 gsm) had a full price of £98.99 and was on sale at £39.99 when we checked.

Where they differ: Strauss wins on colour, certified knee protection and team pricing. Carhartt wins on fabric weight and heritage. Both are relaxed or sporty cuts, not slim, and Carhartt's listings do not mention EN 14404. If you are searching for Carhartt alternatives in the UK for the same reasons as Strauss alternatives, the options below apply to both.

The best Engelbert Strauss alternatives for UK tradesmen

Snickers 6341 or 6241

The closest like-for-like. Certified KneeGuard system with Snickers pads, ten colourways of the 6341 at Start Safety, a slim cut with pre-bent legs, and stocked by UK trade suppliers. The 6341 was from £84.29 at Start Safety, and the 6241 holster version from £80.76. Similar money to Strauss, but easy to get hold of quickly in the UK.

Scruffs Pro Flex Plus Holster

£72.99 at Screwfix. 92% nylon, 8% elastane, 4-way stretch throughout, a slim cut and two holster pockets. You can try it on in a branch. The listing does not mention EN 14404, and it was black only.

Carhartt

For heavier fabric and a relaxed fit, Carhartt is the obvious alternative. See above for prices.

Tauro Ranger and Rampage

Ours. The Tauro Ranger (£74.99) is 98% cotton, 2% elastane with Cordura on the knee pad pockets, thigh pocket, back pockets and holster mounts, and removable Cordura holster pockets. The Tauro Rampage (£64.99) is 60% cotton, 38% polyester, 2% elastane with removable holster pockets, and is our best seller. If you do not want holster pockets, the Tauro Outlaw is £55.99. All three are cut slim through the thigh and leg, designed in Redditch and sold direct, with free UK delivery on Royal Mail Tracked 48 and next day for £5.99.

Be clear on what you give up: black only, 32" regular leg only, waist 30" to 40", no published fabric weight, and the knee pad pockets are not certified to EN 14404. Strauss beats us on colour, sizes and certified knee protection. We think we beat it on fit and on price for one pair once Strauss delivery is added. If you want to know why we bang on about fit, read why fit matters.

Engelbert Strauss vs the alternatives: side by side

Competitor prices and specs from the brand's UK listing or a major UK retailer's listing, checked October 2026. "Not stated" means the listing we checked did not publish it.

For the full market, including trousers we have not covered here, see our guide to the best work trousers UK.

Who should still buy Engelbert Strauss?

• Firms kitting out a team. Volume pricing, consistent colours across a crew, and personalisation make Strauss a strong choice for company workwear.
• Anyone who needs certified knee protection. If you are on your knees all day, the e.s.motion lines with e.s. knee pads are certified to EN 14404. Ours are not.
• Anyone who wants colour. 16 colours in the e.s.motion 2020 line. We do black.
• Anyone who needs a non-standard leg or specialist protection. Strauss covers far more sizes and specialist ranges, such as e.s.vision multinorm, than a trouser-only brand like ours.
• Anyone who prefers a relaxed fit. If slim is not your thing, the Strauss sporty cut will suit you better than ours.

If none of those is you, and you want a slim trouser at a lower price for one pair, look through our slim fit work trousers. Our trousers are cut slim, not small, so if you are between sizes or coming from baggy workwear, size up on the waist. The size guide has the numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Strauss workwear good?

Yes, by most measures. Strauss has one of the widest workwear ranges sold in the UK, with nearly 200 trouser products on its UK site and up to 16 colours in a single line. Its e.s.motion trousers meet EN 14404 when paired with e.s. knee pads, and it scores 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot. The trade-offs are price, a 4 to 7 working day delivery estimate, and a sporty rather than slim cut.

How much are Engelbert Strauss trousers in the UK?

On the Strauss UK site in October 2026, single pairs of e.s.motion trousers were £74.28, e.s.motion 2020 were £80.28 and e.s.motion ten were £90.60, all including VAT. Delivery is extra below the free delivery threshold of £90 before VAT. Buying in bulk brings the price down, with e.s.motion 2020 falling to £74.28 each from five pairs.

How long does Strauss take to deliver to the UK?

The Strauss UK product pages we checked quoted approximately 4 to 7 working days. Orders under £90 before VAT carry a £4.95 delivery charge plus VAT, and Strauss's UK terms list extra surcharges for some postcodes, including Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Scottish islands. If you need trousers for Monday, a UK stockist with next day delivery may suit you better.

Does Strauss offer free returns in the UK?

According to Strauss's UK terms and conditions, you can return products in their original condition within 30 days of delivery, and Strauss pays the return postage if you use the UK return label it provides. Personalised items, such as trousers with embroidery or printing, are excluded. Worn or washed clothing is generally not accepted back, so try them on at home first.

Strauss vs Carhartt: which is better for work trousers?

They suit different people. Strauss offers more colours, certified knee protection with its own pads and volume pricing for teams. Carhartt offers heavier fabrics, such as 339 gsm stretch ripstop on its Steel Rugged Flex double front cargo, a relaxed straight leg and that workwear heritage look. Neither is slim. Carhartt's listings do not mention EN 14404 certification.

Is there a slim fit alternative to Engelbert Strauss trousers?

Yes. Tauro Workwear trousers are cut slim through the thigh and leg, priced £55.99 to £74.99, and ship free in the UK. Scruffs Pro Flex Plus Holster and Snickers 6341 are also slim cuts sold by UK retailers. If you need certified knee protection, check the certification on each, as Tauro knee pad pockets are not EN 14404 certified.

Try a pair for 30 days

Every Tauro trouser ships free anywhere in the UK on Royal Mail Tracked 48, with next day for £5.99. Wear them on site and see how they compare with your Strauss. If they are not right, send them back free within 30 days.