Best BBQ Apron for Ultimate Grilling Protection: In-Depth Buyer’s Guide for 2021

If you’re serious about your grilling, then you buy the best there is, whether it’s good grill tongs, a top of the line gas grill, or the best BBQ apron. Some men may scoff at the idea of wearing an apron, but an apron designed specifically for the BBQ enthusiast is worn more for functionality than aesthetics. These aprons are very functional and come loaded with pockets, an adjustable fit, and they’re made out of heavy-duty material, in order to protect you and your clothing from burns and stains.

But if you’ve never been apron shopping, and you probably haven’t, then you may not know what type of BBQ apron to choose, what style options are available, and how to pick out one that’s designed to last and provide the type of protection you need. I’ve tested out many of the best-selling aprons and narrowed it down to five that are not only very functional but stylish as well. My buyer’s guide will go over the different features this type of apron has to offer, and what to look for in an apron that will work for you and your grilling needs. Below, the comparison chart includes the five aprons that made it onto my gotta have it list.

BBQ Apron Comparison Chart

Product	Sizes	Style	Pockets	Rating
Hudson Durable Goods Apron Shop On Amazon!	4	Tactical	2
ARAWAK BRAVE Cooking Apron Shop On Amazon!	1	Tactical	4
ALIPOBO Grilling Apron Shop On Amazon!	1	Funny	2
This is Going to be Delicious Shop On Amazon!	1	Funny	1
Hudson Durable Goods Apron Shop On Amazon!	1	Utility	5

Best Tactical BBQ Apron – Hudson Durable Goods Heavy Duty Waxed Canvas Work Apron

Our Rating: (5/5)

This is a durable, tactical grilling apron that’s made out of sixteen-ounce waxed canvas that’s also water-resistant. The apron is also equipped with weight-gun metal rivets and grommets. The double-stitched tool pockets, in addition to the thick bottom and top hems add to the apron’s durability. To improve user comfort, the apron features an adjustable cross back strap design.

Conclusion

This is a versatile apron that can be used for so much more than BBQing. It’s also recommended for carpenters, woodworkers, and light welding, it’s that durable. The highly adjustable design, combined with the durable water-resistant material, and the metal-gun rivets make this a must-have apron for grilling, workshop, and garage use.

Grill Master Apron – ARAWAK BRAVE Professional Cooking Apron

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This apron is very feature-heavy and comes with some great extras that both the casual and serious griller will love. The apron comes equipped with a headphone loop, which keeps your headphones out of the way from the grill, so it won’t interfere with your cooking. The apron’s cross back straps come complete with solid brass grommets and rivets, in addition to double-stitched pockets for improved durability. The large kangaroo-style pockets can hold all your personal items and grilling gear, while the built-in towel loop is placed on the right hip. Clearly, the manufacturer has thought of everything.

Conclusion

This is tactical style apron is a great buy for the casual griller, but the serious BBQ enthusiast will pass this model by in favor of one that’s made from a more durable material. This model is made out of cotton, which is not durable, can stick to the skin if you begin to sweat, and will not provide any type of protection from stray embers and the open fire on your grill. While the design is very eye-catching and the apron is loaded with great extra features, the use of cotton will be a deal-breaker for some buyers.

Best BBQ Apron for Dad – ALIPOBO Grilling Apron

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This is a fun apron and it will make a great gag gift for any grilling enthusiast. This apron is made out of one hundred percent cotton, so it’s a great choice for summer wear. However, the cotton is not water-resistant, or fire retardant, so it will not provide much protection while you’re working over an open flame.

Conclusion

This is an apron that’s more a gag gift than a serious grilling apron. The thin cotton material will not protect you from burns or embers when you’re cooking over an open flame. However, cotton is very breathable and it can protect your clothing from sauces, grease, and charcoal dust, so it’s still a good buy for the casual barbeque enthusiast.

Best Funny BBQ Apron – This is Going to be Delicious

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This is a funny gag apron that all grillers will love. It’s the perfect gag gift for birthdays, father’s day, or any other special occasion. But aside from its spicy style, the apron is also functional and will cover the entire front of the wearer’s body, protecting them from grease, oil, and flying embers. The apron also features a total of three large pockets, which are perfect for storing your personal items, grilling tools, sauces, and more. Unfortunately, this apron is available in one size only with the following measurements:

Length: 30.5 inches

Width: 28.3 inches

Adjustable neck strap: 28 inches

Conclusion

This is a great gift that every cook and griller will love. Despite the fact that the apron only comes in one size option, it is highly adjustable and does a great job of covering and protecting the wearer. While the serious griller may want to opt for a more durable apron, one that’s made out of fire retardant materials, this apron is a great buy for the casual barbeque enthusiast and a great choice for hot weather use.

Hudson Durable Goods – Professional Grade Chef Apron for BBQ

Our Rating: (4/5)

This is a great utility apron that comes loaded with pockets and is made out of breathable, soft, ten-ounce cotton. It’s also machine-washable and comes equipped with gun-metal rivets and grommets. The pockets are double-stitched, while the bottom hems feature a thicker design that is meant to improve the strength and structure of the apron. You’ll find a total of four strategically placed pockets that are designed to hold your grilling tools, personal items, and other grilling supplies. The apron also comes with a towel loop, which will come in handy as you cook.

Conclusion

This apron can be used for more than just grilling, but if you use it for smoking or grilling, you’ll love how pocket-heavy and comfortable this model is. The apron is highly adjustable and is made out of a thicker cotton material, which can protect your skin and clothing from spills, grease, and charcoal, however, the material is not water-resistant or fire retardant, which may be a drawback for some buyers.

BBQ Apron Buyer’s Guide

The main goal of wearing an apron is to keep your clothing free of dirt, food stains, oils, and debris. But with a grilling apron, you’ll also need to pick one that can protect you from a hot grate, flying embers, and fire. You’ll also need to take into consideration the style of the apron itself. How many pockets do you need? Do you carry your personal items on you when you grill? Extra grilling tools? Many grilling aprons come loaded with pockets, which will allow you to stay organized while keeping all of your personal items, such as your phone, keys, and lighter, highly accessible. Aprons can be worn when you’re grilling, smoking, cleaning a charcoal grill, serving food, and during cleanup at the end of your backyard event. These versatile garments are durable, functional, and will come in handy when you’re cooking over an open flame and need to protect your skin and clothing from embers, fire, charcoal dust, and more. Now, let’s take a look at the different features these aprons have to offer, so you can determine which style and type of apron will work for you.

Pockets

When it comes to a grilling apron, pockets are essential. While it may not seem that pockets are all that important, when you’re grilling, you really can’t do without them. With some setups, a person may have a large BBQ station where they have all their tools and supplies ready to go, but even if you have this type of setup, when you’re wearing a pocket loaded apron, you can keep a bottle opener, sauces, your phone, or anything you know you’ll need, on your person, ready to go.

Size

Many aprons will come in a one size fits all style, while others will come in several size options. With an apron, you want it to offer a tight, comfortable fit. The point of the apron is to keep your clothes free from grease and food, but more importantly, to protect your skin and clothing from flying embers, fire, and potential burns, which is why it’s important that it fits you well.

Straps

The neck strap will go over your head and will hang around your neck. Some neck straps are highly adjustable, while others are not. If you end up with a model that doesn’t have an adjustable neck strap, then the apron may hang loosely around your chest and will be unable to provide the type of protection you need. Look for a model that has a highly adjustable neck strap so you can ensure you protect your neck and chest area. Some aprons may also have neck straps that are heavily padded. The padding or lack thereof, may not be a big deal to some casual grillers, but the serious BBQ enthusiast, the one who will spend an entire day smoking a brisket or ribs, or grilling steaks for a big family BBQ, will want an apron that’s as comfortable as possible, one they can easily wear for several hours.

Material

This is what really separates a BBQ apron from your traditional house aprons that are worn for dusting or doing the dishes. The design and style of these aprons will vary, but most heavy-duty grilling aprons will be made of the same types of durable material, which is thick enough to protect your clothing and skin should you get too close to the grill.

Some models are made out of a lightweight cotton, which can help to keep you cool during the summer, but they’re not going to provide much protection from burns. Other models are made out of waxed canvas, while top of the line aprons are made out of leather.

Look for an apron that’s made out of waxed canvas, which is a type of waterproof material that does an excellent job of protecting the wearer from flying embers, dust, grease, BBQ sauce, and more. Waterproof cotton is also a great choice. It’s flame retardant and machine washable. While waxed canvas is a great option as well, it’s not machine washable, which means you’ll need to use more effort come cleaning time.

Flame Retardant

For obvious reasons, buying an apron that’s flame retardant will also be important, considering you’ll be cooking over an open flame. But when you’re focused on trying out the latest cheap grilling ideas, it’s all too easy to focus on turning the meat, moving it off the main grill to the warming rack and putting more meat on the grill, in order to hurry and feed all your friends and family. When you’re focused on grilling, getting too close to the grill happens, and so do burns. There’s also a chance that a wayward spark can catch on your clothing or skin. Because of this, it’s important to choose an apron that’s flame retardant, one that can offer you that extra level of protection that you need.

Apron Styles

Now that you know more about the different features to look for, and how they can make an apron more functional, let’s take a look at some of the common types of BBQ aprons to choose from. There are dozens of different style options, designs, patterns, and cuts available, which can make choosing just one a real challenge.

Tactical

These are often the go-to style of the serious grilling enthusiast. These aprons look really cool and come with plenty of pocket space, adjustable shoulder and neck straps and are often made out of a type of canvas. These aprons are also equipped with a flame retardant coating, for extra protection.

Sports Teams

You’re a diehard football, basketball, or baseball fan, so what better way to show your team spirit than by wearing an apron with your favorite team on it? Many men love this style option, however, you’ll need to pay close attention to the type of material the apron is made out of. There are many cheap knockoffs on the market, so you need to be sure you purchase an apron that offers the type of quality and functionality you need. Don’t buy an apron simply because your favorite team is on it. Remember, an apron that’s functional and durable is key.

Personalized

There are many patterns and designs available, so it’s easy to choose an apron that vibes with your style. You can also go a step further and choose an apron from a manufacturer that allows you to personalize it. These aprons often make great presents. You can have the name of your favorite sports team, your name, or the name and logo of your company stitched onto it. These aprons are a fun choice, but they’re not quite as functional as some of the other alternatives on the market, and they’re often considered a novelty apron. However, it is possible to find a durable, well-made personalized apron, you just need to know what to look for.

Aprons Made by Grill Manufacturers

These are often excellent aprons since the manufacturer already knows exactly the type of apron the grilling enthusiast is looking for. So, you can expect an apron that comes loaded with pockets, one that’s flame retardant, highly adjustable, and equipped with all the features you need when you’re grilling.

Cobbler

These aprons feature a waist to neck design that provides ultimate coverage, however, they don’t have a reputation for being the most comfortable option available.

Final Thoughts

The best BBQ apron should be durable, easy to put on and take off, an apron that’s highly adjustable, flame retardant, and one that features a design that will provide enough coverage to protect your clothing and skin from flying embers, fire, sauce, oil, and more. The aprons in my top five list are great choices for both the casual and serious griller and can provide the type of protection you need when you’re cooking over an open flame.