Does English have a name for padded/insulated trousers worn over your regular trousers when outside in extreme cold?

Question

I'm currently travelling in Northern China and Mongolia and about a month ago I spent a few days hitchhiking with some local truck drivers.

I've been wearing long johns under my regular jeans because the temperatures are getting to -20 celcius and below. But one of the drivers when he had to be outside for longer periods had something the opposite of long johns, special trousers that were worn over his regular trousers that were padded with insulation.

I'm from Australia where it never gets so cold so hadn't seen anything like them before. But I know in other English-speaking parts of the world such as parts of USA and Canada it can easily get this cold. So I have to assume these trousers are also used in such areas and therefore must have a name.

What do we call these in English?

(Sorry I don't have a photo. I don't care if it's a single word or a phrase.)

Answer 1

In Canada you're likely to hear these called "snow pants". Most children's snowsuits come with pants and a jacket and the pants cover the stomach and back like overalls, and have suspender straps to keep them up. There are other models, which do not cover as much, and instead are meant to be worn over regular pants.

Example snow pants from Google Image Search for "snow pants":

Answer 2

Overall is a common name for these type of pants, and Carhartt is a producer of them (as jwpat mentioned), as you can see at the link. The Carhartt waist overall in the picture below is made to easily don or doff by having snaps or zippers along the legs so that they slide over other clothing and shoes or boots.

Other styles are the bib overall and the coverall (a type of overall), shown in the pictures below, and having similar snap or zipper features as the waist overall above.

Not all overalls are made for cold weather, though. Other uses include as protection from other environmental factors (like chaps protect a horse or motorcycle rider), from wear and tear that goes along with physical labor, and from dirt, chemicals or other work-related elements. To be precise and to differentiate about the purpose, you might refer to the intended application, which, in your case, would be cold-weather overalls.

For many people who enjoy snow recreation, these look like snow suits or ski suits, and they might be called that. But, as you might notice when looking at the Carhartt link, many overalls have a common rugged design to them and are made to be used for work more than for recreation. I suspect that your truckers' overalls would be more akin to these. If you were shopping for our own for work, then ask for cold weather overalls. If you are just riding with the truckers, then you might get by with recreational ski or snow clothing.

Answer 3

Cruiser pants or trousers is one term that's used for padded trousers or coveralls. Also snow pants, as mentioned in Dan D's comment.

Carhartt, although a proper noun, is often used (in Montana at least) as a generic term for padded bib overalls. Eg, "It was only 20 below, so my Carhartts were way too warm."

Terms like hunting trousers, wool trousers, and field trousers are often used for the thick-wool pants sold by retailers such as LL Bean and Cabela. Unlike the overalls/coveralls/Carhartts mentioned in previous paragraphs, wool trousers usually are worn over long-johns/long underwear/thermals (thermal underwear). (A related historical term for winter wear is trews, which if one were to wear today probably would be worn somewhat like long underwear.) Some versions of cargo pants may be large enough to wear over other pants, but they are more likely to be worn plain or over long underwear.