A heavy-duty PVC apron takes more punishment than any other piece of gear in a dairy shed, meat works or washdown bay. Cold water, animal fat, milk and sanitiser hit it every shift, and a thin apron splits at the straps or goes stiff in the cold within weeks.
Stormline started in Southland in 1966 and is still a third-generation family business. We make three heavy-duty PVC aprons, the 999ST, 999HWST and 999HW. Each one is made to the highest quality and is comfortable enough to wear for a full shift. This guide explains which one suits which job, how the straps differ, and which sleeves to wear with them.
In short
- Heaviest apron: the 999ST, 650gsm PVC with elastic braces.
- Milking apron (our dairy shed pick): the 999HWST, 500gsm fat-resistant PVC with cross-back straps.
- Simple neck-tie apron: the 999HW, 500gsm PVC that can be trimmed to length.
- All three: heavy-duty waterproof PVC, 1.2m × 90cm, flexible to −25°C and comfortable to wear all shift.
Heavy-duty PVC aprons: our three models
All three Stormline heavy-duty PVC aprons are 1.2m long and 90cm wide. The difference is the PVC weight and the straps.
Why PVC apron choice matters in NZ processing and farming
A dairy shed or meat works apron is hosed down, splashed with fat and worn in the cold every day. The right heavy-duty PVC apron is heavy enough not to tear, resists the oils and fats it meets, and stays soft enough to wear for a full shift.
- Fat and oil: animal fat and oil break down cheap plastic aprons. All three Stormline aprons are oil-resistant PVC, and the 999HWST apron is also fat-resistant.
- Sanitiser: the 999HWST apron is resistant to dairy sanitising chemicals and can be power washed.
- Abrasion: heavier PVC lasts longer against stall rails, conveyors and benches. The 999ST is our heaviest at 650gsm.
- Cold: our PVC is lab tested to stay flexible down to −25°C, so a Stormline apron stays supple in an unheated South Island processing plant or an early-morning dairy shed instead of going stiff and cracking.
Comparing Stormline heavy-duty apron models
| Model | PVC weight and build | Straps | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999ST | 650gsm oil-resistant PVC, cannot be cut down | 38mm elastic braces with back divider and clips | Heavy washdown, long shifts, dairy milking |
| 999HWST | 500gsm oil- and fat-resistant PVC, trimmable | Cross-back PVC straps, stainless eyelets | Dairy sheds, power-washed daily |
| 999HW | 500gsm oil-resistant PVC, trimmable | Sewn PVC neck and waist ties | Shared aprons, short jobs, milking |
999ST heavy-duty apron
The 999ST apron is our heavyweight apron and the heaviest in the range: 650gsm oil-resistant PVC with 38mm elastic braces, a back divider and adjustable clips. The 999ST apron is tested to −25°C. The 999ST cannot be cut down, so it suits people who want the full 1.2m length.
999HWST cross-back dairy apron
The 999HWST apron is 500gsm oil- and fat-resistant PVC, resistant to dairy sanitising chemicals, and can be power washed. Cross-back PVC straps with stainless steel eyelets spread the weight over both shoulders, and the 999HWST apron can be trimmed to length.
999HW heavy-duty apron
The 999HW apron is 500gsm oil-resistant PVC with sewn PVC neck and waist ties. The 999HW apron is quick to put on and take off and can be trimmed to length, which suits aprons shared between staff.
Where heavy-duty PVC and milking aprons are used in New Zealand
In New Zealand, Stormline heavy-duty PVC aprons are worn in dairy sheds, on fishing boats and in seafood factories, in food processing plants, at the freezing works and in local butcheries. The right apron depends on how wet the job is, what splashes on it and how long it stays on.
- Dairy sheds: 999HWST, or 999ST for the heaviest washdown work.
- Fishing and seafood processing: 999ST, or 999HW for recreational fishing.
- Food processing: 999HW for shared aprons, 999HWST for long shifts on the line.
- Freezing works and butcheries: 999HWST or 999ST. Use the 999HW behind the counter.
Milking aprons for New Zealand dairy sheds
New Zealand herds are big and getting bigger. In 2024/25 the average Southland herd was 612 cows and the average Canterbury herd close to 800 (DairyNZ dairy statistics). That means long milkings in a herringbone or rotary shed, standing in splash, spray and milk, often on a cold, dark spring morning. The 999HWST is our dairy apron: 500gsm fat-resistant PVC with cross-back straps that keep the weight off your neck through a full milking. For hosing down the yard and the heaviest washdown, the 999ST in 650gsm PVC with elastic braces is the tougher option. Wear N001 neoprene sleeves with either to stop water running up your arms.
Fishing and seafood processing
Stormline is best known for commercial fishing gear, so our aprons are built to be wet all day. On an inshore boat or in a seafood factory, the apron is covered in salt water, fish slime, blood and oil. Nelson alone is the largest seafood processing port in Australasia (Port Nelson). The 999ST is our fishing apron: 650gsm oil-resistant PVC, with elastic braces and a back divider that stay in place when you are bent over a bin or a filleting table.
Recreational fishing is just as big a part of New Zealand life. Recreational fishers made about 1.2 million fishing trips in 2022/23, and snapper, kahawai, blue cod and red gurnard made up over 80% of the fish they kept (MPI National Survey of Recreational Fishers). For gutting and filleting at the boat ramp, the bach or the fish-cleaning table, the 999HW is the simpler choice. Tie it on, rinse it off afterwards, and cut it to length if it is too long.
Food processing
Food processing plants, from dairy factories to seafood and meat plants, need aprons that stand up to sanitiser, cold water and washdown every day, and that can be issued across a whole crew. The 999HW suits seasonal staff, visitors and shared aprons, with neck and waist ties and PVC that can be trimmed to length. For staff on the line all shift, the 999HWST cross-back straps are easier on the neck and shoulders.
Freezing works and butcheries
Freezing works and butcheries deal with animal fat, blood and constant cleaning. Choose the fat-resistant 999HWST or the 650gsm oil-resistant 999ST for the slaughter floor, boning room and processing line. In a chiller or freezer, the PVC stays flexible down to −25°C, so it will not go stiff or crack. Behind the counter at the local butchery, where the apron goes on and off all day, the neck-tie 999HW is quicker.
Strap systems for milking: cross-back straps, braces or neck ties
For milking, choose cross-back straps. They spread the weight of a wet PVC apron across both shoulders, so your neck is not carrying it for the whole milking. Elastic braces suit heavier washdown and work where you are bending and reaching, and neck ties suit quick jobs.
- Cross-back straps (999HWST): made for long milkings in a herringbone or rotary shed, where the apron stays on from cups-on to the last cow.
- Elastic braces (999ST): the 38mm braces stretch as you move and the back divider stops them sliding off your shoulders, for hosing the yard, the meat works or the deck.
- Neck and waist ties (999HW): quick on and off, for relief milkers, visitors, short jobs and aprons shared between staff.
Comfort matters as much as toughness: an apron that pulls on your neck by the end of milking gets left on the hook, and then it protects nobody.
Sleeves for milking: stop water running up your arms
Putting cups on sends water and milk straight down your forearms, and an apron cannot stop it. A pair of milking sleeves can. Choose by how cold your mornings are and how much feel you need.
- Stormtex-Air 230 PVC milking sleeves: 340gsm oil- and chemical-resistant PVC with double-welded seams and a welded latex wrist cuff, for the driest seal in heavy spray.
- N001 4mm neoprene sleeves: high-density neoprene with stitched, glued and taped seams and a snug watertight wrist seal. The N001 sleeves keep forearms warm on frosty mornings and fit over gloves or under a jacket cuff.
- N002 3mm neoprene sleeves: thinner and more flexible, for warmer months or when you want more feel.
See the full dairy and milking shed clothing range.
Cleaning and care after milking
Rinse your apron as soon as milking is finished, before milk, dung and sanitiser dry on. Hang it by the straps to dry, out of direct sun and away from heaters.
- After milking: hose the apron front and back. The 999HWST can be power washed.
- After the meat works or a fishing trip: wash off built-up fat with warm water and a mild detergent, or rinse salt off with fresh water, then hang to dry.
- Sleeves: rinse neoprene sleeves inside and out, squeeze rather than wring, and dry them inside out.
- Every few weeks: check the straps and eyelets. The 999HWST and 999HW can be trimmed shorter if the hem wears.
Where to buy Stormline aprons in New Zealand
You can buy Stormline aprons online with prices in NZ dollars, or from stockists around the country. Not every stockist carries every apron, so call ahead to check sizes and stock. The full list with addresses and a map is on our store finder.
North Island
- Northland: All Marine Whangarei (Whangarei), Reel Rods Taipa (Taipa), Reel Rods Karikari (Karikari Peninsula)
- Auckland and Coromandel: Seafish Systems (Auckland), Cookes Bridon (Auckland), Quality Equipment (Auckland), Safeworkx (Auckland), Marine Deals.co.nz (Auckland), James & Turner (Coromandel)
- Bay of Plenty: Industrial Footwear and Safety Ltd (Tauranga), Kingskiwi (Tauranga), Decoro Fishing Supplies (Mt Maunganui), South Pacific (Tauranga)
- Hawke’s Bay: Napier Provedoring Ltd (Napier)
- Wellington: Strait Marine (Wellington), Wellington Provedoring Ltd (Wellington)
South Island
- Nelson and Marlborough: Nelson Ranger (Picton), Quality Equipment (Nelson), Hendersons Ltd (Blenheim), Oddies Marine Equipment Specialists (Waikawa)
- West Coast: North Beach Nets And Fishing (Greymouth), Promotional Solution And Safety (Westport)
- Canterbury: Gourock (Christchurch), Independent Provedoring (Lyttelton), Pegasus Fishing Ltd (Lyttelton), Southshore Marine (Christchurch), The Front Store (Timaru), NZ Safety – Timaru (Timaru), The Front Store – Washdyke, Timaru (Timaru), Parr & Co (Timaru)
- Otago: Port Chalmers Fishermans Co-Op (Port Chalmers), New Zealand Marine Logistics (Dunedin)
- Southland: Riverton Fishermans Company (Bluff), Stormline Factory Shop (Invercargill), SES Direct (online) (Invercargill)
Frequently asked questions about milking and heavy-duty PVC aprons
Which apron is best for milking?
The 999HWST apron. The 999HWST is 500gsm oil- and fat-resistant PVC, resistant to dairy sanitising chemicals, can be power washed, and has cross-back straps that take the weight off your neck through a long milking.
How do I stop water running up my arms when milking?
Wear sleeves with your apron. The Stormtex-Air 230 PVC milking sleeves have a welded latex wrist cuff for the driest seal, and the N001 4mm neoprene sleeves add warmth on cold mornings.
Can a milking apron be power washed?
The 999HWST apron can be power washed. Hose the 999ST and 999HW down and wash off built-up fat with warm water and a mild detergent.
Which Stormline apron is the heaviest?
The 999ST apron, at 650gsm oil-resistant PVC. The 999ST has 38mm elastic braces with a back divider and is tested to −25°C.
How does cold-rated PVC hold up on a frosty morning in the shed or at the freezing works?
Stormline PVC is lab tested to stay flexible down to −25°C. The apron stays supple in a cold shed, chiller or unheated plant instead of going stiff and cracking at the folds.
Can I cut a PVC apron to length?
The 999HWST and 999HW aprons can be trimmed to length. The 999ST apron cannot be cut down.
Where can I buy Stormline aprons in New Zealand?
Online with prices in NZ dollars, or from Stormline stockists in the North and South Islands, listed on this page. The full list with addresses is on our store finder.
Can I buy aprons in bulk for farm staff, a meat works or a fishing fleet?
Yes. Dairy farms, sharemilkers, meat works, seafood processors and fishing fleets can buy on wholesale terms. Ask us for a quote, or log in to the Stormline wholesale B2B store if you have an account.
Related guides
- Wet weather gear NZ: jackets, bib trousers and overtrousers for farm and outdoor work.
- Dairy parlour clothing: milking aprons, neoprene sleeves and waterproofs.
- Based in Australia? Read our Australian guide to heavy-duty PVC and fishing aprons.
Kitting out a dairy shed, plant or boat?
We supply dairy farms, sharemilkers, meat works, seafood processors, fishing fleets and dealers on wholesale terms. Send us the aprons, sleeves, sizes and quantities you need, or log in to the wholesale store.