Your First Prac Is Coming: The First-Year Uni Lab Kit

Your timetable just appeared and there it is: your first lab class. Between the course handbook, the LMS page and the "compulsory PPE" note, nobody actually tells you what to buy or where to get it. Here's the plain-English version.

What Unis Actually Require for a Lab Class

Most first-year lab subjects (chemistry, biology, food science, anatomy, engineering workshops) require three things before you're allowed in:

A lab coat — usually white, full-length, covering to at least the knee
Safety spectacles — closed-in eye protection, worn the whole class (ordinary prescription glasses don't count)
Enclosed shoes — leather or similar, no mesh, no sandals

Some unis supply goggles at the door, but more and more put "safety glasses" on your equipment list. Check your subject outline — if it says "bring your own," you'll need them every single week.

Your Kit, Sorted in One Order

Here's the maths on getting kitted out through us:

Traditional or Elastic Cuff Lab Coat — White: $24.00 (ex GST)
Breeze Safety Spectacles: $5.00 — clear lens, lightweight, impact resistant (AS/NZS 1337.1)
Total: under $30 for the pair

Wear prescription glasses? Get the Traditional Safety Spectacles instead — also $5, designed to fit over your existing glasses.

Wait — you don't wear prescription glasses. That's it. That's the kit.

Which Coat Should You Get?

White is the standard requirement — most subject outlines specify it. Only choose Navy ($27) if your course explicitly allows it or you're in a non-food workshop
Elastic cuffs (same $24 price) are the practical choice for labs — the sleeve hugs your wrist, stays off your hands when you're writing, and keeps loose fabric well away from flames and equipment
Traditional (open) cuffs are the classic look if your subject doesn't involve heat sources

Getting the Size Right (Without Trying It On)

You're buying online — so don't guess your "t-shirt size," because lab coats aren't t-shirts. The reliable way: grab a jacket or coat you already wear over other clothes, lay it flat, and compare it to the measurements on our Sizing Chart. XXS to 3XL, so there's a fit for everyone.

One Tip from Students Who've Done This Before

Order before the week your prac starts. Standard shipping is 5–7 business days (or 2–3 with express), and you do not want to be the person standing outside the lab in week one with no coat. If you've left it late, express post exists for exactly this reason.

Also: flatmates and course friends — order together. Orders over $100 ship free anywhere in Australia, and six first-years ordering one kit each clears that easily.

Questions First-Years Ask

Do I need to buy before semester starts? If your subject outline lists PPE as compulsory, yes — you won't be allowed into the lab without it.

Can I just use a white shirt? No — labs require a full-length coat with closed front and long sleeves. It's about coverage, not colour.

What if the coat doesn't fit? Free size exchanges within 7 days. Order early enough to swap it if needed — another reason not to leave it to the last minute.

Get Sorted

Browse lab coats in the Shop — white and navy, XXS to 3XL
Measure up on the Sizing Chart
Questions before you order? Contact us — we answer every day, Mon–Fri