The Best Chinos For Men To Wear All Year

Although there are many intriguing styles of pants to pick up for yourself, there are only so many that can be labeled as essentials. Realistically, all of these can be counted on one hand, and they may not even take up each finger to do so. Of course, jeans and sweatpants are the two vitalities on polar ends of the pants spectrum, but falling right in between the two is the quintessential pair of chinos. Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up a ranging list of the essential garment that will suit any sort of closet, as well as an informative primer for what to keep an eye out for when buying the perfect pair.

Cut: When it comes to chinos, there are three cuts that crowd the space: slim-fitting, straight-fitting (or regular-fitting), and relaxed-fitting. The traditional straight-fit chinos arguably serve as the most popular across the board due to their consistent measurements from top to bottom. That said, people prefer slim-fitting chinos for more formal occasions and a tighter feel all around. Lastly, relaxed-fitting chinos are highlighted by a wider, draping look, resulting in a much more freedom of movement.

Material: While you’ll typically find chinos are made of cotton twill or something sturdy enough to withstand a full day of blue-collar work, several brands put comfort over longevity nowadays, all the while not sacrificing the latter. If you’re looking for a pair of chinos that offer great freedom of movement, consider something made with a touch of polyester or, better yet, spandex. This will promote breathability and mobility if your office is prone to heating up or you simply can’t stand wearing tight pants.

Pleats vs. Flat Front: If you’re unfamiliar with pleated pants, we recommend referring to our guide based on the comfortable bottoms. If you are in the know and realize how convenient pleats are, odds are you’ve noticed them appear on several pairs of chinos. And while this may make them appear to offer a relaxed cut, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the case, as pleats appear on several standard-fitting pairs, too.

Dickies 872 Work Pants

There is no brand more synonymous with a common pair of work pants than Dickies. In the same manner that Doc Martens is bound to appear on a round-up of the best boots, the same applies to this staple brand who’s been doing it for nearly ninety-nine years on the dot. Thanks to their durable wrinkle-resistant mix of polyester and cotton, there’s virtually no way to go wrong at such a low price. Simply put, if you don’t already have a pair of these in your closet, grab one now.

Levi’s XX Chino Pant

Surely, everyone is well aware of what Levi’s brings to the table as far as denim goes, but they offer quality garments across the board. For instance, the heritage brand has labeled their XX Chino Pant as “the ideal WFH chinos,” and there are few descriptions that have sounded as necessary to take advantage of in the past year-and-a-half than that one. Composed from a blend of cotton, elastane, and polyester, these sustainable chinos are available in numerous colors geared to complement every blazer your wardrobe has to offer. As a bonus, they even feature an elastic waist with a hidden drawstring for adjustability’s sake.

J.Crew Classic Relaxed-fit pleated chino pant

By now, we’ve mentioned all the cuts you should know of, with this pair from J.Crew serving as a solid archetype for a relaxed-fitting pair of chinos. The shopping mall staple’s pleated bottoms are crafted using 100% cotton for a buttery soft feel, but this material promotes far more than comfort. Thanks to J.Crew’s partnership wither Better Cotton, every piece you buy from the rand made of the material helps cotton communities survive while restoring the environment little by little.

Everlane The Performance Chino

Backed by Everlane’s 365-day guarantee, it’s safe to assume no one will be utilizing it for such a quality pair of stretchy, lightweight chinos. Optimized for any situation you find yourself in, the 6% of elastane used in its composition makes for a set of pants that may even work in your favor if you find yourself on a light jog. As far as durability is concerned, Everlane wash-tested their Performance Chino a whopping 50 times for the sake of ensuring fabric strength and the perfect fade.

Buck Mason Palm Slub Twill Maverick Slim Officer Pant

Buck Mason’s Maverick Office Pant provides the breathability and flexibility one would hope for in a pair of casual pants, all while delivering a sartorial slim fit that could even be worn at a wedding — if accompanied by the right blazer, of course. Boasting a lived-in look and a handy button fly, their Officer Pant will surely make it look like you have somewhere to be, regardless of what your schedule has to say.

Taylor Stitch The Foundation Pant

Taylor Stitch’s take on the classic silhouette garners inspiration from its origin, as their Foundation Pant is crafted with World War II vets’ military chinos in mind. Made from 100% organic cotton, the San Francisco-established brand’s pants boast what they call a “democratic fit” ensuring they are comfortable, mindful, and stylish, featuring a herringbone-accented waistband to boot. While they’re available in a handful of colors, we believe the olive serves as a standout pick to stroll with this holiday season.

Vuori Cascade Tech Chinos

Seeing as Vuori is well known for its consistent catalog of performance clothes, it’s no surprise to see them dabble in technical casual pieces, too. The Cascade Tech Chino Pant is the epitome of that, as they are virtually built for anything from an early-morning meeting to a late-night flight. The slim-fitting bottoms are made with performance stretch twill fabric that’s finished with a water-resistant treatment for optimal function year-round.

Carhartt WIP Master Pant

The relaxed-fitting Master Pant is made of a sturdy 8.8-ounce twill that is practically Carhartt WIP’s signature textile blend, offering a rugged feel that’s not too heavy and not too light, either. It is composed of a mix of polyester and cotton to deliver that hard-wearing appeal we’ve come to know and love from the workwear giant — or, in this case, the workwear giant’s street-friendly sub-brand.

Alex Mill Standard Pleated pant

Most pants from Alex Mill are adequately built to take on your day-to-day routine, and few more so than the roomy Pleated Chino. Composed of sturdy midweight cotton and a touch of elastase, the comfortable pants provide enhanced freedom of movement thanks to their gusseted crotch and relaxed fit from the hip down. Best of all, the brand accounts for taller folks who constantly get the wrong size sent to them when ordering online, as they sell the pants in a regular and long lengths and provide a thorough size guide before buying. 

Outerknown Fort Chino

Outerknown’s versatile catalog has always been worthwhile, not to mention the brand’s consistently eco-cognizant approach that distinguishes them from some other bigger names. With that being the case, their Fort Chino manages to deliver more of that same planet-friendly appeal. Crafted from fully organic cotton, these pants substitute the standard plastic and metal for some natural corozo buttons, all of which are made from gathered palm nuts. On top of that, they are Fair Trade Certified and garment-dyed for comfort’s sake, giving both you and the earth good reason to be happy about these pants.

Dockers Made In the USA Chino

Dockers’ recently-released lineup of U.S.A-made pieces are sewn in partnership with a small L.A.-based factory called Keep It Here; not only were they made in the states, but they come directly from one of its biggest fashion hotspots. The relaxed-fitting, cotton-crafted pants take after the heritage brand’s classic ’80s silhouette and are finished with a traditional zipper fly and two unbeatable colors — golden khaki and navy blue.

Flint and Tinder Flex Knit Pant

As usual, Flint and Tinder’s take on a classic pair of pants also implement elements found on other classic pairs of pants. While the Huckberry house brand’s 365 silhouette typically gets all the attention, we couldn’t overlook its Flex Knit Pants as one of the fashion world’s best chinos. The tech-adjacent pair of bottoms fuses the traditional look of sturdy twill but has the plush feel of cotton and stretch of spandex, paving the way for ideal freedom of movement and comfort you won’t find on just any pair.

Percival 5 Pocket Twill Trousers

Let’s face it, anything Percival touches typically turns to cold, and the same goes for something as basic as these chinos. The English boutique’s relaxed-fitting 5 Pocket Trouser offers more than enough room for all your daily EDC gear and even more freedom of movement for your legs. To keep things plush and durable, they are composed of smooth cotton twill that’s built to last.

Polo Ralph Lauren Whitman Relaxed Fit Pleated Chino Pant

Leave it to Ralph Lauren to make a pair of pants that work as well on the golf course as they do in the office. The Whitman Relaxed Fit Pleated Chino Pant practically speaks for itself, and its lengthy name fully gives its look away. Either way, whether you dress it up with a classy belt or a button-up or keep things breezy with a plain white shirt and sneakers, these versatile, pleated pants are a testament to the Polo line’s brand of traditional pieces.

Officine Generale Pleated Chino

More often than not, anything you pick up from Officine Generale is bound to bode well for any occasion, and that applies even more when said pick-up is sustainably made. The boutique’s Pleated Chino is sewn using organic Italian cotton twill that’s undergone a pigment garment dying process for a unique touch of color. For convenience’s sake, the roomy pants are finished with a buttoned fly and removable self-fabric belt, shedding the need to find the right one in your closet.

Aimé Leon Dore Straight Fit Chino Pant

Serving as the perfect bridge between streetwear and more high-end fashion, Aimé Leon Dore is adept at crafting anything stylish, with these straight-fitting chinos being one of the most versatile pairs to consider. Whether your choose to dress them up or down, the functional pants are available in four casual colors that are sure to operate as well with a t-shirt as they do with a jacket. To close, they are composed of nothing but cotton and finished with a quartet of roomy pockets.

A.P.C Classic Cotton Gabardine Chinos

A.P.C. knows two things better than anyone else: minimalism and making pants — not just denim, but all types of pants. In this case, the Parisian brand’s Gabardine Chino delivers on an essential pair of wear akin to their revered jeans. Crafted from a waterproof cotton gabardine, these lightweight pants look as great for work as they do for a night out, and as good on the streets of your town as on les rues de Paris.

Todd Snyder Japanese Selvedge Chino Pant

Todd Snyder routinely bolsters their wide catalog of elegant, Savile Row-inspired garments, and they do no less with these chinos crafted from Japanese selvedge. For added authenticity, the fabric is brought overseas from the esteemed Kuroki mill in Japan, providing the deep indigo hue that assists in these pants garnering the spotlight.  Equipped with a button fly composed of sturdy melamine, this is an ideal pair of pants to pick up this winter — or any time of year, to be honest. At the end of the day, Savile Row looks tend to age with nothing less than grace.

Men’s Style Essentials for Going Back to the Office

If you’re looking for new chinos, odds are you could use some other new pieces for your work ensemble, too. Get some help from our guide to all the wardrobe essentials you need for the office.