The Best Chinos For Men To Wear All Day, Every Day

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 for our best chinos guide 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.

What are chinos?

Chino pants, commonly referred to as “chinos”, are made from chino cloth, which is a twill fabric that was originally made with 100% cotton, but now synthetic blends are more commonly available. These pants were originally designed for use in the military (specifically, in the 19th century for the Spanish-American war), because they were comfortable and durable, and the earth tones of the fabric would go on to influence the transition to camouflage clothing in the armed forces. They have a tailored fit that’s not too constricting, and look great at the office or just for running errands.

Chinos vs. slacks vs. khakis

Chinos are sort of a middle ground between dress and casual wear (business casual, as they say), while slacks are most definitely dress garments. Labels will sometimes use khaki and chino interchangeably, but true khakis are usually less formal than chinos, with a heavier construction and a looser look/feel. All three of these options can easily be dressed up, however, and it comes down to personal taste when deciding what’s right for you.

What to look for

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 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 Slim Fit Work Pants

The Budget Pick: 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

The Starter Pick: 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 of 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 Chino Pant

The Classic Pick: 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 brand is made of material that helps cotton communities survive while restoring the environment little by little.

Carhartt WIP Master Pant

The Most Durable Chinos: 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.

Taylor Stitch The Slim Foundation Pant

The Best Military-Inspired Chinos: 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.

Buck Mason Slub Twill Maverick Slim Officer Pant

The Best Slub Chinos: 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.

Vuori Cascade Tech Chino Pant

The Best Water-Resistant 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.

Dockers Made in the USA Chino

The Best US-Made Chinos: 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.

Alex Mill Standard Pleated Pant in Chino

The Best Garment-Dyed Chinos: 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 regular and long lengths and provide a thorough size guide before buying. 

Polo Ralph Lauren Whitman Relaxed Fit Pleated Chino Pant

The Best Relaxed Fit Chinos: 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.

Todd Snyder Japanese Selvedge Chino Pant

The Best Japanese Selvedge Chinos: Todd Snyder routinely bolsters its 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.