Work pants can mean different things to different people. For some, they might be a comfortable pair of pants to wear to work in an office. For others, they’re going to need to be hard-wearing, tough and durable for harsh work conditions outside.
Regardless of location, work pants need to be comfortable and, in our opinion, stylish.
If you are indeed looking for pants that are office-appropriate and tick all of your other boxes, be sure to check out our complete guide to some of the best pants for men. If you’re looking for something a little tougher, then stick around.
The ideal fit of work pants for men
Work pants that are worn in tough conditions need to be comfortable first and foremost. You don’t want something with a skinny leg that’s going to cut off blood circulation when you’re already outside in the heat, for example.
Instead, you should be looking for a pair of pants with a straight leg, or at the very least, a slim leg, depending on your build. You also need to factor in materials. Your everyday cotton probably won’t stand much of a chance if you’re spending a lot of your time outside or bending down onto your knees. You’ll likely find that a lot of pairs of men’s work pants will have reinforced sections of material at the knees to combat this very problem.
All of the brands featured below make the best work pants for men and have been specifically chosen as they’re renowned for their quality and expertly crafted fits.
Dickies
1/15
Price: From $36
Sizes: 28-58
Dickies are one of the biggest names when it comes to men’s work pants. The company was founded in 1922 in Texas as a supplier of workwear to farmers in the Southwest of the United States. Nowadays, Dickies still remains true to its roots, in that its pants are still designed with workwear in mind, but they have been adopted by a younger audience as the ‘cool’ new brand to be seen wearing.
Don’t let this put you off though, as it means Dickies work pants are some of the most versatile around, being both suitable for tough conditions and stylish enough to wear on your days off. Be sure to check out the various fits on offer – the 874 is the Original Fit option for those who want to be truly authentic – and you can also get work pants with double knee reinforcement for extra durability.
Rhone
2/15
Price: From $138
Sizes: 28-40
Rhone is committed to those who are committed to bettering themselves. The premium brand makes clothing that prioritises fit, form and function, and pieces that allow the wearer to perform at their very best.
Although Rhone is primarily an activewear brand, their Commuter Pant is definitely sophisticated enough for any office or profession. Available in a regular, slim, or skinny fit, and six timeless colours, as well as seasonal colours, the Commuter Pant is tailored yet comfortable. Made with Rhone’s Flex-Knit fabric that gives you exceptional four-way stretch and recovery, these work pants for men are stylish for your 9-5 but are so comfy you’ll happily wear them even after work hours.
Filson
3/15
Price: From $145
Sizes: 28-42
Filson was founded in 1897 as a clothing company dedicated solely to providing solutions for outdoor enthusiasts. The company’s 125-plus years of experience designing and manufacturing clothing for the outdoors makes them one of the best providers of work pants around. Filson has pairs of work pants similar to Dickies, in that they’re adept performers both at work and walking down the high street, but they also have more heavyweight options for those who seriously need to get stuck in.
Wrangler
4/15
Price: From $48
Sizes: 30-54
Perhaps best known for its range of iconic jeans, Wrangler understands men’s pants, including how they should fit and how they should look. That knowledge has been applied to Wrangler work pants, which includes cargo pant, carpenter pant and canvas pant styles. Wrangler even offers flame-resistant work pants for those who should need them, or a lightweight pair of ranger work pants for men whose work requires them to be extra-mobile.
Carhartt
5/15
Price: From $45
Sizes: 30-50
Carhartt should be another brand that comes immediately to mind in relation to work pants, as it’s known for producing heavy-duty clothing, ideal for use in the field. With a variety of fits, styles and colours available to choose from, Carhartt work pants could be the perfect pair you’ve been searching for. The majority of Carhartt work pants feature a multitude of pockets to keep all your work essentials close by, and select pairs even have extra features such as a loop to hold your hammer, should you need it.
Patagonia
6/15
Price: From $89
Sizes: 28-48
Patagonia should need no introduction. The company is one of the best around when it comes to all things outdoorsy, whether it be tops, pants, gear or jackets, if you’ve got something from Patagonia, you know you can trust it. The Quandary pant is our pick here for the best pair of Patagonia work pants. Offering something a little different to some other pairs of work pants on this list, the Quandary has a much lighter construction thanks to a stretch-woven fabric, but this means it’s incredibly quick to dry. UPF 50+ sun protection and moisture-wicking properties only add to their appeal.
Kühl
7/15
Price: From $99
Sizes: 28-42
Kühl confidently claims it was “born in the mountains,” and so everything it creates is designed to perform well in tough conditions, so your work site will be a walk in the park. The Rydr work pants are a great option, owing to their incredibly handsome “live-in” appearance, articulated knee design for easy mobility and reinforced pockets to ensure they last you a lifetime.
5.11
8/15
Price: From $85
Sizes: 28-44
5.11 Tactical is a primary producer of tactical gear. If you spend much of your time outdoors, especially for long periods at a time, then you really should be checking out all of 5.11’s collections. The 5.11 ABR Pro Pant is one of the company’s standout performers. With 9 pockets, reinforced backside and knees and a FlexLite Ripstop material keeping your dry and capable of lasting quite literally a lifetime, there’s nothing to fault them on.
Timberland
9/15
Price: From $60
Sizes: 26-54
Think Timberland and you’ll likely think of tough, rugged boots. Well, that’s because Timberland designs and makes products intended to be used outside, and the same can be said of the company’s work pants. Take the Timberland Pro 8 Series canvas work pants, for example. Utilising Timberland’s Pro Flex Technology, which promises stretch and flexibility combined with a durable, rugged construction and you have yourself a truly comfortable pair of pants to wear at work or at home.
Eddie Bauer
10/15
Price: From $85
Sizes: 30-40
Eddie Bauer is another name synonymous with outdoor clothing, although started life in 1920 as a sports company making its own badminton shuttlecocks. Outdoor clothing didn’t arrive until the 1940s and 50’s and owing to its success, Eddie Bauer never looked back. The Guide Pro Pants are a prime example of just how good Eddie Bauer work pants are. Taking the already brilliant Guide Pro pants, this workwear version has reinforced material on the knees and backside for added durability.
You also get StormRepel DWR for expert moisture-wicking and UPF 50+ sun protection. A number of pockets to store your essentials and an athletic fit for added mobility make them the ultimate buy.
Topo Designs
11/15
Price: From $109
Sizes: 30-36
Topo Designs may be well-known for its excellent range of bags that feel right at home when outdoors, but that outdoor expertise carries over to its clothing collection too. Topo Designs work pants are a great buy, then, for someone who values style and substance. The Global Pant is a good example, catering to both streetwear fanatics and outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to a slim-fitting design, but one that has a raft of pockets and durable construction.
Duluth Trading Co.
12/15
Price: From $75
Sizes: 30-48
With a name like Duluth Trading Co., you can be sure this American clothing company is committed to producing pieces designed for tough and rugged environments. Duluth Trading has an extensive range of work pants for men in a range of styles, fits and colours. For those requiring plenty of pockets, you can opt for a pair of heavy-duty cargo pants, or for something more streamlined you can get the Fire Hose Relaxed Fit 5-Pocket pants, which even promise to repel water and stains thanks for a FendOff Finish fabric.
Todd Snyder
13/15
Price: From $298
Sizes: 30-36
Iowa native Todd Snyder makes effortless everyday luxuries for the modern gentleman. Blending Savile Row’s craftsmanship with a downtown New York aesthetic, his clothing is relaxed, refined and always impeccably tailored.
Todd Snyder’s collection of pants is, as you’d expect from Todd Snyder, incredibly varied. While there isn’t a pair of work pants in the same vein as some other brands on this list, these Japanese patched chore pants are essentially the Todd Snyder version of a pair of khaki work pants. Employing heavyweight cotton and with extra patches on the knees and even a tool pocket, these are an incredibly practical and fully functional pair of work pants.
Outerknown
14/15
Price: From $174
Sizes: 28-38
Kelly Slater’s clothing brand Outerknown is one of our outright favourites here at DMARGE, thanks to a combination of incredibly good-looking clothing that is well-made and competitively priced. Organic cotton and recycled materials are used wherever possible, as owing to Kelly Slater’s love of the water, Outerknown does everything it can to reduce its environmental impact.
The Voyager Utility pant is the obvious pick here. Inspired by military-spec design details and made from an organic cotton slub twill, providing texture and durability, these Outerknown work pants will see you through wear after wear, year after year.
Uniqlo
15/15
Price: From $15
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Uniqlo is a Japanese brand that began back in 1949 but has expanded to a global brand. Now available in over 18 countries, Uniqlo offers ‘current basics’, so clothes that are essential foundations to wardrobes but also have a little twist to make them on-trend. Plus, above all, they produce well-made clothes that are extremely affordable!
Uniqlo has a small selection of work pants, in both denim and cotton, all of which are inspired by traditional work pant styles, just with a modern update. These Utility Work Pants get a small amount of stretch to allow for plenty of movement. The legs are relatively wide (although they do taper slightly at the bottom) so they may not be quite to everyone’s taste, but in terms of outright functionality, colour choices and price, they’re hard to beat.