When it comes to best casual pants for men, here’s the good news: They’re not at all complicated. As far as we’re concerned, for pants to be casual, they must meet only two criteria: First, they should be pants. And second, those pants should not be dressy. Easy! The one trick? Dress pants can be casual pants, too. Yes, even the slickest, sharpest pair of fancy tailored dress pants can look as grubby as a pair of beat-to-hell carpenter pants if you just know how to style them.
If you think about it, that’s really freeing. The world is your wardrobe! The possibilities are endless! Just about any pair of pants can be the key that unlocks any off–duty fit. That said, all that choice can be overwhelming. At the very least, it’s confusing for one little brain to take.
Whatever the reason, whatever the occasion, whatever the cut—slim fit, straight fit, classic fit, relaxed fit—there’s a pair of casual pants here for you. Whether you’re looking for sturdy twill chinos you can wear with your slubbiest T-shirts, heavily-pleated trousers you can wear with a big, bold, button-down, or a pair of elastic drawstring pants to wear on a quick coffee run, the right pair is calling your name. And luckily for you, you don’t have to look far. Because we sifted through a near-endless array of pants (so many pants) to compile a list of all the best options available today.
The Best Men’s Casual Pants, According to GQ
Shop by Category: Jeans | Chinos | Khakis | Cargos | Dress Pants | Work Pants | Track Pants | Drawstring Pants
Jeans
Obvious—maybe too obvious. But if we didn’t address it, we couldn’t call ourselves GQ. Jeans have been around since the 1800s and society would be bleak and infinitely less stylish without the indigo-soaked dungaree. Bring them back to their roots with some honkin’ leather work boots, or rock them day-off mode with a hoodie and sneakers, or pair a light wash option with a button-up shirt and a tailored blazer. There’s not a situation that the right pair of jeans couldn’t slot into, which makes them a requisite for every closet.
They make a compelling argument for the best men’s pants ever, but since we don’t want to ruffle too many feathers, we’ll limit the Levi’s 501 to the best jeans. Levi’s invented the five pocket blue jean after all, and they’re just as great today as when they first came on the scene. If you take just one lesson away from this, let it be this: if you don’t have a pair already, get yourself a pair of 501s..
Chinos
Chino cloth is a hearty twill fabric lauded for its military-grade sturdiness. Over the last 50 years, chino pants have evolved from active-duty army garb to civilian-life staple, cemented into the culture thanks to notable prepsters and the Ivy League set. They still come in every shade of khaki imaginable, but these days some of the coolest pairs on the market subvert the fabric’s neutral origins via unexpected colors and patterns. Not sure what to wear to an upcoming date/park hang/exploratory trip back into the office? Chinos are always a safe bet.
Khakis
Like chinos, khakis remain a perennial classic of casual American style. What’s the difference? Chino is a fabric; khaki is a color. Khakis derive their name from the particular shade of light brown that became ubiquitous in the U.S. after World War II. They were the original camouflage, well before the blobby olive shades came about. GIs returned from war and brought their dusty bottoms with them, ushering in a new era of civilian style. Once relegated exclusively to off-duty fare, khakis—a color that now encompasses everything from plain Jane beige to mossy olive green—have long since crossed over into the realm of work-appropriate attire. In their simplicity, they remain a reliable template for designers’ freakiest projections.
Cargos
It’s tough to beat the cargo pant when it comes to sheer utility. Even in their simplest form, the ultra-practical and—you guessed it—military-inspired trousers include discrete pocket space aplenty, making them the pants you should wear when you want to run errands without lugging a mostly-empty tote around with you. Over the last few years, capital-D designers and big-box brands alike have updated the menswear staple, tweaking the proportions and adding as many (or as few) pockets as they please. Which means it’s easier than ever to find one in the perfect fit, whether you’re looking for a relaxed version you can wear with trail-ready boots or a slimmer take cut to stack perfectly over a pair of simple kicks.
Dress Pants
We know what you’re thinking—dress pants are not casual pants. To that we say, “open up your mind, bro.” See, any pant can be a casual pant if you really use your head. (Jury’s still out on whether that rule works the other way around, but the evidence so far doesn’t look promising.) Separate your tailored trousers from their matching suit jacket and they can be free to a whole world of style possibilities. Dress pants can look surprisingly casual and fresh with a plain tee and a pair of canvas sneakers. Super billowy, paired with a breezy camp shirt and elevated leather sandals, and you’re about ready for a summer vacay. The key is more simple than you think: treat ’em like any other pant in your closet.
Work Pants
It was nearly three years ago that GQ collectively freaked for Dickies’ sturdy-as-hell painter’s pants. Since then, prices for Carhartt’s quintessential double-knees have reached truly astonishing heights, and every cool guy in a trucker hat and lug-soled loafers wants in. Thankfully, the style’s popularity doesn’t mean it’s lost any of that initial luster—if anything, its sustained appeal means you can now scoop a pair without dinging your credit card. Every brand worth its salt makes a version of the silhouette, from longtime stalwarts of the workwear scene to some of the hippest names in the streetwear universe. Find one that’s right for your budget and never look back.
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