Shop $66 $50, dockers.com
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I’ll keep it real with you. Prior to being offered to try the Dockers Go Chinos for work, I was staunchly a “jeans when I travel” guy. Flight back to Georgia for the holidays? jeans. Train to visit my brother in D.C.? Jeans. Greyhound bus to see a friend a few states over? Sounds insane, but I’d still wear jeans. It was a stance I’d taken against the stretchy travel pants of the world.
What was I trying to prove standing on this denim wrapped soapbox? I’m not sure. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a very strong argument, because I recently wore Dockers Go Chinos on one such trip down to D.C. Three hours and change on Amtrak. It changed my whole perspective. I immediately vowed I was never wearing jeans to travel again. From here on out, I’m rocking these chinos instead.
The fabric is the star of the show.
The first thing I latched onto when I got these in hand was the fabric. Dockers calls this proprietary blend Airweave. It’s 56% Repreve polyester and 44% regular old polyester. The Repreve poly is made from post-consumer recycled materials, and it’s made by Unifi Inc., which is known for high-performance textiles. That is immediately apparent. It’s a lot like when you touch pro-level athletic gear after only seeing the cheaper stuff; these pants have a heft and durability that is missing from most other polyester pants. But on top of that, the actual weave of fibers is quite open. Similar to how a high-twist fresco wool gives you a crisp and airy feel, these chinos feel more natural than any other stretchy travel pants I’ve put on, and that’s what I really noticed on the train with them. They stretch so that you’re comfortable. They let in some air to keep things nice and cool. But they don’t feel flimsy or soft like PJs. They’re a perfect blend.
Shop $66 $50, dockers.com
They’re versatile and look great.
Are these pants that someone is going to stop you in the street and ask about? No. And that’s exactly the point. The cut is flattering and they’re the foundation of a great outfit. In black or blue, they’re do-everything casual pants. Throw on a T-shirt and some sneakers, and you’re good to be on your feet all day. The blue pair is more of a one-to-one jeans replacement in my book, so don’t get too bold with them. But with the black pair, you could get away with wearing them below a polo or oxford at a respectable dining establishment pretty easily. The gray is strictly casual for me, as well, and actually a really nice color for the golf course. The deal is that in any scenario, the pants fade to the background. I’m not anti-crazy pants, but I do think there’s a trend in menswear to push guys to crazy pants before they’re ready. Don’t fall for that. Wear some Dockers Go Chinos with a Lacoste polo and Vans Authentics, and you’ll look better than 90 percent of the guys at the bar.
Shop $66 $50, dockers.com
The price can’t be beat.
I’ll never tell you to buy something because it’s cheap. I think that is a profoundly stupid way to live. But, when affordable and well-made meet, that’s the sweet spot, reader. At $66, these chinos are right in that sweet spot. But with the current sale dropping the price to $50, I’d say they’re undervalued. (Though once word gets out that these Go Chinos can rival the big names in the stretchy chino game, I suspect those sales will be fewer and farther between.)
So, is there anything I don’t like about the Dockers Go Chinos? No, quite honestly. The only request I would make is to see a more athletic cut option in the Go Chinos in the future. You can buy slim or slim tapered, both of which are fine on me. But for guys who prefer a little more room, something looser would be a welcome addition to the lineup. Beyond that, Dockers has created a damn-near-perfect pant. Y’all need to start buying them in bulk.
Shop $66 $50, dockers.com
Photographs by Joe Lingeman. Prop styling by Heather Greene.
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