The Best Work Pants of 2024

Kneeling for hours in grubby conditions, fending off sparks and debris, stashing greasy tools — work pants have to deal with a lot. Whether you are a professional tradesman, or DIY fiend paying your dues on personal projects, narrowing in on the best work pants for your needs is important for efficiency and safety on the job site.

Our team has collectively put hundreds of different work pants through the wringer on tasks around homesteads, construction jobs, and everyday yard work. When assessing work pants, we consider how well the pants do hard jobs while protecting the body. We also consider durability and how it relates to pricing, comfort, and overall construction.

The pants below will suit many full-time tradesmen. They will easily suffice for the weekend DIYer or someone who needs something a bit tougher than jeans (especially those new soft, stretchy ones) but are probably not going as far as adding a tool belt to their ensemble.

Scroll through our selection below, or hop down to our buyer’s guide, comparison chart, and price & value sections for help in narrowing in on your perfect pair.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Work Pants guide on October 23, 2024, to add the BRUNT Martin Pant as the “Best Work Pants for Mobility.”

The Best Work Pants of 2024

Best Overall Work Pants: 1620 Workwear Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0
Best Budget Work Pants: Carhartt Rugged Flex Utility Double Front
Best Work Pants for Tree Work: Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants
Most Stylish Work Pants: Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Cloth Pants
Best Work Pants for Hot Environments: Fjällräven Keb Trousers
Best Work Pants for Mobility: BRUNT Martin Pant

Specs

Fabric: Cordura stretch NYCO
Utility Pockets: Back yoke welt pockets, dual watch pockets, right phone pocket, right zip key pocket, military-spec shank button, dual hammer loops, left leg utility pocket
Water Resistance: DWR coating
Fit: Regular

Pros

Stellar pocket layout
Tough NYCO fabric

Cons

Expensive

For the second test in a row, after trying lots of pairs of pants, the 1620 Workwear Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0 ($198) reigned supreme. We love these pants and wear them nearly every day. Not only is the cut of these pants a perfect fit, but the pocket configuration matches our EDC needs perfectly — no matter if we’re working in the field, guiding, sitting at a desk, or traveling. In short, they sport a modern regular cut, as well as a true-to-size waist and inseam.

The only argument against 1620 is that its pants are pricey. However, since it launched in 2016, the prices have come down and it occasionally puts items on sale. Buying products from 1620 means paying for American-made fabrics (North Carolina) and American labor (designed and sewn in a shop in Massachusetts). It’s worth checking out its take on justifying the price tag on its about page.

These pants are tough. The NYCO fabric meets NFPA 1975 No Melt No Drip thermal standards and has been lab-tested. It’s 10 times more abrasion-resistant and dries twice as fast as 100% cotton canvas of a similar weight and construction. This keeps them out of landfills for as long as possible. The brand even has a buyback and resell program called Patina — a great place to find discounts.

All 1620’s pants have innovative pocket designs, including slanted rear pockets for easy access (especially while sitting, and it keeps a clip knife in place), as well as easy-reach-in and good volume front hand pocket bags. And with the exception of the five-pocket Foundation Pant, it has useful mid-thigh utility pockets that sit behind the outseam.

Within the left-hand pocket is a traditional coin pocket that is too deep to dig coins out of. I like to use it for credit card-size items. The website describes it as a Watch Pocket, which I find amusingly nostalgic of them. All of 1620 Workwear’s pants include wide belt loops. The utility pocket layout on the Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0 is robust: back yoke welt pockets, dual watch pockets, right phone pocket, right zip key pocket, military-spec shank button, dual hammer loops, left leg utility pocket.

Specs

Fabric: 12 oz, 99% cotton, 1% spandex Duck
Utility Pockets: Deep front pockets, left and right phone pockets, right utility pocket, right hammer loop, reinforced back pockets, knee pad pockets on front of legs
Water Resistance: No
Fit: Slim

Pros

Comfortable off the shelf
Durable and flexible Carhartt Duck fabric
Simple pocket layout

Cons

Less durable than the unwashed Duck (Firm Duck)

Before you all start freaking out about why we went with the slim fit version of the Rugged Flex Utility Double Front Pants ($70) from Carhartt, it’s because they fit better than the Relaxed and Loose fits, overall. And that’s important when you’re working or playing. You need to be able to move around without feeling like your pants are hanging off of you. We found, in testing, that the Slim Fit provided a larger range of motion, in all conditions. Don’t worry — the leg opening is still ample enough to go over your favorite work boots.

That said, Carhartt has been the go-to work pant for a lot of folks for a long time. Where the brand used to only offer unwashed Duck material for its double-knee pants, expanding its double-knee line-up to its washed Duck fabric eliminates the break-in period found with the unwashed Duck, now called “Firm Duck” materials. Although, we’ll be honest — we do miss the rivets that are synonymous with the classic double-knee pants — it’s a fair trade for the flexibility that the 1% of spandex provides.

Unlike the 1620 Workwear Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0, the Rugged Flex Utility Doubles do not have any type of water resistance. Not only does this help keep costs down, but we didn’t find it to be a real issue. However, if you’re someone who works in wet environments, an easy way to make these pants water-repellant is to treat them with Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In. Even at $15, adding that treatment still keeps these Carhartts well within the parameters to still be considered budget-friendly.

We really enjoyed how these pants kept up, even after a week’s worth of living and playing in the great outdoors. Even though they’re double-knee pants, the Rugged Flex Utility Double Front Pants don’t look overly aggressive and fit right in at the local pub, après work. Dirt and debris easily brush off the tight weave cotton/duck fabric, and they pair well with work boots, hiking boots, and Crocs. Yes, Crocs. Don’t knock ‘em until you rock ‘em.

Specs

Fabric: 100% cotton ringspun canvas
Utility Pockets: Utility pocket on right thigh
Water Resistance: N/A
Fit: Classic

Pros

Extremely durable
Tough knee reinforcements

Cons

Utility pocket on thigh is quite small and restricting
Not very stretchy

A reader’s comment on the original post of this review turned us onto this brand. They are the tough and durable pants one would expect from a brand targeting professionals climbing trees all day long. We opted to check out the product that launched its brand in the late ’90s, the Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants ($95), which come in a comfortable Classic Fit.

Without any spandex in the weave, the 12.5-ounce ringspun 100% cotton canvas is a little less forgiving and has one of the tighter 32-inch waistbands of the test. These pants will be the most comfortable for waists that fit perfectly into them. For anyone between sizes and sizing down, the pants will be tight and uncomfortable. Someone a little smaller will feel the pants are a little loose and will need a belt or suspenders.

But confidence in the durability of the Treeclimber’s Pants is high. They are as tough as they feel and break in nicely to be a little more pliable after some rigorous use and the ensuing wash cycles.

The pockets are pretty standard with patch style in the rear and swooped horizontal bag-style hand pockets. Without any give in the fabric and the fact that our tester is on the plus size of its version of a 32-inch waist, the front hand pockets are a little tight. So, it takes a bit of a push to get our hands in and out of the pockets. But that’s just at the hem of the pockets — once our hands are in, the pocket bags are a good depth and are cut to a comfortable volume.

Our biggest gripe with the Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants is the minuscule utility pocket on the right thigh. This patch-style pocket is only 3 inches wide with a half-inch opening. Clearly, it’s not designed to hold a phone. Maybe an old clam-shell phone could be wedged in. Instead, many arborists use it to hold a chainsaw scrench or a clip knife for when they’re in the trees while their back pocket is covered by a harness. The thigh pocket sits on the front side of the outseam.

The double-knee reinforcement is stitched straight across the upper thigh from the outseam to the inseam and reaches down to just below the knee. There are no articulated darts or pockets for knee pads.

Specs

Fabric: 100% 14 oz cotton oil finish tin cloth
Utility Pockets: Deep front and rear pockets
Water Resistance: Oil wax finish
Fit: Classic

Pros

Extremely durable
Wax finish makes them virtually stain-proof
Built-in suspender buttons

Cons

Can stain light-colored clothing from prolonged contact
Expensive

Who says you can’t look good at work? Also, who says you have to wash your pants at all? The Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Cloth Pants ($195) are pants you don’t have to wash to look good working in. This is because these pants have been treated with water-resistant wax which allows dirt, mud, and sauce from that meatball grinder to slide right off the fabric instead of soaking into it. And no — oddly enough — they don’t stink after the long haul.

Stepping into a pair of these pants feels like stepping into history — like these were the pants Teddy Roosevelt wore when he met John Muir out in Yosemite all those years ago. It’s totally possible that they were being that Filson has been around since 1897, providing rugged and reliable outdoor clothing.

That said, these pants haven’t changed much in form or function. You’ll find the legs to be straight and wide and the pockets to be able. With that comes the caveat that the waxed tin cloth is unrelenting. As durable and comfortable as these Oil Finish Single Tin Cloth Pants are, it takes a while to get them to the point of being considered comfortable at all. But, we can tell you that the more you work and play in them, the quicker they break in.

We had a blast wearing these pants in the winter as not only does the wax block out wind, but it also makes them awesome snow pants for working and playing in the outdoors. We spent a few nights before dinner sledding with the kids until our knees felt like they were going to fall off from dragging them up the hill over and over again. But the pants never quit — we were dry as a bone.

For any of you wondering what “tin cloth” is, it’s just waxed cotton fabric. But we think we can all agree that “tin cloth” is a much more inspiring name.

Specs

Fabric: Waxed G-1000 — 65% polyester (recycled), 35% cotton (organic)
Utility Pockets: 2 leg pockets with buttoned flaps, mesh pocket inside one of the leg pockets
Water Resistance: PFC-free water-resistant wax coating
Fit: Regular

Pros

Hip-to-knee and lower leg ventilation zippers
Reinforced knees with openings for pads (kneepads not included)
Extremely durable
Sustainable build

Cons

Heavy
Not the most flexible
Not the best next-to-skin comfort
Pricey

OK — you caught us. While the legendary Fjällräven Keb Trousers ($240) are technically for tough hiking, they just so happen to serve as stellar work pants. And let’s be honest, they look like you could wear them into battle. We’ve been trotting around in our Kebs for a while now, and use them for much more than trekking. Bucking logs in the backyard, ripping around on our motorcycle, or bushwhacking through briars — there’s not much we don’t do with these versatile, ventilated wonders.

Before we go much further, let’s address the elephant in the room: the price tag. As the most expensive option on this list, it had better have the performance to back it. Lucky for the Kebs — it does. These things are simply incredible to wear for any technical task you put your mind to, and shrug off significant torture, keeping you cool when the pace picks up.

These are some of our favorite pants for jobs that boost our heart rates in hot temps. Think hauling load after load of wood back and forth in a wheelbarrow all day. Thanks to deep hip-to-knee ventilation zippers that run down the outside of the legs, a simple tug and your bare legs are exposed to fresh air. Need even more A/C? Throw the calf zippers down and expose the lower leg, quickly dumping heat.

The Fjällräven Keb Trousers are constructed of two types of fabric: proprietary waxed G-1000, a durable polycotton material, and a stretchy polyamide. G-1000 is used around the front of the legs (up to the upper thigh), backside, ankles, and knees. The reinforced knees also have openings to insert pads if the need arises. All the bases are covered. This does introduce a lot of stitching, which contributes to their heft. Despite a large number of potential fail-points along the seams, we’ve had no durability issues with the Kebs, and still abuse them like we did on day one.

Organization on the Kebs is pretty basic, with two leg pockets with buttoned flaps, and a mesh pocket inside one of the leg pockets (in addition to two hand pockets). We like the simplicity though, and rarely find ourselves wishing for more. It helps keep them lighter and more mobile.

For tough, active jobs that require some exercise in hot environments, these pants are hard to beat. You won’t have to worry about ripping them, but they regulate temperature better than anything we’ve tested. Is the $250 price point worth it? If we have any say in the matter — yes.

Specs

Fabric: 8.5 oz. blend of cotton (70%), nylon (28%), and spandex (2%)
Utility Pockets: Deep right-side tool pocket, Deep left-side zippered pocket, Angled back pockets
Water Resistance: DWR Coating
Fit: Regular

Pros

Incredible balance between durability and flexibility
Moisture-wicking waistband
Gusseted crotch for ease of movement
Double-front

Cons

The zipper on the left utility pocket is overkill
They wrinkle easily

BRUNT Workwear has only been on the scene for a couple of years, but in that time, the brand has made its presence known in the world of workwear and work boots. Not only is the quality of their products top-notch, but their attention to detail shows how much attention they paid to the needs of the people wearing their products.

The brand’s Martin Pant ($80) exceeded all expectations regarding what we assumed they could do. Very early on in testing, they proved that they were everything they claimed they could be. The 8.5-ounce per square-yard fabric makes these the lightest pants on this list. What makes that even more impressive is that they are also double-front pants. BRUNT refers to this as a “hidden double layer”. It starts below the crotch and ends right above the shin but doesn’t impact your mobility in the least.

Previously, the KÜHL Resistor Jean held this spot, but it was hard to ignore the unmatched balance between durability and mobility that the Martin Pant has. Both pants have a similar material blend, but the Resistor Jean lacks the double front benefit the Martin Pant has.

As far as fit and finish are concerned, the Martin Pant has been comfortable since day one. The moisture-wicking waistband is a real standout here in terms of desirable features. It increases the overall breathability of the pants, which comes in handy on the hot and humid days we seem to be having more and more of. The pant leg does taper down to keep the pants from being baggy and unshapely, but they’re wide enough for work boots.

We won’t say that DWR treatment is a must-have for work pants, but it has proven its worth on pants like the 1620 Workwear Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0 and the KÜHL Resistor Jean. On the Martin Pant, which is already a lighter-weight pant, the extra layer of protection helps to shed water and keeps the pants from getting weighed down when working out in the rain. That’s a bonus in both warm and cold weather.

Work pants like the Martin are a sign of the times. Innovations in materials and the use of material blends have proven that work pants don’t need to be heavy and bulky to be effective. Whether you wear work pants for work or play, we think that you’ll enjoy the balance between durability and flexibility on these pants.

Specs

Fabric: XKanvas: 65% cotton, 26% nylon, & 9% spandex
Utility Pockets: 3D drop-in right-side pocket, drop-in left-side phone pocket
Water Resistance: DWR Coating
Fit: Regular

Pros

Great stretch and mobility, but fabric rebounds and doesn't bag over time
Solid durability
Soft next-to-skin feel
Gusseted crotch for more freedom of movement
Cuff guards at the bottom hem

Cons

No knee reinforcement
Right drop-in pocket is a bit loose and not very deep
Thick stitching on hand pockets makes it a bit hard to slide a knife clip into them

We’re pretty big fans of KÜHL. They just don’t miss! And following suit is the sleek, stylish, and supremely flexible Resistor Jean ($129). For reliable durability with uncompromising mobility, these are the pants to snag. These “jeans” shine on jobs that require a bit of contortion, or for those who love a snug fit that doesn’t feel constraining. The Resistors feature a good-looking, slightly tapered fit, but move with you better than most pants we’ve tried on.

Climbing around rickety scaffolding, high-stepping over bucked-up logs, or simply kneeling down to drive in a screw — these aren’t going to hold you back. We have plenty of pants in our closet with top-shelf flexibility, but few of them also boast bombproof durability. KÜHL’s exclusive performance fabric has unparalleled stretch with a noticeable rebound in the material that resists bagging out over time. A gusseted crotch and articulated knees also contribute to its peerless mobility.

The cotton/nylon/spandex blend is battle-ready, but somehow clings to a soft, smooth texture for next-to-skin comfort. What wizardry KÜHL uses, we know not.

The “jean” element of these pants comes from characteristic jean-style front and back hand pockets with rivets. A discrete drop-in pocket on the left leg stashes a phone, and a generous 3D drop-in pocket decorates the right leg. We use the phone pocket a lot, but the 3D pocket seems too loose and shallow for most things — unless we don’t care to lose them. That one generally goes unused.

There are a few reasons that we put the BRUNT Martin Pant above these as the best work pants for mobility. Cuff guards at the bottom hem help with fraying, but we wish the rear and/or knees were reinforced. Eschewing this does keep the weight down and boost mobility, though, so we can’t be too picky. Aside from these quibbles, the only other con we noticed was the relatively thick stitching at the lip of the hand pockets. It makes sliding a knife clip over the pocket a bit more challenging than other pants in our rotation.

Even though we like the Martin Pant a bit more, these pants’ stellar durability and flowy, soft fabric make them a great option.

Specs

Fabric: 8.7 oz. 98% cotton, 2% spandex canvas
Utility Pockets: Right coin pocket, right drop-in pocket with snap
Water Resistance: DWR coating
Fit: Classic

Pros

Soft next-to-skin feel
Reinforced knees and cuffs

Cons

Not the most durable

We’ve tested several Mountain Khakis before, and this round we jumped into a pair from the heritage line — the double-knee Camber 107 Pant ($100).

These pants are accurately described as a Classic Fit, which is between a Relaxed Fit and a Regular Fit. The 9-ounce, 98% cotton, 2% spandex canvas is very comfortable but doesn’t exude durability for harsh environments. The 32-inch waist feels true to size, as does the 34-inch inseam.

Like many MK pants, these have the mudflap feature, which is a reinforced patch at the heel side of the cuff. That’s a spot we tend to wear out when we wear flip-flops and the hem slips under our bare heels where the hem gets worn down. When wearing shoes or boots, however, the length is perfect.

The front hand pockets are a good depth and have a comfortable swooping horizontal cut that helps prevent items from dribbling out when sitting down. The rear pockets are a standard straight-across patch style.

The utility pocket on these pants is 6 inches wide with a snap button in the middle, and it straddles the outseam. That’s much bigger than all of the other pants in this review and is a borderline cargo pocket.

It will accommodate the biggest phones out there, maybe even small tablets. Our relatively small phone feels lost in there, but the snap button bumps our confidence that the phone isn’t going to jump out.

The double knee is cut chap style with a swoop from the middle of the patch down to the inseam. The patch has articulated darts around the knee, and it provides good coverage from mid-thigh to just below the knee. It does not have knee pad pockets. Though they aren’t the most durable, technical work pants out there, for the price, we’d say they punch well above their weight.

Specs

Fabric: Cotton/spandex Eurotwill
Utility Pockets: Side drop-in pocket
Water Resistance: N/A
Fit: Regular

Pros

Just enough elastic for stretch without sacrificing durability
Reinforced hem and pocket lips
Comfortable fabric

Cons

No reinforced knees

The brushed twill exterior of the fabric used on the KÜHL Free Rydr ($99) has a nice hand feel, and the substantial 10.8-ounce, 98% cotton, 2% spandex feels protective and durable. KÜHL describes these pants as a lean fit, but they feel more like a regular fit to us, with plenty of room for the legs and articulated knees.

It’s only a single-knee construction, but it does sport a few other reinforced areas. These include along the tops of the front and back pockets for clipping a knife or tape measure, as well as on the hem above the heel as scuff guards.

The swooping horizontal hand pockets are a little tight to reach into, thanks in part to the reinforced layer along the cuff of the pocket. But they are a good depth and have a moderate amount of volume to the pocket bags. The coin pocket is on the right side, not too deep, and easy to reach into with the index finger.

The cellphone pocket is on the right side, behind the outseam, with an eighth-inch lip above the pocket to help catch a phone from slipping out while sitting. The back pockets are deeper than usual with 8-inch-deep, patch-style pockets (most are 6 inches).

Work Pants Comparison Chart

Work Pants	Price	Fabric	Utility Pockets	Water Resistance	Fit
1620 Workwear Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0	$198	Cordura stretch NYCO	Back welt pockets, dual watch pockets, right phone pocket, right zip key pocket, shank button, dual hammer loops, left leg utility pocket	DWR coating	Regular
Carhartt Rugged Flex Utility Double Front Pant	$70	12 oz, 99% cotton, 1% spandex Duck	Deep front pockets, left and right phone pockets, right utility pocket, right hammer loop, reinforced back pockets	N/A	Slim
Mountain Khakis Camber 107 Pant	$100	98% cotton, 2% spandex canvas	Right coin pocket, right drop-in pocket with snap	DWR coating	Classic
Arborwear Original Tree Climbers’ Pants	$95	100% cotton ringspun canvas	Utility pocket on right thigh	N/A	Classic
Filson Oil Finish Single Tin Cloth Pants	$195	100% 14 oz. cotton oil finish tin cloth	Deep front and rear pockets	Oil wax finish	Classic
BRUNT Workwear Martin Pant	$129	70% cotton, 28% nylon, 2% spandex	Deep right-side tool pocket, Deep left-side zippered pocket, Angled back pockets	DWR coating	Regular
KÜHL Resistor Jeans	$129	65% cotton, 26% nylon, 9% spandex	3D drop-in right side pocket, drop-in left-side phone pocket	DWR coating	Regular
Fjällräven Keb Trousers	$240	Waxed G-1000: 65% polyester, 35% cotton	2 leg pockets with buttoned flaps, mesh pocket inside one of the leg pockets	PFC-free water-resistant wax coating	Regular
KÜHL Free Rydr	$99	Cotton/spandex Eurotwill	Side drop-in pocket	N/A	Regular

Rocking the **KÜHL Resistor Jeans** while repotting plants and getting some yard work done; (photo/Emily Malone)

How We Tested the Best Work Pants

Work pants are meant to be worn when you’re busting your butt getting work done at home, on the jobsite, and wherever else laborious tasks take you. Sure, they look great when you’re standing in line at the coffee shop or draining a couple of cold ones after a long day, but aside from increasing your already rugged good looks, they are built for abuse.

From full-time homesteaders to construction workers and passionate tinkerers ticking off personal projects over the weekend — the GearJunkie team knows how to get their hands dirty. To accommodate their lifestyles, they’ve put countless models of work pants through the wringer on just as many job sites and pooled their collective experience to form this comprehensive guide.

Our Expert Testers

Editors Chris Carter and Sean McCoy joined forces with contributor Nick LeFort to curate the streamlined selection of six pants you see today. They bucked logs in the backcountry, chipped away at construction projects, and generally abused a whole slew of work pants to narrow in on the best of the best.

We asked them to really experience the pants they were testing. They worked and played in these curated pants to prove their worth — blood, sweat, and tears. So, rest assured, we would rely on any of the models above to tackle demanding jobs.

Our Testing Process

We know that the work pants podium is competitive and constantly evolving, which is why we’ve slotted this guide into an iterative update schedule. We are perpetually scouring the internet, attending gear shows, and bugging the pros to make sure we test and review the most current, deserving pants on the market.

When we find a new pair of pants for any of our testers to vet, they spend upwards of two to three months in them. At GearJunkie, we have found that to truly test any of the products that we do — especially clothing — sometimes we need to experience them outside of the realm of their purpose. After all, that’s what any of us would be doing with the clothing and gear we use.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Work Pants

The right balance between work and play had a big impact on the pants we chose; (photo/Nick LeFort)

Like most things out there, work pants come in all shapes and sizes, and there are enough options to make your head spin. Since you’ll be doing more in these pants than just walking or hanging around, it’s important to consider the materials, features, and intended use of work pants before making your selection.

We’ve highlighted a number of our top picks above, but are continually testing more models as they come out and updating our list of favorites. Though brands like Carhartt, 1620, and Arborwear keep showing up in our rotation, there are a lot of brands out there vying for the top slots.

The two key factors in picking the best pair of work pants for you are fit and function. Each brand has its own cut or silhouette. And while we try our best to describe how each of the above pairs of pants fit us, the only way to really know how they fit you is by trying them on.

Additionally, each brand has its own take on fabric. Whether it’s something off the shelf or proprietary to the brand, the amount of different fabrics out there for work pants is pretty impressive. But these different fabrics can change the way pants fit and perform.

When shopping at a store, that’s easy to solve by jumping into the fitting room. But when buying a brand for the first time online, be sure to check out its return policy in case they don’t fit how you like and you need to send them back.

Pro tip: Order a few different sizes in the first batch to avoid a bunch of shipping back and forth. Try them all on and just send back the pairs that don’t fit right.

Work pants come with all sorts of different designs and features, and some work better for other tasks than others; (photo/Emily Malone)

Things to consider are features like articulated knees or a gusseted crotch. These are important depending on how much squatting, kneeling, or climbing you will be doing in the pants. A pair of pants that don’t fit well won’t get worn or will just cause endless frustration.

The second factor is function. Some key features to consider are pocket configuration, reinforced areas (pockets, knees, hemlines, etc.), hammer loops, and the ability to take knee pads. These vary in importance depending on what you will be doing in these pants. Below, we’ll take a look at what makes a good pair of work pants.

The last thing to consider when choosing the right work pants is how they perform when you’re done working. Would be caught dead food shopping in them? How about a night out on the town? Or even an apres work beer? Part of feeling comfortable is looking the part. You’re not always going to run home to change before you start living the leisure part of life.

It’s also worth noting that this guide covers features and materials specific to sturdy work pants, which tend to fit pretty niche purposes. For information on other outdoor pants categories, check out our comprehensive guides on the Best Hiking Pants and the Best Travel Pants.

Fit Categories of Work Pants

These slim-fit **Carhartt** **Rugged Flex Utility Double Front Pants** go great with boots or Crocs; (photo/Nick LeFort)

Work pants, as with other pants, fall into a few different categories that can give you an idea of how they will fit without actually trying them on. Most work pants fall into one of the following categories: relaxed, regular, classic, or slim.

Relaxed: These are some of the more comfortable-fitting pants, offering roomy fit in the seat, thigh, and ankle. These run on the baggy side, but eschew the stiffness that often accompanies tighter-fitting pants. This boils down to personal preference, but we tend to avoid relaxed fits while we are working, as we don’t want anything to get in our way while making precision cuts or lunging over a pile of lumber. For us, it’s important to find a healthy balance of a tapered form fit with enough stretch to easily move about.
Regular: These pants strike a healthy balance between relaxed and slim pants. They don’t offer as much room in the seat and thigh but aren’t necessarily form-fitting. These are easy to move in without being too tight. Regular pants often have a straight leg opening, and sit slightly below the waist.
Classic: The line between regular and classic can sometimes be blurred, but as a general rule classic pants also have a straight leg opening, but run more on the slim side than regular. They can have a flat or pleated front and usually sit at the waist. This is our author’s personal favorite — as long as they have enough flexibility built into the fabric.
Slim: These pants aren’t necessarily “skinny jeans” status, but do sit much closer and tighter to the leg. The leg openings will still allow you to wear heavy work boots underneath but are much more form-fitting than the other categories. If you can’t stand the baggy look, these are the pants for you.

The type of pants you go with purely depends on personal preference and the type of jobs you plan to be tackling in them.

Features of Work Pants

Work pants generally come with some unique features — like the 3D side pocket above — that contribute to their useability and specific purpose; (photo/Emily Malone)

The feature sets on work pants are diverse and job-specific and contribute to their useability. Consider the type of tasks you want to accomplish in your pants and select a feature set accordingly. While it may seem awesome to have a million pockets, loops, and zippers on your pants, these can get in the way if your job requires you to be quick and mobile. Additional features add fail points to the pants and contribute to the overall weight. They can also reduce the ventilating abilities of the pants — so choose with care.

Gusseted Crotch

We are seriously skeptical of work pants if they don’t have these. A gusseted crotch is a diamond-shaped piece of fabric sewn into the crotch area. A gusset eliminates four seams coming together where the legs join, which limits mobility and can be uncomfortable. A gusset also helps disperse stress around the crotch, boosting pants’ durability and making it easier to crouch down or high-step over obstacles.

Articulated Knees

Similar to gusseted crotches, articulated knees provide a bit more flexion in the knee area allowing you to bend and kneel more easily. These come in incredibly handy if you find yourself climbing up and down a ladder or navigating scaffolding at your work site. Articulated knees are created by sewing “darts” — a seamstress term for a simple fold sewn into the pant’s material — into the knees, like in the photo above.

Reinforced Areas

Kneeling for hours on rocky ground, sitting on rough concrete, or rubbing against abrasive surfaces — work pants deal with loads of abuse. It’s not uncommon to see extra patches of thicker fabric sewn over high-use areas like the knees or rear in these stalwart trousers. These afford extra protection for your legs, while also prolonging the life of your pants. Just be aware that reinforcement patches add weight and extra stitching, and can limit the pant’s ventilation.

Extra Pockets and Loops

Extra pockets, loops, and zippered pouches boost the useability of work pants, but do add weight; (photo/Jordan Martindell)

Work pants are often specced out with some seriously sweet accessories, like dedicated phone pockets, zip and cargo pockets, shank buttons, or hammer loops. These can all be used to store EDC items like knives, phones, and multitools, and also allow you to quickly stash tools or materials as they amass mid-job.

We particularly appreciate side drop-in pockets — if they are deep and tight enough — for throwing a handful of nails or screws in if we are going to be standing in one place for a while putting something together. These aren’t often the most secure pockets (unless they are zippered or buckled closed), so it’s best to not keep dangerous materials in them for too long.

Materials and Durability of Work Pants

Work pants generally come with some unique features — like water repellency — that contribute to prolonged use in arduous settings; (photo/Nick LeFort)

Of all the pants in our closet, work pants are the most battle-ready. Reinforcement patches, thick stitching, and expensive materials generally decorate these models, and they are designed to withstand years of torture. These features make work pants great for more than just a job site. We find ourselves grabbing them for backcountry bushwhacks, motorcycle tours, and any activity that would threaten to shred our legs.

Work pants are usually constructed with several different materials, blending fabrics to deliver the highest quality of each material. Here are some of the primary materials used in work pants:

Cotton/Cotton Duck: Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber in the world today, and most work pants have a certain degree of cotton in them. Cotton is the foundation of other fabrics, such as denim and duck. As we all know, however, cotton has its downsides. Namely, it can shrink, is prone to wrinkling, and dries very slowly if it gets wet. Cotton duck is a tightly woven cotton fabric and is tougher than denim. It is likened to a canvas fabric and is incredibly resistant to softening over time — which is a downfall of denim. It is quite tear-resistant and has even been used to construct things like hammocks and sails.
Spandex: this material has great flexion, but returns to its normal shape and structure. Spandex isn’t used generously in work pants but is an important element in the blends that manufacturers use. You move around a lot in work pants, and there needs to be some give to accommodate all the needs of an active job site. Spandex isn’t particularly durable though. Spandex is frequently added to the waistband of pants to afford more stretch and comfort.
Cordura: This is a super tough material that is highly tear- and abrasion-resistant. Cordura is often used in reinforcement patches and high-stress areas to prolong the life of pants.
Polyester: Compared to cotton, polyester is incredibly strong and durable. It dries out much faster than cotton and doesn’t absorb stains quite as easily. Polyester doesn’t breathe as well as cotton, though, and is therefore often mixed with cotton to make a more performative poly/cotton blend.

Work Pants Mobility

Work pants have to be durable and tear-resistant while still allowing you to easily bend down, step over obstacles, and generally contort your body with ease; (photo/Emily Malone)

Mixing spandex, or other elastic materials, with cotton or polyester, manufacturers are able to craft pants that withstand the rigors of work, while moving with you as you bop around the job site. We find the mobility of work pants to be one of the most important elements we look for. If we feel constricted while bending down, crouching, or climbing a ladder, it limits our efficiency and is just downright uncomfortable.

While most of the pants we tested passed the mobility test, some were definitely better than others. The KÜHL Resistor Jeans, pictured above, stood out with the best flexibility-to-durability ratio of the work pants we tried on. They shrugged off significant torture, without restricting our movement — no matter what position we found ourselves in.

Price & Value

Because you’re going to put work pants through the wringer, you want to make sure that the money you’re spending on them is worth it. That being the case, here’s what you should expect from your work pants based on how much they cost.

Budget

The nice thing about work pants is that they’re all generally built to stand up to the abuse you’re going to bestow on them. So, in the budget category, all you may be missing from the pants is advanced material blends or finishing treatments — like wax or DWR.

At $70, the Carhartt Rugged Flex Utility Double Front pants are a bargain. They have stood the test of time on numerous job sites and in a multitude of backyards for years. Compared to their higher-priced counterparts, they are only missing improved flexibility and a waterproof or water-resistant finish.

Mid-Tier

Mid-tier work pants are the pants most of us wear. Or, at the very least, pants in this category have appealing features that we are drawn to but aren’t overly expensive. This translates to not being too upset when we’ve finally beaten them to death.

At $80 and $100, respectively, the BRUNT Workwear Martin Pant and Mountain Khakis Camber 107 Pant fit in this category. They both feature advanced materials designed to be durable without impacting your mobility. They also both have a DWR coating on their fabrics to make them resistant to water. This not only aids in how long you can expect these pants to last, but in keeping their shape and not weighing you down.

Premium

If you can expect 6-12 months from a pair of hard-working mid-tier work pants, then there’s no reason to believe that you can’t double that with a pair of premium ones. However, in some cases, plan on paying for that classification.

Pants like the 1620 Workwear Double Knee Utility Pant 2.0 ($198) and Fjallraven Keb Trousers ($240) feature materials that have been designed to be the most durable and flexible on the market today. Additionally, they have fabric treatments that make them water-resistant. When you combine these aspects, you have pants that you’ll probably hold on to for a lifetime, if not for many years of use and abuse.

Comfort is key to a good pair of work pants. Mobility is a key to comfort; (photo/Nick LeFort)

Frequently Asked Questions

Durability is usually a tradeoff with comfort. The softer and more comfortable the pant, the more likely it’s going to be less durable. But it may not matter. If you’re not rubbing or scraping up against rough surfaces, you can get away with a less durable and more comfortable pant.

If you work in a high-abrasion environment, it will be worth getting a stiffer pant that won’t move as easily but will last longer. For a more durable pant, look for a higher denier count, heavier fabric, or brands that use tough fabrics like CORDURA.

Similar to the durability question above, the tradeoff is usually between thinner, more breathable pants that are comfortable in hot weather and thicker, more durable pants. Another factor that can help in hot weather is a looser cut or fit to allow for some air circulation within the pant.

Finally, the material used can play a role. But usually, the more breathable a pant fabric is, the less durable it is. Fjällräven’s Keb Trousers stand in contrast to this, boasting incredible ventilation despite featuring thick, resilient materials. Zippered vents allow you to wear these in hot environments without sacrificing durability.

Most clothing is expected to last about 30-40 wash cycles, but our experience has shown that work pants last longer than that. The biggest factor is how the pants are used. If you’re going to a job site and bending and squatting all day or hauling cinder blocks every day for work, the pants are going to wear out much faster than occasional DIY projects at home.