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Might sound crazy, but cargo pants for men are experiencing a kind of renaiisa—blah, blah, blah. We've said it time and time again so we're just gonna skip the hard sell on “cargo pants are back”; it’s really not that hard to believe. In fact, we’ve been delivering the same impassioned spiel that Cargoes Hath Returned every single year since at least 2011. You get it already. You're on board. You probably even have a few pairs on deck right now. (And if you aren’t on board by now, you never will be. That is okay. Please see yourself out to this piece on non-cargo-pocket pants and we'll rendezvous afterward over in the shoes article. Talk soon!)
Now that all the anti-cargo pants folks have left the page, there's heaps of good stuff to discuss. Designers, as we pointed out, have been pushing this cargo pants comeback for the better part of a decade, and they’ve really come into their own of late. The cargo pants of 2023 fit better than ever, they use cooler materials than ever before, and the titular pockets are all over the place, shaped and sized in all kinds of clever, stylish ways. Cargo pants aren't just back, they're here and they ain't going anywhere. From everyday casual cargo pants to off-the-wall high-fashion renditions, these 23 pairs prove it.
The Best Cargo Pants Shopping Guide
- The Best Cheap Cargo Pants: Dickies regular straight stretch twill cargo pant, $35
- The Best Cargo Pants/Shorts: Nike ACG Smith Summit cargo pants, $195
- The Best Cargo Pants for Getting the Job Done: Patagonia Iron Forge hemp cargo pants, $89
- The Best Ridiculously Authentic Cargo Pants: Orslow cotton ripstop cargo pants, $250
- The Best Ready-for-Anything Cargo Pants: Acronym cargo pocket pants, $1025
The Best Cheap Cargo Pants
Dickies first introduced the 874 work pant all the way back in 1967 and it's been the brand's best seller ever since. The workwear-approved construction and hardy twill fabric stood up at countless job sites before going on to dominate skate parks and, eventually, the fashion scene. These cargo-pocketed versions offer the same build quality and always-stylish straight-leg silhouette as the original 874s, easily warranting a place in anyone's wardrobe. And, unlike the military-tinged 2000s Abercrombie-era cargo pants you're trying not to remember, these are pared back and almost minimalist, giving them a ton of range to play in any style whether you're wearing sneakers, loafers or boots.
The Best Cargo Pants/Shorts
Is there anything more gorpcore than a pair of hiking cargo pants that transform into hiking cargo shorts? These convertible Swoosh joints are as practical as they are handsome: they've been field-tested in the trying terrains of the Pacific Northwest and are replete with nifty features like hidden zip pockets (inside the cargo pockets!), drawstring hems for keeping out the elements, a built-in nylon belt, and a crotch gusset for ease of movement. For extra feel-good points, the water-repellent, nylon-elastic fabric is made with recycled material. Sure, they'll look great with a pair of trail shoes and a hiking backpack, but you could just as easily kick back in 'em with a hoodie and sandals like you're getting snapped in an NBA tunnel.
The Best Cargo Pants for Getting the Job Done
When you need a cargo pant built for tough labor, these Patagonia numbers are for you. You probably know the brand more for its range of outdoorsy clothes and gear, but these utility pants prove that Patagonia can hold its own when it comes to real-deal workwear. They're cut in a relaxed fit from a duck canvas fabric that's super abrasion-resistant and breathable thanks to the heavy dose of hemp. They've also got reinforcements and triple-needle stitching up the wazoo, so you can be sure they'll get the job done (…and the next job…and the one after that). It's easy to pair these with a denim shirt and burly boots for a full-on workwear fit, but don't be afraid to swerve away from that and slip them on with a pair of wavy socks and Birkenstocks.
The Best Ridiculously Authentic Cargo Pants
For years, those in search of painstakingly recreated authentic Americana turned to one place: Japan. So, naturally, Orslow—the brainchild of Japanese designer Ichiro Nakatsu—makes cargos built just like the standard-issue military versions of yesteryear, tweaked ever-so-slightly for 2022. But the defining details, like an adjustable waist and durable cotton ripstop (which promises to hold up just as well as your favorite pair of jeans), remain blessedly intact.
The Best Ready-For-Anything Cargo Pants
It’s been years since cargo pants limped off the shelves of your local mall into the fashion arena, but their provenance is still rooted in utility. At the end of the day, their primary purpose is to help you schlep stuff from one place to another while remaining hands-free. In that spirit, Acronym’s riff on the genre—a favorite of would-be doomsday preppers and the details-obsessed clothings fanatics that dress like them—over-delivers on the premise. The Berlin-based label’s cult-loved silhouette has a tapered fit that's loose in the right places and slim in others for optimal mobility, whether you're roundhouse kicking a neighbor trying to storm your underground bunker or, y’know, biking to work. In typical Acronym form, they’re also kitted out with 8 different pockets—most of which you can't even see!—which offer plenty of space for all your sundry knickknacks, reason enough to ditch that wimpy canvas tote for good.
