To paraphrase Shakespeare with extreme liberty: something is very weird in the state of men's pants. Up is down. Right is left. And cargo pants are suddenly looking...good? Like, really good. Like, really, really good.
At least this wild and wacky comeback is a welcome one, though. The return of the cargo doesn't grant you unilateral permission to pull out any old pair of pants from the darkest recesses of your closet. As always, fit is paramount. The cargo pants spotlighted here are all cut with surgical precision. So though the silhouettes vary, each version below is meant to sit on your body in different ways—and no two pairs are exactly alike, regardless of which style you favor. From big and baggy (but not too big and baggy) to slim and trim (but not too slim and trim), rest assured—there's a cargo pant out there for everybody.
best basic cargo pants
Amazon Essentials Slim-Fit Stretch Cargo Pants
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best casual cargo pants
Carhartt Work In Progress Aviation Cargo Pants
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best durable cargo pants
Wrangler Relaxed Fit Stretch Cargo Pants
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best go-to cargo pants
Dickies Relaxed Straight Fit Cargo Work Pants
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best chic cargo pants
Bodega x Todd Snyder Herringbone Cargo Pants
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best colorful cargo pants
Polo Ralph Lauren Burroughs Appliqué-Logo Cargo Pants
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If you're still not entirely sold on cargo pants as a—very stylish!—proposition, give it a little time. Because the real trick to pulling off this particular swerve, as with so many others, is confidence. And that one's on you, guy. There's only so much I can do. Even with The Bard's help.
best basic cargo pants
Amazon Essentials Slim-Fit Stretch Cargo Pants
best basic cargo pants
Amazon Essentials Slim-Fit Stretch Cargo Pants
Budget-friendly cargos cut with a serious dash of everyday versatility.
| Colors | 8 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 28"-42" / Inseam: 28"-34" |
| Materials | 97% Cotton, 3% Spandex |
best minimalist cargo pants
Uniqlo Cargo Utility Work Pants
best minimalist cargo pants
Uniqlo Cargo Utility Work Pants
Uniqlo doing—unsurprisingly—high-quality basics to perfection.
| Colors | Off White, Beige, Black, Olive |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-3XL |
| Materials | 98% Cotton, 2% Spandex |
best everyday cargo pants
H&M Regular Fit Ripstop Cargo Pants
best everyday cargo pants
H&M Regular Fit Ripstop Cargo Pants
H&M's iteration take inspiration from classic, military-inspired design cues—and does it well, at that.
| Colors | 6 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-3XL |
| Materials | 98% Cotton, 2% Spandex |
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best casual cargo pants
Carhartt Work In Progress Aviation Cargo Pants
best casual cargo pants
Carhartt Work In Progress Aviation Cargo Pants
You didn't really expect to see a list of one of the most useful pants around without Carhartt WIP being included, did you?
| Colors | Dollar Green |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 28"-36" / Inseam: 30"-34" |
| Materials | 100% Columbia Ripstop Cotton |
best durable cargo pants
Wrangler Relaxed Fit Stretch Cargo Pants
best durable cargo pants
Wrangler Relaxed Fit Stretch Cargo Pants
Ol' reliable over here.
| Colors | 7 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 29"-60" / Inseam: 29"-38" |
best go-to cargo pants
Dickies Relaxed Straight Fit Cargo Work Pants
best go-to cargo pants
Dickies Relaxed Straight Fit Cargo Work Pants
Because at the end of the day, if you can’t trust Dickies to make a pair of durable pants that’ll see you through thick and thin, who can you turn to?
| Colors | Dark Navy, Desert Sand, Black |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 30"-44" / Inseam: 30"-34" |
| Materials | 100% Polyester |
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best elevated cargo pants
J.Crew Wool-Blend Pleated Cargo Pants
These are a pair of cargo pants that refuse to compromise on the cool factor. Because of course, J.Crew's iteration will be pleated and made of wool—let this be a lesson in dressing down while dressing up.
| Colors | Charcoal Gray |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 29"-38" / Inseam: 30"-32" |
| Materials | 58% Wool, 26% Polyester, 16% Cotton |
best athletic cargo pants
Adidas City Escape Premium Cargo Pants
best athletic cargo pants
Adidas City Escape Premium Cargo Pants
A performance pair of cargos, with an elastic waistband, slouchy fit, and large pockets for maximum use and comfort.
| Colors | Legend Ivy (Olive), Black, Off White, Blanch Cargo (Tan) |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
| Materials | 92% Recycled Polyester, 8% Elastane Dobby |
best chic cargo pants
Bodega x Todd Snyder Herringbone Cargo Pants
If there’s one thing Todd Snyder knows how to do, it’s make anything—even comfy cargo pants—look chic. A little bit of herringbone never hurt anybody.
| Colors | Brown |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
| Materials | 100% Cotton Herringbone |
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best colorful cargo pants
Polo Ralph Lauren Burroughs Appliqué-Logo Cargo Pants
best colorful cargo pants
Polo Ralph Lauren Burroughs Appliqué-Logo Cargo Pants
You’re already wearing cargos. Why not make ’em colorful? Few could make neon orange look as good as PRL does.
| Colors | Orange |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 30"-38" / Inseam: 32"-34" |
| Materials | 100% Cotton |
best loungewear cargo pants
Alo Yoga Cargo Venture Pants
best loungewear cargo pants
Alo Yoga Cargo Venture Pants
If there’s one thing Alo Yoga is gonna do, it’s make some athletic gear that doesn’t skimp in either performance or cool style.
| Colors | Espresso, Toffee, Midnight Green, Stealth Green (Dark Green), Gravel (Tan) |
|---|---|
| Sizes | S-2XL |
best outdoorsy cargo pants
Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Cargo Pants
best outdoorsy cargo pants
Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Cargo Pants
Patagonia makes hardcore hiking gear favored by gorp-inclined outdoorsmen and above-average stylish dudes alike.
| Colors | Coriander Brown, Ink Black |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 28-44 |
| Materials | 55% Industrial Hemp, 27% Recycled Polyester, 18% Organic Cotton |
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best designer cargo pants
John Elliott Himalayan Cargo Pants
best designer cargo pants
John Elliott Himalayan Cargo Pants
Perfectly cut trousers crafted from a hard-wearing yet lightweight Japanese nylon.
| Colors | Black, Olive |
|---|---|
| Sizes | XS-2XL |
| Materials | 100% Nylon |
best lightweight cargo pants
Banana Republic Linen Cargo Dress Pants
best lightweight cargo pants
Banana Republic Linen Cargo Dress Pants
Now 23% Off
Cut with the same style and attention to detail that makes Banana Republic a staple in the wardrobes of stylish dudes everywhere.
| Colors | Wild Mustang Brown, Khaki, Navy |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Waist: 29"-40" |
| Materials | 100% Linen |
best cold-weather cargo pants
Goldwin Cordura Stretch Cargo Pants
best cold-weather cargo pants
Goldwin Cordura Stretch Cargo Pants
Durable but also, in a gorpcore way, pretty damn cool.
| Colors | Black, Ink Navy, Mill Green |
|---|---|
| Sizes | S-XL |
| Materials | 94% Nylon, 6% Polyurethane |
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Tips For Choosing
As you can see, cargo pants come in a lot of shapes and styles. The options are just about endless, so picking a pair that best suits your closet and your needs can feel tricky—but we're here to help.
The first thing to consider is where you're going to be wearing these pants most. If you find yourself in dressier settings, a classy pair like the ones from J.Crew or Banana Republic are going to be more ideal than, say, Adidas' pair. But if you want these for true athletic, functional purposes, a pair with lots of pockets, a baggy silhouette, and perhaps an elastic waistband will do.
Cargo pants are set apart from other styles by their plentiful pockets, but not all cargos are made equal when it comes to the number and sizes of pockets. For a true, classic cargo style, options with bigger pockets stay true to form.
Why You Can Trust Esquire
We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.
When it comes to cargo pants, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear, whether that includes going to the office or hitting the gym. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these workout pants are the ones that are simply the best.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
