Comfortable Cargo Pants

Bigfatts said:
Same here. I wear cargos every day at work as part of my uniform. My company supplies pants but they're terrible so I have to buy my own. I've tried a few brands like 5.11 and Dickie's and I prefer the Wranglers. They're comfortable and durable. And cheap! I generally get 6 months or so out of them before they need to be repleced. They don't fade too bad, the pockets are large enough to hold everything I need and there is a small "tech" pocket on the outside of the left thigh that holds my phone perfectly. Much easier than having it in the left hip pocket when you're wearing a gun belt. The only problem I have with them is that some times the sizes vary. I typically wear a 38 but sometimes they run small. Some times they run large. Other than that they're good work pants and at $18 a pair I don't have to worry or care about them.
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I don't know what kind of Wrangler cargo pants I got then, since I've got tech pockets on both the left and right sides.
 
I got the short version of Vertx tactical pants (98% cotton/2% Spandex) as closeouts: well made and all the little details are right. Phone pockets inside the cargo pockets and side pockets are notched for a knife clip. NaturalMystic was concerned about fit. IMO they are cut for a young man in good training. I'm a portly old gent who wears 38": I bought these in 40" and they fit. For middle aged and out of shape, 1" up would be about right.

Craghoppers Classic Kiwi trousers are tropical weight but not flimsy. Label says "S" length is 29" but it's actually 30", otherwise true to size. All pockets zippered + one cargo pocket with a zipper pocket underneath for your phone. Good travel pants. The pockets are a little shallow like everyone says: not a problem for me, if you're committed to a 7" folder these are not for you. Cheap nylon belt with a plastic buckle, the first good one I've seen and I'll be wearing it with these and other pants for air travel.
 
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Thedr9669 said:
Check out Duluth Tradings Firehose Pants. They come in carpenter and cargo styles, and have a light weight slightly stretchy version. They are on the expensive side though. I have 2 pair of the light weight stretchy ones that I alternate for work 6 days a week, and over a year they have not worn or failed yet. The good thing, if you do manage to tear or wear them out they will replace them for free. I work in industrial fabrication and do a lot of climbing, crawling, kneeling & such and have been thoroughly impressed with their durability.
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I have 2 sets of the Fire Hose Flex pants and they are awesome. Most comfortable pants I have ever had, and they have a super smart layout and pocket system. I wish the reinforced the knife spot on the pants. One pair of mine is starting to frey, not bad after almost a year of wear.
 
I also wear the Wrangler cargo pants that I usually pick up at Walmart. I find them to be very comfortable. I prefer the cotton ones that they usually sell from hangers versus folded on the shelves. ...just a better fit.
 
I finally went to Wally World to check out Wranglers. Actually went to Wally Worlds, there are big differences between stores and between stores and their web site. First I went to a super store with no Wranglers except jeans, then I tried an older store and got lucky. Wrangler Ripstop Cargo Pants are low rise "loose fit" and not for me. Wrangler Legacy Cargo Pants are better.

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Wally's web site calls them "Legacy": the label says "Wrangler Cargo" and they aren't in Wrangler's online catalog. They are OK wash pants for the price. The big attraction for me is 29" length, which is not online but real if you can find it. Wally had it but not in my waist size.

Wally sells a bunch of Wrangler shorts. If you don't need a hammer loop, IMO the best are Hiker Shorts.

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There is a zipper pocket next to the right hip pocket, too small for a cellphone or wallet. For your keys? No, there's a key ring. Car keys? Cigarette lighter?
 
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5.11 TDU rip-stop pants #74003. Roomy, comfortable, and have a built in elastic waistband that really helps if you are doing a lot of bending or twisting. Internal dividers on some of the pockets for organizing gear. They are basically a BDU type pant, but you can cut out the drawstrings on the bottom of the legs, and they look just like everyday cargo pants.
 
5.11 in canvas. I've been wearing them long before 5.11 were ever considered "tactical" and since back in the day when the pants were only sold by Royal Robbins, a climber, as climbing pants. Even the strap and the slanted openings of the back pockets on the 5.11 pants give away the pants purpose as climbing pants. Form follows function. Regardless of what many think, the pants design is nearly 50 years old now, and climbing is the purpose for which Royal developed them. Back when I started wearing them, you only found them in outfitter shops. It was sometime in the late 1990s that 5.11 started becoming "tactical" pants (apparently thanks to the FBI) even though they were the same climbing pants. Royal Robbins sold the 5.11 name not long after the turn of the century, and the new owner marketed the pants, and other clothing they developed, as "tactical".

Canvas 5.11 for me, though these days the canvas used in them isn't nearly as good as the canvas of yesteryear when Royal Robbins produced the line. The pants are good but not as good as they once were. I get the at an Army PX.

As an aside, Royal Robbins chose “5.11” as the name for the pants because it's the rating of the most difficult climb in Yosemite back then.

Lastly, Royal Robbins still makes great outdoor clothing you can get at great prices, even though the 5.11 aren't his anymore. His Billy Goat pants are 9 oz cotton canvas. His old 5.11 were 11 oz canvas IIRC.

http://www.royalrobbins.com/t-mens.aspx
 
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Piso Mojado said:
I finally went to Wally World to check out Wranglers. Actually went to Wally Worlds, there are big differences between stores and between stores and their web site. First I went to a super store with no Wranglers except jeans, then I tried an older store and got lucky. Wrangler Ripstop Cargo Pants are low rise "loose fit" and not for me. Wrangler Legacy Cargo Pants are better.
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I don't recall the name "Legacy" on the WM Wrangler cargo pants. I don't care for the low rise cargo pants and none of my WM cargos are low rise. I have been buying them for a few years, but noticed this year for the first time that WM may be treating them as a seasonal item and mostly have a bunch of shorts on the racks. They still have the folded ones on the shelf which I find to be a bit too loose for me. Basically I am an in between size vs even numbers and they tend to be a little loose on my waste especially after I have worn them for a while and they stretch out a little. The only time I like the rip stop fabric is where I may get the pants wet as they dry a lot quicker than the regular cotton ones they sell.
 
I picked up a pair of the current low waisted Wrangler Cargo pants at Walmart just to give a pair a try (~$20). They say "slim fit" on the tag and they are certainly not relaxed fit slacks. I didn't try them on in the store as I have quite a few pairs of their pants and they have always been true to size. The low waisted aspect seems okay to me and the pants ride just about where I normally wear them, but they really are slim fit. That could be a big negative for many. Going to wear them a bit and see how I like them. The legs are certainly a lot tighter fitting than I am used to. I use the cargo pants a lot for work and the relaxed fit has always made for easy leg movement in tighter places. These, I don't think they'll work for that very well. We'll see.
 
22-rimfire said:
I picked up a pair of the current low waisted Wrangler Cargo pants at Walmart just to give a pair a try (~$20). They say "slim fit" on the tag and they are certainly not relaxed fit slacks.
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Unknown in my area. Wally World's stores have Wrangler pants and pants sizes that have never been on Wrangler's web site or Wally World's web site. They also have old stock relabeled. Their clothing in stock varies from state to state and county to county, and in my county it varies from store to store. They are frustrating to shop at and the only reason to bother is price, but no price is the right price when they don't have what you need. The stores I can drive to sell Wrangler Cargos in 29" length but not in my common waist size, so they lost a sale. I won't buy them to have them altered because they won't last long enough to make it worthwhile. WW's Wrangler Hiker shorts are worth the price but their zipper pocket is a joke.

I have ordered 5.11 tactical women's shorts as closeouts, and I will report unless my wife refuses to wear them. No way I can wear size 2.
 
Duluth trading company's flex fire hose pants are the most comfortable I have ever tried and they have a great guarantee!
 
I bought 5.11 Tactical Women's Shorts on closeout for my wife, who declined to model them. Black is discontinued and you can find them online for $11 or $12.

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My wife said they run true to size and the fit and finish are excellent, but they are the heaviest shorts she ever wore. They are heavier than Vertx Tactical Shorts (another closeout) which are too hot for me to wear in August. The narrow front pocket is 55mm wide, too small for a modern cellphone but just right for a folder like Victorinox's Rescue Tool.

I finally found a pair of Wrangler Cargos in my size. For $20, the pants are acceptable but the cargo pockets are not. Cargo pockets should break above the knee not under, and these need to be moved up an inch. Did anyone try on a pair before they went in production? They are not comfortable for carrying my camera, and I won't buy any more.
 
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