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Finding the best chinos for men amid a sea of formless khakis can be a painful ordeal, especially given what a crazy couple of years it's been for pants generally. Weirdness abounds: swishy is king, pleats are back, dress pants are enormous, and it all can be a little overwhelming at times. Thing is, the plethora of groovy trousers doesn’t mean that more earthbound bottoms are suddenly out. There’s plenty of room under the Golden Age of Pants umbrella for the classics, and it doesn’t get any more classic than some hardy, reliable chinos.
The Best Chinos Shopping Guide
- →The Overall Pick: J.Crew Classic Chinos, $98
- →The Budget Pick: Dickies Original 874 Work Pants, $30
- →The Slim-Fit Pick: Uniqlo Slim-Fit Chinos, $50
- →The Upgrade Pick: Todd Snyder Japanese Selvedge Chinos, $298
- →The So-Hot-Right-Now Pick: J.Crew Giant-Fit Chinos, $98
- →The Hint-of-Stretch Pick: Bonobos Italian Stretch Chinos, $148
- →The Fashion Guy Pick: Studio Nicholson “Sorte” Trousers, $395
As far back as World War II, men's fashion has turned to chinos for their sheer utility and versatility. There aren’t many types of pants, after all, that feel as at home covered in grease in a mechanic’s garage as they would at a garden party in Martha’s Vineyard. Chinos are the crème de la crème of casual pants, just the sort of bottoms to make you toss your joggers into the back of your closet and consider (gasp!) swearing off sweatpants for good. You can wear them with a beefy Oxford cloth button-down and slip-ons at home, a crisp white T-shirt and scuffed sneakers to the bodega, or a blazer and loafers at your friend’s laid-back barn wedding upstate. Point is: Regardless of what you wear ‘em with, a trusty pair of chinos will never do you wrong, no matter how attached you’ve become to your loungewear.
If you’ve been off the chino train for a minute, right now is a great time to hop back aboard—after a decade or so of slim fits dominating the conversation, designers are shifting back towards a straight-fit silhouette that's more comfortable, universally wearable, and altogether timeless. When you’re sick of all the bonkers prints and voluminous cuts dominating the rest of your wardrobe, these 13 unflappable pairs—yes, the very best men’s chinos on the market today—will be just the palate cleanser you need. (If you're looking to get back into the chino game for less, you'll find plenty great pairs to work with, but you can also check out our favorite khaki pants under $100.)
The Best Chinos Overall
J.Crew's been on a tear recently. With Noah founder Brendon Babenzien at the helm, the catalog brand-turned-mall-stalwart has made some stylish shakeups, all while referencing what it's always done well in the past—and that very much includes their chinos. To be clear, they were never really bad to begin with, but for several years, the focus has been on the brand's slim-fitting silhouettes. Rebooting its relaxed-fit chinos—the kind you remember from vintage J.Crew campaigns of the ‘90s—is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. They're relaxed but not overly baggy, with a gently tapered fit below the knee, and the fabrics used are the best of the mall brand bunch. Plus, they boast details normally featured on their higher-end counterparts, like waist curtains and bound seams. Are there nicer chinos out there? Sure. Are there nicer chinos for the price? No way.
The Best Budget Chinos
The Dickies 874 is a verified menswear icon and, in many ways, the perfect pair of pants. (Hell, we've sang the praises of Dickies' signature work pants so many times over the years, you could probably write this blurb for us.) They’ve got the higher-waisted, wider, straight-leg cut we’ve been digging lately, and they’re made out of the iconic structured cotton-blend fabric that the 874 is known for. That means they’re tough enough to stand up to construction sites and skate sessions, versatile enough to wear to the office or the bar, and come in roughly as many colors as a bulk pack of Crayola. Oh, yeah, and they only cost about $30, which leaves plenty of room in your budget to tailor ‘em down a smidge or simply stock up on extra pairs. All of which is to say: this is by no means the last time you’ll read about Dickies 874s on GQ.com.
Our Style Commerce Writer, Gerald Ortiz, notes that the fit of the Dickies 874 pants is "damn near perfect". It has a classic mid-rise and straight leg that is really flattering. As for the fabric, it has the characteristically rough hand that the 874 is known for (which is the same fabric Dickies uses for its famed Eisenhower jacket). Though the wide belt loops give away that these are indeed work pants, the perfect fit and center crease make it a great candidate or any last-minute formal events, especially in the black colorway.
The Best Upgrade Chinos
Todd Snyder's well-known round these parts as a general upgrader. Blue jeans? His are better. Button-ups? Also better. Outerwear? Not just better, but damn-near the best. Same goes for his high-quality chinos. They're cut from a crisp Japanese selvedge twill from Kuroki Mills, the kind of fabric you'd expect to find on a pair of selvedge jeans in a cooler-than-thou denim boutique. They feature on-seam hand pockets for a more streamlined look and nearly indestructible old-school melamine buttons. As for the cut, these babies are relaxed. Like, actually relaxed. They're bordering wide-legged, if we're being honest. And in the year of our Lord, 2024, that's really all we want.
Gerald Ortiz's assessment of Todd Snyder's chinos is glowing, which says a lot considering he's amassed a small museum of chinos. They fit very similarly to J.Crew's Giant-fit chinos, so the “relaxed-fit” descriptor feels almost like it's underselling the silhouette. They're wonderfully baggy. That said the fabric is notably softer and luxurious than J.Crew's. At over twice the price, however, these chinos are for the guy who's more discerning about fabric and construction quality.
The Best Slim-Fit Chinos
Uniqlo's been the hotbed of affordable menswear for years and years. And though the Japanese retailer sells its highly-anticipated collabs like hotcakes, it's the brand's indefatigable dedication to well-made, well-priced basics that make it a mainstay of menswear. And if you're looking for a pair of slim-fit chinos with great tailoring that's far from a skinny pant, these, dear reader, are the ones you should check out. They come with a slightly-less-than-mid-rise, a handsomely tailored leg, and a healthy dose of spandex to trick you into thinking you've got more leg room than the slim silhouette would lead you to believe. And, for just $50, that's a lot of pant for not a lot of cash.
The Best So-Hot-Right-Now Chinos
Okay, so when we said earlier that J.Crew is on a tear, we really meant it. The brand's Giant-fit chinos helped solidify the wide-leg wave as a legitimate movement, selling out several times over—and catalyzing just as many glowing takes in the process. The good news is that the frenzy has settled down (mostly), and you can nab a pair for yourself right this very instant. Like the other J.Crew joints we spotlight above, these are a straight-up 100% cotton chino available in a full range of certified classic colors, including black, navy, and stone. Heads up: if you're not a fan of pre-cuffed hems, you might want to bust out a seam ripper and an iron.
In our experience, there are almost no notes to be given here. Ortiz notes that the Giant-fit chino feels a lot like vintage military chinos, from the fit to the fabric, which is to say, very nice. They may not be Balenciaga-big, but they are undoubtedly wide-legged pants, albeit at the very entry point of what might be considered baggy. The only real qualm we have is that they come with a sewn-in cuff which feels like a nuisance, especially for folks who like the length but prefer a plain hem.
The Best Chinos with a Bit of Stretch
These Bonobos chinos are a great balance of dashing good looks and accommodating stretch without looking like a pair of pants dreamt up by a tech guy as a “solution” to a made-up problem. They're made of an Italian fabric that's been garment-dyed to give it a lived-in feel and the 2% stretch is just enough to make your legs twice as comfortable without bleeding into yoga-pant territory. That makes them perfect for those dutiful bike commuters among us. But what's even better is that they come in three different four different fits including tailored, slim taper, slim, and even an athletic fit so you can really dial in the perfect fit for you.
The Best Fashion Guy Chinos
Studio Nicholson might not be a household name, but the British label has steadily cultivated a devoted following off the strength of its big, billowy silhouettes, top-tier materials, and subtle design flourishes. (Think massive trench coats paired with crisp, almost tent-like button-ups, and a smart color palette of dusty tans, deep navys, and inky blacks.) While the Crew's Giant-fit chinos are undoubtedly large, Studio Nicholson's Sorte trousers are—wait for it—even larger, and might be—gasp—even more deserving of the “giant” descriptor. Add to that massive pedigree a couple of deep pleats and a clean hem and you've got a supremely understated chino that still manages to speak volumes.
Plus 6 More Chinos We Love
Alex Mill
Vintage Washed Straight Leg Chino Pant
If you've long admired vintage chinos for their patina but are weird about the ghosts that potentially come with them, check out Alex Mill's chinos. These are washed down to a vintage-like softness with all the character and patina you've lusted after, without any unwanted visitors.
Knickerbocker
Staff Chino Twill Pant
The fellas at Knickerbocker are hellbent on making some of the best-quality menswear staples and the Staff Chino is a prime example. The cotton twill is beefy enough to tell you it's serious, but soft enough to let you know you're gonna have a great time. The generous (read: wide) leg feels right at home in a well-curated vintage story or, like, the set of The Talented Mr. Ripley, which, if you can't tell, are both very good things.
Dockers
Relaxed Fit Lux Cotton Signature Khaki Pants
If the synthetic fiber blend of Dickies' classic work pants doesn't rub you the right way, these Dockers will. The fabric is 98% cotton resulting in a more natural handfeel and they’re also treated to be wrinkle resistant so you you can leave them on the ‘clothes chair’ without worrying. They’ve also got the lightest touch of elastane making them slightly stretchy but by no means do they feel like other stretch chino pants.
Buzz Rickson
1942 Early Military Wide Leg Chinos
The diehard vintage guys already know that Buzz Rickson is elite when it comes to reproductions of classic militaria and workwear. These ‘40s-inspired chinos feature period-correct details like tin buttons, all-cotton sewing thread, and a silhouette that’s true to the era—high-waisted and very, very baggy.
Your Chino FAQs, Answered
A classic pair of chinos is usually made from a mid-weight cotton twill fabric that fall smack dab in between a typical shirting fabric and your average pair of blue jeans. (For the nerds, that’s about 8-ounces). They’ll fit like a well-tailored trouser, with a mid- or high-rise and, generally, a darted rear waist to hug your bum in the most flattering way. Many higher-quality chinos will also include a curtained waistband which is an extra piece of fabric fixed to the inside of the waistband. This helps reinforce the waist, prevent it from rolling, keeps the pockets lying flat, and covers the inner seam work (don’t worry, it’s really not necessary).
Scratching your head at the menswear parlance? You’re not alone. Khakis and chinos are quite similar and, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. To be honest, those differences are pretty minor and the lines between the two just seem to be getting blurrier every day. Both are usually made from a cotton-twill fabric with slanted hand pockets as well as welted pockets at the rear (as opposed to the patched pockets you'd find on a pair of jeans). But the menswear cognoscenti will tell you that khakis tend to use sturdier fabrics while chinos are ever so slightly lighter (yeah...silly). Not only that, khakis are also more strongly tied to the dusty beige color from which they gets their name, so you’re more likely to see a pair of navy cotton twill pants dubbed as chinos rather than khakis.
Listen here, bud. It’s 2024. Fit is all relative. Everyone’s body is different as is everyone’s taste. At the end of the day, you should like what you see in the mirror. But if that advice isn’t practical enough for you we suggest a few things. First, the “best” fit for a pair of chinos depends on your body type and the situation in which you’re wearing the chinos. Without going too deep, the best fit for the most people is a classic straight fit, perhaps even a slightly relaxed fit. The silhouette du jour changes every few years, but if you split the difference and stick with a fit that’s very middle-of-the-road, you’re much less likely to ruffle any feathers with your bosses, with the wedding party, and save yourself some embarrassment should you go down memory lane.
That depends on the wedding. Chinos aren't as dressy as suit pants, but if it's an outdoor wedding or if the wedding invite says to dress semi-formal or if it says ‘casual’ anywhere in the invite, chinos are a safe bet. But we'd advise that you wear your chinos with a button-up shirt and a tie at the very least, if not with a matching cotton blazer.
This is subjective and dependent on your wardrobe. But the three most popular chino colors are khaki, navy, and black. Perhaps the most classic colorway for chinos is khaki, which pairs well with any color palette. Black chinos are great if you really need a pair of chinos to pass muster in dressier occasions.
