14 Best Chinos For Men 2023

The best chinos for men are not the kind your dad wore in the ‘80s. The latest pairs come in modern fits, styles and fabrics that make these classic pants a solid part of your everyday wardrobe. While old-school chinos were mostly made from durable, heavy cotton twill in earthy tones, they now come in lighter tech fabrics, with built-in stretch, and updated colors beyond the traditional khaki. Bottom line: Chinos have never been cooler and more comfortable.

The best chinos for men are cool, comfortable and stylish for work or weekends

If you’re thinking of adding a pair or two to your pants repertoire, we recommend chinos that are versatile enough to wear to work or casually on the weekends. They’re polished yet not fussy; laidback but not overly relaxed to the point of being confused with sweats. Ahead, we rounded up the best chinos for men on the market, at a variety of price points to suit your fashion needs and budget. And for more fashion advice, check out our guides to the best work pants for men and best men’s shorts.

Bonobos

Sizes: Waist: 28-46, Length: 28-36 | Colors: 25 total, including Black and Sage Green | Materials: 92% cotton, 8% spandex

Bonobos took their best chino design and gave it an upgrade. The Stretch Washed Chino 2.0 has a non-iron, sweat-wicking, four-way stretch cotton for staying comfortable yet put-together all day long. A hidden, secure zip pocket stows small valuables like keys and the curved waist gives a sleeker look by eliminating unnecessary excess fabric. There’s inclusive sizing—14 waist sizes, five lengths, and five pant fits—and an impressive selection of colorways.

Amazon

Sizes: Waist: 27-58, Length: 28-34 | Colors: 17 total, including Khaki and Dark Navy | Materials: 65% polyester, 35% cotton

Dickie’s bestselling chinos are versatile enough to both heavy duty and laidback activities. The classic has been around for more than 60 years, continually updated for comfort and fit. This version is cut from an ultradurable twill blend that, as the brand says, wears in comfortably without wearing out.

Lululemon

Sizes: Waist: 28-46, Length: 28-37 | Colors: 14 total, including Trench and True Navy | Materials: 53% Elastomultiester, 47% polyester

Lululemon’s ABC Trouser Warpstreme’s many design details create a high-quality, comfortable fit. In addition to the four-way stretch, wrinkle-resistant performance fabric, there’s also an ergonomic gusset that removes tension from the typically taut crotch area, and sporty features like a hidden zip pocket, invisible back pocket snaps and a reflective cuff detail.

Banana Republic

Sizes: Waist: 28-44, Length: 28-36 | Colors: 8 total, including Maverick Tan and Horse Hair Brown | Materials: 55% cotton, 39% recycled polyester, 6% spandex

Banana Republic’s Slim Core Temp Pant does double-duty with a mid-rise tapered fit that looks professional for a big meeting in the office and high-stretch, wrinkle-resistant fabric that’s comfortable for off-hours. This sturdy yet soft pant comes in four lengths, including a tall 36, ensuring a good fit for almost all guys.

Todd Snyder

Sizes: Waist: 28-40, Length: 30-34 | Colors: 9 total, including Black and Dark Wheat | Materials: 90% cotton, 8% polyester, 2% Lycra

New York-based Todd Snyder (and CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year nominee) designs both essentials and statement pieces for the modern man. The Slim Fit 5-Pocket Chino combines the comfort of denim—and classic 5-pocket styling—with the elevated look of garment-dyed twill. This pair has a lean fit with a slightly tapered leg, similar to Todd’s selvedge jean, but with some added stretch for extra comfort.

J.Crew

Sizes: Waist: 28-44, Length: 30-34 | Colors: 12 total, including Mushroom and Black | Materials: Cotton, elastane

The 250 Slim-Fit Pant in Stretch Chino is J.Crew’s is fitted through the hip and thigh, with a narrow, tapered leg. The cotton-blend fabric is “Stretch on Demand,” so it stretches only when needed, meaning it won’t get baggy. This pant is part of J.Crew’s Re-imagined line with at least 30% of the fabric content originating from sustainable sources.

Ralph Lauren

Sizes: Waist: 28-42, Length: 29-34 | Colors: Aviator Navy, Polo Black, Classic Khaki, Basic Sand | Materials: 97% cotton, 3% elastane

Ralph Lauren’s signature chino comes in a straight fit with extra stretch and a 15 .5-inch leg opening for a more comfortable wear. Classic chino styling like front slash pockets, belt loops and signature buttons stay true to the elevated and easy-going Ralph Lauren ethos.

Alex Mill

Sizes: Waist: 28-38, Length: Regular, Long | Colors: Vintage Khaki, Military Olive, Dark Navy, Black, Oat Milk, Dark Khaki | Materials: 98% cotton, 2% elastane

If you think pleats are outdated, consider New York-based Alex Mill’s modern take. The Pleated Pant In Chino is both polished and comfortable, featuring a wider, relaxed fit through the leg and a slight crop for an edgy look. The subtle front pleats create a little more room for extra comfort while the coin pocket detail and “X”-shaped back belt loop upgrade the look of basic chinos.

Vuori Clothing

Sizes: 28-38 | Colors: Dark Oregano, Charcoal, Fog, Woodash | Materials: 59% recycled polyester, 41% polyester

Southern California-based Vuori brings an active coastal lifestyle to the forefront of their designs. The Cascade Tech Chino Pant offers a bit of everything for a performance chino: The stretch twill has a soft feel while being water-resistant, lightweight and breathable. This slim, athletic fit can be worn in wet outdoor conditions and still be fully functional—and stylish—in less extreme settings. A small front stash pocket and zippered back welt pockets gives you extra storage, too.

Everlane

Sizes: Waist: 28-40, Length: 28-34 | Colors: 7 total, including Slate Gray and Navy | Materials: 94% cotton, 6% elastane

Everlane’s The Performance Chino checks off all the boxes: It’s comfortable for all-day wear thanks to four-way stretch fabric, plus it’s quick-drying and sweat-wicking like a technical pant, all at a reasonable price point. This slim-fitting chino is part of Everlane’s Uniform collection, which includes a 365-Day Guarantee for their everyday basics: If it rips or tears within a year of purchase, they’ll replace it for free.

Chubbies

Chubbies’s Everywear Pants come in a dozen traditional colors along with some bold plaid patterns that are eye catching to say the least. Add in the fact that these polyester-spandex blend pants have a comfortable four-way stretch and are wrinkle resistant and lightweight, and you have a versatile pair of pants that are perfect for work, travel, meeting friends or even golfing.

Orvis

Orvis’s Out Of Office chinos are smartly designed with a performance blend fabric treated with a DWR (water-repellant) coating, so you can wear them in all weather. A soft, easy-stretching inner waistband makes this pair extra comfortable while the hidden secure zip pockets adds an element of practicality. These chinos come in four colors and three inseams (30 to 34 inches), making them a versatile pick you can wear for travel, to the office and on weekends.

Ministry of Supply

Sick of sagging, wrinkled chinos that are stuffy and hard to move in? Ministry of Supply’s Tapered Chino is an upgraded version of their popular Momentum pants. Made with a soft-brushed twill blend, this pants are extremely stretchy without creating the end-of-day sag found in similar pants. They also withstand wrinkles and spills so you can move adventurously through your day without worrying about your pants taking a beating.

Born Primitive

Made from a durable yet lightweight fabric blend, the Traverse Pant can be paired with a sleek button-down shirt, a relaxed t-shirt or even an athletic top for light hiking. The 70% nylon pants also have 20% polyester and 10% spandex so they maintain enough stretch and flexibility to fit athletic builds and ensure all-day comfort. The sizing is also inclusive: waists run from 30 to 42 inches and inseams from 30 to 36 inches.

At Forbes Vetted, we take fashion seriously but not too seriously: Clothing is, after all, meant to be enjoyed and worn with ease. Our experience includes plenty of firsthand knowledge, too, as editors and writers who like what they wear and are constantly seeking out the best in everything, whether it’s comfortable dress shoes or jeans for men. We've tried on, evaluated and put a lot of clothing and accessories through the paces to rate the performance, quality and value for your money.

Our Forbes Vetted senior fashion editor, Kari Molvar, has been covering fashion and lifestyle topics for more than 20 years, and has seen trends come and go. With that in mind, she focused on picking the best chinos for men that serve as the basics and staples of your wardrobe that not only feel current and modern right now but will last season after season. With this level of expertise we put into each story, you can trust our opinions when it comes to finding the right chinos for your needs and budget.

To find the best men’s chinos on the market, we researched bestselling options, pored through reviews across sites and consulted Forbes Vetted’s senior fashion editor. We also considered a few of our personal favorite brands that we rely on for great basics depending on the situation, like work, travel and lounging. Then, we narrowed down our selections by considering key features like comfort, materials and price. We update this article regularly to include the newest options as well. This article was last updated in July 2023.

As mentioned earlier, chinos made with a combination of cotton and elastane provide structure with a bit of stretch, which tends to make chino pants wearable all day. These days, comfort is a top priority for most of us, and even offices that were extremely formal in the past have now relaxed their wardrobe dress codes a bit so you have more leeway to wear chinos with stretch and a looser, more casual fit.

Chinos are one of the most versatile styles of pants out there, since they can be worn to the boardroom, on a date, when out with friends and, in the case of some chinos, during very moderate physical exertion like light hiking. If you do plan to wear your chinos in an athleisure sort of situation, then you may want to prioritize stretchiness and features like water-resistance. For a more business or business casual setting, prioritize solid colors and pair the pants with a collared shirt and smart jacket.

While some of the best men’s chino pants can just be thrown in the washer and dryer on any water and heat cycles, others require a bit more care. If you already know yourself and that you can’t be bothered with low heat settings or hang drying, then read the care instructions before purchasing and opt for a pair that’s maintenance and can, quite literally, take the heat (of a dryer).

Every office is different, but, in general, yes, chinos can be part of a business casual outfit. If you’re unsure, take a cue from what others are wearing in your work environment but in most cases, chinos are just as acceptable as a more formal suit.

Business casual attire for semi-relaxed workplaces allows for more flexibility than formal business wear. So, instead of wearing proper suits every day, you could pair professional-looking chino pants with a polo shirt, sweater or sports coat. Ideally, the pants would be lightweight and breathable so they are comfortable to wear during long days at the office and you’d opt for classic colors or patterns that aren’t too casual, like pink, plaid or printed fabrics, and instead stick to classic khaki, navy, black and grey colors.