The Best Casual Pants for Men Make You Want to Renounce Sweats Forever

If you're on the hunt for pants but have no clue where to start you might've just google'd ‘best casual pants for men’ in a desperate, clueless haze and found yourself here. The only things you know you need are: 1) pants and 2) non-dressy options. Well, we've got news for you—unless we're dealing with a pair of tuxedo pants or tack-sharp dress trousers, essentially every kind of pant you can think of is casual. And if you really want to sizzle your noggin, even the most formal pants can look as casual as a pair of busted blue jeans if you know how to style them.

The Best Casual Pants for Men, According to GQ

• The Only Jeans You Really Need: Levi's 501 Original Fit Jeans, $80
• The Chinos That Made Chinos Cool Again: J.Crew Giant-Fit Chinos, $98
• The Seven-Days-a-Week Khakis: Alex Mill Straight Leg Pants, $155
• The Max-Capacity Cargo Pants: Gap Relaxed Utility Cargo Pants, $89 $35
• The Corner-Office Dress Pants: Banana Republic Italian-Hopsack Pants, $200
• The Hard-Wearing Work Pants: Dickies Original 874 Work Pant, $30
• The Victory-Lap Track Pants: Adidas Open Hem Track Pants, $45 $32
• The Ultra-Chill Drawstring Pants: Reiss Arden Relaxed Twill Drawstring Trousers, $240

So, maybe knowing that you've got the entire pants universe at your disposal doesn't exactly help narrow things down. But there is one kind of pant that's just a tad too casual for the public arena: sweatpants. They're great for lounging on a slobby Saturday on the couch, for sure, but sweats should mainly be reserved for You Time, be that with a good book in your humble abode or gorging on your husband meal away from judgment. Pop over to the cafe down the street for your morning brew, sure, but you might not want to run into someone you know along the way.

But for every other situation between quick coffee runs and sauntering through fancy cocktail soirees, you'll need a pair of casual pants. Whatever the reason, whatever the occasion, whatever the cut—slim fit, straight fit, classic fit, relaxed fit—there's a pair of pants here for you. Whether you're looking for sturdy twill chinos you can wear with your slubbiest T-shirts, heavily-pleated trousers you can wear with a big, bold, button-down, or newfangled cargos you can wear with everything else, the right pair of casual pants for men are calling your name. And luckily for you, you don't have to look far. Because we sifted through a near-endless array of pants (so many pants) to compile a list of all all the best options available today.

Obvious—maybe too obvious. But if we didn't address it, we couldn't call ourselves GQ. Jeans have been around since the 1800s and society would be bleak and infinitely less stylish without the indigo-soaked dungaree. Originally designed for Gold Rush hopefuls, they eventually made their way out of the mines and into the masses, ascending to heights few other garments have. Bring them back to their roots with some honkin' leather work boots, or rock them day-off mode with a hoodie and sneakers, or pair a light wash option with a button-up shirt and a tailored blazer. There's not a situation that the right pair of jeans couldn't slot into, which makes them a requisite for every closet.

They make a compelling argument for the best men's pants ever, but since we don't want to ruffle too many feathers, we'll limit the Levi's 501 to the best jeans. Levi's invented the five pocket blue jean after all, and they're just as great today as when they first came on the scene. If you take just one lesson away from this, let it be this: if you don't have a pair already, get yourself a pair of Levi's 501 jeans.

Gerald Ortiz, our style commerce writer, the 501 is still the de facto go-to jean for most people. They come in a range of denims, but he favors the all-cotton versions over the ones that have stretch. The all-cotton denim versions feel sturdy and substantial, but not board-stiff (unless you opt for the totally raw shrink-to-fit option). The rise is a classic mid-rise and the seat hugs surprisingly well. However, some folks might not like the button fly. But don't worry, the 501Z swaps in a zipper for those of us who prefer the quick-draw.

Chino cloth is a hearty twill fabric lauded for its military-grade sturdiness. Over the last 50 years, chino pants have evolved from active-duty army garb to civilian-life staple, cemented into the culture thanks to notable prepsters and the Ivy League set, including one particularly dashing U.S. president with a penchant for summering in Hyannis Port. They still come in every shade of khaki imaginable, but these days some of the coolest pairs on the market subvert the fabric's neutral origins via unexpected colors and patterns. Not sure what to wear to an upcoming date/park hang/exploratory trip back into the office? Chinos are aways a safe bet.

These days, chinos are more stylish than ever. And if there's one pair to cop right now it's certainly the J.Crew Giant-fit Chino. It was one of the very first viral pieces to come out of creative director Brendan Babenzien's tenure. But its success isn't just because of the clever product name. It's made with heavy cotton twill, a skyscraping high rise, and a truly wide-leg. If you didn't know any better, you'd think they came from a dope vintage store hanging from the ceiling like all the other extremely rare pieces. Turns out, they do still make 'em like they used to. The Giant-fit chino comes in an array of great colors and now you can even grab them in seasonal fabrics like corduroy.

Ortiz also has a pair a couple pairs of the Giant-fit chinos. He loves that they fit at the natural waist and have a generous leg. “I'm a fiend for vintage chinos and these fit just like the ones from the 50s and 60s," he says. He says the fabric is substantial and has a great structure to it and the finishing on the inside of the pants shows off some really great quality.

Like chinos, khakis remain a perennial classic of casual American style. (What's the diff? Chino is a fabric; khaki is a color.) Khakis derive their name from the particular shade of light brown that became ubiquitous in the U.S. after World War II. They were the original camouflage, well before the blobby olive shades came about. GIs returned from war and brought their dusty bottoms with them, ushering in a new era of civilian style. Once relegated exclusively to off-duty fare, khakis—a color that now encompasses everything from plain Jane beige to mossy olive green—have long since crossed over into the realm of work-appropriate attire. In their simplicity, they remain a reliable template for designers' freakiest projections.

While J.Crew's Giant-fit chinos do come in a khaki color, we recognize that some folks might find them a little too giant. For something more straight down the middle, Alex Mill's classic khaki pants are the platonic ideal of the genre—mid-rise, a handsome straight-leg silhouette, and a sandy twill fabric. Plus, for those who weren't keen on the built-in cuff that the J.Crew versions have, these Alex Mill joints come with a plain hem.

It's tough to beat the cargo pant when it comes to sheer utility. Even in their simplest form, the ultra-practical and—you guessed it—military-inspired trousers include discrete pocket space aplenty, making them the pants you should wear when you want to run errands without lugging a mostly-empty tote around with you. Over the last few years, capital-D designers and big-box brands alike have updated the menswear staple, tweaking the proportions and adding as many (or as few) pockets as they please. Which means it's easier than ever to find one in the perfect fit, whether you're looking for a relaxed version you can wear with trail-ready boots or a slimmer take cut to stack perfectly over a pair of simple kicks.

Gap's cargo pants hit a lot of marks for us: a relaxed fit, cargo pockets galore, solid quality materials, and, crucially, a great price point. They may not come in a wide range of colors, but khaki and olive are really all you need when it comes to these. While they look ace with some hefty boots, don't be shy to experiment. Try wearing them with some dress shoes and a swanky sweater to balance out the utilitarian energy.

We know what you're thinking—dress pants are not casual pants. To that we say, “open up your mind, bro." See, any pant can be a casual pant if you really use your head. (Jury's still out on whether that rule works the other way around, but the evidence so far doesn't look promising.) Separate your tailored trousers from their matching suit jacket and they can be free to a whole world of style possibilities. Dress pants can look surprisingly casual and fresh with a plain tee and a pair of canvas sneakers. Super billowy, paired with a breezy camp shirt and elevated leather sandals, and you're about ready for a summer vacay. The key is more simple than you think: treat 'em like any other pant in your closet.

Banana Republic's signature pants are nearly transcendent, which, for a pair of trousers, is saying a lot. The fabric is silky smooth and drapes like a dream. The double pleats complement the billowy shape which is perfect sans break and with some loafers or with a gentle pooling over a pair of flashy sneakers.

“Don't write off Banana Republic,” Ortiz says. “They've got their tailoring dialed in, and their Signature pants are proof that off-the-rack can feel almost bespoke.” He says that BR's signature pants feel silkier than most other trousers and have a fantastically voluminous shape that would make you believe that they came from a high-end fashion house for about half the price.

It was nearly three years ago that GQ collectively freaked for Dickies' sturdy-as-hell painter's pants. Since then, prices for Carhartt's quintessential double-knees have reached truly astonishing heights, and every cool guy in a trucker hat and lug-soled loafers wants in. Thankfully, the style's popularity doesn't mean it's lost any of that initial luster—if anything, its sustained appeal means you can now scoop a pair without dinging your credit card. Every brand worth its salt makes a version of the silhouette, from longtime stalwarts of the workwear scene to some of the hippest names in the streetwear universe. Find one that's right for your budget and never look back.

The Dickies Original 874 pant is a must-have for every closet. They're tough, they're cheap, they fit astonishingly well. Plus, they can stand in as a pair of dress pants if you're in a pinch. (We know, we know, you came here for casual pants.) While blue jeans will forever and always be the best everyday pant, a pair of Dickies is undoubtedly the more versatile pick.

Ortiz would know just how versatile the legendary 874 is, too. He says he's worn them white a plain tee and sneakers and even to a funeral with dress shoes, a button-up and a tie. As for the fit, he finds that they're a tad more relaxed than a pair of Levi 501s, but are surprisingly tailored around the seat and waist. “Honestly, the 874's are probably the cleanest silhouette out of any pants I own,” he says. And that's coming from a guy who owns around 50 pairs of pants. “My advice is to buy two pairs: one to beat to hell and another to keep crisp and clean for dressier occasions.”

If there's one thing we remember from grade school it's that the sports coaches all had sick on-field style. And while the aerodynamic shades and New Balance trainers accounted for much of their swag, it was actually the swishy track pants that set their whole style ablaze. Today, track pants are hotter than ever thanks style gods like A$AP Rocky and designers like Grace Wales Bonner. They're usually made in some sort of synthetic material like a windbreaking nylon, or a bouncy poly blend, and feature extra panelling and even bold stripes running down the outseam. Extra points for track pants with bold colors and dizzying patterns.

You could opt for something as freaky as the Wales Bonner joints, which come in a range of retro-doused colorways and patterns. But if you want to keep things simple, a classic pair of Adidas track pants will always serve you right. These days, we're more into the open hem versions than their elasticated counterparts, especially as pant silhouettes have ballooned in recent years. Tossing them over a pair of track-ready trainers is welcomed, but don't box yourself in. Wear them with a crisp button up and some dress shoes or even a rootin' pair of cowboy boots.

Drawstring pants, you might think, rub up dangerously close to sweatpants, the very garment we're explicitly avoiding at the moment. But drawstring waists aren't synonymous with fleece. See, the gloriously forgiving drawstring waist can be applied to all kinds of pants—every category on this list, even. When fused with denim or cargo pockets, or even dress pants, the drawstring has the power to cozy-fy any pair of pants without looking like you belong on a sofa with a pint of ice cream. Besides that, who wouldn't love a belt built into their pants?

Combining dress trousers with pajama pants seems like the sort of thing that would be an utter disaster. Yet, Reiss's Arden pants prove otherwise. They're made with a luxurious twill fabric with a handsome pleated front just like the dress pants you didn't come here for. But the brilliant twist comes with the drawstring waist which cancels out any stuffiness outright. The result is a surprisingly adaptable pant that's clean and comfy in equal measure.