Menswear Bros Say These $50 Chinos Will Replace Your Office Pants

Also Available in: Slim Fit

After thoroughly putting Lululemon’s ABC Pant to the test, I found that it flat-out outshines everything else in its class. The sweat-wicking, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant fabric with four-way stretch makes this pair feel like your favorite joggers disguised as office pants. Unlike the others on the list, it comes with their proprietary ABC (Anti-Ball Crushing) design. Our editors found it’s basically a clever gusset that eases tension in the crotch and thigh area, so you never feel squeezed or restricted when you’re walking or sitting for hours.

After owning this pair since 2020, its performance has never let us down once. The elastomultiester-polyester fabric blend makes it feel technical yet polished. It moves like activewear but looks structured enough for meeting or semi-dressy events. During brutal summer commutes, we stayed dry and comfortable, never dealing with that dreaded swampy feeling below deck.

The classic fit hits right in the middle, meaning not too slim, not too loose, and comes in a bunch of office-approved colors that look sharp from 9 to 5 and beyond. We’ve worn this pair everywhere: happy hours, long-haul flights, work dinners, the list goes on. Functionally, Lululemon thought of everything: hand pockets that don’t bulge, a hidden zip pocket for your wallet, and even a side pocket to keep your phone secure while you’re on the move.

Lululemon’s ABC pant is what guys wish their everyday slacks felt like—unrestrictive, clean as a whistle, and ridiculously comfortable.

Read More: Lululemon ABC Pants Review

Our testers all agreed that these are arguably the most comfortable chinos on the market. Once we slipped our legs into these pants, we found the overall fit and feel of the fabric to be 10/10. That’s not only because Bonobos offers five different fits to cater to your body type, but also because the brand infuses the cotton fabric with quite a bit of four-way stretch, making them extra versatile for days when you want to wear chino pants out to travel, commute, run errands, etc.

In our testing, we also found that the waistband felt comfortable because it curved to the shape of our hip. The fabric, after we wore them for hours on end, turned out to be moisture-wicking as well, and, all in all low-maintenance because it’s wrinkle-resistant. And we love that Bonobos added a zip pocket to help us safely store our small stuff.

Dockers is known for pioneering the modern khaki and popularizing business-casual style. It’s no wonder the brand’s chinos are simply great pants, ticking off all the boxes: comfort, durability, low maintenance, and style that works for your day-to-day hustle. With a clean, flat front and a slightly tapered leg, they bring a relaxed vibe that works beyond the office. We can imagine how you might think they’re only useful as a workwear staple, but make no mistake—they fit the bill for regular weekend outings, too. Whether paired with a T-shirt and sneakers or a polo and comfortable dress shoes, these chinos deliver every time.

What really sets the slim-fit trouser apart from others we’ve tested is the bi-stretch twill, a type of fabric that stretches both horizontally and vertically. During our experience, we found that guys with athletic legs can slip into these chinos without feeling squeezed. It was a breeze to simply put them on and go without having to waste time ironing.

What’s the next best thing close to slim-fit chino? Ding-ding-ding, skinny-fit. That is, one that’s not constricting on your lower half. Before you jump ship, this pair from J.Crew isn’t super tight like the skinny jeans that peaked in the early 2000s. For starters, it’s infused with the brand’s stretch technology that provides a subtle yet noticeable amount of give—to move every which way without feeling stiff and eliminate any annoying break-in period. Designed to sit below the waist, these pants are slim through the hip with a close-fitting leg, offering a more modern and streamlined silhouette.

Also, the structured twill-lined waistband with chambray binding adds a touch of durability and style, while the angled pockets offer easy access to your most valuable items. Let’s not forget how versatile they are, too. This style works at the bar, the office, and even on the golf course. Our fashion editors recommend pairing this pant with a denim shacket layered over a white t-shirt for an easy, casual ensemble to hit the town.

Rhone’s making an appearance twice on the list, and for good reason. The label makes another top-tier chino, designed with an innovative stretch aptly named Flex-Knit, which provides enough elastane to handle everything on your plate: eight-hour shifts, rounds of golf, long-haul flights, etc. In other words, you have maximum mobility to do it all and then some. The fabric is also wrinkle resistant, so no visible creases will throw you off your game.

To amp up our style, we matched these with a crisp Oxford shirt and some dapper lace-up loafers. Not to get things confused, this pant has a casual edge and can be dressed down with sneakers, too. We know there may be a bit of sticker shock when you glance at the price tag, but these chinos are durable enough to survive multiple wash cycles and still keep their fresh-off-the-rack look. Plus, this chino comes in a variety of fits: classic, slim, and skinny.

Visible creases in your pants can be a pain, cramping your style and throwing off that polished look you’re going for. That’s why we love Banana Republic’s wrinkle-resistant chinos. This pair is made with a high-stretch fabric that’s super smooth, sturdy, and won’t get in the way of things. Tailored to perfection, the mid-rise cut falls around the natural waistline and grants you the freedom to move as you wish.

During our testing, we found that it’s perfect for dressier occasions, but can easily be toned down for casual outings like an outdoor festival or weekend brunch. In terms of outfits, the chinos pair effortlessly with a crewneck sweater or henley tee for whatever’s on the agenda. The brand offers a range of colors, but if you opt for gray—you get a versatile, sleek option that goes with almost anything and adds a touch of sophistication to your appearance.

If you want a pair of chinos that are a little more tapered in the leg, Uniqlo’s slim-fit cut may be your best bet. In general, they’re made with close attention to detail. For one, the pants are enhanced with a cotton-spandex blend, which provides all-day-long softness and stretch without sacrificing a sharp style. While it’s not a traditional chino material, we found that it’s flexible enough to bend or squat. Also, the brand shied away from making the stitching visible for a streamlined look.

Having worn these pants to travel, we were impressed by how lightweight and smooth the fabric is. Despite the slim fit, the pants were not restricting in the least bit. In terms of color, there’s a fair amount of neutrals that are easy to pair with your everyday wear. It’s hard to go wrong with Uniqlo’s chinos because they are suitable for any occasion—from work to meetings to date night to casual outings and everything in between.

Sometimes, chinos can feel a little stuffy but this relaxed fit keeps me cool and comfortable for hours. From my muggy subway commute to weaving through crowded city streets, I stay breezy and unbothered. The cotton fabric has this soft drape that doesn’t wrinkle, even after I’ve been sitting at my desk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by the time I’m heading to lunch or meeting a friend for happy hour after work, this chino still looks sharp.

The straight-leg cut falls on top of the shoe, without making me look like a slob. While it doesn’t come in multiple fits like Bonobos or Rhone options, you can pick from a few solid colors to rotate through the week. And yes, this pair comes with a higher price tag, but the quality speaks for itself: the material is thick enough to hold its shape yet breathable enough to keep me chill while running around photo shoot sets, crouching for shots, or darting between meetings. This chino also looks just as good outside the office for brunch or a museum trip. I’ve overstuffed the pockets a few times, but for a slim cardholder and some cash, they stay flat and clean.

Flint and Tinder’s pair stands out because it’s designed as a hybrid between chinos and jeans, making it one of the most versatile pants out there. It’s cut like a tailored chino but has the feel and flexibility of your favorite broken-in denim, thanks to its preshrunk cotton-stretch fabric blend. We found the midweight fabric works year-round—hence the “365” name—so you can wear them in any season. We’ve worn them during the winter and well into the spring, and they’ve held up through it all—whether layered with a heavy parka or paired with a breezy t-shirt when the temps start to rise.

This pair skews more into the casual workwear department, but you can sport them from the office to the bar with no problem at all. It’s also garment-dyed for a lived-in look from day one and comes in several fits: classic, slim, straight, and tapered, to suit a bunch of different styles.