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Courtesy Mountain Khakis
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Once the sole provenance of laborers and craftspersons, loose-fit double knee pants have found a home far beyond the trades and are now a must-have for style conscious men and women worldwide, too. The style's workwear DNA fits the ongoing Gorpcore craze, among other microcosms of streetwear trends. Given the inherent function and durability of double knee pants, it should be no surprise that some of the best brands making their own version of the classic pant once only found on construction sites, are outdoor mainstays like Filson and Patagonia.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up some of the best double knee pants worth buying, selected with first hand experience—hell, I'm wearing a pair at my desk as I type. But first, let’s dive into the product details and specifics that will help you make a selection among the sea of sturdy and functional bottoms.
Field Mag's Top Picks for the Best Double Knee Pants
- Carhartt Washed Duck Double-Front Utility Work Pant, $60
- Taylor Stitch Chore Pant
- Topo Designs Mountain Pants, $129
- Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Double Knee Pants, $89
- Kühl The Law Pants, $109
- Mountain Khakis Alpine Work Pant, $100
- Taylor Stitch Chore Pant, $128
- Dovetail Workwear Old School High Rise Pants, $109
- Backcountry Rambler Stretch Workpant, $60
- Proof Rover Double-Knee Work Pant, $138
- Filson Bullbuck Double-Front Jeans, $225
- Gramicci Easy Climbing Pant, $130
What to Consider When Buying Double Knee Pants
Fit
Roomy, relaxed fit cuts were once the standard for the reinforced carpenter pants, now regular fit and slim fit options are also plentiful, making for lots of work pant options that are fit for everyday wear with your favorite hoodie or puffer jacket. We typically favor regular fit silhouettes with a straight leg and moderately wide leg opening that wear well off the job site too—don't let us catch you still rocking skinny jeans!
Materials
Material choices make the difference between a true pair of double knee work pants and superficially reinforced pants; what good is an additional layer of lightweight cotton twill? (Not much.) When it comes to heavy-duty materials for either the knee panels or whole pants, heavyweight cotton duck is king. For lighter use cases, we’ve seen ripstop, Cordura, and similar sturdier materials gusset more vulnerable materials like fleece with decent success.
Pockets
One does not simply talk about work pants without mentioning the utility pockets to rival cargo pants, designed to keep a variety of small tools and utensils at the ready. Some brands keep the traditional hammer loop of carpenter pants intact, but most know their customers aren’t swinging them frequently enough to necessitate it. Some of the most useful utility pockets are along the side-seams, but you’ll find some clever designs for front and back pockets to hold everything from bouldering brushes to pocket knives.
Double Knee Jeans
Our article primarily focuses on options made from cotton duck or canvas, but there are some great options also made from denim. Double knee jeans give a variation on the classic work pant look, and the indigo counterparts are certain to create some sweet fades over time.
The 12 Best Double Knee Pants for Men & Women
Carhartt Loose Fit Washed Duck Double-Front Utility Work Pant
It seems only fitting that we start with the grandaddy all-time best seller: the Carhartt double knee. Although the workwear giant offers a number of options within the genre, the loose fit duck pants complete with riveted construction is the most iconic pair of Carhartt pants in the catalog. Get a pair in waists up to 50” and four inseam options from 30” to 36”.
Women’s Option: Yes
Fabric Type: 100% cotton ring-spun washed duck
Fabric Weight: 12 oz
Size Range: 28-50”
Taylor Stitch Chore Pant
The San Francisco clothiers initially specialized in men’s shirting, but their lineup today consists of a wide range of apparel for casual and dressy occasions. The Chore Pant falls into that former category thanks to rugged Responsible Boss Duck material made from 54% hemp, 30% recycled polyester, 14% organic cotton, and 2% spandex. You won’t find an excess of carpenter pant style pockets, but a pair of pen sleeves on each reinforced knee panel adds Sharpie marker accessibility for graphic designers and frequent note-takers.
Women’s Option: No
Fabric Type: 54% hemp, 30% recycled polyester, 14% organic cotton, 2% spandex
Fabric Weight: 12 oz
Size Range: 28-38"
Topo Designs Mountain Pants
The Colorado-mountain lifestyle brand borrows some inspiration from our favorite climbing pants for their integrated belt pant. The Mountain Pants get a soft-yet-durable touch from the 10.7-ounce organic cotton blended with 2% of spandex for added stretch and comfort. Front panels cleverly add both fatigue-style patch pockets and reinforced knees in one swift blow while a zipper and snap pocket at the rear secure small items.
Women’s Option: No
Fabric Type: Organic cotton-nylon blend
Fabric Weight: 10.7 oz
Size Range: S-XXL
Patagonia Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Double Knee Work Pants
Patagonia decided to make their double-knee work pants completely suitable for working. The relaxed fit offers ample ease of movement on the job and a 12.9-ounce hemp canvas that needs no break-in, making use of hard knee pads considerably more comfortable than stiffer, hard cotton duck options. Outdoor winter workers will undoubtedly appreciate the Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Insulated Overalls ($199).
Women’s Option: Yes
Fabric Type: Hemp canvas
Fabric Weight: 12.9 oz
Size Range: 28-44” + short, regular, and long lengths
Kühl The Law Pants
The independently-owned outdoor brand named their work pants with great confidence by dubbing it, “The Law.” In addition to double thighs and knees, look for reinforcement along the pant’s back pockets and heel cuffs. Available in tapered and full fits, as well as the waxed cotton Above The Law ($159) variation for extra protection.
Women’s Option: Yes
Material: Combed cotton-spandex canvas
Fabric Weight: 10.3 oz
Size Range: 28-36”, tapered and full fits
Mountain Khakis Alpine Work Pant
Straight-forward and hard wearing work pants at a reasonable price, what’s there not to like? A total of eight tool pockets make for serious on-person organization throughout the day, with a diamond crotch gusset providing unrestricted movement.
Women’s Option: No
Material: Organic cotton-spandex canvas
Fabric Weight: 10.4 oz
Size Range: 30-44”
Taylor Stitch Chore Pant
The San Francisco clothiers initially specialized in men’s shirting, but their lineup today consists of a wide range of apparel for casual and dressy occasions. The Chore Pant falls into that former category thanks to rugged Responsible Boss Duck material made from 54% hemp, 30% recycled polyester, 14% organic cotton, and 2% spandex. You won’t find an excess of carpenter pant style pockets, but a pair of pen sleeves on each reinforced knee panel adds Sharpie marker accessibility for graphic designers and frequent note-takers.
Women’s Option: No
Material: Hemp, recycled polyester, organic cotton, and spandex blend
Fabric Weight: 12 oz
Size Range: 28-38”
Dovetail Workwear Old School High Rise Pants
Women who put in work shouldn’t be limited to simple single knee pants, and that’s why Dovetail Workwewar specializes in providing quality workwear just for women. These womens-specific double knee pants feature a properly-tough stretch denim with riveted-on front panels, whose slots even allow for the addition of aftermarket knee pads. We've also heard some great things about Red Ants Pants, another ladies-only option!
Men’s Option: No
Material: Cotton, polyester, and spandex blend
Fabric Weight: 10.25 oz
Size Range: 0-18
Backcountry Rambler Stretch Workpant
Outdoor retailer Backcountry may not be the first place you’d look for some new work pants, but they’ve put together a respectably sturdy pair here in their Rambler Workpant. Heavyweight cotton woven with a 2% stretch makes the Rambler a more comfortable option than the typical double knee work pant, with triple needle construction to give it some blue collar credibility. Still, you’d be more likely to find them on a boulder circuit than a job site. Look for subtle features like a reinforced patch at the front right pocket for holding the clip of an EDC knife or tool and an extended belt loop at the right hip for a carabiner holding keys.
Women’s Option: No
Material: Cotton-spandex blend
Fabric Weight: NA
Size Range: 28-38"
Proof Rover Double-Knee Work Pant
Huckberry in-house brand Proof hits the workwear upgrade button on their best-selling Proof Rover Pant with the addition of substantial double knee panels, double-stitched and riveted on to stand up to years of wear and tear. The Rover’s proprietary fabric is what gives the pant its mojo: a 73% cotton, 25% Repreve TruTemp365 recycled poly, and 2% Lycra blend that lends a harmonious balance of durability and breathability welcome in any classic git-r-done situations.
Women's Option: No
Material: Cotton, recycled polyester, and Lycra blend
Fabric Weight: 9 oz
Size Range: 30-38”, slim and straight fits
Filson Bullbuck Double-Front Jeans
Someone over at Filson HQ must have noticed the numerous options of cotton duck work pants out there and decided to steer over to denim for their utility jeans. Beyond the tall, double-front panels, these raw denim pants closely resemble your run-of-the-mill 5-pocket pattern, elevated by made-in-USA craftsmanship. Mix it into a staple t-shirt and flannel fit for slight workwear gains.
Women’s Option: No
Material: 100% cotton denim
Fabric Weight: 13 oz
Size Range: 28-40”
Gramicci Easy Climbing Pant
These dual-function, double-front pants have you covered when you’ve got a date with a treestand in the morning with bouldering plans in the evening. Gramicci trades in multi-pocket layouts of more work-driven styles for climber-centric features, like a mobility-enhancing gusseted crotch and its iconic integrated belt.
Women’s Option: No
Fabric Type: 100% cotton canvas
Fabric Weight: 9 oz
Size Range: XS-XL
What are double knee pants for?
Simply put, double knee pants last longer than their single knee counterparts, whose front panels will absolutely “blow out” long before even the most light-wearing, reinforced work pants.
What are the benefits of double knee pants?
Any double knee work pant worth its weight will provide increased abrasion resistance, day in and day out. Many work pants also feature a variety of tool pockets and cargo pockets to organize tools/hardware/snacks.
What are the best work pants with reinforced knees?
For real deal on-the-job wear, it’s hard to beat the Carhartt Double Knee Duck Pant in both durability and value. If your needs trend a little more towards fashion, we recommend the Filson double knee jeans or the straight cut Taylor Stitch Chore Pant.
Published 11-01-2023
