Author
Bob Myaing
Image courtesy Edgevale
Once the sole provenance of laborers and craftspersons, double knee pants now hold the spotlight in women’s and men’s fashion–especially across the many microcosms of streetwear trends. But beyond the concrete runways of New York, Tokyo, and other cities worldwide, a number of outdoor lifestyle brands have taken passes at redesigning the classic loose-fit double knee work pants, too. These days, workwear has found a home far beyond the trades.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up some of the best double knee pants worth buying, 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.
Fit
Roomy, relaxed fit cuts were once the standard for the reinforced carpenter pants, but more flattering regular fit and slim fit options are now plentiful, making for lots of work pant options that are fit for everyday wear. We typically favor regular fit silhouettes with a straight leg that wear well off the job site, but we won’t openly roast anyone that’s still rocking the slim fit (as long as it doesn’t approach skinny jeans territory).
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? (No good.) 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 even seen ripstop reinforce more vulnerable materials like fleece with decent success.
Pockets
One does not simply talk about work pants without mentioning the utility pockets that offer storage to rival that of cargo pants. These pockets come in all shapes and sizes 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.
10 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”.
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
Price: $129
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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).
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
Price: $225
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REI Co-Op Trailsmith Pants
Go-to outdoor retailer REI Co-Op lightens up the heavy-duty work pant for hikers who’d rather do their outdoor activities in more casual, less-technical apparel. The relaxed, straight-fit cotton twill pants feature added utility pockets along with the compulsory reinforced knee panels to make the cut. Hit the trails but leave the hammer at home (unless professional geological work calls for it).
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
Price: $128
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Fjällräven Abisko Midsummer Trousers
Bushcraft heads often sport trousers by Swedish outdoor apparel brand Fjällräven for good reason–they’re light, weather resistant, and hardwearing. These bottoms use a lightened and stretchy version of the brand’s well-reputed G-1000 fabric, aptly named G-1000 Air Stretch. In addition to reinforcing the thigh and knees, the pant also adds a sizable strengthening patch to the wearer’s seat area.
Edgevale Cast Iron Utility Pants
Outdoor lifestyle brand Edgevale transformed the typical pair of workwear double-front pants for their audience by using quality garment construction, a thoughtful utility pocket layout, and a slim fit that flatters even the most modest physique. These dungarees use their signature technical Cast Iron Fabric, blending 64% cotton, 34% nylon Cordura, and 2% spandex to offer both strength and stretch, the latter classically missing from the workwear of yore.
Women’s Option: No
Price: $169
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LIVSN Flex Canvas Overalls
Overalls might not be for everyone, but for real life working utility, they can’t be beat. Sustainable outdoor apparel brand LIVSN mates 58% organic cotton with 40% recycled polyester and 2% polyester to form their Flex Canvas material, at work here on this tailored double-knee overall (as well as the company's flagship Flex Canvas Pants ($119)). Appetites for a high count of utility pockets—there's at least eight last we checked—will surely be met well by this array of open and secure pockets.
Arc'teryx Norvan Hybrid Pant
Most double-knee pants are for work and chores, but every now and then, an outdoor apparel brand beefs up some of their pieces for sport. Here, Arc’teryx combines breathable stretch polyester fabric with Gore-Tex Infinium panels to block wind and weather for trail runners venturing out beyond the limits of fair weather. To little surprise, the pocket count is low compared to a typical pair of workwear pants, but that's not really what these pants are going for.
Published 11-29-2022
