Loose fit cargo pants have a spacious fit so you can bend, crouch, and work comfortably on the job. Both loose fit and relaxed fit cargo pants will have a roomy fit. I personally use the Wrangler Riggs Ranger cargo pants below (yes, they have a relaxed fit). I feel like these pants have a more durable build than other loose cargo work pants.
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These are our choices for the best relaxed and loose fit cargo pants to use on the job:
- Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Ranger Pants (click here to view)
- Carhartt Men’s Ripstop Cargo Work Pants (click here to view)
- Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- Wrangler Authentics Men’s Classic Twill Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- Duluth Trading Co. Men’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose Relaxed Fit Cargo Work Pants (click here to view)
- UNIONBAY Survivor Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- Levi’s Men’s XX Taper Loose Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- *Big & Tall* Boulder Creek® Side-Elastic Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Dickies Relaxed Fit Stretch Cargo Straight Leg Pants (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Duluth Trading Co. DuluthFlex Fire Hose Cargo Pants (click here to view)
You will need to consider what type of material you want for your cargo pants. Many options will use 100% cotton, but you can also find stretch cargo pants that use a stretch fabric blend.
As I mentioned earlier, I personally use the Wrangler Riggs cargo pants at the top of the list. These pants are made with a durable ripstop cotton, have a relaxed fit with reinforced pockets, and have a gusset for even more comfort and space when bending and crouching.
In this article let’s take a closer look at the best relaxed fit cargo pants so you can find an option that fits your needs. Let’s also discuss a few things you will want to consider when shopping for these types of pants.
Best Relaxed & Loose Fit Cargo Pants
Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Ranger Pants
Many are familiar with Wrangler , but may not know that Wrangler has a specific line of apparel dedicated to work clothing called Wrangler Riggs Workwear. The Wrangler Riggs Men’s Ranger Pants are very popular and are my go-to for cargo work pants. And yes, they have a relaxed fit.
Here’s what these Wrangler Riggs Men’s Ranger Pants look like:
This is the current price of these Wrangler relaxed fit cargo pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:
- Cargo Pockets – These pants have standard cargo pockets on both legs. They also have very deep front pockets, and have reinforcement on the front right pocket so that it can handle a tape measure clip without wearing out. These also have a hammer loop.
- Ripstop Fabric – These pants are made with a 100% cotton ripstop fabric to help prevent tears and rips. They also have reinforced knees for long-lasting durability.
- Roomy Fit – These pants have a relaxed fit that won’t hug tight against your legs. They also have a crotch gusset for easy bending, crouching, and driving.
These are my favorite cargo work pants. Yes, these are relaxed fit cargo pants that don’t hug tight against my legs. Here’s a look at mine:
Snap button side cargo pockets give me plenty of storage space:
These are double knee work pants, and they also have a knee pocket to take knee pad inserts if needed:
As mentioned earlier, the outer shell fabric is a durable ripstop material, and the back pockets are lined with Cordura nylon to help them last longer:
One of the main reasons I turn to these cargo pants is the gusseted crotch. I prefer my work pants and work shorts to have a gusset for extra comfort and freedom of movement. These pants have a standard diamond-shaped gusset:
Overall, these Wrangler Riggs Ranger Pants are a reliable cargo pant to wear on the job. They’re tough, roomy, and have plenty of storage from a brand I trust.
Click here to buy these Wrangler Ranger Pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, expect a relaxed fit that runs true to size.
Carhartt Men’s Ripstop Cargo Work Pants
Carhartt is a trusted name in workwear, and a brand that many workers prefer to wear. Carhartt’s Ripstop Cargo Work Pants are a very popular pair of work pants, and are in many ways similar to the Wrangler Ranger pants that I wear.
Here’s what these Carhartt work pants look like:
This is the current price of these Carhartt work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:
- Ripstop Cotton – These Carhartt Cargo Pants are made using a 100% cotton 9.25-ounce ripstop fabric. This type of fabric is woven in a way that helps prevent tearing and ripping.
- Double Knee – These pants have a reinforced double knee with knee pad pockets that can hold knee pad inserts.
- Pockets – This pant has standard front and back pockets, and also has multiple utility pockets and multiple cargo pockets. It also has a hammer loop.
- Gusseted Crotch – These pants do have a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement.
As I said above, these pants are very similar to the Wrangler Ranger pants. Both have double knees, gusseted crotch, ripstop fabric, cargo pockets, utility pockets, relaxed fit, and reinforcement on the front pocket for a tape measure. Which one is best for you might come down to brand.
One detail that sticks out about these Carhartt pants in a positive way compared to the Wrangler Ranger pants I wear, is these Carhartt pants have deep front ledge pockets, that make it very easy to get your hand in and out of your pockets. The Wrangler Ranger pants don’t have ledge pockets. Might be worth considering.
Click here to buy these Carhartt relaxed fit cargo pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants are machine washable.
Wrangler Authentics Men’s Classic Twill Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants
As I said above, I personally wear the Wrangler Riggs Ranger Pants. The things is, those pants are built for work. I like that. But, in fairness, those pants don’t fit in well as casual pants.
If you are looking more for a casual pair of relaxed fit cargo pants that transition easily from on-the-clock to off-the-clock, then I would recommend these Wrangler Classic Cargo Pants. Here’s what these pants look like:
This is the current price of these Wrangler cargo pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:
- Fabric – These pants are made with 100% cotton. Yes, they have a relaxed fit.
- Pockets – These pants have a standard cargo pant design with 6 total pockets. Two front pockets, two back pockets, and two side cargo pockets.
- Casual – Again, these pants are different than our first two options. These pants have a casual design that looks normal both on and off the clock. Although the first two options are great for work, having pocket reinforcement and double knees might not make for the best casual pant. These Wrangler Classics are built more for casual wear, but can also work on the job.
Click here to buy these Wrangler relaxed fit cargo work pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These cargo pants are machine washable.
Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Cargo Pants
These Dickies pants are loose fit cargo pants that will have an extra roomy fit that won’t hug tight against your legs. They have a classic cargo design that gives you plenty of storage options on the job.
Here’s what these Dickies Cargo Pants look like:
This is the current price of these Dickies loose fit cargo pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:
- Fabric – These pants are made with 100% cotton.
- Pockets – These pants have a standard cargo pant design with 6 total pockets. Two front pockets, two back pockets, and two side cargo pockets.
- Fit – Again, these pants have a loose fit. In general, loose fit will be roomier and baggier than a relaxed fit, so if you want as much space as possible, these are a great option.
Click here to buy these Dickies loose fit cargo pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These cargo pants are machine washable.
Other Loose & Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants to Consider
- Levi’s Men’s XX Taper Loose Fit Cargo Pants – These Levi loose fit cargo pants I wanted to point out specifically because they use a tapered leg. A tapered leg means the pants narrow below the knee as they near the ankle. One benefit of this is it gives you the space you need above the knee, but doesn’t look so baggy down by your boots. Click here to view these Levi loose tapered cargo pants (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Duluth Men’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose Relaxed Cargo Pants – Although Duluth has several cargo pants, and several different styles of their “Fire Hose” cargo pants, these are probably their most popular. Made with a flexible material and a crotch gusset for comfort. Water repellent finish. Pre-washed to give them a softer feeling on the first wear. Yes, these have a relaxed fit. Click here to view these cargo pants.
- *Big & Tall* Boulder Creek® Side-Elastic Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants – Looking for extended sizing? These big and tall relaxed fit cargo pants are offered up to a size 72 waist for certain colors. They also have side-elastic panels on the waist for extra comfort and better fit. These pants have stacked cargo pockets for extra storage. Made with rugged, durable twill cotton. Click here to view these cargo pants (affiliate link takes you to kingsize.com).
- *Womens* Duluth Women’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose Cargo Work Pants – If you are looking for women’s cargo work pants, these are a great option. It is difficult to find tough, work cargo pants for women. These Duluth pants offer toughness and have plenty of storage. Flex 8-ounce fabric that is water-repellent and stain-repellent. Click here to view these Duluth women’s work cargo pants.
What to Consider When Buying Loose Fit Cargo Pants
Pockets
How many pockets do you really need? Having too many pockets can be overkill and just add bulk and weight to your cargo work pants. That doesn’t help anyone. But not having enough pockets can be a problem too.
You’ll need to decide if just standard cargo pockets will be enough, or if you’ll need pants with additional pockets. Some cargo pants will have stacked cargo pockets on the side for additional storage.
Also, for work, do you need reinforced pockets? The Wrangler Riggs pants I use (photos earlier in article) have back pockets that are reinforced with Cordura nylon, which means they have take a beating and hold up.
Knee Pads
Do you bend and kneel a lot on the job? If so, buying pants that have knee pad pockets is a good idea so you can slip pad inserts in when needed.
If so, several of the pants on the list at the top of this article do have knee pad pockets (but not all of them do). The Wrangler Riggs Ranger Pants that I use do have knee pad pockets. To read more, visit our article about the best work pants with knee pads.
Weather
Do you need loose fit cargo pants that use a heavyweight canvas fabric, or do you need a lightweight fabric for summer? Obviously the heavier-weight fabrics will hold up better at a job site, but they also won’t release as much body heat. Just be sure to consider the fabric weight of your pants.
You can buy relaxed fit cargo pants that are built specifically for summer or specifically for winter. In fact, the Wrangler Riggs Ranger pants that I wear also come in a flannel lined version. To read more, visit our article about the best flannel lined cargo pants. For wet weather, visit our article about the best water resistant cargo pants.
For hot weather work pants, you obviously want a breathable material that won’t trap heat. I personally use a lightweight nylon ripstop material. For options, visit our article about the best lightweight cargo pants. For shorts, visit our article about the best cargo work shorts.