8 Best Quick Dry Moisture Wicking Work Pants

Moisture wicking work pants are very popular during the summer months, especially for those of us who sweat a lot. These sweat wicking pants can pull perspiration away from your body and cause it to evaporate quickly. This adds comfort and helps keep you dry on the job.

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These are my choices for the best moisture wicking pants:

Moisture wicking pants can provide a relief for those of us stuck out working in the brutal summer heat. Not only will these pants wick sweat away, they also have a breathable comfort that will help release some of your body heat.

You will need to decide what type of material you need. If you need a heavy-duty fabric, stick with the Carhartt, Wrangler, or Duluth pants. If you prefer something a bit more lightweight, stick with Columbia. If you like wool, stick with Filson.

In this article let’s take a closer look at the best moisture wicking pants for work so you can find a style that fits your needs. Let’s also discuss four things to consider when selecting moisture-wicking work pants.

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Best Moisture Wicking Work Pants

Carhartt Men’s Force Relaxed Fit Ripstop Cargo Work Pants

Carhartt is synonymous with workwear. When you think of Carhartt, you often think of heavyweight 12-ounce duck cotton canvas, but Carhartt does have a nice selection of lighter-weight work trousers built more for summer.

These cargo pants use a 7-ounce ripstop fabric that is both breathable and durable. Here’s what these Carhartt moisture wicking cargo pants look like:

This is the current price of these Carhartt moisture wicking work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:

• Material – Built for ultimate ease of movement, the lightweight 7-ounce, cotton/polyester construction of this pant features Carhartt’s durable Rugged Flex® stretch technology. This is a ripstop fabric that discourages rips and tears.

• Sweat Wicking – Yes, these pants are designed to wick moisture away. They are built using Carhartt’s FastDry® technology.

• Pockets – There’s plenty of room to stash anything you may need on the job with reinforced front slash pockets, heavy-hauling reinforced rear pockets. The side cargo pockets also have utility pockets on the outside for extra storage.

• Fit – Sitting at the natural waist, these are relaxed fit work pants with plenty of room to move throughout the seat and thigh. Straight leg opening. A gusseted crotch provides more stretch between the legs for increased range of motion.

Here I am wearing these Carhartt moisture wicking cargo pants. In my experience, these fit true to size:

These pants sort of fall in a middle ground for weight compared to all the other options on our list. They are made with a durable ripstop fabric:

These pants do have a large inseam gusset for extra comfort and range of motion while bending and crouching:

Plenty of storage options, including side cargo pockets. There’s also a utility phone pocket on the outside of the cargo pocket:

Click here to buy these Carhartt moisture wicking cargo pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants are machine washable.

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Wrangler ATG Men’s Reinforced Utility Pants

You’re probably familiar with Wrangler, but you might not know that Wrangler has a specific line of apparel called “ATG by Wrangler” which stands for All Terrain Gear. A lot of the Wrangler ATG collection can make for ideal work clothing in outdoor, rugged environments.

Here’s what these sweat-wicking Wrangler ATG Utility Pants look like:

This is the current price of these Wrangler moisture wicking work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:

• Material – This reinforced utility pant is constructed of a 97% cotton/3% spandex-blend stretch canvas. So although this pant is made with a durable canvas fabric, it still has flexibility for comfort.

• Sweat Wicking – Yes, these pants are moisture-wicking to keep you dry and comfortable. The fabric also offers UPF 30 to help block the sun’s harmful UV rays.

• Pockets – Securely store your valuables in the zip utility pocket and hidden inside pocket, perfect for a wallet or cell phone. Two front pockets as well as two rear pockets provide even more space for whatever you may need to keep close at hand.

• Fit – Featuring a mid-rise and a regular fit through the seat and thigh, this straight-leg pant is made for all-day comfort. Lending to their durability is an articulated, reinforced knee and kick plate.

• Crotch Gusset – These pants also have a gusseted crotch to help increase your freedom of movement when bending, squatting and crouching.

Here I am wearing these Wrangler ATG pants. In my experience, these fit true to size:

These are one of the toughest, most durable options on our list. They are made with a stretch canvas blend that has reinforced knees and a back reinforced kick plate:

With all that reinforcement, comes extra weight. These are one of the heaviest pants on this list:

But even though these pants weigh more than some of the lighter-weight options on this list, these pants are still built for summer. Yes, this material is moisture wicking to help keep you dry, and help pull some heat away from your body.

These pants also have a diamond-shaped crotch gusset for extra comfort while bending and crouching:

For storage, these pants have a side-zip utility pocket which gives you a secure place to store essentials. But beware, no tool loop.

Again, this just comes down to how much toughness you need. These are a great option for those of you who rely on canvas pants to get you through a harsh work environment.

Click here to buy these Wrangler moisture wicking work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants are machine washable.

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Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Cargo Pants

Columbia specializes in making outdoor activewear. If you are looking for moisture wicking pants to use for both hiking, these will be a great option. But they also work really well for those of you who prefer a very lightweight, breathable summer work trouser.

Here’s what these Columbia Silver Ridge sweat wicking pants look like:

This is the current price of these Columbia sweat wicking pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these pants:

• Material – These pants are made with a 100% ripstop nylon fabric. This is a lightweight fabric that won’t weigh you down, but is still designed to discourage tearing. The Omni-Shade exterior is a UPF 50 shield that helps protect you from the sun.

• Sweat Wicking – Yes, Columbia’s Omni-Wick moisture management technology swiftly wicks away sweat to keep you cool and dry.

• Pockets – Two front pockets, two tabbed rear pockets with hook-and-loop closures, two large cargo pockets as well as a zippered security pocket keep all of your adventure essentials securely at your fingertips.

• Fit – This regular-fit pant with straight-cut leg is not only functional and durable, but exceptionally easy to wear. The partial elastic waistband with an exterior adjustable belt offers a custom fit while the gusseting detail and articulated knees allows for increased mobility.

• Work – Again, although this is primarily hiking pant, it fits perfectly for those of you who prefer a super lightweight summer work pant. No, this won’t be the most durable pant on the list, but the ripstop fabric does offer some toughness. You’re buying this pant for its lightweight, breathable design.

Here I am wearing these Columbia Silver Ridge moisture wicking pants. In my experience, these fit true to size:

You’re buying these pants for their lightweight breathability:

Despite being lightweight, they are made with a nylon ripstop to help discourage rips and tears. No, these won’t be as durable as canvas pants, but this helps add some durability:

These pants have a large inseam gusset so you can comfortably bend and crouch on the job:

Another bonus for comfort is these pants have side-elastic panels on the waistline:

These pants have a side cargo pocket on the right leg and also have a side-zip utility pocket on the left leg:

If you are looking for something that is very breathable, moisture wicking, and lightweight, these pants are a great option. These are typically used for hiking, but the nylon ripstop makes them durable enough for most types of jobs.

Click here to buy these Columbia moisture wicking cargo pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants are machine washable.

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Dickies Men’s 874 Flex Work Pant

Dickies is another trusted name in workwear. They’re well-known for making work clothing for a wide range of jobs.

The Dickies 874 pants are a classic khaki style work pant that can fit many jobs. And they make it in a flexible, moisture-wicking version. Here’s what it looks like:

This is the current price of these Dickies moisture wicking work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these work trousers:

• Material – These pants have a poly/cotton fabric blend that is designed to stretch to give you flexible comfort that won’t restrict your movement.

• Sweat Wicking – Yes, these pants are designed to wick moisture away.

• Classic Design – These pants have a classic, versatile design that can fit many jobs. They just have standard front and back pockets, which gives these pants a more clean, professional design.

• Belt Loops – One thing I like about the 874 pants is they have the longer belt loops that help provide additional support and to me seems to make the belt loops last longer.

Dickies 874 work pants have a relaxed, regular fit. Do not expect Dickies 874 pants to fit tight against your legs, but also do not expect these pants to be extremely baggy and loose.

Here’s a look at mine:

These types of pants go great with a uniform top, and might make sense for those of you who have to wear a collared uniform shirt on the job.

Click here to buy these Dickies moisture wicking work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants are machine washable.

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Other Moisture Wicking Pants to Consider

• Filson Mackinaw Field Pants – These Filson pants are made of wool which is naturally sweat-wicking. These pants have side cargo pockets and a built to pair with suspenders if needed. Made for field or workwear. These pants are made in the USA. Click here to view these pants (affiliate link takes you to filson.com).

• Duluth Trading Co. DuluthFlex DOTF Relaxed Cargo Pants – Duluth is another trusted name in workwear and they are well known for making comfortable work pants. Their “Dry on the Fly” (DOTF) pants are moisture wicking pants. Spandex stretch blend canvas fabric. 11 total pockets. Click here to view these Duluth work pants.

• *Women’s* Columbia Full Leg Aruba Roll Up Pant – If you are a woman looking for lightweight moisture wicking hiking pants that can also double as work pants around the yard, these Columbia pants are a great option. Zipper side pocket for storage. These pants can be rolled up if needed. Click here to view these pants (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

• *Women’s* Dickies Flex Slim Fit Work Pants – For women looking for more heavy-duty moisture wicking work pants, these Dickies pants are a nice option. Flex fabric blend. Moisture wicking, wrinkle resistant. Slim fit with a straight leg opening. Click here to view these pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

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4 Things to Consider When Buying Moisture Wicking Work Pants

Vented Work Pants

Many people who buy moisture wicking work pants are actually looking for breathability in the heat. Another sneaky way to increase the breathability of your pants is to buy vented work pants.

Vented work pants usually have a small vent on the back side of the knee which helps increase air circulation and keep your legs cooler. For those of you in the brutal heat, this might be a great option.

If you are interested in vented work pants, I’d recommend these CQR pants (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Just be careful, those pants are offered in both vented and non-vented styles, so make sure the color you select has a vented knee.

Hot Weather

If you are working in brutal heat, and looking for breathable work pants for hot weather, it might not be a bad idea to turn to more of a hiking pant. These types of pants are usually made with a ripstop fabric that, despite being lightweight, is still reasonably durable.

I’d recommend the Columbia pants on our list, but there are several types of moisture wicking hiking pants on the market that can provide breathability, and function as lightweight work pants. To read more, visit our article about the best summer work pants.

If you need something heavy duty, but not too hot for summer, I’d recommend visiting our article about the best summer canvas pants. There is a moisture wicking option on the list.

Another good option for summer are convertible work pants that zip off at the knee. To read more, visit our article about the best convertible pants for work. For shorts, visit our article about the best quick dry cargo shorts.

It’s important to understand that moisture wicking is not the same thing as waterproof. These types of pants won’t always be built to handle wet conditions.

Crotch Gusset

Buying work pants that have a gusseted crotch is a great way to add additional comfort to your work pants.

A crotch gusset is extra material sewn into the crotch to increase your freedom of movement. Not only does it make it more comfortable to crouch, bend, and kneel, it also takes some stress off the crotch, which can help prevent tears and rips.

To read more, visit our article about the best gusseted work pants.

Moisture Wicking Cargo Pants

How many pockets do you really need? Having too many pockets can be overkill and just add bulk and weight to your work pants. That doesn’t help anyone. But not having enough pockets can be a problem too.

We included several moisture wicking work pants on this list that have cargo pockets in case you need to maximize storage. If, instead, you prefer your moisture wicking pants to just have standard front and back pockets, I’d recommend the Dickies 874 pants on our list.

To see more options, visit our article about the best breathable cargo pants. For tops, visit our article about moisture wicking polo shirts.