For many men and women, finding relaxed fit work pants that are loose in the seat and thighs is critical to help ensure comfort while working. Pants that fit too tight can restrict movement, hinder job performance, and just be annoyingly uncomfortable to wear.
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These are my choices for the best relaxed and loose fit work pants:
- Carhartt Men’s Washed Duck Work Dungaree Pant (click here to view)
- Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Ranger Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pants (click here to view)
- Carhartt Men’s Firm Duck Double-Front Work Dungaree Pants (click here to view)
- Wrangler Riggs Workwear Men’s Carpenter Pants (click here to view)
- Caterpillar Men’s Trademark Work Pants (click here to view)
- Carhartt Men’s Lightweight Canvas Dungaree Work Pants (click here to view)
- Duluth Men’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose Ultimate Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- Carhartt Men’s Rugged Flex Rigby Double Front Pants (click here to view)
- Duluth Fire Hose Ultimate Relaxed Fit Cotton Cargo Pants (click here to view)
- *Big & Tall* Boulder Creek Side-Elastic Stacked Cargo Pocket Pants (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Carhartt Women’s Rugged Flex Crawford Pants (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Dovetail Workwear Utility Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants (click here to view)
Some companies use relaxed fit and loose fit interchangeably, but in general, pants described with a “loose fit” tend to be the roomiest cuts available.
There are other ways to also add comfort and freedom of movement to your work pants. Some work pants use a flexible fabric and a gusset to make bending, crouching, and driving easier.
Let’s take a closer look at the best loose and relaxed fit work pants so that you decide which style might make the most sense for your job.
Best Loose Fit Work Pants
Carhartt Relaxed & Loose Fit Work Pants
Carhartt is a trusted name in workwear, and a brand that many workers prefer to wear. The good news for you if you need work pants with reinforced knees, Carhartt has always prioritized making work pants with plenty of space in the seat and thighs.
Carhartt actually offers both relaxed fit work pants and loose fit work pants. The loose fit will be the baggier of the two, although both types of fits will provide you with plenty of space in the seat and thighs.
If you’ve ever worn Carhartt pants or jackets before, you probably know they use a variety of duck cotton fabrics. Some are stiffer and more firm than others. There are 2 specific types of cotton canvas fabric I want to highlight in this article:
- Firm Duck Cotton – This is going to be a 12-ounce heavyweight cotton canvas. It will feel stiff and firm off the rack, and take time to loosen and break in. The firm material offers more protection on a work site, and more protection from the elements.
- Washed Duck Cotton – This is also a 12-ounce heavyweight cotton, but it is pre-washed to give it more of a broken-in feeling off the rack. This type of cotton won’t feel as stiff, but it also won’t give you as much protection as the firm cotton.
There are other types of fabrics that Carhartt will use, but understanding the difference between these two fabrics is an important place to start when shopping for Carhartt work pants.
Let’s start by discussing Carhartt’s B11 work pants, which is a loose fit work pant that uses the washed duck cotton, which gives it a broken-in feeling on the first wear.
Carhartt Men’s Washed Duck Work Dungaree Pants (B11)
The Carhartt Men’s Washed Duck Work Dungaree Pants are a very popular pair of heavy duty loose fit work pants. Again, as we discussed above, the washed duck fabric will have the canvas toughness, but will feel broken-in on the first wear.
Here’s what these Carhartt Men’s Washed Duck Work Dungaree Pants look like (multiple colors available):
This is the current price of these Carhartt B11 washed duck loose fit work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants are made with 100% cotton duck fabric.
Here are some of the other details for these Carhartt loose fit work pants:
- Single Knee – These pants do not have a reinforced double knee, but Carhartt does offer the washed duck in a double knee pant also. Click here to view the double knee version at Amazon.
- Heavyweight Build – These pants have a 12-ounce, 100% cotton heavyweight duck canvas which can stand up to a tough work site. They are pre-washed to take away some of the stiffness.
- Loose Fit – These pants have a loose fit that won’t hug tight against your legs, and gives you freedom of movement. This is Carhartt’s roomiest cut. To read more about fit, visit our article about Carhartt Pant Sizing.
- Pockets – These work pants have standard front and back pockets, and also have side utility pockets and a hammer loop.
This is where you can buy these Carhartt washed duck work pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, these pants have a loose fit that runs true-to-size.
Carhartt Firm Duck Double-Front Canvas Work Pants (B01)
The Carhartt Firm Duck Double-Front Canvas Work Pants are a very popular pair of heavy duty double knee work pants. These pants use the firm cotton duck fabric.
The firm duck will have a bit of stiffness to it, especially at first, but some jobs needs that toughness. The firm duck fabric is Carhartt’s most durable canvas. If you need the toughest Carhartt pants, these pants are it.
Here’s what these Carhartt Firm Double-Front Canvas Work Pants look like (multiple colors available):
This is the current price of these Carhartt B01 USA work pants available at Carhartt.com (affiliate link takes you to Carhartt.com). These pants are loose fit work pants, which is Carhartt’s roomiest cut.
Here are some of the details for these Carhartt work pants:
- Double Knee – These pants do have a reinforced double knee to help them hold up over the long term.
- Knee Pad Pockets – These Carhartt pants have internal knee pad pockets in case you want to pair them with removable knee pad inserts.
- Heavyweight Build – These pants have a 12-ounce, 100% cotton firm heavyweight duck canvas which can stand up to a tough work site.
- Made in the USA – These B01 Carhartt pants are made in the USA.
- Relaxed Fit – These pants have a loose, relaxed fit that won’t hug tight against your legs, and gives you freedom of movement. This is Carhartt’s roomiest cut.
- Pockets – These work pants have 2 front pockets, 2 back pockets, side utility pockets, and a hammer loop. They also have the knee pad pockets that we discussed earlier.
As I mentioned above, these Carhartt B01 pants use a firm cotton duck fabric. The firm duck is the toughest cotton canvas fabric that Carhartt offers. Here is an up-close look at the firm cotton duck:
Many workers looking for heavy duty work pants prefer a firm cotton because it adds some wind-resistance, and is tough enough to hold up at a work site.
But, as I’ve said, it is important to note that the firm duck will take a while to break in. This means the first handful of times you wear these B01 pants, they may feel a bit stiff.
Here’s a look at me wearing my pair of Carhartt B01 pants:
These are heavy-duty pants built for the toughest jobs. Some people don’t like this stiff feeling, and so they try to skip the break-in period by buying a pair of pre-washed pants.
Pants that are pre-washed have a more broken-in feeling on the first wear. If you prefer pre-washed, stick to the B11 pants we discussed first.
This is where you can buy these Carhartt B01 firm duck work pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, these pants have a loose fit that runs true-to-size.
Carhartt Men’s Lightweight Canvas Dungaree Work Pants (B151)
Earlier we discussed Carhartt’s firm duck vs washed duck. Well, that is not the only fabric difference that can exist from pant to pant. Carhartt also will vary the weight of the fabric itself.
The first two Carhartt pants used a heavyweight 12-ounce cotton duck fabric (one was firm duck, one was washed duck). These B151 pants are a bit different. They use a lighter-weight 7.5-ounce cotton duck fabric.
I like to recommend these as nice summer work pants, in large part because they still have a toughness that can handle a job site, but they use a lightweight fabric.
This lightweight cotton makes it easier for your legs to breathe in the summer heat. Here’s what the Carhartt B151 pants look like:
This is the current price of the Carhartt B151 lightweight cotton work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These Carhartt work pants have a loose fit, which is Carhartt’s roomiest cut.
Using loose and relaxed fit work pants in the summer is another way to help your legs breathe a little bit in the blazing heat. Just don’t imagine a lightweight, flimsy work pant. These pants still have a canvas toughness to them, but just don’t use the heavyweight 12-ounce fabric.
Here’s what my brown Carhartt B151 summer work pants look like. In my experience, these fit true to size:
Again, yes, this is a canvas material that will still hold up on the job despite being lighter in weight than heavy duty work pants. Here’s a look at the material:
My size 32×34 pants weigh 1.33 pounds:
These pants have a hammer loop on the left leg and also a tool band on the right hip:
Another thing I like about these pants is the slash front pockets that are angled in a way that makes it easy to get your hand in and out:
They have reinforced belt loops and reinforced back pockets. These pants will not fit tight against your legs. I have plenty of space when bending and crouching in these pants.
These pants have a straight leg opening that fits over the top of most all types of work boots. Click here to buy these Carhartt B151 pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
Carhartt Men’s Rugged Flex Rigby Double Front Pants
If you prefer work pants that stretch, these Carhartt Rugged Flex Rigby Double Front Pants are a nice option. These pants are made with a cotton/elastane fabric blend that gives it some stretch.
Some people prefer 100% cotton work pants, but sometimes combining a flexible fabric with a loose fit makes work pants extremely comfortable and easy to work in. Here’s what these Carhartt Rugged Flex Rigby Double Front Pants look like:
This is the current price of these Carhartt flex work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These Carhartt work pants have a loose fit, which is Carhartt’s roomiest cut.
These pants have reinforced double knees with built-in knee pad pockets. They also have a gusseted crotch, which is an additional way (in combination with a loose fit) to help improve the comfort of your work pants while bending, crouching, and driving.
Wrangler Relaxed Fit Work Pants
Many are familiar with Wrangler jeans, but 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 cargo work pants.
Here’s what these Wrangler Riggs Men’s Ranger Pants look like (multiple colors available):
This is the current price of these Wrangler work pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Expect these pants to fit true to size, and have a relaxed fit that won’t hug tight against your legs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Wrangler offers a wide variety of relaxed fit work pants. If you prefer more of a carpent pant, I’d recommend checking out the Wrangler Riggs Carpenter Pants.
This is what the Wrangler Riggs Carpenter Pants look like (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These pants have that classic carpenter design, and combine it with a relaxed fit and gusseted crotch to make sure you have plenty of room to move while working.
Caterpillar Men’s Trademark Pants
These Caterpillar Men’s Trademark Pants are heavy-duty work cargo pants that also have knee pad pockets. This is a popular pair of work pants, for many reasons, but in large part due to the amount of storage pockets.
Here’s what these Caterpillar Trademark Pants look like (multiple colors available):
This is the current price of these Caterpillar work cargo pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Expect these pants to have a relaxed fit that runs true to size.
One thing that distinguishes these Caterpillar Trademark pants is they have two front pull-out holster tool pockets. These pockets can tuck away inside the normal front waist pockets when you don’t need them.
If you prioritize pockets in your work pants, these Cat Trademark Pants will be your best option. These pants offer you an abundance of pockets.
For some people, the extra pockets are perfect and help you to perform your job at a higher level. For others, it may just be overkill and wasted bulk.
Ultimately, you will need to decide if the extra storage space and finer details of pants like this will actually help you perform your job at a higher level.
If you are someone who benefits from extra storage space, this is one of the most comprehensive work pants on the market today. They really provide a wide range of details that can help a wide range of workers.
These pants have knee pad pockets and are brushed on the inside for comfort. They have hook and loop closures that help secure a tool belt.
- Fit – These pants have a fit that won’t hug tight against your legs. As we discussed above, the crotch is gusseted so you have additional freedom of movement.
Click here to buy these Caterpillar Pants at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, expect a true-to-size fit.
Duluth Trading Co. Flex Work Pants
Duluth Trading is a workwear brand established in 1989, but has really gained steam during the recent decade. One thing I personally like about Duluth is they put an emphasis on creating comfortable, easy-to-wear clothing that is still tough and dependable.
Duluth “Fire Hose” pants are made from an ultra-tough cotton canvas – the same type of cotton canvas that at times in the past has been used to line the outside of fire hoses. Some version are made with a flex fabric blend for extra freedom of movement.
They offer several types of relaxed fit work pants, but I want to discuss two options specifically:
- Duluth Men’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose Ultimate Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants – Duluth “Fire Hose” pants put an emphasis on toughness, but these are also flex work pants that have a relaxed fit, which gives you something that is both comfortable and dependable (they also have a crotch gusset). These pants have double-knee pouches that do accept knee pad inserts. These are relaxed fit cargo pants, so you’ll have plenty of storage options. Water repellent finish. Relaxed fit. Click here to view these pants.
- Duluth Men’s Fire Hose Ultimate Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants – These Duluth pants are very similar to the first pants discussed above, only these pants use 100% cotton, and don’t have any stretch. I wanted to also highlight these pants because some people don’t like flexible work pants that use a stretch fabric. If you prefer good, old-fashioned 100% cotton, these will be a nice option with a relaxed fit. They are brushed to add a bit of softness to the fabric. Click here to view these pants.
Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pants
Dickies is another well-known workwear brand. They offer a wide range of fits, and if you need loose-fit work pants, they do have several options for you. The one that I want to highlight is the Dickies Men’s Loose Fit Double Knee Work Pants.
Here’s what these Dickies Pants look like (multiple colors available):
This is the current price of these Dickies double knee pants available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
These pants are stain and wrinkle resistant, and have an industrial professional look. They work well as work pants for janitors, maintenance workers, mechanics, and other industrial trades.
These pants have a loose fit and won’t hug tight against your legs.