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Hi all. My day to day trouser of choice for the last 30 years or more has basically been Jeans but as the trend for low waisted skinny efforts seems set to continue what other reasonably priced trouser should I be looking at? I don't want chav trackies and don't know enough about the various types to avoid this so have kind of pulled them out.
So comfortable for a large thighed bloke, not stupidly expensive and acceptable for a mid 40's dad?
I had a lovely pair of Carhaart corduroy trousers a few years back, but not found anything similar since. They were really comfy!
Tesco is a 40 year old man's best friend!
I have about 5 pairs of Tesco slim fit cargo trousers, £25 a pair that I wear everywhere pretty much
Plenty of looser options around these days now late 90s /early 2000s styles are popular with the gen z or whatever.
I did get some ASOS jeans that were nice n loose but they were shit quality and fell apart, so not those.
Could stretchy straight leg or boot cut jeans be an option? I usually get mine from next (yep, mid 40s dad) but they usually last no more than 6 months.
Just embrace the dad world of comfy walking trousers. Pockets big enough for a phone is a bonus.
https://www.craghoppers.com/mens/trousers/
Edit: or is that too much like giving up on life?
Fjallraven trousers are good. properly robust and feel good
Passenger
Have you tried the back pages of the Sunday Times supplement? Lots of ‘Action Slacks’ there, with nice comfy elasticated waistbands
On a serious note, there are still plenty of ‘normal’ straight legged jeans out there so you don’t have to look like a boy band member, but you don’t have to look like Clarkson either.
Easy Alvin’s - From Nudie.
Something from Du er
John Lewis corduroy.
Thanks for the replies all, except Binners! Seems cargo pants are the way to go but I'm just not sure? The cheap Tesco option maybe a way in?
Should have mentioned that I find clothes shopping extremely tedious and most of my wardrobe has been bought for me. I did pick up a few nice long sleeved tops in Boundary Mill recently, which may mean my life is over.
Alpkit bloc bouldering trousers, super comfy, organic cotton, I’ve got a few pair and live in them.
as easy as joggers but smarter, and they have the ‘outdoorsy’ vibe.
Sounds like you've reached that Chums time of your life (a bit early mind!)... 🤣
Have you tried the back pages of the Sunday Times supplement? Lots of ‘Action Slacks’ there, with nice comfy elasticated waistbands
🤣 🤣
I think when you post up on a bike forum asking for fashion tips,it's too late to be saved by something from the Sunday Supplements.
😉 😆
Levis standard taper chino’s is what you want
Carhartt carpenter trousers
Really comfy, hard wearing, look quite cool, a bit smarter than cargos but room for your phone, not too pricey, age well. They’re a bit on the heavy side, but no more than proper jeans.
I’ve always had a couple of pairs since I discovered them years ago, and no doubt I’ll replace these when they wear out - they’re about four years old at the moment and still going strong.
Anything will be a comfort upgrade from jeans! Chinos are great. Personally I’ve found spending extra on premium brands to be worth it. They fit better ( more expensive cut? Hard to articulate) and are generally softer. But I find them in TKMaxx!
The world’s your oyster. Stretch ( small % elastane content ) cotton materials are a wonder. Enjoy!
I only wear jeans, proper Japanese Selvedge indigo denim, as my ‘smart’ wear, with a pair of plain black skate shoes or RedWing boots, and a plain tee shirt with a flannel shirt over the top. For comfort I wear shorts or black combat trousers, which are very comfortable and have decent pockets for actually putting stuff in. I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing chinos!
But then, I don’t care what people think about what I wear, and haven’t done for the whole of my life.
The fashion for jeans at the moment is actually for bootcut or wide leg, so you may be in luck.
But as others have said. Cargo pants, 100% cotton and some elastic in the waist or if no elastic, wear with a fabric belt. Make sure they’re tumbledryable and you won’t have to iron them.
Isn’t there some company in Hebden Bridge specialising in trousers? Maybe try them?
I used to love Bill’s Khakis. The British khaki color was great though I had them in regular khaki too. Roomy, tough, traditional. Sadly not easily available in the UK and sold to private equity about 10 years ago. HebTroCo’s khakis are close but with (relatively) tiny pockets.
I moved back to jeans. Though traditional straight leg and styling.
Not sure what kind of trousers next for me either. Utility/hiking trousers I did ages ago. Not a look I want to repeat for normal day to day.
Kuhl do nice, not jeans trousers according to my other half. Taunton Leisure have a sale on at the moment and are stockists. A lot of them have a phone pocket on the outside of the leg which is really useful
I bought a pair of basic walking trousers 18 months ago for weekend walks. Much more comfortable than jeans that they became my legwear of choice. I love being a man in my late 40s. Fashion is not a consideration when picking clothes.
Came to say Alpkit Bloc.
I've loads of Gap (via Next now) of bootcut jeans. In regular shoes I get a 32" leg, for my Vivo etc I get a 30" (ideally a 31" but that doesn't exist)
+1 for cargo/walking trousers. I have worn Regatta cargo type trousers (they call them action trousers) for years. They are comfortable, not too hot in summer and extremely hard wearing.
currently a sale on their website
https://www.regatta.com/mens-action-trousers-lichen/
I typed out Gap bootcut, delivered by next but the response wasn't posted.
Community clothing chinos for me
I’ve given up on life, so it’s a blend of craghoppers walking trousers, or Next chinos when I want to be a bit smarter.
I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing chinos!
But then, I don’t care what people think about what I wear, and haven’t done for the whole of my life.
Umm - what trousers for a swift U-turn ?
I wear mostly climbing trousers these days. 3rd rock right now. Elasticated waistband and diamond crotch ftw
Should have mentioned that I find clothes shopping extremely tedious
Of course you do. You're a bloke of a certain age. We're just not conditioned to shop. Its not in our DNA*.
I still mourn the closure of Debenhams. It truly was a one stop shop for middle-aged blokes. If you wanted jeans, you could go and get a decent set of wrangler's, Levi's, John Roscha or Jasper Conran ones (all handily located in one building) that wouldn't make you look like you were auditioning for Love Island. You could get your shirts for work at the same time. A quick half hour trolley dash and you wouldn't have to worry about any of this nonsense again for another year. Absolute Nirvana!
What are we supposed to do now eh, Mike ****ing Ashley?!! WHAT?!!!
* To counter any accusations of sexism, Mrs Binners also despises clothes shopping
I like the people who profess to be fiercely indifferent to how they dress, but have an incredibly precise idea of what they will or won't wear and invariably also claim that they wouldn't be seen dead wearing chinos.
Beyond that, I have no idea. I don't even know what brand of jeans I'm wearing, but they're the ones without the obvious holes. I have standards you know.
Have a look at Community Clothing for uk made stuff at very reasonable prices. Fair few trousers to choose from.
And the very opposite of buy British:
Craghopper lightweight soft shell. (“Windproof”)
Regatta Geo 2 soft shell. Ooh Cosy this time of year. Very little water resistance but dry well.
Nice jeans for “posh”!
I like the people who profess to be fiercely indifferent to how they dress, but have an incredibly precise idea of what they will or won't wear and invariably also claim that they wouldn't be seen dead wearing chinos.
Have people done that? I care very much about what I wear but don't give a toss about what other people think about what I wear 🙂
The 2 most comfortable trousers I've found are:-
For work M&S Stretch Chinos. I like the stretchiness of them and they have decent sized pockets so phones sit in them comfortably as well, and if you're standing, sitting and bending a lot they always fit. Also available in a few different colours.
For anything else it has to be Craghoppers Kiwis. there are loads of different versions these days but the classics are my go to when walking, going to the pub, general socialising. They come in different leg styles as well so you may want tot check them out IRL before ordering online.
Universal Works Military Chinos. Loads of different material variations and colours. Not too loose or skinny, and flat fronted (i often feel that the hate for chinos is based on the pleated front US office worker style). Ok, not high st pricing but you can’t have everything. Nudie also make a nice chino and Levi’s do a nice slim fit one too.
I’ll leave ‘outdoors’ trousers for, erm, outdoors activities.
A quick half hour trolley dash and you wouldn't have to worry about any of this nonsense again for another decade.
ftfy.
I was in Alpkit today and tried on the Bloc trousers. They're certainly a, err, comfy/generous fit 🤣 I can see why folk on here recommend them but far too baggy for me.
M&S have some cotton not-chinos (styled pretty much like a climbing pant) that were pretty good. It was just the draw cord waistband I didn't like. Mind you, also half the price of the Blocs.
Comfy walking trousers or Tesco Chinos here.
I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing chinos!
But then, I don’t care what people think about what I wear, and haven’t done for the whole of my life.
Umm - what trousers for a swift U-turn ?
Lol
I might have a bus pass, but **** me if I’m going to wear some elasticated waist trousers outside the house 🙄
Got a few pairs of Kuhl trousers but they vary wildly in terms of fabric durability.
Got a few pairs of Carhartt non-cargo work pants which are nice - the cargo pants I have, the pockets are too big and too far down the leg to be of any real use.
Patagonia Quandary, they're on sale
Patagonia Quandary, they're on sale
I have been wearing trousers from Engleburt Straus. The vintage version in a very stretchy canvas cargo trouser. A decent thigh pocket for phone and a ruler pocket which I use for glasses. Available with removable holster pockets if you want. Not a cheap option.
Thanks team, some great suggestions to check out. There's a cut of Levi's that I really like but unfortunately I'm too tight to buy multiple pairs.
Agree Binners, Debenhams was ace as a one stop shop for those of us who don't want to shop.
I'm another one who doesn't care what people think of what I wear. Good job too, apparently, going by some of these replies!
I quite like skinny stretch jeans, I find they're very comfortable, allow you to move easily. When I did out an old pair of proper jeans (yes denim, no not svelththtfhjdklhgfdsjklwhatevertfitis) they always feel quite horrible and I wonder how I wore them for so long.
Patagonia cords. Size down.
Alpkit Jeanius Cordura jeans.
Keela Roadrunners for general kicking around.
For going out and actually looking smart I wear some trousery things I bought in Slaters Menswear.
Site king is your answer. Lovely comfy hard wearing stuff for little ££
Their cargo Trews have just a small amount of stretch too
Fjallraven trousers are superb and I've basically been living in them for the past ten years. Recently I've discovered Duer performance denim which are jeans that aren't really jeans as they are stretchy and breathable. They are super comfy.
Duer Trousers UK | No Sweat & Great Comfort
Another vote for Regatta softshell walking trousers (geo II and fenton, much cheapness), berghaus wind proof for spring/autum and shorts otherwise.
I haven't worn my Kulh trousers in about 2 years, I like the look, but there pretty awful when wet...and I don't think i fit my jeans anymore 🙁
currently a sale on their website
Ever not?!
I'd call the Blocs a roomy slim, but not skinny.
Just bought three pairs of Levi’s 511 “technical pants”. Microfibre stretchy jeans. I don’t know if they are coming to the UK, but they feel fabulous to wear. And look like smart jeans.
Otherwise, walking trousers.
I've been put off cheaper stretchy jeans (Next, Tesco, etc) after having a few pairs disintegrate in no time. One of the reasons I'm struggling to find reasonably priced jeans atm.
Walking trousers/cargo trousers, I find very comfortable. Karrimor/ews/craghoppers. Sports direct for karrimor ones are around £15 and last ages or zip off cargo trousers for all year round and great on the bike as well. Vinted have plenty of choice as well
Polish outdoor kit and clothing company, Helikon Tex, do a line of trews called UTP. It's short for urban tactical pant. A very well thought out design with very useful pockets and they come in a range of colours and fabrics. My favourite one is a 'fake' technical blue denim. They're brilliant for every day use but can also be dressed up. I've found them cheapest on the Military.pl website around the £60 mark. Free delivery in around 5 days too.
They're brilliant for every day use but can also be dressed up
By putting a pair of non urban commando trousers over the top?
It's interesting how many of you seem to go about your daily business in polyester walking trews?
That would drive me mad, the feel of them on my skin.
I tend to wear loose fit trousers from Howies, Carharrt, Uniqlo and Finisterre on my non-jeans days (most days).
Always had a soft spot for cords, and they actually seem to be back in style to some extent now.