My name is not Bruce Banner, I want pants that don't rip.
February 14, 2011 12:04 PM Subscribe
I need durable khakis and slacks. Where to get? (US, Bay Area, will order online)
My pants have the disconcerting tendency to tear holes in the crotch, where the leg sleeves meet, despite being loose fitting. So far the most "strenuous" thing I'm putting them through is walking up stairs 2 steps at a time, or kneeling down to pick things up.
Basically, I'd like my pants to last more than a year and withstand what I consider fairly normal activities!
Previously re: khakis
My pants have the disconcerting tendency to tear holes in the crotch, where the leg sleeves meet, despite being loose fitting. So far the most "strenuous" thing I'm putting them through is walking up stairs 2 steps at a time, or kneeling down to pick things up.
Basically, I'd like my pants to last more than a year and withstand what I consider fairly normal activities!
Previously re: khakis
I have had a pair of Bill's Khakis for while now. I wear them at least twice a week and haven't seen any noticeable wear over the last 8 months.
posted by Silvertree at 12:22 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by Silvertree at 12:22 PM on February 14, 2011
Best answer: My carpentery friend swears by Duluth Trading and Carhartt for durability.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:30 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:30 PM on February 14, 2011
What are you doing -- office/business casual stuff, wearing "around town," other stuff?
I am not a guy, nor have I ordered any pants from these folks, but you might try Duluth Trading. They build most of their stuff as heavy-duty workwear, but they do sell chinos for what I would consider a reasonable price. Like the rest of their pants, they have extra room in the crotch; I'd assume they're also built pretty well.
(I know they're listed as "elastic waist pants," but the elastic is hidden and I have no idea if you would need that particular feature, so don't read into it!)
posted by Madamina at 12:32 PM on February 14, 2011
I am not a guy, nor have I ordered any pants from these folks, but you might try Duluth Trading. They build most of their stuff as heavy-duty workwear, but they do sell chinos for what I would consider a reasonable price. Like the rest of their pants, they have extra room in the crotch; I'd assume they're also built pretty well.
(I know they're listed as "elastic waist pants," but the elastic is hidden and I have no idea if you would need that particular feature, so don't read into it!)
posted by Madamina at 12:32 PM on February 14, 2011
My husband is really hard on pants and these pants from Lands End work out really well for him. They're frequently on sale for $30/pair and they hem them to your exact specifications.
posted by ACN09 at 12:40 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by ACN09 at 12:40 PM on February 14, 2011
Response by poster: What are you doing -- office/business casual stuff, wearing "around town," other stuff?
Office casual, wearing around town. I walk about a mile a day from transit to work and back, but yeah, I'm not doing anything harder on them than going up and down stairs and/or sometimes lifting things.
posted by yeloson at 12:42 PM on February 14, 2011
Office casual, wearing around town. I walk about a mile a day from transit to work and back, but yeah, I'm not doing anything harder on them than going up and down stairs and/or sometimes lifting things.
posted by yeloson at 12:42 PM on February 14, 2011
I seem to recall that the pants from Duluth Trading have a gusseted crotch, which might resolve the problem. LLBean has a legendary guarantee, and sells khakis.
posted by theora55 at 12:49 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by theora55 at 12:49 PM on February 14, 2011
My L.L. Bean khakis' hems still wear out. (Honestly, it's the only thing that fails, but it does.) Same for Lands' End, Gap, and everyone else. So far my d0rky 5.11 Tactical Khakis are holding up great, but I am ashamed to say I actually own any. :7)
The Duluth Trading trousers look good, but I don't want to risk shiipping costs both ways just to try them on.
Can you find a "workwear" shop (that carries Dickies, Carhartt, et al.) in your area and look there?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:55 PM on February 14, 2011
The Duluth Trading trousers look good, but I don't want to risk shiipping costs both ways just to try them on.
Can you find a "workwear" shop (that carries Dickies, Carhartt, et al.) in your area and look there?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:55 PM on February 14, 2011
dickies hold up great, and good sales on their website...
posted by fozzie33 at 1:21 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by fozzie33 at 1:21 PM on February 14, 2011
Best answer: Previously, previously. At a quick guess, your pants may be too loose. Fabric is pretty bendable, your pants would have no problems doing the splits without you in them, they mostly rip when you're actually pulling the seam apart (imagine if your pants were around your ankles). Make sure your pants don't sag in the crotch.
posted by anaelith at 2:06 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by anaelith at 2:06 PM on February 14, 2011
Best answer: My pants have the disconcerting tendency to tear holes in the crotch, where the leg sleeves meet, despite being loose fitting. So far the most "strenuous" thing I'm putting them through is walking up stairs 2 steps at a time, or kneeling down to pick things up.
like anaelith, i suspect part of the problem might be that your pants are too loose there and the fabric's rubbing up against itself more than it should. if your seat and crotch are too big, this is one of the things that tends to happen.
posted by lia at 2:09 PM on February 14, 2011
like anaelith, i suspect part of the problem might be that your pants are too loose there and the fabric's rubbing up against itself more than it should. if your seat and crotch are too big, this is one of the things that tends to happen.
posted by lia at 2:09 PM on February 14, 2011
That's where my pants always tend to wear out first. My assumption has always been that it's because of how they fit & rub when I walk. Based on your several miles a day of walking I'd assume a similar cause.
If that's the cause I think what you need to get pants that fit differently if you want a longer life. Perhaps a longer inseam, or you need to wear them at a slightly different height.
posted by phearlez at 2:13 PM on February 14, 2011
If that's the cause I think what you need to get pants that fit differently if you want a longer life. Perhaps a longer inseam, or you need to wear them at a slightly different height.
posted by phearlez at 2:13 PM on February 14, 2011
Carhartt's, yes. My wardrobe has slowly evolved into 70/30 Carhartt /dress. They make decent clothes and not all of them look like your going out to cut wood.
Living in Duluth, Duluth Trading Co has always weirded me out just slightly, it has nothing to do with Duluth (I'm sure they make good clothes though)
posted by edgeways at 3:11 PM on February 14, 2011
Living in Duluth, Duluth Trading Co has always weirded me out just slightly, it has nothing to do with Duluth (I'm sure they make good clothes though)
posted by edgeways at 3:11 PM on February 14, 2011
Not a dude, but helped one sort out his wardrobe today. Looked at many khakis of various vintages. The durability winner -- quite amazingly so -- were the "Lee Performance Khakis." On Amazon, here, with lots of reviews. Very cheap; a cursory Google is finding them to be about $20.
posted by kmennie at 4:17 PM on February 14, 2011
posted by kmennie at 4:17 PM on February 14, 2011
Response by poster: Make sure your pants don't sag in the crotch.
Huh. I guess I'll have to hit up a tailor for alterations then? I usually have to buy up a few sizes waist-wise to get something that I can get my thighs into.
posted by yeloson at 4:44 PM on February 14, 2011
Huh. I guess I'll have to hit up a tailor for alterations then? I usually have to buy up a few sizes waist-wise to get something that I can get my thighs into.
posted by yeloson at 4:44 PM on February 14, 2011
Perhaps bespoke would be cheaper in the long run. Raja is a well-known name (though I have no awareness of their quality) but about once a year I hear from a friend that they've arranged to purchase a few suits from some operation that has a local person doing the measurements and sending off the orders overseas. It's not as cheap as off-the-rack but it may be cheaper than buying stuff over and over again.
Googling "suit made to order" turns of a lot of places that will do custom trousers.
posted by phearlez at 3:01 PM on February 15, 2011
Googling "suit made to order" turns of a lot of places that will do custom trousers.
posted by phearlez at 3:01 PM on February 15, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by iamabot at 12:08 PM on February 14, 2011