Breathable, full-length pants for a big and tall guy

August 27, 2023 7:56 PM

For years, I've been wearing full-length jeans or slacks in public due to discoloration and damage to one of my legs from a DVT many years ago. I'd prefer not to wear shorts in public. (I regularly wear shorts around the house or in the yard.) Recent extremely high temperatures have made it difficult for me to continue to wear jeans or slacks when I'm outside in public for extended periods of time. Are there thin, breathable, full-length pants of some sort available for those with a 46-48" waist and a 32-34" midseam?
posted by I EAT TAPAS to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (15 answers total)

I am guessing tactical pants with 65% polyester / 35% cotton is not going to be light enough for you? I know LAPoliceGear.com have them in your size, and I've bought stuff from there that's quite decent. Tactical pants are regular pants with extra pockets.
posted by kschang at 8:31 PM on August 27, 2023

Duluth trading and Carhartt have some options.

Nordstrom actually has a pretty good search feature.
posted by oceano at 8:39 PM on August 27, 2023

Westport big and tall sells linen pants
posted by brujita at 8:58 PM on August 27, 2023

What you want are tropical weight pants.
posted by SageTrail at 10:36 PM on August 27, 2023 [1 favorite]

Could you wear running trousers/leggings, with a pair of shorts over them if necessary?
posted by alby at 2:09 AM on August 28, 2023

There are pants, mostly of the work or hiking variety, that have mesh panel that allow air to flow while still providing concealment.
posted by Mitheral at 2:50 AM on August 28, 2023

Look at chef pants. Designed to be cool in hot kitchens, good range of sizing available.
posted by corvine at 3:18 AM on August 28, 2023

Golf pants tend to be lightweight and breathable.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:47 AM on August 28, 2023

Tommy Bahama has some good b&t stuff, and it’s focused on outdoor and resort apparel. Linen blend pants in size 2XLB appear to be in your size range.
posted by Mizu at 3:59 AM on August 28, 2023

For Duluth Trading, specifically check out the dry on the fly pants
posted by superna at 4:11 AM on August 28, 2023

You could wear a skirt. I have nine and wear them exclusively. They are extremely durable, have excellent pockets, and are very comfortable in the heat. But do you have the courage to be a fashion trendsetter?
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:53 AM on August 28, 2023 [1 favorite]

I would recommend hemp. I personally don’t consider anything polyester or majority polyester “breathable”. It doesn’t feel that way to me, anyway, but individual tastes vary. Mine are women’s and I don’t see any men’s on the site now, but I got hemp pants from Muji and they are so loose, comfortable, and breathable. I wore them out on a chilly day and was freezing, all the air got in.
posted by wheatlets at 4:56 AM on August 28, 2023

So for the most part all these pants you'll be recommended are made out of artificial fabrics. Tactical pants are disgusting and oily and you'll be sad. (Though there's a hemp rec too I see.) I suggest you pivot the other way! All-cotton summer-weight pants are going to be more like pants that you forget and can just bang around in. Take a look at brands like Everlane, Uniqlo, and Bonobos most likely for "chinos" or summer-weight cotton pants of any kind. (Bonobos makes a few versions up to 46.) The best chinos look and act like jeans but are half or a quarter of the weight in simple cotton twill.

There are some highly flexible casual pants, often made for casual bikers, that are artificial blends that are nice but you may not find them in your size. These are nice but seem to top out before a 40; as are these which seem to end at ... 38? Absurd.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 5:36 AM on August 28, 2023

Linen and seersucker are the two most common recommendations for hot weather. To those I’d add lightweight cotton,
posted by slkinsey at 6:02 AM on August 28, 2023 [1 favorite]

If looking "proper" is not a requirement, there are a couple more options:

* Amazon has some fruit of the loom jersey knit pajama lounge pants. These are extremely light, almost translucent in the light, but proper enough except for the button fly. And they are available in huge sizes up to 6X Tall. However, checking buyer comments shows that the lightness is NOT consistent, and more recent batches are thicker.

* There are some "Thai Fisherman Pants" on Amazon that looks to be quite thin as well. Material is not that nice, but the extra-sized pant legs may actually be one size fit most.
posted by kschang at 9:19 AM on August 29, 2023