Errolson Hugh’s Acronym has defined the techwear aesthetic almost single-handedly—bringing its unique brand of (literal) German engineering to create clothing that genuinely matches functionality with form.

The P10 cargo pant, with a slim silhouette that practically hides the side pockets within the leg shape, is produced in a variety of different fabrics and a myriad of treatments. This attention to detail makes them—depending on the attached suffix (For example: “DS” denotes the pants are made of Schoeller DrySkin, a doubleweave Swiss fabric made for stretch and weather resistance. The suffix “E” signals pants made of encapsulated nylon)—some of the most versatile and weatherproof pants you’d ever own, much less practical pants with plenty of storage. While Acronym items can tend to clock in at the higher end of the price spectrum (innovation doesn’t come cheap!). It’s hard to match Hugh’s impressive body of work.

Ok, we get it—these are some weird cargo pants. What else can you expect from Ader Error? A South Korean label founded in 2014, the brand has tapped into nostalgia and an obsession with modern technology and social media, translated through the lens of Seoul’s burgeoning youth culture. With a focus on unisex design, Ader Error’s silhouettes remain unconventional, but flexible; this approach funnels back to the stock the brand places on self-expression.

These cargo pants are obviously eye-grabbing thanks to the incredibly wide leg shape, but stopping there might be a bit reductive. Cut in the style of pleated trousers, these pants stand out for appearing closer to a more traditional pant than many of the other cargos you’ll find the market—vintage, fashion or otherwise. Of course, just because these appear similar to trousers doesn’t mean they don’t have their quirks (or, more importantly, cargo pant functionality). Aside from the two lateral leg pockets, the Ronil pant has a double knee-like patches and bungee drawstring closures at the cuffs; the latter detail will help reign in that super wide leg… if that’s what you’re going for.

From the mind (and moodboard) of Teddy Santis, Aimé Leon Dore has rapidly established itself as one of the most buzzed-about brands from New York. From hoodies to tailoring, Aimé Leon Dore lies at the intersection of streetwear and luxury fashion, creating pieces that are both accessible and elevated. In other words: kids might come from the branded T-shirts, but evolve into a pair of trousers and topcoat.

Speaking of trousers, the brand’s Utility Cargo Pant operates in much the same way, filling out a few of the label’s Fall/Winter 2019 looks with a pant that, at first glance, appears closer to the brand’s other tailored pieces. With button closures for the upper hip pockets, tapered leg and adjustable cuff buttons, the fit can be as slim (see: “tailored”) as you see fit. These cargo pants are just another instance of Aimé Leon Dore’s contemporary, blended aesthetic.

If you grew up in the United States, there’s no way you’re not familiar with Carhartt. An icon of workwear, the Michigan-based brand has been producing working man’s gear (at a price an honest working man can afford) since 1889. From basic T-shirts to hard-wearing safety gear, Carhartt has been a staple of men’s wardrobes regardless of their profession. While the younger, streetwear-leaning Carhartt Works In Progress (often abbreviated to W.I.P.) line has helped ground the Carhartt brand in more fashion-centric circles, it’s hard to top the original, mainline Carhartt—both in terms of quality and in price.

The Rigby Cargo Pant is built like your average workman’s cargo pant… and that’s the point. Engineered to, as the brand tells it, “have enough flex that you can easily crouch down to fix a busted tail light” and still be robust enough to handle the wear and tear of that kind of work. While the features of these cargos should feel fairly standard-issue, that’s not a negative. Considering the cost-per-wear potential of these cargos, you’ll likely have the budget to invest in multiple pairs—but be able to wear a single pair for an extended period of time before having to replace them.

White pants can be a challenging prospect. How do you avoid stains? How should they fit? Can you even wear them after Labor Day? Throw all those concerns out the window and buy a pair of Dickies Painter Pants. Like Carhartt, Dickies has been an American staple, building clothes that are “built to work” since 1918.

While the 874 pant is the Dickies signature, the Painter Pant is equally iconic. Composed of a strong cotton drill fabric, the pants are triple stitched for strength and durability. While you might not take advantage of the two hammer loops, there’s plenty of utility found in the nine different-sized pockets found throughout the garment. While these pants are fairly uncomplicated, a bit of sizing advice: Because of the stiffer cotton fabric, you’ll want to size up about one or two waist sizes to give yourself a bit of flexibility. It sounds extreme, but that will you to wear (and more importantly, wash) these Dickies right off the rack. It’s obvious, but you can’t beat this cargo pant classic.

Thanks to a blockbuster, fleece-focused collab with Uniqlo, more people are aware of Engineered Garments than ever before. Don’t get confused though: the brand is significantly more than polos or zip-up fleeces. Easily one of the most consistent and beloved brands based in New York, Engineered Garments comes from the mind of Daiki Suzuki. Intersecting between Americana, workwear and heritage sportsman gear, Engineered Garments designs feel both ripped the racks of a Japanese vintage shop and creatively contemporary. While Japan has a long history of reviving and reworking Americana, Engineered Garments is a unique example of a brand (albeit with a Japanese designer) tapping into that cross-pollination from a base in the United States.

With a long history in recreating classic military silhouettes, it makes sense that they’d make a top-notch BDU (short of “Battle Dress Uniform”) cargo pant. While the silhouette and colors can vary from seasonal collection to seasonal collection, the basic unifying factors are what keep this as a closet mainstay. Something akin to a pair of cargo chinos, these twill cargos will generally have an adjustable waist (either by buttons or belted sections) and drawstring closures at the bottom cuff. Whether you’re looking for a piece from one of New York’s best fashion brands, or attempting to reconnect with traditional military style in your daily wardrobe, you’d be well-served by these Engineered Garments cargos.

Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God is at once a streetwear and a luxury brand, blending aspects of basketball-inspired sportswear, modern streetwear and runway label designs into a product offering that feels simultaneously inspired by Michael Jordan and Rick Owens. Known for elongated proportions and a worn-in, grunge aesthetic, it’s a brand that’s been connected to major celebrity names—including Justin Bieber and Kanye West.

Lorenzo’s Jiujitsu Pant take the eponymous martial arts inspiration hand-in-hand with a vintage military pant; the long waist belt clearly pays homage to the obi belt used to denote rank in Jiu Jitsu, while the drawstring cuffs and stone washed olive green or camo chino is a nod to traditional military uniforms. While Fear of God’s take on the cargo pant is certainly on the skinnier side when compared to its competition, these are perhaps closer to a sweatpant or jogger pant than a military reproduction. Naturally, these will pair well with a high top basketball sneaker—like, say, the Nike Air Fear of God 1.

Nike ACG is an interesting beast. While the outdoor-focused line was revived with techwear leanings by Acronym’s Errolson Hugh, his departure from the brand in 2019 hasn’t necessarily removed his influence from Nike ACGs now-heavily ’90s-inspired offering. Case in point: this cargo pant.

Apart from the attached waist belt, these pants look straight out of an Acronym lookbook. Simultaneously slim in the leg, but relaxed above the knee and in the seat, the silhouette feels very reminiscent of Hugh’s work for Acronym. The two saddlebag-sized pockets on either leg features plenty of storage, including a selection of smaller utility pockets tucked within the larger zip pocket. Originally founded as “Nike Hiking” before changing to “ACG,” Hugh proved during his tenure that Nike ACG has the potential to be far more than Nike-branded hiking gear. While the current iteration of Nike ACG has pivoted back to that retro-hiking aesthetic, this pant should please fans who are missing Hugh’s Nike ACG offerings—all while appearing equally at home on both trail and sidewalk.

Before Takahiro Miyashita kicked off his TheSoloist. label, his prolific career began with Number (N)ine. If TakahiroMiyashita The Soloist. Is a luxury label, Number (N)ine erred closer to the blended streetwear aesthetics that informed the work of Undercover’s Jun Takahashi, NIGO’s BAPE and other designers associated with the late-’90s and 2000s’ Ura-Harajuku movement. Founded in 1997, Number (N)ine has since morphed into a cult “archive” label, thanks to its blend of rock-n-roll influences, pop culture references and offbeat takes on everyday silhouettes and Americana garments.

Learning how to design and construct garments by dissembling and reconstructing his own clothing, it makes sense that this Number (N)ine classic—the Hybrid Cargo—has a similar “rebuilt” appeal. While these were popularized by Fall/Winter 2005’s “The High Streets”, collection, the Hybrid Cargo has been reworked with various tweaks and materials throughout Number (N)ine’s history. While some are fusions of two different pant styles (like a pair of jeans and sweatpants) and others are slightly more uniform, the Hybrid Pant is always identified by its bondage strap-like cargo pockets attached to each leg.

Master of modern avant-garde fashion, Rick Owens has managed to simultaneously create a cult like following around practically everything he designs; Owens’ world includes obvious additions like runway collections and footwear collaborations, but also includes homegoods and furniture. When examining his collections, Owens’ work on the runway can appear experimental and abstract; it’s why it’s so surprising that his fanbase is so diverse, including Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Off-White founder (and streetwear Nostradamus) Virgil Abloh. While Owens has amassed a cult following around several of his pieces—Geobasket sneakers and the Mollino leather jacket for a start—his Creatch cargo pants have become an influential staple across the fashion spectrum.

Named for the collection they first appeared in—Spring/Summer 2008’s “Creatch” collection—these pants have appeared in nearly every menswear collection since, either on the runway or, more likely as part of the DRKSHDW diffusion label. While material and finish vary, the pant is essentially a straight-leg, slight drop-crotch trouser with an elasticated waist, adjoining circular velcro sash (a reference to Japanese sarouel pants) and oversized cargo pockets. Although the pant is as classic a Rick silhouette as you can get, the relaxed fit and slim leg silhouette has made the pant a fan favorite regardless of your devotion to the cult of Rick Owens. While the pocket structure is unique—placing the cargo pockets higher along the leg—the unmistakable influence of Owens’ cargos is the extra long drawstring waist closure. If you’re looking for a cargo pant that defies the conventional design, this is an excellent place to start.

Part techwear, part sportswear, Italian brand Stone Island is notorious for both its garment-based innovation as well as its connection to European football hooliganism. While present-day buzz around the brand is thanks in no small part to cosigns from Drake, Stone Island’s cult following has been active since the label was founded in 1982.

While its cargo pants vary depending on the colors, features and unique fabric treatments that Stone Island decides to focus on in any given season, there’s always a variety of cargo pants that hit upon different practicalities. Some of Stone Island’s cargos might look very close to trousers, and feel appropriate in a modern office. Others tap into the brand’s deep roots in fabric innovation. As for the latter, an excellent example includes the Convert Cargo from the brand’s conceptual, Errolson Hugh-helmed Stone Island Shadow Project label. Techwear through and through, the Convert Cargo is a prime example of how far Stone Island can take the cargo pant into the 21st century.

More than just Southwestern-inspired ranch wear, Ralph Lauren’s RRL line explores all types of vintage American fashion, military-inspired garb in particular. Not only does the label offer updated takes on army and navy classics, but additionally the brand sources and then meticulously reproduces some of the most sought after vintage army surplus in the world, perfectly recreating the garments with deadstock fabric and beautifully aged hardware yet still boasting the sort of quality you would expect from luxury militaria. Given that cargos a military must, naturally RRL produces some of the best in the game.

Available in various camo patterns or overdyed indigo, RRL makes numerous versions of its flagship Surplus Cargo pant every season, often swapping out fabrics and pocket placement to reference different eras and vintage pieces. Still, the classic camouflage cargo pair is by far the favorite. Available year on—and always at a steal on Grailed—these are exactly the sort of garment that prove why RRL is perennially slept on. Far as we see it, these are some of the best in the game.

Since the brand was founded in 1996, WTAPS has relentlessly explored and painstakingly remade the vast universe of vintage military. An avid collector, founder Testu Nishiyama sources vintage army, navy and air force pieces from various countries which then serve as reference pieces for wide-ranging collections that include everything from cotton basics to updated military-grade outerwear. Though in recent seasons the brand has steered away from its once-exclusively militaristic aesthetic and embraced more modern tenets of streetwear, the standout has always been the army inspired gear—and cargos in particular.

Though the label offers numerous different cuts and styles each season, the perennial favorite is the hallmark Jungle Country pant. Based off of a Vietnam War-era reference, the pant features a straight-leg cut with two oversized cargo pockets at the thigh and two rear concealed flap pockets at the back. While fabrics change from season to season, the original pair in camouflage cotton twill is always in stock (and by far our favorite). Even if print isn’t your thing, you can always find variations in neutrals like black or khaki. You can’t get much closer to the source than these.

Though still unfamiliar to many, climbing and outdoors focused label Grammici is quickly becoming a hit not just amongst gorpcore nerds, but menswear fans in general for its adjustable climbing pants and shorts. Though best known for its NN pants, recently the label has taken its trademark silhouette and expanded from slim-straight stretch cotton twill to wider cuts and even cargos.

Boasting the same beloved details as the original climbing pants—and of course the addition of two cargo pockets on the thigh—the Gramicci cargos are quickly becoming some of our favorites amongst up-and-coming brands. Entirely utilitarian with both functionality and practicality in mind, these no-nonsense cargos are just as suited in a climbing gym as they are in your daily routine. Plus the fit—as long as you opt for the wider cut, that is—is perfect.

While its focus was traditionally graphic tees and jeans, as of late Stussy has vastly diversified its product offering, expanding into tailoring, outerwear and, of course, cargos. Sticking to streetwear classics, Stussy cargos tend to be on the baggier side, and favor ripstop and nylon fabrics better suited for skating and casual wear than heavy duty manual labor.

In a recent season, Stussy opted for a military grade nylon with a built in belt, bungee cord adjustable hems and, as a bonus touch, taped seams for additional durability and water resistance. The best part of these? The price. With a retail cost of just $140 (likely to be even less on Grailed), Stussy cargos are easily the best bang for your buck on this list. Those features at this price are hard to argue with.

When it comes to honoring vintage garments, no brand does a better job than Visvim. In fact, founder Hiroki Nakamura scours the earth for the best references many can buy then goes to obscene lengths to match—and often even surpass—the level of quality. The “Jumbo” series is one such example.

While it’s usually the Jumbo hoodies–oversized blank collegiate hoodies in various rare colors—that receive the bulk of the attention, other Jumbo pieces are worthy of investigating, the cargo pant in particular. Officially called the Jumbo Eiger Sanction pant, Visvim’s take on a military cargo pant is made from a cotton ripstop with dual cinch tabs at the waist for easy size adjustment, reinforced pockets and seat for durability, and cinched hems perfect for either boots or sneakers. Being Visvim, each detail is pristine, from perfect stitch matching to the individually sourced vintage buttons. These certainly don’t come cheap, but for some of the best made clothes money can buy, they are well worth the investment.