Finding a few pairs of lightweight pants for staying cool in the summer is a necessity for most modern men. There are so many occasions that pop up where shorts just won't cut it. Not to mention the guys who just don't like flashing their calves around.
Finding the right pair of lightweight pants is no easy task, even if you plan on spending a lot of time in the fitting room. With so many materials, styles, and body types to consider it can be a little overwhelming.
Fortunately, we collected several personal recommendations for summer pants that are:
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Good looking
- Affordable
These are the pants that need to be in your drawer!
The Best Men's Lightweight Pants for Staying Cool AND Looking Cool
Let's jump right into our recommendations and why these pants belong in your collection:
Active guys with a little extra cash should try out the LULULEMON Commission Pant Classic Warpstreme (see them on Amazon)
Why these lightweight pants are great
- Very high quality and durable
- Super versatile for both business and play
- Very comfortable around your balls
Chris Blachut from The Unconventional Route loves these pants. According to him:
They're the opposite of Superman. On the outside, they're mild-mannered khaki-looking pants that you can wear with a collared shirt to dinner or a bar. On the inside, they're dynamic and nearly invincible—I've worn them on muddy treks in Rwanda and Colombia and they have no stains or scratches to show for it.
Not a bad recommendation for the guy who gets around. Add in Lulu's Anti-Ballcrushing technology (it's a real thing) and you have a pair of pants that are super versatile and still look great. Check them out on Amazon here to learn more.
Active guys on a budget need Eddie Bauer Men's Adventure Trek Pant (see them on Amazon)
Why these lightweight pants are great
- Great value for the price
- Look good enough for most social occasions
- Especially good for moister climates
Brady Frasier from Twotrailbirds.com has been wearing these for years. According to him:
These have come to be my favorite pants for wearing out, working in, and hiking in. They're made of a nylon/spandex blend with two-way stretch that's smooth and comfortable. They also have classic 5-pocket styling so they look more like jeans or chinos than technical pants, but are more comfortable than any pair of jeans or chinos I've ever had. I wear these any and everywhere and love them. Why you need them: These pants offer by far the best blend of comfort, performance, and style for the very affordable price point.
If you're on a tighter budget and really looking for some lightweight pants for a variety of tasks and adventures these are for you. They are super lightweight and water-resistant (thanks to being 95%) nylon. They are also very comfortable and are especially good for traveling.
It will be really hard to find better pants under $40! Check them out on Amazon here to learn more.
A great mid-range option for active guys is prAna's Men's Brion Lightweight Stretch Pants (see them on Amazon)
Why these lightweight pants are great
- Really lasts a long time
- A ton of different colors to choose from
- Pretty stylish for something so rugged
Another great recommendation from Brady Frasier (this guy really knows his pants):
These are made of super durable, stretchy technical fabric that was originally designed for rock climbing, but this model has a casual 5-pocket style that looks great anywhere. They're UPF 50, water-resistant and the fabric is smooth and breathable to keep you cool when it's hot out, no matter what activity you're doing. Why you need them: These are some of the best performance pants you can buy in a style you can wear at work or out to dinner.
When you're looking for something that's going to last a long time but is well under $100 it's hard to beat the Brion. They also come in a TON of different colors so it's easy to find the right shade for your wardrobe. Or, if you're like me, you can buy several different colors without looking like you never change your pants!
Check them out on Amazon to learn more.
If you want something a little more outdoorsy try Patagonia's Quandary Pants
Why these lightweight pants are great
- Responsibly sourced
- Waterproof coating works really well
- Very comfortable even in high humidity
Trey Lewis from Code:Outdoors lives in Hawaii and is constantly dealing with "Summer" weather. With 365 days a year of warm weather, he's settled on a pair of pants that are incredibly comfortable and sustainably made:
"A good pair of lightweight pants should fit well and be made out of synthetic material such as polyester or nylon. In my opinion, a critical feature of lightweight pants that is often overlooked is a drawstring. A drawstring allows for the fine-tuning of your pant size, so you don't need to wear a belt. Having to wear a heavy belt to keep my pants up kind of defeats the purpose of lightweight pants. Additionally, an extra pocket or two is always helpful for holding my summer adventure gear, whether I'm going on a hike or an urban adventure.
My favorite men's lightweight pants for staying cool in the summer are definitely the Patagonia Men's Quandry Pants. These pants are made of nylon and have a waterproof coating. I've spilled water on them and watched it bead right off. Even though they are waterproof, they are quite breathable, and I've never felt uncomfortable while wearing them. They also have two zippered pockets, one on the rear, and one on the side. I find that these zippered pockets are excellent for holding things that I don't want falling out, such as my keys or wallet.
The thing that I like most about these pants is that they are stylish enough to not only wear on the trail but around town as well. I've had people ask me what kind of pants they are, and they were surprised when I told them that they are Patagonia hiking pants. One thing that you can't see on the website is that these pants have a drawstring around the waist – on the inside of the pants. The drawstring allows for tightening the waist of the pants to* just the right size*. There's no need to wear a belt when I have a pair of pants that fit just right!"
If you need a little more cargo room try out unitop Men's Lightweight Cargo Pants (see them on Amazon)
Why these lightweight pants are great
- Lots of storage space
- Very reasonably priced
- Still looks pretty good at a low price
Admittedly, we're not big fans of cargo pants. However, sometimes you just need a little extra room. For those situations, or if you're just a guy who isn't afraid to stand out from the crowd these pants are a solid choice. Frequent traveler and cargo pant lover Nelson Dean recommends these because:
"I don't spend more than $50 on a pair of pants, I just can't fathom doing so. My best pair of dress pants cost less than $20 so spending more than triple that on another pair of pants just doesn't make sense to me. I'm in a lot of situations where extra pocket space is welcome but half the time that isn't the case. These pants do a great job of being versatile in both situations."
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