Cargo Pants Guide: How to Choose, Fit and Style Them

Cargo pants are trousers with large patch pockets on the sides of the thighs. In our scan of 149 Indian streetwear brand websites, 61 brands sell cargo pants, across 1,405 product listings. This guide covers the fits, the fabrics, how to find your size and how to wear them.

#Where cargo pants came from

Cargo pants trace back to the British Army's Battle Dress uniform of 1938. Its trousers had a large pocket on the front of the thigh to hold maps. Paratroopers in the Second World War wore trousers with large thigh pockets, so the style spread. In the 1990s, cargo pants became part of hip-hop and skate style.

#The four main fits

If you are short, choose a straight or tapered fit. A very baggy cargo with a long hem cuts the leg line. Read Oversized T-Shirts for Short Men for more height tricks.

#Fabrics

Ripstop has a grid of thicker threads woven in. The grid stops a small tear from spreading. Cotton twill is the best choice for heat, because it breathes. Nylon dries fast but traps heat.

#Pockets and details to check

1. Check that the side pockets close. A flap with a button or a zip keeps your phone safe.
2. Check the stitching at the pocket corners. Corners take the most strain. Look for a double line of stitching.
3. Check the waist. A drawstring or an elastic back adds comfort. A belt loop lets you add a belt.
4. Check the hem. A drawstring or a button hem lets you change the length.

#How to find your size

• Buy your normal waist size. Cargo pants usually follow the same waist sizes as jeans.
• Check the inseam, which is the length from the crotch to the hem. The hem must end at the top of your shoe for straight and baggy fits.
• If you are between sizes, choose the bigger size and use a belt. A tight waist makes the pockets pull open.
• Check the thigh width in the size chart. Large pockets need room, or they bulge.

#How to style cargo pants

#With an oversized tee

The streetwear uniform. Wear a plain or graphic oversized tee with black, olive or beige cargos and chunky sneakers. Keep the tee simple, because the pockets add detail. Read How to Style an Oversized T-Shirt for Men.

#With a hoodie

In winter, wear a pullover hoodie with straight cargos. Read Hoodie vs Sweatshirt to choose the top.

#With a baby tee or crop top

Women can wear a fitted baby tee with baggy, low-rise cargos for a Y2K look. Read What Is a Baby Tee? and Y2K Streetwear.

#With a boxy shirt

A boxy short-sleeve shirt with straight cargos and slides works for summer. Read Boxy Fit Shirts.

#Colours

Start with olive, black or beige. These three go with almost every tee. Grey and navy are next. Camouflage is a strong print, so wear it with a plain top only.

#Care

• Wash cargos inside out in cold water. This keeps the colour and protects the pocket flaps.
• Empty all the pockets before you wash.
• Dry them in the shade. Strong sun fades olive and black fast.