← Back to reviews

WEAR & CARRY · COMPARISON

The Best Work Pants: Carhartt vs. Duluth vs. Dickies

A good pair of work pants doesn't need to be complicated. Getting comfort, toughness and pockets right in one pair is harder than it sounds.

They need to be comfortable enough to wear all day, tough enough to survive whatever you throw at them, and practical enough that you're not constantly fighting with the pockets, waistband or fit.

For this comparison, we're looking at three of the biggest names in workwear: Carhartt, Duluth Trading and Dickies. All three make good work pants, but they take very different approaches.

Carhartt leans toward durability and traditional workwear. Duluth puts more emphasis on comfort and features. Dickies keeps things simple and affordable.

The three contenders

Carhartt Rugged Flex Rigby Dungaree

Carhartt has been making workwear long enough that the name is practically synonymous with the category. The Rugged Flex Rigby Dungaree is a good example of how the company has adapted its traditional workwear without completely abandoning what made it popular in the first place.

The pants use an 8-ounce cotton/spandex canvas with Carhartt's Rugged Flex stretch material. That gives them considerably more movement than the stiff work pants many people associate with old-school Carhartt.

They're built with a relaxed seat and thigh, and the pocket layout gives you the basics you'd expect from a work pant, along with dedicated utility and phone storage. Current pricing is around $50 to $55 depending on the retailer.

The biggest advantage is that they feel like actual work pants without being miserable to wear. They're tough enough for the garage, yard, jobsite or workshop, but the stretch makes squatting, climbing and getting in and out of a truck much easier.

If you want one pair that can handle a little bit of everything, this is probably where I'd start.

Duluth Trading Fire Hose Pants

Duluth takes a different approach. The company's Fire Hose pants are built around a heavier-duty canvas, with the DuluthFlex versions adding stretch for mobility. They're also known for adding practical features that you don't always get from traditional work pants.

Duluth's pocket layouts are particularly good if you actually use your pockets for work. Phone pockets, utility pockets and additional storage make them more useful when you don't want to wear a tool belt for every little job.

The tradeoff is price. You're generally spending more on Duluth than Dickies, and often a little more than Carhartt as well. Current comparisons put the Fire Hose line around $60 to $75 depending on the model.

Where Duluth really stands out is comfort. The combination of stretch, roomier cuts and features like a gusseted crotch makes them particularly appealing if your work involves a lot of bending, kneeling or climbing.

These are the pants I'd look at if comfort is almost as important as durability.

Dickies 874 FLEX

Then there's Dickies. The 874 has been around for decades and has become one of the most recognizable work pants on the market. The basic formula hasn't needed much reinventing: durable twill, straightforward pockets, a classic fit and a relatively low price.

The 874 FLEX adds mechanical stretch to the traditional design, along with moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant properties. Dickies currently lists the 874 FLEX at $34.99, although sales can bring that price down further.

That's what makes Dickies so appealing. You can buy a couple pairs for roughly what you'd spend on one premium pair of work pants.

The 874 isn't going to give you the same heavy-duty feel or feature set as the Duluth Fire Hose pants. But for everyday work, uniforms, shop work or jobs where pants are simply going to get dirty and worn out, it's tough to argue with the value.

How they compare

	Carhartt Rugged Flex	Duluth Fire Hose	Dickies 874 FLEX
Price	~$50–55	~$60–75	~$35
Durability	Excellent	Excellent	Good
Comfort	Very good	Excellent	Good
Stretch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pockets	Very good	Excellent	Basic
Mobility	Very good	Excellent	Good
Best for	General work	Comfort + hard use	Value
Overall	Best overall	Best comfort	Best value

Which pants are the most comfortable?

I'd give this one to Duluth. The stretch and roomier designs make a noticeable difference if you're moving around all day. The gusseted designs are particularly useful if your job involves climbing, kneeling or repeatedly getting into awkward positions.

Carhartt isn't far behind. The Rugged Flex material does a good job of making traditional workwear more comfortable without making it feel like athletic clothing. Dickies FLEX is comfortable enough, but the overall design is more basic.

Winner: Duluth

Which are the toughest?

This is much closer. Carhartt has built its reputation around making clothes that can take abuse, and the Rugged Flex pants strike a good balance between durability and flexibility. Duluth's Fire Hose material is also extremely tough, and that's probably the better choice if you're particularly hard on your pants.

Dickies can absolutely handle normal work, but the 874 FLEX is built more around versatility and value than extreme durability.

Winner: Carhartt, with Duluth extremely close behind

Which has the best pockets?

Duluth. This isn't particularly close. If you're someone who carries a phone, tape measure, utility knife, keys, wallet and other small tools, Duluth's pocket layouts are much more thoughtfully designed.

Carhartt gives you useful work-oriented pockets without going overboard. Dickies sticks with the basics.

Winner: Duluth

Which is the best value?

This is where Dickies makes its case. At roughly $35 for the 874 FLEX, you're getting a legitimate work pant from an established workwear brand for considerably less money than the Carhartt or Duluth options.

If you need four or five pairs of work pants, the difference adds up quickly. And there's something to be said for not being afraid to beat up a $35 pair of pants.

Winner: Dickies

So which work pants should you buy?

After looking at all three, there's no single winner for everybody.

Buy the Carhartt Rugged Flex Rigby if you want the best all-around work pant. It's the one I'd recommend to the widest range of people. It's durable, comfortable, reasonably priced and versatile enough for everything from construction and shop work to yard projects.

Buy the Duluth Fire Hose if comfort and features are your priority. They're the premium option of these three, but the extra money gets you a very comfortable pant with excellent storage and mobility.

Buy the Dickies 874 FLEX if you want the best value. At roughly $35, it's hard to complain. You can buy multiple pairs, rotate them throughout the week and not feel bad when they eventually get covered in grease, paint, mud or whatever else your job throws at you.