These Cargo Pants Are So Good They'll Make You Believe in Cargo Pants Again
Welcome to The Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.
Talk all you want about the swinging of the pendulum, but there is a (perhaps uncomfortable) truth we need to acknowledge: Cargo pants never really went anywhere. The bad ones? Yeah, they were bad. They were big and boring and, despite all promises to the contrary, pretty much useless. The problem is that they dusted all the good cargo pants—the BDUs and the teched-out options alike—with their stink. But the good ones were there; they were just hidden.
Well, the time has come for change. You! Over there! When's the last time you considered a really good, really useful, impressively well-designed pair of cargos that don't make you look like a try-hard dad, but instead make you look (shudder) kinda cool? Oh, it's been a while? Well, let me introduce you to Nike ACG's indispensable cargo pants.
They're cool. Just deal with it.
Nike ACG has gone through a few iterations. First came the big, bold, hiking-and-other-outdoor-shit inspired era, replete with highlighter colors and enough vintage appeal to fuel an enthusiast's blog or two. After that, a long slumber. And after that? Errolson Fuckin' Hugh, baby! The designer of much-loved techwear brand Acronym brought a futuristic, super-technical approach to the brand that put it back on everyone's radar. He's since moved on, but the latest iteration of ACG blends the old with the new to impressive effect.
You can actually use the pockets.
Yes, a cargo pocket can be employed to carry stuff. Not too much stuff, mind you, but it can be done. You know what helps? Intelligently designed pockets that focus on compartmentalization and interior spaces as much as the core premise of "pants that happen to have large pockets on them." Nike ACG's version has a little nook for your phone, your keys, and so much more. What's your poison? A midday croissant? A little bag of Cheez-Its? Oh, it's your sunglasses? A reasonable carry instead of an indulgent snack? Well, fine. There's a pocket for that, too.
They're built for this kind of moment.
Listen: I don't want to get all, "The world has changed and we'll need to adjust to this new reality," on you, but the world has changed and we'll need to adjust to this new reality. Part of that adjustment, at least for now, means a lot fewer far-flung adventures and a lot more near-home exploration. You don't exactly need a rucksack for that, but having a pair of pants that hold all the essentials is a nice thing when you're rediscovering the nooks and crannies of that cul-de-sac around the corner. You're an explorer now! Just remember to keep your mask on and to return any treasures—handily stored in your ergonomically optimized cargo pants—to the proper authorities.
Photography and prop styling by Allie Holloway
You Might Also Like
