What are skate pants, what makes them different from regular jeans and pants, and what are the best skate pants on the market?
What Does a Good Pair of Skate Pants Need?
Traditionally, skate pants have been more about aesthetics than practicality.
In the late-90s and early 2000s, it seemed like every kid of a certain age was wearing skating apparel, even though many didn’t own a skateboard and had no intention of learning to skate.
It remains true to this day, although fashions have trended away from baggy pants and toward skinny jeans.
On a practical level, skate pants are made to meet all of the following criteria:
Loose and Unrestricted
Skate pants are typically loose so that the skater can move freely and without restriction.
Tight jeans may be fashionable, but they’re definitely not practical.
It can be difficult to sit down, let alone ride a skateboard, and so skate pants are very loose to provide complete freedom of movement.
There are slim-fit skater jeans out there, but they’re not quite the same as the ones preferred by indie rockers and hipsters and are designed to fit snug while offering complete freedom.
Baggy jeans should fit snug around the waist and not trail below the feet, lest they become a liability.
Strong and Durable
Skaters fall a lot. They will graze their knees, cut their legs, and even break their bones.
Skate pants are designed to protect against some of these injuries and to withstand those repeated falls.
It’s not about protecting the rider—although that will happen to an extent—and is more about ensuring that the pants don’t rip and tear as soon as they are dragged along the ground.
Cool and Light
Skateboarding is an all-weather sport but it’s one that’s often reserved for the summer.
It’s also very popular in blazingly hot locations like the west coast of America and Australia.
The last thing you want when riding in the searing summer heat is for your pants to be thick, dark, and warm.
They’ll trap heat and turn your thighs and groin into a cesspit of sweat.
To counter this, a good pair of skate pants will be cool and loose, allowing for the wind to flow easily.
Practical
Skate pants don’t always have a lot of pockets, but some brands go all-out in this area and some skaters love them.
Extra pockets will give you somewhere to stash your keys, cash, phone, protein bars, and whatever else you need to carry around with you.
Why Do Skaters Wear Baggy Pants?
Skater pants are baggy to give the wearer more freedom.
They can kick, flip, turn, push, and bend without feeling like they are constantly fighting against the material or feeling like it’s going to pop like a belt buckle on Thanksgiving.
What are the Best Skate Pants?
Looking for some quality, lightweight, and strong skating pants? Try the following popular skate pants:
Vans Authentic Chino Glide Pro
These lightweight pants are durable, comfortable, and strong.
You can pick up a pair for less than $100 and there are a few different color options available.
Dickies Men’s Original 874 Work Pants
Work pants have often been used as skate pants as they are hard-wearing and comfortable.
These Dickies pants are made from a blend of polyester and cotton and they are stain-resistant, easy to clean, and great value for money.
Levi’s Silvertabs
Some of the strongest skate pants on the market.
They might be a little more expensive, but for some high-quality skate pants, you can’t go wrong.
Rothro Camo BDU Militaru Cargo Pants
These bulky, comfortable cargo pants feature double-stitched seams, drawstring ankle ties, and pockets on the front, back, and sides.
The camo styling won’t be for everyone, but if you’re all about practicality and like skate pants with a lot of pockets, they’re ideal.
