Khakis that fit like 501s?

[GargleBlaster]

I ride my bicycle everywhere. School is a 5-mile commute. Jeans aren't the most comfortable thing to ride in, especially in the summer, but my 501s have the perfect rise in the back.

I had some slim fit Lands End Canvas khakis, but a) the rise was too low and b) they were too small in the thighs for a cyclist.

I also had some Ralph Lauren replicas of WWII-era military khakis. They were nice to ride in, although they were too full to be stylish.

Other khakis I've looked at online have a smaller rise than 501s (I can't find the measurement for 501s right now). Are there khakis with a similar fit?

 

[Froosh]

Check out http://outlier.cc/

 

[GargleBlaster]

Ouch, breaking the bank a bit. They're only gonna last about a year regardless. They don't need to be designed specifically for cycling, as long as they have enough rise. What is there at $100 or less?

 

[otc]

Well they used to have a khaki colored 501stf. They stopped making them and I think replaced them with the "tobacco" color which I don't like (and they may have stopped making that too)

They are/were some of my favorite pants. They were the only pants I brought when I was backpacking around europe in 2009 and they have frequently made it to the office since they were khaki colored with non-contrasting stitching so nobody would call me out on wearing jeans.

Only problems are that eventually the STFs shrunk enough in the length that they are honestly too short for a lot of shoes ( I bought a pair in another color and went 2 inches longer...and they have always felt too long and need hemming) but for a while they were perfect. Also, after enough rough washes, they have faded enough that they are starting to be a lot closer to white than khaki which means they look dingy really fast.

I think biking in them has worn a bit of a hole in the crotch that I noticed while wearing them last weekend...but that's not bad for some $35 pants I bought in early 2009 and put through some pretty hard wear. It would be awesome if there was a NOS source for them (or if they reissued the color).

 

[xchen]

I'll echo froosh and say outlier as well... the price may seem a bit steep but for what you get the price is really fair. Fabric is amazing and for the heat it's about the best thing I've ever worn.

 

[rorschach128]

Levi's has a 505 khaki right now. The 505 is identical to the 501 except it has a zip fly.

 

[GargleBlaster]

If my objection to my Levi's were that they were the wrong color, I'd go for the 505s in khaki. But the real problem is the weight of the denim.

I notice that all the Outlier pants are synthetic blends. I try to stay away from synthetics. Maybe it's an affectation, but I prefer natural fibers. Do they feel different than cotton khakis would? Are there any particular ones on that page that you have in mind?

 

[rorschach128]

If my objection to my Levi's were that they were the wrong color, I'd go for the 505s in khaki. But the real problem is the weight of the denim.
I notice that all the Outlier pants are synthetic blends. I try to stay away from synthetics. Maybe it's an affectation, but I prefer natural fibers. Do they feel different than cotton khakis would? Are there any particular ones on that page that you have in mind?

You hadn't mentioned anything about the weight but the khaki's are a different weight than the denim, it's a khaki trouser not a khaki jean.

 

[GargleBlaster]

Well, I did say "Jeans aren't the most comfortable thing to ride in" Those 505 khakis look decent. I might get them. Shame about the jean pockets in back.

 

[otc]

Hmm, I see that the 501 is available in Sand which looks pretty close to the khaki I loved (although a bit lighter maybe so it might fade out faster).

I personally never had much issue riding bikes in them...but there is a tradeoff between how strong of a fabric and how quickly you will blow out the crotch.

As far as the back pockets go, I have a pair of brown 501s and I took a seam ripper to the arches on the back to get rid of the jeans-style contrast stitching. They are still jeans pockets and not slits like chinos but it toned down the look enough that I can wear them to the office if I'm feeling lazy (or riding the motorcycle).

 

[GargleBlaster]

It seems like it's more the tightness of jeans compared to my khakis that makes them wear out at the crotch.

 

[Bradford]

What about the whole Levi's Commuter collection?

http://us.levi.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=11844101

Yes, the pants are 511 skinny cut, but they are designed for bicycling so I would guess the rise is good. And wouldn't skinny cut be better on a bike anyway, so your pant leg doesn't catch on the chain?

 

[GargleBlaster]

I went to the mall the other day, and found a shop selling Bill's Khakis. The material really is a world apart from the khakis I saw in other shops, so I bought them. The M2 is cut differently than the 501, but it's still a good fit.

Those Commuter trousers would probably also have been good. Not so much the jeans IMHO, just because of how heavy denim is. Skinny can be good, as long as they're loose enough not to bind. As for the legs, I always roll them up no matter how skinny, so if it does touch the chain (and it is almost unavoidable that it will happen some time), the grease gets smeared on the inside, where no one will see it once I dismount and unpeg.