A couple decades ago, the best golf pants used to be one thing: giant-fit, triple-pleated behemoths designed to pull double duty at the office. But as golf’s fashion bona fides progressed in leaps and bounds, the pants associated with the sport have evolved along with it. This means that today, there’s a silhouette for whatever course you’re playing and whatever tee-to-green style you favor. Fancy yourself a health juice-swilling, single-digit handicapper looking to milk every last drop of performance out of your gear? Links-ready jogger pants provide elite-level comfort and allow you to show off your rarest golf kicks (which, yes, are also a thing). Looking to cosplay as a ‘70s tour pro while you post your longest drives to IG? There are plenty of options out there that provide the old-school aesthetics you want without compromising on the comfort and breathability you need.
Companies like Nike, Adidas, and Ralph Lauren still sell some of the sickest middle-of-the-fairway silhouettes, but men’s golf attire doesn’t stop there with the big boys. A crop of new-school golf brands is taking the big swings necessary to help you stand out in the clubhouse, on the course, and in that sandy bunker way off the green. If you’re a diehard fan of the sport, you’re probably used to waiting. But we’re not. So we rounded up a hard-driving roster of the very best golf pants on the market right now to help you tee up like a pro.
The Best Golf Pants, According to GQ
Best Overall Golf Pants: Lululemon ABC Classic Fit Trousers
Lululemon’s ABC pants are our favorite bottoms for a handful of reasons. First, their proprietary Warpstreme fabric is one of the most comfortable in the biz, golf-related or not. The four-way stretch is responsive, allowing for a full range of movement without getting stretched out and shapeless after a few wears. They come in five different lengths and eleven waist sizes, meaning every guy can dial in the perfect fit, and they look great dressed up at the country club or dressed down at the local muni.
Best Budget Golf Pants: Nike Tour 5-Pocket
The Nike Tour 5-Pocket is a classic. Its five-pocket design is casual and convenient—nothing is worse than trying to wedge your hand into an oddly angled pocket to yank out a tee or ball marker. The smooth, stretchy fabric is comfortable year-round and the slim fit is flattering without veering toward the too-tight side of the spectrum. Don’t be surprised if you start wanting to wear these off the course, too.
Best Golf Pants for Bigger Guys: Adidas Ultimate365 Golf Pants
If the five-pocket-pants vibe isn’t for you, then we recommend picking up the Adidas Ultimate365 Golf Pants, which feature more classic tailoring and traditional pocketing for a sleek, put-together look. Don’t get it twisted, though, these are full of performance features that meet the needs of PGA pros and weekend warriors, alike. They’re infused with elastane for multi-directional stretch and enhanced mobility and a water-resistant finish keeps you dry when the clouds open up on you. Plus, they’re available in up to size 52, which makes them great for bigger guys, as well.
Best Gold Joggers: Bonobos Tour Golf Jogger
Dudes have become so accustomed to sweats that they want to wear them, gulp, outside all the time. We don’t want to yuck your yum, but c’mon dude, put on some real pants every now and again. If you’re really a stickler for staying comfy (or you’re sick of not being able to wear your stained sweats onto the course, a good pair of joggers is like the perfect concession. Bonobos’ Tour joggers feature an elastic ankle cuff that keeps things nice and tidy around your swanky shoes, and since they’re available in multiple inseam lengths, you can get a pair with just the right amount of cropped to avoid any excessive pooling. Their construction means they’re almost as comfortable as your usual bottoms, but without all the stigma that comes with wearing sweats all day. We also like the clasp closure, which makes them feel even more elevated than your regular ol’ chinos.
Best High-End Golf Pants:Manors Greenskeeper Pant
An ode to the team that keeps the golf course looking pristine, the Groundskeeper pants blend performance nylon with a workwear-inspired silhouette and pleats for a gorpy look and feel that will probably never go out of style. As long as there are groundskeepers, there will be groundskeeper pants. The fit is casual but still fits in on the course with the proliferation of nylon and polyester apparel you can buy these days, so you don’t have to worry about getting a side eye from the other folks in the clubhouse.
Best Lightweight Golf Pants: Johnnie-O Momentum Stretch Knit
Another brand that makes high-performing golf apparel with traditional styling, Johnnie-O is bringing coastal style to the golf masses, developing apparel that looks at home on Nantucket, Manhattan Beach, the country club and even on the first tee of your favorite goat track. They’re extremely lightweight, so if you prefer pants, even in the heat of summer, these will be your new favorite for steamy, humid rounds in the southeast or desert golf out west.
Best Golf Rain Pants: Goldwin Cordura Stretch Cargo Pants
So these aren’t explicitly golf pants, but Goldwin knows performance and it knows style, two things that are essential to golf fashion in 2024. The cargo pockets make toting your tees and extra golf ball around, but, hell, you could even stow your rangefinder in one of those bad boys. The straight leg fits in exceptionally well on the golf course, and the buckled waist looks great if you decide to tuck in your shirt. Finally, they’re made with Cordura, so you know they’ll stand up to anything on the golf course, including a brief bushwhack through the woods to find a lost golf ball or an unexpected downpour during the 18th hole.
More Golf Pants We Love
If you love the look of classic chinos but want something more modern and stylish, you need to check out the Quiet Golf Players Pants (and all of their apparel, to be honest). They’re mostly cotton, so they have that soft feel and iconic look of vintage golf pants, but Quiet incorporated nylon and spandex to make them a performance powerhouse, too. The sizing is not expansive, but the fit is impeccable and everything Quiet Golf makes is absolutely made to last.
Calling your marquee pair of golf pants the “Best Pant” is a big swing, but Bogey Boys pulls it off. These pants feel like something straight out of Caddyshack, blending ‘70s and ’80s golf style with a modern poly blend that is, frankly, just way more comfortable than you’d ever expect. The crease and flat front is an iconic combo, which you can rock with a big-collared vintage polo or your favorite Nike Dri-FIT polo, with Vans or golf shoes, with a trucker cap or Yankee fitted. We’ve never gotten more compliments on the golf course than when we wear these pants.
The old heads know what they’re doing, too. RLX, the golf-focused label from Ralph Lauren, makes performance apparel that lets you move and breathe on the course while still dialing in the quintessential very Ralph look. Their silhouettes all borrow from traditional RL looks, upgraded with polyesters and nylons to wick sweat and let you swing your swing.
Radmor was founded by a legend of the denim industry, so it’s no surprise that their pants make our list. The James Pleated Pant is made from a sustainable, soft, comfortable blend of cotton, lyocell and elastane, which lets you move freely throughout the course, while still looking stylish off the course. As an added bonus, the pants have a UPF rating of 50+ to protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. The pants’ cropped fit makes them great for rounds in the heat of summer and the double pleats will fit in at that dinner res you’re rushing to after your round goes long.
Tradition, performance, classic looks: these are the pillars of Dunning’s brand. The Liam golf trousers fit that to a tee. They combine the performance of stretch material with the iconic look of cotton seersucker, resulting in a pair of pants youll want to wear all summer long. They come in a huge range of sizes and can easily be paired with a polo and a sweater or a t-shirt. Bonus points because they don’t look like golf pants at all.
Show out on the course, damn everyone else. These pants from Students make a statement with a classic hunting motif and workwear-inspired cotton twill construction. Somehow, though, in today’s golf style landscape, these aren’t even the freakiest trousers you’ll see (plus, anything, and we mean anything, is better than denim). Like all of Students’ golf apparel, the price is right and they’re made to last, so please, wear these into the ground and send a proverbial middle finger to the grumbling grouchy golfers who give you grief.
What to Look For in Golf Pants
Materials: When it comes to golf pants, the fabric can make a big difference in how comfy they are, how flexible you feel, and, ultimately, how well you play. Cotton is a classic choice that’s breathable, soft, and easy-wearing. It feels nice against the skin and is perfect for mild weather. Polyester and synthetic blends have become popular in golf because they wick away sweat and move with you, keeping you dry on the course. These materials are also lightweight, durable, and wrinkle-resistant, making them a practical option for a full day of golf or a long round in the summer. Spandex is often mixed with other materials to add stretch and flexibility, so you can swing your club without feeling restricted.
