Key Takeaways
- Double knee for men: The Skinny Straight Double Knee in English Red is the deepest cut here on a men’s double knee pant.
- The classic 874: The 874 Flex Work Pants sit at the #1 bestseller rank in this group, the pant most people mean when they say Dickies.
- Summer-ready: The Cooling Temp-iq Work Shorts have an active waist, which matters more in June than in any other month.
- Accessory pick: The Basket Weave Leather Belt rounds out the uniform at a fair price.
Double knee work pants are the kind of thing you buy once and forget about for a few years, which is exactly why people search for them by name. The reinforced front panel is the whole point. It is the part that blows out first when you spend your day kneeling on concrete or a roof, and Dickies has been doubling up that fabric for long enough that the design barely needs explaining. Prices verified June 25, 2026.
What I noticed sorting this week’s Berry Basket is how much the men’s work pant pool has shifted toward summer. Half of what came through is built for heat now, not the heavyweight canvas you want in November. There are cooling shorts with a stretch waist, lighter cargo pants, and a couple of true double knee pants for the people who need the knee protection year-round regardless of the forecast.
Heavy on work pants this week, with a pair of shorts and a leather belt mixed in. I grouped them by fit so you are not scrolling past skinny double knees if what you actually want is a relaxed 874.
Which Dickies double knee work pants are worth it?
The double knee pants here are the slim and skinny cuts, so check the fit before the color. All three have a reinforced front panel, which is the feature that separates a work pant from a regular chino.
Dickies Skinny Straight Double Knee
This is the deepest discount on a men’s double knee in the group, and it carries a low bestseller rank, so it is moving. The skinny straight cut runs slim through the thigh and leg, so size up if you wear a fitted pant tight. The English Red is a bolder color than most workwear, more of a casual pick than a jobsite one.
- Reinforced double knee
- Skinny straight slim fit
- English Red
Dickies Skinny-Straight Double Knee
Dickies mens Skinny-straight Double Knee Work Pants, Olive Green, 32W x 32L US
Same skinny-straight double knee build in olive green, a far more wearable color for actual work. It sits at a strong sales rank, which tells me the fit holds up for people who buy it. If you want the reinforced knee without the louder red, this is the one I would point a friend toward.
- Reinforced double knee
- Olive green
- Strong bestseller rank
Dickies Slim Fit Skateboarding Pants
Marketed as a skate pant, but the reinforced knees and stretch performance fabric make it a quiet double knee alternative. The slim fit and stretch mean it moves better than the rigid twill cuts, which is the trade many people want. Worth a look if you find standard work pants too stiff to crouch in.
- Reinforced knees
- Stretch performance fabric
- Slim fit
What about the classic 874 work pants?
The 874 is the pant most people picture when they hear Dickies, a straight-leg twill uniform trouser that has barely changed in decades. If the double knee is overkill for your week, this is the default.
Dickies 874 Flex Work Pants
The Flex version of the 874 adds stretch to the original twill, which is the upgrade I would actually pay for. It holds the #1 bestseller rank in this entire pool, sold and shipped by Amazon. The dark navy is the safest color if you wear these somewhere with a dress code.
- Stretch twill
- Straight leg
- #1 bestseller, dark navy
Dickies Original 874 Work Pants
This is the original 874 with no stretch, the rigid straight-leg trouser built for industrial or office uniform use. It is a few dollars less than the Flex, and whether that gap matters depends entirely on how much you care about give. For a true classic fit in navy, it does exactly what it has always done. If you also live in casual men’s footwear, these pair cleanly with a pair of Hey Dude Wally slip-ons.
- Classic straight leg
- Rigid twill
- Navy uniform trouser
Are the cargo work pants a good buy?
The cargo options split between a roomy relaxed fit and a slim stretch cut, so the right one depends on whether you want pocket space or a trimmer line. Both are work pants first, casual pants second.
Dickies Relaxed Cargo Work Pant
Dickies Men's Relaxed Straight Leg Cargo Work Pant, Desert Sand, 36W x 32L
A relaxed straight-leg cargo in desert sand, the workhorse of the cargo lineup. The relaxed fit gives you room to move and the side pockets carry real weight, which is the reason to buy a cargo over a plain work pant. Good rank, sensible price, nothing flashy about it.
- Relaxed straight leg
- Cargo side pockets
- Desert sand
Dickies Flex Slim Straight Cargo Pants
The Flex Slim Straight cargo trades pocket bulk for a cleaner line, with stretch built in so the slim cut does not fight you. Moss green reads more office-casual than jobsite, which is clearly the intent. If you want utility pockets without looking like you are heading to a worksite, this threads that needle.
- Stretch fabric
- Slim straight fit
- Utility pockets, moss green
Best Dickies shorts for summer?
Two shorts here, and in late June this is the section that matters. One is a standard relaxed work short, the other adds cooling fabric and a stretch waist.
Dickies 15 Inch Work Short
A relaxed-fit utility short with a 15 inch inseam, lightweight enough for shop and construction work in the heat. It carries a #4 bestseller rank, so it is a proven summer staple, not a gamble. Charcoal hides dirt better than the lighter colors, which counts for a work short.
- 15 inch inseam
- Relaxed fit
- Lightweight, charcoal
Dickies Cooling Temp-iq Work Shorts
Dickies Cherokee Mens Cooling Temp-iq Active Waist Flat Front Work Utility Shorts, Black, 32 Regular US
The Temp-iq line uses cooling fabric, and the active waist is the detail I would single out for summer. A stretch waistband makes a real difference when you are bending and lifting all day in the heat. These read as the more comfortable of the two shorts, even if the rank is lower.
- Cooling fabric
- Active stretch waist
- Flat front, black
Does the belt round it out?
One accessory made the cut, and it is the obvious one to pair with any of the pants above.
Dickies Basket Weave Leather Belt
Dickies Men's Basket Weave Emboss Heavyweight Leather Belt, Black, Medium
A heavyweight black leather belt with a basket weave emboss, the kind that outlasts the pants it holds up. At this price it is an easy add to a work pant order, and the medium size covers most waists. Not exciting, but a solid belt is one of those things you only think about when the cheap one cracks.
- Heavyweight leather
- Basket weave emboss
- Black, medium
Frequently asked questions
What makes a double knee work pant different from regular Dickies?
A double knee pant has a second layer of fabric sewn over the knee panel, the spot that wears through first when you kneel often. Regular work pants like the 874 use a single layer throughout. If your job has you on your knees, the double knee is worth the small premium.
Do Dickies double knee pants run slim?
The double knee pants in this roundup are skinny straight and slim cuts, so they run trimmer than the classic 874. If you prefer a roomier leg, size up or look at the relaxed cargo instead. The Flex versions add stretch, which helps a slim fit feel less restrictive.
Is the 874 Flex worth more than the original 874?
The Flex adds stretch to the same straight-leg twill, which most people find more comfortable for long days. The original 874 is the rigid classic fit with no give. If you sit and move a lot, the Flex is the upgrade I would pay the small difference for.
Which Dickies are best for hot weather?
The Cooling Temp-iq Work Shorts use cooling fabric and a stretch active waist, built specifically for summer heat. The 15 inch work short is a lighter standard option. For pants, the Flex cargo in a lighter color breathes better than heavyweight twill.
Discounts this week ran from about 33% on the classic 874 work pants up to 75% on the men’s double knee in English Red, with most landing in the 40 to 60% band. That is a healthy spread, and the original prices look honest rather than inflated, which is not always the case with workwear markdowns. The strongest cuts sat on the men’s double knee and cargo pants rather than the perennial 874, which rarely drops far because it sells regardless.
This was a solid week if you actually need work pants, not just a browse. The standout is the olive double knee, the right color and a strong rank at a real discount. The 874 Flex is the safe everyday buy. The one I would think twice on is the English Red double knee, only because the color limits where you can wear it, not because the pant is any worse. If you are also stocking up on men’s layers, the Columbia fleece vest roundup pairs well for cooler mornings, and the Reebok puffer jackets are worth a glance for fall.
Going into July, watch the summer shorts. Cooling fabric work shorts tend to get marked down harder once the season peaks and sellers want to clear them before fall stock lands. The 874 will not move much from here, so if you want one there is no reason to wait. For the deeper double knee cuts, those slim-fit prices are the kind that come and go, so I would not sit on the olive pair if the size you need is showing. Browse the rest in all current deals if work pants are not what you came for.
