Jeans are a staple in most wardrobes. But they have downsides—wearing jeans can be uncomfortable, especially in hot or wet conditions. And sometimes you just want options!
Luckily, there are a lot of alternatives to jeans you can wear that are more comfortable, more stylish, and more fun. Let’s talk about what they are.
What To Look For in a Good Pair of Pants?
Here are the key things to look for when finding alternatives to jeans:
1. Breathable Fabric
It's important to find a pair of pants that doesn’t leave you feeling sweaty and sticky. Breathable fabrics prevent you from overheating by circulating air and allowing excess heat to dissipate. This can be helpful in cold climates as well—particularly for those participating in outdoor activities.
Clothing that’s made from breathable fabrics tends to be much better at wicking moisture as well. Again, this is important for preventing sweat stains and keeping you dry during outdoor activities. This is why you’ll often see linen pants worn in hot climates.
But moisture wicking clothing can also keep you warmer in cooler climates as well.
Have you ever been skiing and felt so warm you could just wear a t-shirt? I have, but when I don’t put my jacket on before I hit the ski lift my body temperature quickly drops—especially if my clothing is wet from sweat and snow.
And finally, clothing that is able to breathe and circulate air will be much less likely to smell. This is because sweat and odors have a place to escape. With less breathable fabrics like silk or some polyester, sweat that harbors odor causing bacteria has no place to escape.
Natural fibers like Merino wool and Bamboo are some of the most breathable fabrics and are perfect for anyone looking for versatile pieces of clothing.
2. Versatile Style
One of the main reasons jeans are so popular is because of their versatility. They can be worn casually or dressed up. And it’s easy to reach for the same versatile clothes every day.
I recognize that not every human has the same habits, but I often joke that unless something is immediately present in front of me—I forget it exists.
This means that I tend to reach for the same staple clothing pieces. I know this about myself, so I tend to shop for pieces I can wear for many different occasions.
This is what allows me to travel light (often with just one bag,) but it also ensures my closet stays functional and easy to manage.
But jeans aren’t the only versatile pants. Check out TEREN’s daily driver pants for an awesome, versatile pant option.
3. Anti-Microbial Properties
We’ve already talked a little bit about the importance of keeping clothing odor-free, but did you know that there are fabrics out there that actually have natural anti-microbial properties?
If you’re truly looking for a way to start phasing out jeans or even just relying on them less, you probably want to ensure you can wear a pair of pants for a few days without washing them.
This is typically done by chemically treating clothes, but there are some fabrics that are naturally antimicrobial like bamboo, Merino wool, and copper infused materials.
4. Durable
It's important to invest in clothing that lasts. This way they can become staple pieces in your wardrobe that you can rely on. Plus you won’t be contributing to the catastrophically damaging fast-fashion industry.
So how do you know if the clothing you’re buying is high-quality and built to last?
First, buy from reputable brands that focus on creating quality clothing (like TEREN, wink). Stay away from retailers that price their clothing for shockingly low prices.
Higher prices may not always mean better quality, buy lower prices are typically a good indicator that clothing was made from budget material and a potentially questionable outsourcing of labor.
5. Environmentally Friendly
Did you know that jeans are one of the most damaging kinds of clothing for the environment?
I think most people would agree that we’d like to leave as small of a carbon footprint behind as possible. Things like microfiber pollution, some dyes, and harmful chemicals can end up in our water supply and directly affect our health.
The Best Alternatives to Jeans
Without further ado, here are our top alternatives to wearing jeans for those of you hoping to elevate your style, have a smaller carbon footprint, and build up a wardrobe of high-quality and versatile pieces:
1. Daily Driver Pants
Here at TEREN, we noticed a huge pain-point in mens fashion, and particularly in adventure clothing—Men’s clothing had far too many awkward pockets, unflattering fits, and it felt impossible to find a truely versatile pair of pants.
Thus, we created the Daily Driver Pants.
These pants are designed to be an ideal pair of pants for outdoor activities, but they’re also stylish enough to be worn to lunch, running errands, or even to weddings. I bet you never thought you could wear your hiking pants to a nice dinner, right?
We no longer wanted to look ridiculous wearing pants with tons of pockets. If I wanted that, I’d buy a pair of cargo pants. Therefore the Daily Driver pants are equipped with 6 pockets—back pockets, side pockets, and two hidden zippered pockets.
Here is a highlighted list of some of our favorite features of these pants:
Magnetic Button
The magnetic button is ideal for quickly getting ready, and ultra-strong so you never have to worry about it coming undone accidentally.
4-Way Stretch
No one likes clothing that restricts their movement. These pants are stretchy enough to bring to a climbing gym, but they don’t look like it! The Daily Driver pants are made from 9% spandex to give them an impressive four-way stretch without looking like traditional spandex athletic wear.
Water Repellant & Moisture Wicking
These pants are designed to wick your sweat away and also to repel light water. This means you won’t have to worry about your pants getting wet if it starts to rain, and you won’t have to trek for miles in wet pants if you step in a puddle hiking.
They aren’t completely waterproof, but they can withstand light water and they’ll dry much faster than other kinds of pants.
Overall, these pants are the perfect stylish alternative to jeans that can be worn for so many different occasions
If you like these pants you can also check out our Daily Driver shorts in 7-inch and 9-inch options.
2. Lightweight Traveler Pants
The Lightweight Traveler Pants were designed for those who needed an all-in-one pant that isn't bulky or baggy.
These pants almost look like chinos because of their structured look, but they’re comfortable alternatives that can be worn for so many different activities and occasions. They’re perfect for travelers since they’re lightweight and can pack up small in a bag.
These pants are equipped with 50 percent SPF, stain release technology, odor resistance, a 4 way stretch, and a gusseted seat to prevent tears.
Just like our Daily Driver pants—the Traveler Pants were designed to be a great alternative for those who don't like the look of heavily pocketed outdoor wear. They are casual, but they can also be dressed up for a day in the town. You can wear them with a button-up and a blazer, or casual sneakers.
We want all of our pants to be practical and serve as your go-to pants for any occasion, so they are also moisture wicking, water resistant, and breathable. They are also a natural bug repellent—but don’t worry, they don’t smell.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to buy dozens of pairs of pants and do a complete wardrobe overhaul.
There are great alternatives to jeans that have all of the features you’re looking for in a perfect pair of pants. Here at TEREN, we’re huge advocates for sustainability and only want to make quality products that we know you can rely on for years to come.
Hopefully this gives you an idea of how to branch and improve your comfort and style. You may still wear jeans on occasion, but they’re far from the most comfortable pair of pants on the market.