I have two pairs of Cabela’s latest iteration of the Trail Hiker II. AWESOME pants. Hidden cell phone pocket inside the right cargo pocket. Right slash pocket is reinforced for knife clips/wave openers. Reinforced knees, and rear half-cuff reinforcement as well. I’ve been using one of the older pairs for a few years, and these are an improvement. Plus, they come in a very Carhartt-like orange-brown color that doesn’t scream “Hey, I’m a ninja with a gun!”
Duluth is Good To Go! There clothing is so practical and fuctional, I am amazed that someone didn’t think up all their great ideas before. All of there pants and shorts have gussets in the crotch. Any other pants I wear from my Levi’s to my issued BDUs just about cut my nut sack in half when I exit a vehicle.
They also killed “plumber’s butt” dead! 
Mountain Khakis hands down… I believe that Grey Group still has some available. Very well made and not tacticool.
Say, those look ok! They look like they might make decent business casual pants too.
They are great dual use pants and are very well made and durable. I wore them at a Hackathorn pistol class and I was very pleased…
I am also very pleased with my Mountain Khakis. I think they run a little small in the waist though. I bought them a little big for IWB carry and they are much more sized for OWB carry.
+1
I have a pair of Old Navy khakis, Vertx, Rail Riders versa-tacs, Columbia khakis, Duluth, and Mountain Khakis.
Pants from places like Old Navy are nice because of the price, but they seem to rip easily.
The Vertex and Columbia are nice pants. I like the design cargo pockets on the Vertex. Both pants look good and the pair from Columbia have held up well (I have had these for a couple of years).
I don’t wear the Duluth pants much because they are too baggy for my liking. They also look too much like work pants, but that’s because they are tough workman’s pants. They do have a lifetime warranty if I remember correctly.
The RR versa-tacs have some nice features (check out the cargo pockets) and are made out of a strong synthetic material, but I have had problems with the belt loops and elastic waist (too much material). Maybe a smaller size would fix this. These are also tough pants.
The MK are very tough pants and they look good. REI has some sizes on sale right now. However, they are still $50+ pants on sale. I might use my 20% off coupon on another pair. The only thing that has made me second guess them is a friend blew out the crotch on his MK while taking a knee.
Damn… In looking at them… that looks like it would be next to impossible. They actually have a separate crotch piece sewn in that looks like it is quadruple stitched…
I bet that MK would replace them if they knew about the failure because like I said above, they put a lot of work in that area.
I have been wearing MK for awhile. I know they are getting expensive, but I used to wear Bill’s Khakis and they are around $100. They are made in the USA though.
I would look into Arborwear.
I’m a fan of the Vertx as well. I had pretty much sworn off all of the various “tactical” pants because they were either cut for fatbodies, cost an arm and a leg, or just looked doofusy with all the pockets. I was just about to buy a bunch of BDUs for the range at $25/ea and just concede that if I wanted more pockets I had to look like a militia member.
The Vertx are something I can wear to work with a polo and a pair of shoes and with a change of my shoes to boots can go right to the range. The cargo pocket cut is PERFECT for the small amount of stuff I’ll put in them, and the sub-pocket in the cargo pockets helps a lot (AR mag on one side, small digital camera in the other).
The MSRP of $60/ea is a little steep, but I got in on the 50% off deal and dealers are offering them at a little less. It’s also pretty much right in line with the market when Woolrich Elite go for $55 and Eotac go for $60, not to mention the $70+ for many of the hiking/outdoors brands that folks are wearing/recommending. I asked on Vertx’s facebook page if they were going to do MAP (which I can’t stand, especially from a clothing company) and they dodged the question IMHO. I think if they wind up with a real-world everyday price of <$50 I’ll buy a few more. Already planning on bombing the EE with all my Woolrich.
I’m a big fan of the Vertx pants too as I got a couple of pairs from one of their recent promotions.
Just yesterday I was at my local Wal-Mart and found these on clearance for $17.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dickies-Men-s-Relaxed-Fit-Ripstop-Cargo-Pants/10854223
They only had one pair in my size so that’s all I got. They fit true to size and don’t have the usual BDU button fly, or waist adjustable straps on the hips. They come with a zipper fly and hook and loop (Velcro) on the cargo pockets. They come in Moss and a very light Kaki.
These are pretty good, I have had pairs for years … BUT they are kind of baggy loose fitting.
http://www.workinggear.com/gc/catalog/Big-Bill-Cargo-Work-Pant-3239-cat493.html?ROITrakid=7046
Wrangler Riggs workwear cargo pants. About $20-$30 each. Khaki, green, black. Very durable. My wife bought me 3 pairs about 3 years or so ago. They are the only non dress pant I wear now. No holes in any of them yet. I highly recommend them.
Not to sound like a fanboy, but this is one of the things I like best about the Vertx, the slimmer fit. Not only does it make them more comfortable but it also contributes the their less-than-tactical look.
Believe it or not, the Tru-Spec pants in Cheaperthandirt are ok. They are a bit tactical on the cargo pockets and what not though. They do however have an elastic waistband and you can get the Neoprene knee inserts(additional $10 a pair).
These are nice because they are hidden inside the pant leg and come in handy for when you kneel. I’ve found them pretty handy for work…that little knee pad is a nice touch when kneeling on grating and it’s not really that noticeable.
So you get plenty of easy-access pockets, a stretchable waist, double reinforced knees(with optional internal neoprene pads) made of ripstop material in an array of colors(black,coyote,khaki,navy,od green) for the mag. price of $36.97(+$10 if you opt for the kneepads) + shipping for it all.
Considering your price and functionality requirements, I would say that these might be worth taking a look at.
I’v also had chap-over Carhartt jeans(awesome), and an array of Dickies work pants and jeans. They are all good and reasonably priced…just gotta find what works for you.
I’ve been wearing my Vertx pants exclusively since I got them. Several folks have asked where I “got Dockers with pockets like that.” Some have also thought that they were a part of the Carhartt casual line, since the desert tans resembles the Carhartt medium brown.
Effective.
If anyone has a current Vertx coupon code, please post it. The one posted previousley expired.
Kuhl, available at REI. I own a few pair of the Ryders and Crag Runners: https://www.kuhl-usa.com/categories/Mens/Pants/
Mountaineering pants, primarily, and a bit pricey, but no more so than than retail on Mountain Khakis; $65 range. I like how they don’t have too high of a rise on them, as most tac tousers have a very high rise, which makes you look like you have a load in your drawers. Not too baggy, but also not Texas/European bunhugger-style (i.e., tight enough to tell what religion a dude is). Easy to get your hands on.
For synthetics, I’m partial to the Mountain Hardwear Piero: http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=2034&prod=3107&cat=2077&viewAll=False
Also @ REI, though for $80+ a pop, I wait until they’re on the seasonal clearance rack.
Columbia is also a good choice. they’re reasonablly priced, they’re everywhere, and they have a bunch of possibilities.