WHAT ARE SKATER PANTS?

• Posted on 8 July 2025
• By George Stix
• Posted in carhartt, dickies, skatepants, skaterpants
• 0

A comprehensive dive into what makes a good skate pant...

What Are Skater Pants?

Skater pants—also called skate pants—are built for function, style, and impact. Designed with skateboarding’s physical demands in mind, these pants are typically made from durable materials like canvas or heavyweight cotton and cut in relaxed silhouettes that allow for full range of motion. Beyond the technical needs, skater pants carry a cultural weight, often tied to identity, era, and attitude. Whether they’re dragging across ledges, flowing with your footwork, or bagging out around classic DCs and Dunks, skate pants have become more than utility wear—they’re a core part of skateboarding’s look and language.

What to Look for in a Good Pair of Skater Pants

Finding the right skater pants is about balancing function with fit, durability with style. Here’s what separates a good pair from the rest:

1. Rugged Materials

Skate pants need to survive grip tape, concrete, and repeated slams. Heavyweight cotton canvas, duck cloth, and durable twill blends are all go-to options for long-lasting wear. Bonus points for double-layer knees or reinforced stress zones.

2. Fit That Reflects Skate Trends

Forget tapering at the cuff. The modern skater pant favors loose, straight, or baggy silhouettes that harken back to '90s and early 2000s skateboarding. These fits provide freedom of movement, room over skate shoes, and reflect the current revival of that golden era aesthetic. Cropped hems or cuffed bottoms are fine for individual flair, but tapering is largely out.

3. Stitching That Doesn’t Quit

Look for double- or triple-stitched seams, bar-tacked stress points, and reinforced pockets and knees. These features keep the pants from blowing out in high-wear zones and add serious longevity.

4. Functional Details

Think beyond fashion: utility pockets, tool loops, and secure closures like snaps or zippers come in handy. Some pants even include hidden stash spots or carabiner loops for keys or skate tools.

5. Freedom in the Waist

The waistband should stay put when you’re pushing, flipping, or bailing. Go for belt loops with a secure closure or an adjustable elastic waist if you prefer a less structured fit. Skaters with slimmer builds often go for a baggier pant with an added belt for fit tuning.

6. Trusted Brands

Workwear brands like Dickies and Carhartt have become staples in the skate community because of their unmatched durability, timeless silhouettes, and skate-ready toughness. Both offer options specifically tailored for skateboarding.

If you’re shopping locally, check out the newest drops at Stix SGV:

• Dickies at Stix SGV
• Carhartt at Stix SGV

A Deeper Look: The Evolution of Skate Pants

From DIY to Durable

In the '80s, skaters were wearing whatever they could get their hands on—ripped Levi’s, army surplus cargos, painter pants. By the ‘90s, brands began leaning into skate-specific durability and style, offering pants that could take a slam and still look good on video. Think baggy silhouettes from Blind and World Industries, or the uniform-wide khakis of the early Zero era.

The 2000s & The Slim Phase

As street skating progressed technically, the late 2000s brought a shift toward slimmer fits, allowing for better flick, reduced drag, and a modern look. But this era, driven by brands like Altamont and HUF, eventually gave way again to comfort, flow, and function.

Today’s Trends

We’re now in a full swing back to loose and baggy skate pants, but with smarter tailoring and better fabrics. These aren’t your dad’s JNCOs—they’re well-designed, movement-friendly, and steeped in cultural relevance. The pants you wear speak to your influences: Baker boys in double-knee Dickies, FA heads in cropped painter pants, or GX1000 types in heavyweight Carhartts that can take a hill bomb like armor.

Fit Recommendations by Skate Style

Wear & Care: Making Your Skate Pants Last

1. Break-in Sessions
   Some fabrics—like Carhartt’s duck canvas—are stiff out of the bag. Skating them a few times will soften them up and make them yours. Expect them to look better with each wear.
2. Washing the Right Way
   Wash cold, inside-out, and avoid heavy heat drying. Air drying preserves shape and prevents unwanted shrinking. Spot clean instead of full washes to extend fabric life.
3. Customize It
   Skate culture thrives on personal style. Cut your hem, add patches, write on them—make them yours. Skater pants are meant to evolve with you.

Brand Spotlight: Carhartt and Dickies

Dickies has earned its reputation as the go-to skate pant brand for over two decades. The 874 work pant became iconic for its clean lines, tough material, and timeless silhouette. Dickies’ newer skateboarding-specific line builds on that legacy, adding mobility features and reinforced wear zones designed with input from pro skaters.

Carhartt started on job sites but found a second life in skateboarding thanks to its incredible durability and rugged street appeal. The Double Knee Pant and Simple Pant are street favorites—chunky, heavy-duty, and built to last. Some even layer in subtle stretch fabrics or moisture-wicking linings.

Both brands are stocked and supported at Stix SGV’s retail shops and online store. Whether you’re in Monrovia, Claremont, or South Pasadena, you’ll find skateboarding’s most trusted pants in the racks or online:

• Dickies at Stix SGV
• Carhartt at Stix SGV

Final Thoughts: Skate Pants Are Built for More Than Just Skating

At the end of the day, skater pants are about more than tricks—they’re a uniform for a culture. They tell people what scene you claim, what videos you’ve memorized, and how seriously you take your time on the board. They’re the pants you live in, destroy, repair, and wear out with pride.

Don’t just buy for trend—buy for feel, fit, and durability. The right pair of skate pants moves when you move, takes a beating when you slam, and looks even better the dirtier they get.

Stix SGV has proudly served the San Gabriel Valley skateboarding community since the late ‘90s. With three locations across Los Angeles County, we’ve been deeply rooted in the local scene. Our Monrovia shop has been a staple since 1997, followed by our Claremont location in 2014, and our South Pasadena shop opening its doors in 2022. Our mission has always been simple: to uphold skateboarding culture and stay true to our community.