The Bluffworks Chino Pants. They cover your legs and provide a level of modesty suitable for most formal events and occasions where revealing one’s leg skin would not be very appropriate (or for just hiding your awesome and/or regrettable tattoos). Long did I scour the globe and the internet for the perfect pair of pants and long did I obsess over finding something that would become the single pair of long-sleeved shorts in my backpack.
I discovered said pants when I came across a small company called Bluffworks. The founder, Stefan Loble, shared my dream of the perfect pants, and instead of searching for the grail he decided to forge it himself – and the Original Bluffworks were born (review here).
Since my love affair with the Originals, Bluffworks has released a second pair of pants: the Bluffworks Chino (spoiler alert: they’re even more awesome than the originals).
The Specs
- Colors: Charcoal, Khaki, Stone, Gold, Blue
- Breathable quick-dry polyester
- Nylon pockets.
- Zippered front hidden internal pocket
- Rear zippered pocket
- Discrete side pocket storage
- Hidden loop for keys or security badge
- Nickle-free jean tack closure
- Manufactured in New York City
- Machine washable / line or tumble dry
I was skeptical of these pants at first because they appeared to be made of a heavier material than the Original Bluffs, but after extensive time spent in my Chinos, I think I might actually like them more than the Originals.
They’ve got stretch, they’re wrinkle-resistant, they breathe very well, they dry quickly, they look amazing, and they are incredibly comfortable.
The only thing I am not happy with is how long it took to get a pair.
The Good
THE COMFORT | These pants are comfortable. If there’s one thing I like being, it’s comfortable. Do you know when I’m comfortable? When I’m naked. Do you know why? Because I don’t have to worry and be thinking about my clothes. The Chino is comfortable to the point that I forget what I’m wearing and can focus my attention on tasks more important than worrying about how comfortable my pants are (like writing about how much I love my pants).
THE STRETCH | This was something I was not too sure about, but the more I experimented with stretchy clothing, the more I liked it. No, these pants are not stretchy like a pair of sweats. They don’t have an elastic waistline and they don’t stretch like a pair of athletic shorts. Instead, they have just enough stretch to allow you to flex and not worry about ripping your crotch open. These pants allow for comfortable movement walking, running, squatting, bicycling, jumping, climbing into truck beds, or whatever other activity you can think of.
THE POCKETS | I don’t know if I will ever love a pair of pants without a zipper pocket the way I love my Bluffs. These pants have six total pockets. Two front pockets, two rear pockets (one zippered), a very discreet side pocket for a phone (or whatever you would like to hide), and an additional zippered pocket hidden within one of the front pockets (this is generally where I keep my passport or large bills).
THE TRAVELABILITY | I’m all about traveling with as little as possible, and if there’s one thing I hate to travel with it’s pants (and don’t even get me started on jeans). When I first got my Chinos I wore them for a month straight – no washing, folding, or caring for them at all. How did they hold up? Awesomely. I spilled salsa on them, I threw them in a ball on the ground every night, I wore them hiking, biking, and at the beach – I did everything I could to try to destroy and/or hate them. They were resilient and ultimately won my unconditional love (and when I did wash them, they dried very quickly).
The Okay
THE COST | I don’t know about you, but $125 isn’t an amount I would generally spend on a pair of pants (especially if that price reflects the brand and not the quality/function). That being said, the Chinos definitely earn their price tag. I firmly believe that buying something built to last and built with quality in mind is a far better option than buying multiple cheaper products or replacing an inferior product again and again.
THE FIT | The Chinos have a different fit than the Original Bluffs, and I ended up getting a larger pair and then taking in the waist. The leg of the pants (even in the “regular fit”) is a bit too narrow for me (must be all the extreme walking), so in order to get a better fit I ended up getting a pair with a waist one inch larger than I would normally wear and then taking it in a bit. I suppose if your legs are not disproportionately large then you will not have this problem, but I would definitely take a look at the sizing chart before you purchase.
The Bad
NOTHING | The Bluffworks Chino are incredible, you should get some (but don’t get the Harvest Gold because then we will have the same pants and won’t be able to hang out together – or maybe we’ll become best friends).
Conclusion
The Chinos have officially replaced my Original Bluffs in my backpack (but not for lack of love for the Original Pants). They come in more traditional colors, charcoal (black), stone (gray), and khaki, and more eccentric (awesome) colors, gold and blue (I’ve got the gold and surprisingly can pull them off – I don’t know how I would do with the blue).
Bluffworks has grown from a small Kickstarter project into a successful producer of some of my favorite gear. Do yourself a favor and get some new pants. Did I mention the customer service is exceptional as well? Check out the Bluffworks Chino Pants.
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