Wondering where to buy chinos for short men? Here’s a list of brands that make shorter inseam chinos.
So you’re a shorter guy who’s in need of some new chinos, huh? I can relate.
I’m 5’6″ after a good yoga sesh, and I love me some chinos. They’re like the Swiss Army knives of menswear – less casual than jeans but less formal than dress pants.
If I could only pick one pair of pants to wear for the rest of my life, it would definitely be a pair of chinos.
But it can be tough to find a pair of shorter inseam chinos. Most major brands don’t carry anything shorter than 30 inches.
Here’s the good news, though: when it comes to finding chinos that fit, us men of modest height have more options than ever before.
From speciality brands that carry extended sizes to custom manufacturers, it’s easier than ever to find a pair of chinos that fits and flatters your build.
To make things easy for you, here’s a list of places that sell chinos for shorter guys:
Brand | Shortest Inseam |
---|---|
Uniqlo | 16 |
Ash & Erie | 25 |
Bantam Clothing UK | 26 |
Bonobos | 26 |
Banana Republic | 28 |
Gap | 28 |
Bluffworks | 28 |
Amazon Goodthreads | 28 |
Dockers | 29 |
Let’s take a closer look at our options…
Brands for Shorter Men
Your first option is to shop at places that make clothes specifically for shorter men.
Ash & Erie
For example, Ash & Erie sells chinos down to 25 inches.
Ash & Erie chinos are available in a modern slim fit cut and a handful of versatile colors.
Under 510
Under 510 is another brand that makes chinos specifically for shorter guys. Their lightweight stretch chino pants are available down to 26″ (inseam).
At the time of writing, they only make one chino cut, a slim tapered fit that most men would describe as “skinny”.
These chinos do have 2% elastane woven into the cotton twill fabric, so they’ll have plenty of stretch built in.
Bantam Clothing UK
Here’s a newer UK-based brand that focuses specifically on shorter guys.
At the time of writing, they only have a handful of products, and chino pants are one of them.
They make chinos in navy and beige down to 26″ inseams.
If you’re based in the UK, these are probably your best bet for fast and affordable shipping/exchanges/returns.
Mainstream Brands With Shorter Sizes
It seems like bigger apparel brands have finally started noticing that not all men are 5’8″ or taller, which is good news for us shorter guys.
For example, Banana Republic – a brand that’s always offered a wide variety of chino fits – now sell shorter inseam chinos in some of their styles.
It’s not uncommon to see BR’s Aiden Chino available with a 28″ inseam and wide range of waist sizes (even down 26″).
Gap also offers chinos down to 28″ in may of their styles and is a great choice for anyone on a tight budget.
Bonobos, a company that made a name for itself by selling great chinos, offers an even wider variety of sizes.
Shockingly, they offer chinos down to 26″ in several different fits. Where was this 10 years ago when I needed it?!
Also, Amazon’s budget-friendly fashion brand, Goodthreads, offers a 28×28 chino, which is really cool to see.
I’ve noticed that some brands, like Abercrombie and Express, only offer 28″ chinos with a 28″ waist. So if you’re a 28×28, you’ll have plenty of options with these brands.
Performance Chinos
Finally, if you’re looking for travel/performance pants, Bluffworks offers their Ascender Chino with a 28 inseam in regular and tailored fit.
I found their 28×28 tailored fit to be nearly perfect, although I did have the leg opening reduced slightly (I have slender legs/ankles and prefer a lot of taper).
Bottom line: many mainstream retailers that tend to cater to the average are now offering shorter inseam chinos.
So we’ve got plenty of options…finally!
Uniqlo’s Free Hemming
Another great option is to shop at stores that offer free hemming, like Uniqlo.
They’ll sell some of their chinos styles in a range of waist sizes, but only with a 34″ inseam available in the store.
But, they’ll hem your pants for free on location, usually within 1-2 days.
Now, you can even order Uniqlo chinos online with a specific inseam, all the way down 16 inches (so, shorts?), and they’ll hem them for free before shipping.
If you’re a fan of Uniqlo, take advantage of this amazing service!
Other Options
What about all those chinos you already own that are too long?
DIY Hemming
If you already have a pair of chinos that are too long, you can always take them to a tailor OR shorten them yourself.
It’s not as hard as you might think, especially if you follow this tutorial:
Guide: How to Hem Chinos and Jeans
Of course, your local tailor will be able to handle this simple alteration for $5-15, depending on where you live.
Cuff Your Chinos
Chinos are made from sturdy fabric that’s great for cuffing.
In most scenarios, especially casual and smart casual, cuffed chinos will look great (if you’re into that sort of thing).
You can always get them hemmed later on, so cuffing your chinos is a great short-term solution, even if you don’t love the look.
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, when it comes to finding the perfect chinos for short men, we have plenty of options these days.
From specialty brands to major retailers to good old fashioned alterations, there’s no excuse to wear chinos that are too long for your legs.
Inseam (from crotch to foot/shoe) is the lesser problem; no one talks about the RISE – you know- from crotch to waist. My man is thick in buttock and thigh and finding pants that are shorter in rise and still ample around is impossible. Standard rise is 11″. We are looking for a 9″ rise and 28″ inseam.
Duluth Trading Co. has shorter inseams for a wide range of pant types including chinos. Unlike some of the other brands listed in the article they also cater to the more portly modest man.
Kuhl makes some great travel/hiking pants in 28″ inseams. Big fan of their Renegade Rock Pant in a 31/28.
Here I thought the ‘tailor Tax’ was part of life for us guys.