We Tested Ten of the Most Popular Flannel-Lined Jeans

From Carhartt to Wrangler, who comes out on top?

#5 Best Bang for Your Buck: 

#5 Best Bang for Your Buck: 

What we expected from Carhartt: rugged, warm, work-ready pants. What we got: That to a T, and for a paltry $40. The 100-percent cotton denim is the heaviest of the bunch at 15-ounces.

Carhartt Relaxed-Fit Straight-Leg Jean

Carhartt Relaxed-Fit Straight-Leg Jean

#4 Best Dad Jean: 

#4 Best Dad Jean: 

Side-by-side, these jeans are indistinguishable from Carhartt in color. But the feel of the exterior denim is softer, and the legs aren’t as wide, making it the ideal runabout jean for dads and older men.

L.L.Bean Double L Jeans

L.L.Bean Double L Jeans

#3 Best Dad Jean: 

#3 Best Dad Jean: 

The one cotton canvas option we tested. That color — paired with the lumberjack-esque red, black and yellow plaid interior — gives this top marks for pigment. You could even pass them off as khakis and wear them to work. But in the warmth department, these are found wanting.

Wrangler Rugged Wear Canvas Jean

Wrangler Rugged Wear Canvas Jean

#2 Best Looks: 

#2 Best Looks: 

Yes, I modeled all these jeans for my girlfriend for an objective opinion, and she preferred these. The reason? They look like your average stylish denim: dark wash, sit below the waist, fit comfortably at the hip but slim down for a skinnier (read: more flattering) fit. But don’t expect these to last. The fast-fashion construction is equal to Wrangler.

J.Crew Straight-Fit Jean

J.Crew Straight-Fit Jean

#1 Best Overall: 

#1 Best Overall: 

No, “ballroom” doesn’t stand for the dancing variety, it’s the … other kind. The dad-joke name aside, this is the pound-for-pound best flannel-lined jean on the market. It kept us the warmest during our test, but also felt the most durable.

Duluth Trading Co. Ballroom Jeans

Duluth Trading Co. Ballroom Jeans

Our goal here is simple:  to help you live a more adventurous,  eventful and engaging life.