# At what age is a man too old to wear cargo shorts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505 "2017-02-22T20:18:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/1 "2017-02-22T20:18:19Z")
I’ve always liked cargo shorts (pants too). They are super comfy and, at least in my mind, look, um, cool :). But I’ve come to realize that they are viewed as sloppy dress, and definitely for the younger crowd; a crowd I have not been a member of in a long, long time. I needed some shorts for an upcoming vacation, as well as for summer, so I decided to go with Big Boy shorts (sorta dressy, not containing a dozen bulging pockets). I ordered 4 pair online, they just arrived and I kinda like them. I guess I’ll have to wear dressy, button-down summer shirts with them and not my Rock and Roll Hall of Fame T-Shirt. So what is the answer to the question posed above? And is it the same for cargo pants? I admit I still wear those, but I think it may be time to cut loose of the cargo altogether. Whattaya say? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/2 "2017-02-22T20:24:32Z")
24 years old, unless you’re in a situation where drinking a fruity cocktail is acceptable (that is, mowing the lawn on a hot summer day, at the beach, poolside while on vacation, or just completely out of fucks left to give.) That’s for shorts; cargo pants are completely out under any circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/3 "2017-02-22T20:25:03Z")
Six. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/4 "2017-02-22T20:26:15Z")
I’m 66, and I still wear them, and plan to continue to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/5 "2017-02-22T20:26:32Z")
I’m 46 years old, cargo shorts a regular part of my summer wardrobe, and I still drive the ladies wild with my masculinity. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/6 "2017-02-22T20:28:32Z")
Heck, I’m 54 and I still wear cargo shorts in the summer. I’d wear a HOF T-shirt too, if I had one. Instead I’ll be wearing my [Abbey Road meets Starry Night T-shirt](https://www.drawthelineapparel.com/products/screen-printed-beatles-inspired-starry-night-and-abbey-road-t-shirt). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/7 "2017-02-22T20:29:56Z")
I’m 56, and I wear them. But, I’m in Arizona, where it’s “shorts weather” most of the year, and I have great legs. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/8 "2017-02-22T20:31:20Z")
I’m almost 57 and I still wear _tights_ in public. Cargo shorts don’t even count. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/9 "2017-02-22T20:32:23Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I’m 56, and I wear them. > But, I’m in Arizona, where it’s “shorts weather” most of the year, and > **I have great legs.** Cheater. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/10 "2017-02-22T20:33:27Z")
I’ve gone to something like [these](http://www.columbia.com/mens-eagle-river-short-1664831.html?cgid=men-pantsShorts-shorts&dwvar_1664831_variationColor=005#start=22). It has one extra pocket on the right leg which comes in handy on occasion. They’re lighter weight than traditional cargo shorts and much more comfortable in hot weather. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/11 "2017-02-22T20:39:51Z")
If you’re an adult you should be wearing nice slacks, nice shoes, button shirt, and a hat at all times. Straw hats are acceptable in the summer as long as they’re tasteful (fedora, etc). What are we, cavemen? ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/12 "2017-02-22T20:41:28Z")
52 and I still wear cargo shorts. A shame they don’t make 'em with cod pieces. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/13 "2017-02-22T20:43:55Z")
Wear what you like. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/14 "2017-02-22T20:44:34Z")
On vacation? Wear whatever you like. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/15 "2017-02-22T20:44:51Z")
[No man should wear cargo shorts](http://www.businessinsider.com/why-no-man-should-wear-cargo-shorts-2016-8). Uh. . . yeah. . . I’m in the same demographics as many of the posters above and have no immediate plans of discarding mine. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/16 "2017-02-22T20:45:14Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > If you’re an adult … There’s the problem… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/17 "2017-02-22T20:48:27Z")
If it’s past 1997, the correct answer is “ever”. Cargo pants/shorts really are out of style. At best, they look sloppy and at worst they make you look like a douchey frat guy. “Nobody’s gotten a hand job in cargo shorts since 'Nam.” -Superbad ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/18 "2017-02-22T20:48:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Cheater. > > 😃 I’m not doing all those damn weighted lunges for nothing, you know! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/19 "2017-02-22T20:52:11Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > [No man should wear cargo shorts](http://www.businessinsider.com/why-no-man-should-wear-cargo-shorts-2016-8). > > Uh. . . yeah. . . I’m in the same demographics as many of the posters above and have no immediate plans of discarding mine. I feel I should also point out the white canvas boat shoes (Sperry’s or whatever) are generally only appropriate on an actual boat or summering someplace where people use terms like “summer” as a verb, like Martha’s Vineyard or Montauk. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/20 "2017-02-22T20:53:29Z")
My husband still wears his. He zips the legs on when he has to go into the office. He only goes “full khaki” when they are meeting clients. Wear want you want, unless there is some important reason not to. This ain’t the 19th century. ETA: He’s 50. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505.md?page=2)