# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/101 "2017-02-24T00:38:20Z")
Reminds me of a bit from CBCs hilarious comedy The Debaters, where Western graduate Steve Patterson kvetches about all of the complaint letters he has written. “Not that I always know where to send them. Dear Men In Biking Shorts…” ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/102 "2017-02-24T01:31:21Z")
I actually have cargo sweats, and I wear them out and about. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/103 "2017-02-24T01:52:42Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > I’ve never been quick, maybe I should get cargo shorts with S’es on them. I snail what you did there. Jeff Bezos is notorious for wearing cargo pants. I suppose it’s one of those things you can get away with if you have billions of dollars. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/104 "2017-02-24T03:03:57Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > So you plan on being buried in cargo shorts? Depending on just who is running my favorite funeral home at the time, possibly. The amusement park sweatshirt is already a given and arranged; my favorite defunct park since we’ll both be dead then. The shorts though ---- there it can be a little more complicated. If you’ve read me in other threads on the subject you may remember I also want a knock-knock joke and the song Rainbow Connection at my funeral. What I wear is going to be likewise fitting to my personality. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/105 "2017-02-24T04:23:07Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Jeff Bezos is notorious for wearing cargo pants. I suppose it’s one of those things you can get away with if you have billions of dollars. Gotta have someplace to carry all those dollars. ---
**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 24, 2017, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/106 "2017-02-24T10:52:39Z")
I admit to wearing them even in the winter sometimes. These I refer to as my Fargo shorts. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/107 "2017-02-25T03:42:21Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I’m picturing **Spiderman** winging through the metropolitan skyline in a pair of Cargo shorts. It could work. What happens in the canyons in NYC is “swinging”; while cargo shorts might be nice to wear, the extra weight & reduced aerodynamics might affect my ability to get to the next building. What I was referring to, specifically, was “[flying](https://www.flickr.com/photos/74663312@N08/32943467962/)”, which sometimes happens in the [canyons](https://www.flickr.com/photos/74663312@N08/32943815672/) of (upstate) NY. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/108 "2017-02-25T18:08:28Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/109 "2017-02-25T19:26:44Z")
I had cargo shorts on this morning and I’m 60. So there’s your baseline. Please let me know as the cutoff date approaches so I can shop for some other style of shorts, and a man-purse to hold my stuff. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/110 "2017-02-25T20:08:11Z")
I’ve actually modified my cargo shorts to have 2 additional pockets on each leg…and I’m not even sure I’m done yet. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/111 "2017-02-25T22:49:27Z")
I’m wearing some right now; however the front recently came thru, & it’s predicted to be about 30° colder on the other side of it. :eek: So it will be back to jeans when I go out tonight. I was kinda liking Summer in February[sup]©[/sup]. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/112 "2017-02-26T00:06:06Z")
Wear what ever you want to wear as long as it doesn’t constitute indecent exposure, like say running around in a set of chaps… With no pants on. If some one does not like it, check your box, see if you have any spare fucks, if not then no fucks will be given ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/113 "2017-02-26T03:56:37Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > 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… Or the 18th century–when men wore knee breeches. With stockings to display a well-turned calf, or riding boots. From [Williamsburg VA](http://makinghistorynow.com/2015/10/the-carhartts-of-the-18th-century-leather-breeches/): > [@](#): > > “Surprisingly supple.” > > “Like a second skin.” > > “They breathe pretty well and they’re really comfortable.” > > I was more than a little surprised. A group of Colonial Williamsburg’s tradesmen— wheelwrights, blacksmiths, shoemakers, and tinsmiths—were talking about their new leather breeches with great affection. The article points out that gentlemen also wore leather breeches on occasion–like George Washington at war, [in a Peale portrait](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Washington_at_the_Battle_of_Princeton,_about_1779,_by_Charles_Willson_Peale_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art_-_DSC08898.JPG). And Thomas Jefferson was notorious for his red leather breeches–although he led the change to long pants (and short hair) as he brought Revolutionary Chic back from Paris… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/114 "2017-02-26T13:51:59Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > I like how that article describes how cargo shorts are a late 90’s staple that has persisted too long, and then goes on ask “what are you even putting in those pockets?”. > > Gosh, if only there was something that has changed about what I carry in my pockets sense the 90’s. Maybe something that might need a large pocket that I don’t sit on. Yeah, they’re really one of the more practical garments for this day and age. But, even in the 90’s, they were a convenient place to put all of my crap. Guitar picks, knife, multi-tool, a Walkman and a couple of extra tapes, your weed and a pipe, keys, wallet, etc. I’m not against carrying a purse, other than it’s something else that I have to keep track of. So, screw that. I’m far less likely to forget my pants somewhere. But, if you’re worried about what people think of your clothing, you may be to immature to wear cargo shorts. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/115 "2017-02-26T17:42:26Z")
With the increased awareness of skin cancer, I’m surprised that things like cargo shorts are still worn. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/116 "2017-02-26T18:33:42Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > With the increased awareness of skin cancer, I’m surprised that things like cargo shorts are still worn. Dude, what? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/117 "2017-02-26T18:53:33Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Yeah, they’re really one of the more practical garments for this day and age. But, even in the 90’s, they were a convenient place to put all of my crap. Guitar picks, knife, multi-tool, a Walkman and a couple of extra tapes, your weed and a pipe, keys, wallet, etc. They are still the height of fashion for roadies, along with worn band shirts and a gut overhanging the belt. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/118 "2017-02-26T19:52:10Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Dude, what? Cargo shorts cause skin cancer through the same mechanism that Nehru collars cause gallbladder disease. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/119 "2017-02-26T21:43:48Z")
When it’s suitable weather to wear shorts, I wear cutoffs (because what else am I going to do with my surplus jeans?) so cargo shorts would be a step up, fashion-wise, from where I am. I’m sure not going to criticize anyone for wearing them. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505/120 "2017-02-26T22:00:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Cargo shorts cause skin cancer through the same mechanism that Nehru collars cause gallbladder disease. You mean, increased exposure to the sun? Ask any Australian about the dangers of skin cancer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-man-too-old-to-wear-cargo-shorts/780505.md?page=7)