Lululemon Accidentally Designed My Favorite Golf Pants

Love ‘em or hate ’em, Lululemon’s ludicrously stretchy pants probably aren’t going anywhere. So before you spill your small-batch java all over your artisanal selvedge, hear me out: the pants I’m talking about aren’t those. They’re not gussied-up joggers masquerading as regular chinos, or sweat-wicking 5-pockets trying to pass as jeans. They’re not even technically designed for golf, at least according to the brand’s sometimes confounding product descriptions. They are, however, expressly made with performance in mind, a category Lululemon actually excels in—and they’re easily the most practical, comfortable pants I’ve ever worn to tee it up.

For one, the brand’s Utilitech carpenters don’t look like golf pants. Instead, they read more like the lycra juggernaut’s answer to the double-knee jeans downtown types have been obsessed with for the last few seasons—and, somewhat ironically, it’s their workwear-y details that make them perfect for the fairways. They’re not quite as baggy as vintage Carhartts, but the “relaxed tapered” fit and cropped length (on my 5’9″ frame, they gently graze the top of my Footjoys) are a clever way to prevent grass-stained ankles on dewy mornings. 

Then there’s the gusseted crotch, a game-changing detail my blown-out jeans could really benefit from, which provides extra airflow on humid days. As you might expect, the fabric itself is made with Lulu’s signature 4-way stretch, but that’s actually more of a bonus in the comfort department. They’ve got belt loops as a back-up, too, but the built-in drawstring waist helps keep them locked in place, and my shirt firmly tucked in, while strutting through the clubhouse. 

Despite the glut of tech-y specs, the most useful details by far are charmingly old-school: pockets, and lots of them. The small pocket down the right leg (another detail inspired by the pants favored by the tool belt crowd) has a snap closure, ideal for hauling around a few spare tees, green repair tools, and an extra ball or two for when I’m forced to bequeath my just-unboxed Pro-V1 to the forest. There’s even a mini internal pocket by the right hip that’s probably for your phone, but happens to serve as a sweet stash spot for ball markers. Sure, they feel great when I’m swinging big on a drivable par 4, but they also slot neatly into my regular wardrobe on days when I’m inside—y’know, writing about pants—and can’t sneak in a quick 9.