H&M vs Old Navy: which chino wins?
Both land in the budget tier — the H&M Slim Fit Cotton Chino at $30, the Old Navy Slim Built-In Flex Chino at $35, just $5 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| H&M | Old Navy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 | $35 |
| Material | Lightweight stretch cotton twill with elastane, thin hand. | Stretch cotton-blend twill, ~7oz, with elastane. |
| Fit | Slim or skinny cuts, runs trim and short; true to size in the waist. | Slim, straight or athletic cuts with stretch, true to size. |
| Quality | Budget — basic finishing and thin twill that wears and fades quickly. | Budget — comfortable stretch but the fabric thins and the colour fades within a year. |
| Best for | Trend colours on a tight budget, slim silhouettes, and short-term wear. | Casual everyday wear, comfortable stretch, and cheap stocking-up. |
| Care | Cold wash and air-dry to slow the fade and avoid further shrinkage. | Cold wash and low heat to slow the fade. |
H&M at $30 and Old Navy at $35 are both budget stretch chinos that thin and fade within a year. The $5 difference buys slightly more substantial 7oz cloth and a comfort-focused stretch cut at Old Navy versus thin twill and trend colours at H&M.
$5 cheaper, trend colour range, slim and skinny cuts, true-to-size waist
slightly heavier ~7oz twill, comfortable stretch, slim/straight/athletic options, casual everyday durability
Which should you buy?
Grab the H&M if you want a trend colour for a season and genuinely don't care that it won't last; it's honest about being near-disposable. Pay the extra $5 for Old Navy if you want a touch more fabric, more cut options, and stretch comfort for daily rotation. Neither survives heavy long-term wear, so don't overthink it. For stocking up casually, Old Navy is the better few-dollars-more buy, especially on sale.
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