Old Navy vs Gap: which chino wins?
Both land in the budget tier — the Old Navy Slim Built-In Flex Chino at $35, the Gap Modern Khaki Slim Chino at $50, just $15 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Old Navy | Gap | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 | $50 |
| Material | Stretch cotton-blend twill, ~7oz, with elastane. | GapFlex stretch cotton twill, roughly 7-8oz, with elastane. |
| Fit | Slim, straight or athletic cuts with stretch, true to size. | Slim, straight or athletic cuts with stretch, true to size. |
| Quality | Budget — comfortable stretch but the fabric thins and the colour fades within a year. | Budget — comfortable stretch and clean enough finishing, but the lighter twill thins and the colour fades within a year. |
| Best for | Casual everyday wear, comfortable stretch, and cheap stocking-up. | Casual everyday wear, comfortable stretch, and value-minded stocking-up on sale. |
| Care | Cold wash and low heat to slow the fade. | Cold wash and tumble low to slow fading and shrinkage. |
Old Navy's Slim Built-In Flex Chino is $35 of ~7oz stretch cotton-blend twill; Gap's Modern Khaki is $50 of GapFlex stretch cotton twill at roughly 7-8oz with cleaner finishing. Both come in the same slim, straight and athletic cuts, and both thin and fade within a year — the $15 buys finishing, not longevity.
- The case for Old Navy
- $35 for the identical stretch, cut options and true-to-size fit; the fabric fails on the same one-year schedule as the Gap's, so it wins on cost-per-wear.
- The case for Gap
- Slightly heavier 7-8oz GapFlex twill; cleaner finishing; near-constant promotions drop it into the $30s, where it beats the Old Navy outright.
The bottom lineWhich should you buy?
Buy the Old Navy at $35 at list — the cuts, the stretch and the one-year thin-and-fade timeline are the same, and paying $15 more for cleaner finishing on a pant that wears out just as fast is a poor trade. Step up to the Gap only when the near-constant promotions put it in the $30s; at that price the marginally heavier twill and finishing make it the better chino for the same money. At $50 list versus $35, you're paying for the label on the waistband. Both are casual-rotation pants, not keepers.
We may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you.