Jogger-Style Scrub Pants

The elastic-and-drawstring waistband is the main upgrade here, and it’s a real one — no more re-tying a bow at hour nine of a twelve-hour shift. The tapered ankle also means the pants don’t drag or catch on equipment, which standard scrub cuts almost never get right.

Four pockets, two of them deep enough to actually hold a phone without it sliding out when you crouch. Fabric has a bit of stretch, which matters more than people expect until they’re reaching into a low cabinet for the third time in an hour.

Sizing runs slightly large — we’d size down if you’re between sizes. Not the cheapest option on this list, but the fit alone makes it worth the upgrade from standard drawstring scrubs.