The Best Fleece Pants for Year-Round Warmth

There’s usually nothing more comfortable to wear this time of year than a fuzzy, blanket-like fleece jacket or pullover. Still, if anything could outdo this stylish branch of outerwear, it would be pants constructed of the same cozy material. While we’re mainly accustomed to seeing this material appear on the upper half of outfits, many modern offerings have pushed the envelope and physically taken things down a notch while boosting peoples’ style points tenfold. Luckily for you, we’ve narrowed down the best pairs of fleece pants to consider and what to look for when buying a new set.

Panels: While most options in this space are oriented with loungewear, panels and trim details make a significant impact when taking on the outdoors. Moreover, these nylon accents tend to appear around the knee or rear area, promoting abrasion-and-weather resistance in unpredictable scenarios and making the pants far more durable in the long run.

Sustainability: Like most items, there is always an eco-conscious Alternative worth considering, which certainly applies to virtually anything made of fleece or non-shearling material. Like the typical sherpa jacket, you’ll buy these days, many brands worldwide have begun utilizing recycled polyester to construct this fuzzy material. That said, you’ll also find brands use recycled nylon to add those sturdy panels we mention above, practically deeming their designs sustainable from top to bottom.

And while styling fleece pants may seem a bit out of the ordinary considering it’s more often we’re used to the material appearing on the interior, there’s no need to overthink it. These silhouettes are as functional as they are stylish, making them one of the most prominent types of bottoms you can rock whether at the gym or strutting around town. With that in mind, our guide to the best fleece pants is here to lend a huge hand.

Los Angeles Apparel 14oz. Heavy Fleece Pants

The Starter: Los Angeles Apparel’s long-lasting sweatpants are high-quality, but there’s more to it than that. While most brands included in the starter section would typically make you think of mass production in gigantic factories, the U.S.A.-based clothier hires experienced sewers to craft its pieces in the heart of L.A. while paying them rightful wages in the process. When a brand puts that much effort into caring for who makes its product, we expect similar results from the piece itself, which carries over just fine. The heavy-set option is constructed using 100% U.S.-grown cotton and then pre-washed to reduce shrinkage on laundry day.

Outdoor Voices PrimoFleece Jogger

The Safest Bet: Outdoor Voices knows how to keep things cool, as is suggested by the majority of its models rocking some of the popular sneaker silhouettes alongside the flagship PrimoFleece Jogger. The remarkably warm piece is equipped with a set of trusty RecTrek panels in the pocket region to ensure enhanced elemental protection, all the while entirely constructed of nothing but recycled polyester (PrimoFleece) that’s as soft as it is sturdy, paving the way for an ideal pair of fleece bottoms from waist to hem.

Ralph Lauren Polo Sport Pile Fleece Jogger

The Upgrade: While Outdoor Voices offers its fantastic pair in some thoughtful two-tone color options, it could never outdo Ralph Lauren from a style perspective. With this pair of incredibly cozy pants, the iconic designer’s Polo line allows you to channel your inner Polo Bear without needing one of its expensive sweaters. Compositionally, the bottoms are made using nothing but high-pile fleece and finished with a nostalgia-inducing Polo Sport logo for just the right amount of retro appeal. It’s rounded out with a drawstring waistband for easy adjustments and a pair of slash pockets for easier access.

and Wander Tapered Shell-Trimmed Polartec Fleece Trousers

The Premium Pants: Most items from and WANDER are way too sleek to ignore, and these Japanese-made trousers are no different. The stealthy black pants feature a tapered fit that deems them appropriate for a high-level affair — as long as you have a fleece blazer to match. All jokes aside, the shell-trimmed bottoms are composed of insulated Polartec fleece for maximum warmth and then finished with reflective stitching for enhanced visibility in case your next outdoor adventure proceeds past sunset. 

The North Face Denali Pants

Best Paneled Fleece Pants: Although the Denali Pants are the most iconic pair our guide has to offer, its paneled construction deviates itself from the rest of our pile-based options; regardless, we couldn’t overlook such a significant piece of outdoor attire. While the heritage label’s sturdy pants are primarily made of warm Polartec fleece, their water-repellent overlays at the knee gives them some much-needed stability to guarantee they’re built for the long haul. Best of all, the pants are fully-sustainable, as The North Face uses nothing but recycled materials to compose this timeless design. 

Topo Designs Fleece Pants

This direct alternative to TNF’s ubiquitous pair still offers many of the same insulation capabilities and weatherized properties. Toto’s aptly-dubbed Fleece Pants boast 100% recycled polyester Polartec 200 fleece for maximum warmth, in addition to having a sturdy nylon construction that’s undergone a trusty DWR finish for elemental protection. To sweeten the deal, the brand tacks on a multitude of pockets and an adjustable quick-release belt, deeming these pants as functional as they are stylish and, most importantly, sustainable.

Allbirds Fluff Fleece Pants

While you may not have been aware Allbirds made anything outside of shoes, these pants are genuinely just as comfy while embracing the brand’s eco-cognizant message. They feature a soft trim composed of merino wool and recycled fabric that adds durability where needed most, ensuring they’re built to last and not keep you too hot in the process. Moreover, thanks to the brand’s use of Tencel, these pants keep you warm without excessively overheating.

lululemon Classic Fit Fleece Jogger

While lululemon may have garnered some additional attention this weekend at the hands of Chris Rock’s live Netflix special, the Canadian clothier was doing well enough without the shoutout, and these buttery soft fleece joggers are one of many examples as to why it’s doing just fine on its own. The traditional-fitting pants are constructed using the brand’s signature stretch fleece fabric for maximized versatility, deeming them perfect for anything from errands to a legitimate workout. It’s finished with a trio of pockets and an adjustable waistband.

Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Pant

Like The North Face, this option comes from an equally prominent outdoor outfitter and is just as iconic. Patagonia’s Synchilla Fleece Pants are soft, subtle, and, to no one’s surprise, sustainable. Similar to virtually any piece in its category, the famous bottoms are Fair Trade Certified sewn and constructed using sustainable material, in this case, recycled polyester. Additionally, they’re fitted with a couple of zippered pockets for keeping gear secure and stretchy spandex lining that reinforces the bottoms while providing the perfect amount of stretch.

Gramicci Sherpa Pant

While the outdoor boutique’s fashionable option is not made using recycled material, the jacquard-knit sherpa’s boundless sense of fuzz is bound to make up for it. This functional take from Gramicci is practically a dream for GORP enthusiasts, as it’s likely fans of the brand already own some sort of bombastic, eccentric-colored fleece jacket, so why not match? For functionality’s sake, the roomy bottoms are rounded out with a signature webbing belt and buckle to ensure the perfect fit each time you throw them on.

Reigning Champ Heavyweight Fleece Relaxed Sweatpant

Reigning Champ’s Heavyweight Fleece line is arguably its most important to date, having been developed in 1998 upon the athleisure label’s humble start. Clearly, the pants still carry that weight about 25 years later, serving as a premier, relaxed-fitting option you should consider for several elements. These relaxed-fitting sweats boast an incredibly soft brushed fleece back construction, a pair of jersey-lined pockets, and drawcord cuffs to help keep breezes at bay.

F/CE Recycled Wool Boa Sherpa Pant

F/CE’s premium take on the matter still takes inspiration from traditional military silhouettes, albeit having a far flashier look than any option in our guide. The streetwear brand uses a blend of recycled wool, nylon, and polyester to construct its belted fleece pants, giving them a plush hand feel that’s bound to keep you warm when the temperature’s low.  

The Best Fleece Jackets for Men

Fully embrace this fuzzy ensemble with our helpful guide to the best fleece jackets to buy this season.