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Thanks to the athleisure and loungewear markets‘ enormous influx in popularity over the last two years, we’ve seen dozens and dozens of new lounge pants introduced. And while the sheer abundance of available offerings gives buyers an enormous selection of different styles, colors, and materials to choose from, it can also make it tricky even to know where to begin. Recognizing the endless sea of available options, we’ve scoured the segment to deliver this hands-on guide to the best men’s lounge pants.
Best Lounge Pants Breakdown
Article Overview
- Best Lounge Pants Breakdown
- How We Tested
- What to Look For
- Buck Mason Pima Pajama Pant
- Mack Weldon ACE Sweatpant
- Vuori Coronado Pant
- Taylor Stitch The Sunset Pant
- Outerknown Hightide Sweatpants
- Reigning Champ Merino Terry Pant
- Vollebak 100 Year Sweatpants
- Lounge Pants Comparison Chart
- Lounge Pants vs. Sweatpants
- Honorable Mentions
- Tested: The Best Men’s Slippers for Lounging
How We Tested
We’re back with another entry in our tested series, and this time we’re taking a look at lounge pants, which sit at the intersection between athleisure and pajamas. We hunted down a collection that we felt represented the best of the best through extensive research, talks with colleagues, and close attention to the space.
After getting this collection in hand, we start by inspecting each pick of the body, taking a look at the construction, hand feel, and anything that jumps out at us. Next, it was time to put them on and test out the most important aspect: comfort. Breathability and fit are also important, so we made sure to test that out as well while comparing each pick against the other. Finally, we take a look at small details like how big the pockets are (and how many you get), drawstring placement, and hardware. We went back and forth on how to style these, and ended up going with a clean, shoe-less look to keep each pick on an even playing field and reinforce the relaxed vibe of the style.
Measurements: I’m 6’2″ and wear size 34×30 pants. When it comes to lounge pants, I like a relaxed fit that’s not too constricting in the thighs, and we went with an XL for each pick in the guide.
What to Look For
While similar to athleisurewear and pajamas, there are several factors that make true lounge pants unique. As such, there are certain areas that are crucial to factor in whenever shopping for a pair. With this in mind, we’ve pieced together this condensed primer on the five most important things to think about before pulling the trigger on your purchase.
Primary Construction: Regardless of what type of clothing, the primary material(s) used to make it will always play a pivotal role in its overall quality — with lounge pants being no exception. The most frequently-utilized primary constructions used in this segment are cotton (particularly in a French Terry weave) and cotton-poly (or nylon) blends, though it’s also not uncommon to see pairs crafted from innovative recycled materials, proprietary multi-layer constructions, or even ultra-hardwearing cutting-edge constructions like Dyneema.
Secondary Construction: While not as important as a pair’s primary construction, a lounge pant’s secondary construction is still more than worth looking into when shopping around. It is true that a decent number of pairs share a single construction for both the interior and exterior, though there are just as many pairs that have been bestowed with secondary linings — often acrylic, jersey, or fleece — or waterproof yet breathable GORE-TEX-style membranes.
Style: No matter what your personal taste may be, there’s almost certainly a pair of lounge pants that will resonate with you. Not only are these pants produced in a huge array of different colors, but they also vastly range in materials, weave and knit patterns, and finishes. It’s also worth noting that a decent number of pairs on this list are offered in multiple colors, as well as some that are available in several constructions.
Fit: Lounge pants come in a huge variety of different shapes, each affording its own unique fit, with some offering slim-fitting tapered cuts and others sporting roomier, baggy designs. In addition to considering the shape of the pants — in terms of how they fit around the thighs, calves, and ankles — it’s also worth looking into whether or not a given pair offers multi-way stretch properties, as this too will play a role in determining the fit.
Comfort: When it comes to shopping for lounge pants, comfort is king. And while this area is largely determined by factors such as the materials used and the shape and cut, there are smaller elements that can also have a major impact on how comfortable a given pair is. Elements such as brushed or micro-brushed finishes will almost always greatly bolster comfort, as will properties such as stretch, breathability, and moisture-wicking, just to name a few.
Buck Mason Pima Pajama Pant
Pros
- Extremely lightweight and soft
- Buttery smooth hand-feel
- Lots of room in the legs
Cons
- May not be the best pick for wearing outside
Best Pajama Pants: Crafted from American-grown Supima cotton, Buck Mason’s Pima Pajama Pant boasts a relaxed waistband made of stretch poplin, an adjustable drawcord, and extra room in the saddle for supreme comfort. And, in addition to producing this pair in a special selection of Venice Washes, Buck Mason also offers a range of matching premium tees in the same colors and constructions.
Hailing from one of our favorite labels here at HICONSUMPTION, these pajama pants are some of the softest pants I’ve ever worn, and drape my legs in a way that just feels great. They’re made with American-grown Supima cotton that feels buttery smooth and super lightweight (it’s also the same fabric used in the label’s Pima tees, which are just as comfortable as these pants). The fit here is definitely relaxed, thanks to the stretch poplin construction of the waistband and adjustable drawcord, and the cut gives you some extra room in the legs. It’s finished with two pretty generous pockets on the seams, and it’s been pre-shrunk to prevent any shrinkage after the first wash. We went with a Venice wash colorway here, an in-house Buck Mason process that combines small-batch garment dyeing and natural enzyme rinsing to create subtle color variation and a truly vintage look that I absolutely loved.
As much as I loved the lightweight comfort here, there’s not a lot of versatility when it comes to styling options, especially since these have an undeniable pajama pant look. Buck Mason advertises these as ideal for wearing around the house, and I can confirm that this is where the pants shine after testing. Also, given the thinner construction here, these aren’t quite as warm as other picks in the guide, but they had no problem keeping me warm inside.
Verdict: These are by far some of the comfiest pants I’ve ever worn (rivaling the likes of Vuori, which I gave a lot of praise over on our best joggers guide), and while they’re meant to be worn inside, you probably won’t want to take them off anyway.
Material: 100% cotton
Lining: None
Fit: Relaxed
Sizes: XS – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: China
Mack Weldon ACE Sweatpant
Pros
- Convenient stealth zip pocket on the thigh
- Versatile look and feel
- Solid choice for cold weather
Cons
- Some may not like the jogger fit/look
Best Modern Pants: Part of Mack Weldon’s daily wear-focused Ace Collection, this pair of lounge pants puts a modern spin on traditional sweatpants, with a minimalistic design that’s made from a micro-brushed French terry fabric. Available in regular and tall sizes and in more than a dozen color choices, these pants also sport a stealth zippered pocket, a drawcord-secured waist, and back-ribbed ankle cuffs. And, while the Ace Sweatpants are presentable enough for trips to the corner store without looking like you just rolled out of bed, Mack Weldon also offers the zip-and-button-fly Sunday Lounge Pant if you do find yourself wanting something a bit more formal.
Mack Weldon is the go-to place for reliable basics, and if you’ve been looking for some comfortable lounge pants, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the ACE Sweatpants. It’s made with the label’s very own ACE fabric that’s composed of micro-brushed French terry with some added stretch. While these are great lounge pants, there’s no denying that jogger fit and feel, with a relaxed fit up top and tapered legs that connect to back-ribbed ankle cuffs. The ACE material here has a hand-feel that’s very similar to Reigning Champ’s material blend (likely due to the use of French Terry), but it’s on the thinner similar to Vuori’s Coronado pants, which we’ll get into below, giving me more breathability and range of motion. I was also pleasantly surprised by how warm these were considering the thinner build, keeping my legs warm at around 60°F. It’s finished with an elastic waistband boasting an exterior drawcord, two hand pockets lined with what feels like a synthetic material, a zippered back pocket, and a stealth zip pocket on the lower right thigh.
While I personally didn’t have any problems with the length here (likely because I went with the tall cut), I recommend anyone on the taller side (over 6 feet) goes with the tall fit over the regular one. Mack Weldon seems to have fixed this issue even with the regular fit, though, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
Verdict: These pants are the perfect WFH companions, and have a classic jogger look that works if you want to take them for a spin around the block, too.
Material: 95% cotton, 5% stretch
Lining: None
Fit: Tailored
Sizes: S – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: Thailand
Vuori Coronado Pant
Pros
- Velvety-soft hand feel with an even softer brushed interior
- 4-way stretch for mobility
- Made sustainably with recycled polyester
Cons
- Tight fit around the calves may not be for everyone
Best Recovery Pants: Vuori has been killing it in the athleisure game, dropping some of the comfiest gear in the game. We had a chance to get hands-on with the Sunday Performance Joggers over on our jogger’s guide, and it was a personal favorite of mine. This time around, we’re covering the Coronado Pant, a relaxed pair of performance pants with 4-way stretch and a super soft brushed interior.
No comfy pants guide is truly complete without Vuori in the mix, and we got a chance to get hands-on with the Coronado Pant, a pair of recovery pants made with a super soft performance knit (composed of recycled polyester and elastane). You’re getting a brushed interior for extra warmth and softness, natural moisture control from the polyester, and a four-way stretch for plenty of give. I’m still surprised by how effectively Vuori uses recycled polyester, and the buttery-smooth hand feels even rivals the Supima cotton used in Buck Mason’s pajama pants (thanks in large part to the enzyme wash process). For storage, you’re getting two pretty large hand pockets (with zipper garages for added convenience), a zip pocket on the seam just below the left hand pocket, and two zippered back pockets.
I have a few minor gripes with these pants (nothing major); for one, I would’ve liked a looser waistband in general, as it feels a little too tight, and the interior drawcord has this weird single-piece design that makes it a bit more difficult to tie. The fit around my calves was also a bit tight, but these are meant to fit close to the skin, and thankfully the brushed interior feels super nice. Also, these pants have the same somewhat revealing tight fit that the Sunday Performance Joggers have, which may not be for everyone.
Verdict: Vuroi does it again with a pair of supremely soft and flexible pants that make for the perfect post-workout apparel, travel companion, or lounge pants. Between the brushed interior and enzyme-washed fabric, these are some of the softest pants you can get.
Material: 87% recycled polyester, 13% elastane
Lining: Brushed
Fit: Relaxed
Sizes: XS – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: Vietnam
Taylor Stitch The Sunset Pant
Pros
- Indigo dyed fabric that will age beautifully
- Nice heavyweight feel that’s great for cold weather
- Great build quality
Cons
- Part of a small batch
The Safe Pick: The Taylor Stitch Sunset Pant is cut from organic cotton in a variety of knits and weights and boasts a myriad of high-end touches. These pants also feature a pair of front slash pockets supplemented by an additional set of back patch pockets. And with the Taylor Stitch reputation, you know these pants are gonna last long and be comfortable while doing it.
While we had our sights set on snagging Taylor Stitch’s better-known Apres Pants, we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by an overlooked gem: The Sunset Pant. Right from the start, these joggers caught my eye with their refined look – a fusion of denim’s classic build quality and look, and the relaxed coziness of sweatpants, all wrapped up in a sleek tapered silhouette. Crafted from a hefty 14-ounce organic cotton terry, you can really feel the quality and comfort, making them some of the coziest pants in the guide, in my opinion (plus, with their indigo-dyed fabric, you’ll get a personalized fade over time). Style-wise, I felt that these were super versatile as well, giving me more options when it comes to styling with something like sneakers or a button-down. Warmth is also super solid with this pick thanks to the heavyweight cotton terry construction, keeping me warm in around 58°F weather. Practical features like front and back pockets, a button fly, and an elastic waistband with a matching drawcord complete the package (and it’s finished with metal tips on the drawcord; a nice little detail).
Unfortunately, like much of Taylor Stitch’s other apparel, the Sunset Pants are part of a small batch, which means they’re only available in a limited quantity (this is also why we couldn’t get a hold of the Apres Pants).
Verdict: Taylor Stitch brings together the best of both worlds with these pants, seamlessly blending jeans and joggers for a super unique look and feel, with an indigo-dyed fabric that will age beautifully.
Material: 100% organic cotton
Lining: None
Fit: Relaxed
Sizes: XS – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: China
Outerknown Hightide Sweatpants
Pros
- Feels like a super soft beach towel
- Brushed interior that feels super soft
- Made with organic cotton and recycled polyester
Cons
- N/A
Best Sweatpants: If maximum comfort is high up on your lounge pants checklist, then pay attention to Outerknown’s High Tide Sweatpants. It’s made with terry toweling, so the feeling is akin to a freshly washed hotel towel (that you feel inclined to “accidentally pack”). The interior has been brushed as well to take the comfort to the next level. On the front, we have two generous pockets along with a zippered one on the back, so storage is taken care of.
Kelly Slater’s sustainable surf-inspired label always comes through with coastal-friendly designs that just feel great to wear. And the Hightide Sweatpants are no exception, boasting a super unique look and feel thanks to the fabric construction. These sweats are made with terry toweling, giving them a textured look and a super soft hand feel that’s akin to a soft beach towel. This is taken a step further on the interior, where you’re getting a brushed finish that just feels incredible. Seriously, these are some of the coziest sweats I’ve felt, and I couldn’t help but rub the fabric on the outside while I was wearing them. For storage, you’re getting two front patch pockets with plenty of room, and a zippered back pocket with YKK hardware to boot. Fit here was definitely relaxed, and tapers down the leg into the ribbed cuffs for a jogger-esque look and feel, and the brushed interior provides a noticeable amount of extra warmth (I felt insulated in 60°F weather). In true Outerknown fashion, the pants are made with organic cotton and recycled polyester (from 100% post-consumer waste) as well.
I truly can’t think of any criticisms for these sweats; they’re soft, heavyweight, and have a super unique texture and look. I would personally like to see a version without the ribbed ankles, as I do prefer the more classic fit and feel of sweats, but this is just a personal preference.
Verdict: Imagine you’re favorite soft beach towel getting turned into a pair of sweats. Now, rejoice because you don’t have to just imagine it, as Outekrnown’s Hightide Sweatpants strike the perfect harmony between that beach towel feel and classic sweatpant comfort.
Material: 54% organic cotton, 46% recycled polyester
Lining: Brushed
Fit: True to size
Sizes: S – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: USA
Reigning Champ Merino Terry Pant
Pros
- Wool construction makes this a great cold weather pick
- Super clean, minimalist look
- Natural moisture control from the wool
Cons
- May want to go for a size up for more room
Best Merino Wool Pants: Since its inception in 2007, Reigning Champ has built a reputation for producing high-end takes on wardrobe staples — an MO beautifully summed up by the Vancouver company’s Merino Terry Pant. Made by hand in Canada, this model is a traditional-looking pair of sweats that conceal a host of modern features and amenities. Crafted from a midweight knit merino wool terry, these pants boast natural temperature-regulating, antimicrobial, and moisture-wicking properties, as well as a woven drawcord, a modern tapered leg, jersey-lined in-seam pockets, merino rib and waistband gussets, and flatlock seams throughout.
Reigning Champ’s reliable build quality and tastefully minimalist apparel is the perfect balance between streetwear and athleisure. These Merino terry pants are a great example of this blend, made entirely from midweight Merino terry for a warm yet soft pair of pants that make for the perfect cold-weather companions (I was even getting a little hot in 59°F weather). As is the case with all of Reigning Champ’s gear, the build quality here is absolutely immaculate, with flatlock seams and jersey-lined hand pockets (which also have zippers for some added convenience). As for the fit, the taper here felt pretty slim below the knee and coupled with the ribbed ankles, this gives you a more jogger fit and feel. You also get a single flatlock stitched back pocket, and the pants are finished with a small Reigning Champ patch below the left hand pocket. Also, I’m pleased to say that these really weren’t itchy at all, and thanks to the terry knit, the hand feel was a lot smoother than other Merino wool apparel.
As advertised, the fit here is undoubtedly slim, especially below the knees, so I recommend going a size up if you prefer your lounge pants to be more relaxed. Also, given the wool construction, these pants can definitely get a little hot if you’re hanging indoors while it’s not super cold outside (I personally experienced this at our office here in Los Angeles). This also means they’re great for anyone who lives somewhere that’s especially chilly.
Verdict: Handcrafted in Canada and made with Merino terry, these pants are the perfect jogger-style pick for anyone who needs a little extra warmth.
Material: 100% Merino wool
Lining: None
Fit: Slim
Sizes: XS – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: Canada
Vollebak 100 Year Sweatpants
Pros
- Wind, water, and fire-proof
- Much softer than the first version of the fabric
- Brushed fleece interior for added comfort
Cons
- A little pricey
Best Premium Pants: Despite their unassuming appearance, Vollebak’s 100 Year Sweatpants unequivocally represent the most advanced and over-engineered pair of lounge pants on the planet, and they’ve just been updated. These ultra-top-shelf sweats are made from a Polartec-developed three-layer fabric — which was originally produced for use by elite military forces — that’s breathable, moisture-wicking, equipped with multi-way stretch, and heavily resistant to fire. What’s more, the use of a special interior membrane allows these pants to also be impervious to wind and water. Also highly resistant to abrasions, these pants feature an engineered fleece lining, a zippered fly supplemented via a drawcord waist with heat-molded rubberized ends, and fully-waterproof, rubberized zippers throughout.
Long-time readers are probably familiar with Vollebak and the crazy space-age gear that makes them such a unique label (and a favorite over here at HICONSUMPTION), but for those of you who aren’t in the know, Vollebak is a British company that specializes in insanely unique apparel that always pushes the boundaries. As the first company to drop a graphene jacket, Vollebak is always innovating, and the label’s 100 Year lineup boasts some of the most impressive gear on offer. They’ve recently updated the lineup to be a lot more comfortable while maintaining the same rugged waterproof, snowproof, windproof, and fireproof protection that made the collection so unique (the result of two years of R&D). We had a chance to get hands-on with the first version of the 100 Year Hoodie over on our best hoodies guide, which gave us a good baseline for comparison when testing out this updated fabric. First off, I can confidently say that it’s way softer and a lot less rigid, with a smooth hand feel that’s akin to a pair of sweats that, well, aren’t fireproof. This updated fabric still uses the material made in the US by Polartec, with a water and fire-resistant outer layer, a waterproof membrane, and a brushed fleece interior that feels like your favorite pair of old-school sweats. I’m really impressed by just how much softer this new material is, and you wouldn’t be able to guess how rugged they really are by just feeling alone.
The fit here is definitely on the relaxed side, with a taper down the leg into the ribbed ankles, giving these a jogger-style look, and you’re getting a drawcord closure around the waistband. For storage, there are two super big hand pockets (with an extra zippered waterproof pocket inside the right one) and two (also large) back pockets with rubberized waterproof zippers. Again, I’m super impressed with this new material, and these sweats are some of the most unique in the game. That said, they’re on the thicker side, which is great for colder weather, but I found myself overheating while wearing them inside (it was around 65°F outside, for reference).
Verdict: Fight fire, snow, water, and wind in comfort with these heavyweight sweats from the mad scientists over at Vollebak.
Material: 45% lyocell, 37% modacrylic, 14% aramid, 3% elastane
Lining: Engineered fleece
Fit: Relaxed
Sizes: XS – XXL
Manufacturing Origin: Vietnam
Lounge Pants Comparison Chart
Pants | Material | Lining | Fit | Sizes | Manufacturing Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buck Mason Pima Pajama Pant | 100% cotton | None | Relaxed | XS – XXL | China |
Mack Weldon ACE Sweatpant | 95% cotton, 5% stretch | None | Tailored | S – XXL | Thailand |
Vuori Coronado Pant | 87% recycled polyester, 13% elastane | Brushed | Relaxed | XS – XXL | Vietnam |
Taylor Stitch The Sunset Pant | 100% organic cotton | None | Relaxed | XS – XXL | China |
Outerknown Hightide Sweatpants | 54% organic cotton, 46% recycled polyester | Brushed | True to size | S – XXL | USA |
Reigning Champ Merino Terry Pant | 100% Merino wool | None | Slim | XS – XXL | Canada |
Vollebak 100 Year Sweatpants | 45% lyocell, 37% modacrylic, 14% aramid, 3% elastane | Engineered fleece | Relaxed | XS – XXL | Vietnam |
Lounge Pants vs. Sweatpants
While you could technically consider any comfy pants lounge pants if you try hard enough, they’re usually meant to be loose and lightweight counterparts compared to sweats and often come with an adjustable drawcord. Sweatpants will usually be thicker and lined with fleece, making them warmer as well. The lines can be blurred sometimes, though, and you may run across a pair of lounge pants that sit somewhere in the middle.
Honorable Mentions
Tracksmith is perhaps better known for its running gear, but the Downeaster Pants are some of the comfiest Merino wool pants you can get. The name is a reference to a coastal area of New England (AKA “never-never land always east of where you are”), which inspired the cold-weather-ready design of these wool pants, taking advantage of the natural warmth, breathability, and odor-resistance.
Just as conducive to workout applications as it is lazy days sprawling around the house, lululemon’s At Ease Jogger features an athletic design with a gusset placement that allows for a completely unrestricted range of motion, a streamlined fit hugging the glutes and thighs before tapering to the hem, and an advanced cotton-poly construction that’s breathable and offers four-way stretch properties. You’re getting a secure, anchored, zippered pocket, a rear locker loop, and a drawcord closure that can be worn inside or outside the waistband.
Born out of the ongoing collaboration between American clothing brands Todd Snyder and Champion, the Midweight Slim Jogger Sweatpants offer a more personal fit. The garment-dyed cotton and slim fit make for a snug and soft pair of lounge pants that are great companions for a good night’s sleep. Additionally, the elasticated ankles also add to the comfortable and personal fit.
The One Pant from Fair Harbor is not only a super comfy pair of lightweight pants, but they’re also sustainably made from 20 repurposed plastic bottles. On top of that, you’re getting a relaxed 4-way stretch and a durable water-repellent finish for some added water resistance.
Made to handle both outdoor adventures and indoor workouts, the Rhone Versatility Pants live up to their name, boasting a lightweight yet heavy-duty warp-knit fabric that’s up to the task. It’s finished with GOLDFUSION Anti-Odor Technology, UPF 50+ sun protection, and gusseted seams for mobility.
Tested: The Best Men’s Slippers for Lounging
Your loungewear ensemble wouldn’t be complete without an equally comfortable pair of footwear. To complete the look, head over to our best men’s slippers guide.