The Best Men’s Sweatpants To Wear Everywhere

Buying sweatpants nowadays is much harder than it needs to be, especially when buying a pair online. Primarily, this is because the difference between standard options and joggers is more significant than brands make it out to be, which tends to disrupt the ideal fit people chase in a set of sweats. While many still prefer the free-flowing, open-hemmed look, some believe it can get irritating in case they’re too long or too baggy. Regardless, there are plenty of elements to consider here, but sweatpants are still sweatpants, and personal comfortability remains the most important thing to look for in a pair. Luckily, we’ve compiled an array of the best men’s sweatpants ready to keep anyone cozy.

How to choose a solid pair of sweatpants

Material: Ideally, people want sweatpants to be soft, comfortable, and out of the way. This means that they’re generally made from a majority cotton blend, with fleece and wool sometimes appearing in warmer pants. Additionally, the inside may be brushed and/or insulated to improve comfort. If you’re looking for something with a more athleisure slant, synthetic material is also available, but that’s getting into jogger territory (more on that later). Make sure you know what utility (if any) you’re expecting out of your sweats, and pay attention to what the brand’s material breakdown says to make an informed decision.

Fit and Style: While sweats are generally designed for comfort over style, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t options. Ankles can be tapered or straight cut, waists can vary in size, and you may even be able to pull off the stealth sweats if the pants allow for it. Even a shlubby pair of sweats can be elevated with the right accessories (like a close-fitting shirt, etc.). Understand your style and size to make choosing the right sweats easier.

Joggers or sweats?

Simply put, the difference between these two comes down to the materials used, and usually the fit and style. Sweats should be thick and mostly comprised of (ideally quality) cotton, while joggers will normally be thinner and include some sort of synthetic material for active endeavors. That’s not to say some sweats can’t be worn in an athletic capacity, but generally speaking, they’re not the first choice. Sometimes the line can be blurred, so ultimately the final say is up to you.

Nike Sportswear Club Fleece Pants

The Budget Pick: If you’re searching for staple simplicity from one of the world’s biggest athleisure brands, look no further than the Nike Sportswear Club Fleece sweatpant. These timeless sweats provide a slim-fit look that deviates from the cumbersome nature of the genre’s vintage variants, providing wearers with an elevated style piece that can be utilized for a night on the town, an evening at the gym, or a morning at home.

Urban Outfitters Champion Reverse Weave Sweatpant

The Safe Choice: Urban Outfitters and legendary activewear brand Champion have teamed up to give us a classic pair of sweats. The Champion Reverse Weave Sweatpant has an elastic waistband with a tapered silhouette, making for a simple yet not too baggy pair of sweats. They’re 100% cotton too so they’ll be soft, warm, and breathable. If you’re in the market for a textbook pair of sweats that won’t break the bank (and a co-sign from a classic brand), then these are a great pick.

Richerpoorer Recycled Fleece Tapered Sweatpants

The Sustainable Pick: RicherPoorer’s unique hand-dying technique helps each pair of sweats differ from the next, but that’s not even the best part. The sustainable brand’s Recycled Fleece Tapered Sweatpants save over 35 plastic bottles from landfills, assuring that they’re as eco-friendly as they are couch-ready. However, their narrow, near-slim fit guarantees that they’re as ready to wear to a casual night out or a trip to the grocery store.

Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpants

The Softest Sweatpants: Outdoor Voices touts these CloudKnit sweatpants as the softest examples you’ll ever wear, and that’s a large order when compared to some of the other offerings on this list. If you’re willing to take their word for it, you’ll be treated to the company’s supple polyester and spandex blend, a slim-fitting, tapered style, and innovative, Bluesign-approved, CloudKnit fabric construction, which promotes lightweight wear alongside a variety of your favorite indoor/outdoor activities.

J.Crew Heritage 14oz Fleece Sweatpants

The Best Fleece Sweatpants: Like anything from J.Crew, the preppy clothier’s fleece-crafter sweatpants are cut and sewn to stand the test of time from a style standpoint. The cozy bottoms are crafted from a sustainable, 14-ounce blend of cotton and polyester, rounded out with a pair of roomy slant pockets, and available in a quartet of subtle colors fit to work with anyone’s fall wardrobe. Lastly, you can add a custom monogram to remind everyone they are yours.

American Giant Classic Sweatpants

The Best American-Made Sweatpants: American Giant’s Classic sweatpants have served as a great foundation for the company’s athleisure line since its conception, but that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t use a rework. Luckily, the brand’s latest model has been outfitted with an all-new cotton fleece fabric, a channeled waistband, and double-needle straddle-stitching for additional reinforcement throughout its key areas. It also features two distinct side pockets, as well as a back pocket area that can carry larger smart devices or accessories. Of course, all of this would mean nothing without the sweatpant’s timeless design to back it up.

Standard Issue Standard Sweatpants

The Classic: Sometimes simple is better, that’s why Standard Issue’s Standard Sweatpants are a no-frills pair of sweats with quality design and material. They’ve been pre-shrunk to avoid any size surprises after a wash, and are made with care in California. The label prides itself on vertical manufacturing and minimal branding, upholding the integrity they’ve become known for.

Lululemon City Sweat Jogger

The Best Sweatpant/Jogger Hybrid: Lululemon and athleisure go together like ice cream and apple pie, and thanks to the brand’s City Sweat Jogger, it’s easy to see why they’ve become a household name for wearers looking to straddle the line between great-looking style and functional use. Whether you’re headed to the studio or a yoga session or catching up on some of your favorite films, the City Sweat features a comfortable, four-way stretch architecture, breathable French Terry fabric, and Lycra fibers for additional strength and form retention over long periods of use. They’re even a little roomier in the legs, allowing you to move and adapt based on your application, without having to worry about the constraints of tapered models.

Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Relaxed Sweatpants

The Best Relaxed-Fit Sweatpants: If you’re an avid gymgoer who’s looking to take his workout clothing in a more relaxed direction, Reigning Champ has introduced the Men’s Mid Weight Terry sweatpants. This simplistic variant is as classic as they come, offering wearers a modern-day rendition of iconic, relaxed examples that have laid the groundwork for today’s purpose-built leisurewear. As such, they maintain a more relaxed fit than most, boast a roomier feel, and include a luxurious French Terry fabric that’s comfortable, capable, and tested for use in a variety of different environments.

Buck Mason Loopback Wool Lounge Pant

The Best Wool Sweatpants: Buck Mason’s top-shelf sweats are the epitome of soft. As their name insists, the traditionally-fitting lounge pants are composed of plush nine-gauge wool, cashmere, and cotton jersey, coming together for a luxurious option finished with hand-linked seams for optimized longevity. They are available in a sole shade of heather charcoal that keeps things subtle, classy, and versatile.

Best Basic T-Shirts

No pair of sweats is complete without an equally comfy shirt. So take a look at our best basic t-shirts guide to take care of that.