Sweatpants aren’t just lazy-day loungewear anymore. Sure, they’re still perfect for lying on the couch on your day off, but the best sweatpants go beyond the couch. They’re perfect for work-from-home comfort, can keep you warm at the gym, and more recently, the cuts and styles make them stylish enough to wear when you’re hanging out in town.
From joggers with odor-resistant, sweat-wicking materials to baggy old-school cotton classics, sweatpants come in so many different iterations that there’s a perfect style for however you want to wear them. But that glut of choices can make it tough to find the perfect pair(s) for you.
So our editors did the hard work, testing dozens of sweatpants in the gym, traipsing through farmers’ markets, sitting in on Zoom meetings, and taking the occasional nap on the couch to find the perfect pair for every use. What did we find? A lot of sweatpants are indistinguishable from each other. But a select few stood out regarding comfort, style, and utility.
We’ve divided this list into categories to help you find the best sweatpants for your needs. If you’re in a rush, head straight to our comparison chart, buyer’s guide, and FAQ at the end of this article. For a more detailed look at our favorites, read on.
The Best Sweatpants of 2024
Best Overall Sweatpants
-
Best for
Folks who want a grown-up version of their favorite childhood jammies -
Materials
Cotton -
Color Options
16 -
Fit
Slim -
Sizes
XS-XXL
-
Soft interior -
Maintains shape -
Extremely durable -
Slim fit with plenty of stretch
-
Ankle cuffs could be tighter -
Not ideal for long, sweaty workouts
Best Bargain Sweatpants
-
Best for
Folks who don’t want to spend a lot on great sweatpants -
Materials
Cotton -
Color/Style Options
3 -
Fit
Baggy -
Sizes
XS-XXXL
-
Loose, relaxed fit -
Flashy style -
Durable -
Surprisingly inexpensive
-
Loose fit isn’t for everyone -
Thick material feels hot in warm weather -
Shallow hip pockets
Best Workout Sweatpants
-
Best for
Cool weather workouts -
Materials
Polyester/Elastane -
Color/Style Options
5 -
Fit
Slim -
Sizes
XS-XXL
-
Very stretchy -
Dries quickly -
Boxer brief liner -
Moisture-wicking
-
Feels tight on larger quads -
No liner-less option
Best Travel Sweatpants
-
Best for
Travel, lounging -
Materials
Viscose, nylon, elastane -
Color/Style Options
3 -
Fit
Slim -
Sizes
XS-XXL
-
Snug, supportive fit -
Quick-drying -
Gusseted crotch -
Soft material -
Bonus: Zippered pockets double as vents
-
Not the most breathable -
Could use another zippered pocket in the rear
-
Best for
Recovery, lounging around the house -
Materials
Organic Pima cotton, Tencel, alpaca wool -
Color/Style Options
4 -
Fit
Relaxed -
Sizes
S-XXL
-
All-natural materials -
Soft -
Tapered Fit -
Gusseted crotch for mobility -
Durable -
Made with sustainable fabric
-
Not as quick-drying as other sweats
Best of the Rest
-
Best for
Anyone who wants sweats that’ll last a lifetime -
Materials
Cotton -
Color/Style Options
4 -
Fit
Loose -
Sizes
XS-XL
-
Heavyweight -
Extremely durable -
Soft interior -
Retains shape well
-
The inseam is longer than most sweats
Sweatpants Comparison Chart
How We Tested Sweatpants
To be honest, testing sweatpants is one of the most comfortable endeavors that GearJunkie editors have had to endure. We combined our years of experience with several months of testing to find the best sweatpants for everything from zoning out on the couch to powering through grueling CrossFit workouts.
While testing, we considered factors that can make or break a pair of sweatpants, including fit, material, durability, and above all, comfort. As a crew of active, fit, people who primarily work remotely, we were able to spend the majority of our waking lives in active and passive testing across all these categories.
The testing doesn’t stop here: As new sweatpants hit the market, we’ll be calling them in and testing them out to make sure this guide is consistently up to date.
Why You Should Trust Us
To say that lead tester Billy Brown is a sweatpant fan would be an understatement. He’s a lifelong gym rat who has worn sweatpants through freezing winter workouts in garages, CrossFit boxes, and boxing gyms throughout his lifetime. In the last few decades, he has spent the majority of his time working remotely, adhering to the business on top, sweatpants on bottom approach to Zoom meetings.
During these years, Brown has refined his tastes in sweatpants, judging them on comfort, utility, and durability. For this guide, he combined this experience with real-world testing to decide which ones made this list.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Sweatpants
A good pair of sweatpants should be something that you look forward to wearing every day. When you find a great pair, they’ll most likely become part of your everyday fit, whether that’s at home or out and about. With that in mind, it’s important to consider factors that will help you find a pair that you’ll enjoy putting on every chance you get.
In this buyer’s guide, we cover comfort, fit, durability, materials, and value, as well as other factors that are key to finding the perfect sweatpants. Looking for more comfort-core gear? Check out our guide to the best wool sweaters.
Comfort
When it comes to sweatpants, comfort should be the first thing to consider. Sweatpants are meant to feel like a warm, cozy second skin whether you wear them in the house, at the gym, or hanging at a coffee shop. Sweatpants are meant to be a comfy alternative to jeans and slacks, so how good they feel should be the top priority.
While all of the pants on this list are designed to be comfortable, certain sweatpants like the Paka Apparel Everyday Jogger are made with a super-soft alpaca and Tencel blend to feel great against the skin. Other options, like the Vuori Kore Jogger, offer excellent stretch so you never feel restricted or confined.
Fit
A big part of how comfortable a pair of sweatpants is relates to how well it fits. Since fit preferences vary from person to person, it’s important to know whether a pair you’re considering is slim, baggy, or somewhere in between.
If you prefer a classic baggy fit like the sweats you’d wear in P.E. class, the RokFit Sweatpants or Tracksmith Trackhouse Sweatpants might be a good option. Looking for something a little more form-fitting? The Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Slim might be a better…fit.
Durability
Just like a good bath towel, a pair of sweatpants should get more comfortable as the years go by. But that means they’ll need to last for a few years to help them get to that next level. If you’re using your sweatpants for more than just laying around (or you want to keep them around for a while), you’ll need to find a pair with some staying power.
Some sweats on this list, like the Tracksmith Trackhouse Sweatpants, have dense weave patterns built for the long haul. Others, like the Roark El Morro Fleece Pants, are made with a durable viscose, nylon, elastane blend that can withstand abrasion and wear and tear.
Material
The right material can make or break a pair of sweatpants. There are tons of options on the market, which can make it difficult to choose the perfect pair. If you’re trying to decide which way to go, it pays to consider your priorities.
If comfort is king, you can’t go wrong with a nice, soft cotton pair, like the RokFit Sweatpants. Plan on working out or running in your sweats? Look for a material that dries quickly and wicks away sweat, like the Vuori Kore Jogger, which is made from a polyester and elastane blend.
Value
The sweatpants on this list range in price from $47.50 to well over $100. Sure, you can find cheaper ones, but often you’ll be sacrificing features like fit, durability, and comfort.
Since you’ll (hopefully) be wearing these sweatpants for at least a few years, consider what a perfect pair of sweats is worth to you. If you’re planning on making these a regular part of your rotation, be prepared to shell out a little more for these than your basic $20 pair.
FAQ
Good sweatpants can be made from various materials, depending on the wearer’s use and preference. Soft fibers like cotton can be ideal for lounging but don’t work well in gym settings since they dry slowly. If you plan on being active in your sweats, consider a synthetic material like polyester with a bit of elastane for stretch.
Again, this depends on the wearer’s preference. Some find baggy sweatpants more freeing and comfortable, while others may prefer a slimmer cut. Jogger sweats are another option. Looser in the hips and tighter around the calves, they can be a pleasant compromise between the two.
Sweatpants are no longer relegated to the house or the gym. Nowadays, many sweatpants offer slim fits, clean lines, and flashy designs that make them more than acceptable to wear in public.
