The Best Sweatpants
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When it comes to the best sweatpants, everybody’s looking for something different. Maybe you want a pair that you can wear in the summer with your sneakers and a crop top. Maybe you want a pair to work out in. Or maybe you want to be in full-on couch potato mode, in the biggest, coziest pair of pants possible. We’ve managed to test sweatpants in all these categories—and more. Our favorite pair, the Vuori Performance Joggers (Women’s or Men’s) for $94, are ideal for just about every situation. Keep reading to find even more recommendations.
Be sure to check out our related buying guides, including the Best Hoodies, Best Leggings, Best Merino Wool Clothing, and Best T-Shirts.
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How We Tested
We tested more than 20 pairs of sweatpants and looked for distinguishing details, a comfortable fit, durability, and how wearable the pants were, based on various scenarios. We wore each pair at least a few times and washed and dried them as well.
Meet the Testers
Louryn Strampe is 5'1", has a curvy hourglass figure, and has an equally proportioned (though close to the ground) torso and legs.
Julian Chokkattu is 6'4", is comfortably padded, and has long legs.
Best Overall
I love these sweatpants so much, I wrote a whole story about them. They fit like a dream, with a tapered silhouette that’s tight around the ankles and bum, but loose around the thighs and calves. They’re super flattering, and the four-way stretch Dreamknit fabric is exquisitely soft (and made with recycled materials!). The slash pockets are deep enough to hold my phone and not too visible whether they’re full or empty, and the flat drawstring stays tied all throughout the day. They don’t stretch out or lose their shape, and they hold up well in the wash. (I’ve had one pair for five years and counting.) They’re breathable yet warm—they don’t get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. I think you can dress them up or down and wear the waist high or low. I’m short and curvy, but friends and colleagues who are taller and skinnier than I am have also loved these pants. They’re everything a pair of joggers should be. —Louryn Strampe
Available Sizes XXS to XXL (Regular or Long lengths) Available Colors 14 Fabric Details 89% recycled polyester, 11% elastane Louryn’s Favorite
- Courtesy of Juicy
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Juicy Couture track suits are perhaps the most recognizable fashion trend of the early oughts, which I’m pleased to inform you is very much back again (if it ever really left in the first place). These velour sweats are soft and velvety to the touch, and of course, they have a big logo rhinestoned right across the butt. The waistline works well both mid-rise and low-rise, and the drawstring has metal-tipped ends (and they’re stamped with the Juicy Couture logo as well). The silhouette is slightly tight across the hips and rear and looser toward the calves. The fabric is slightly heavy, and the pants keep me warm on chilly days. I think they’d be too heavy for summer sun, but nevertheless I may still try. I love the wide array of colors, I love the silky-feeling lining, and I love how many heads I turn everywhere I go when I wear them. I think this is best paired with the matching hoodie for a truly iconic fit. Just make sure you wash them inside out on a cold cycle and tumble dry low to preserve the decorations. (I’ve washed my set many times and haven’t lost a single rhinestone.) —Louryn Strampe
Available Sizes XS - 3X Available Colors 20 Fabric Details 95% polyester, 5% spandex
Julian’s Favorite
When I hop into sweatpants, I want to feel like I'm on cloud nine, and both of these sweatpants from Canada-based Roots deliver exactly that sensation (mind you, the pants are made in Cambodia). The reason for that is the brushed fleece on the inside, which is super soft against the skin. The Roots Athletics Sweatpant (64 percent organic cotton, 36 percent recycled polyester fleece) is the more traditional design, with a classic fit that extends down close to my ankles on my 6'4" frame. But I like the Cloud Straight Leg even more. No skin-tight pants here! These are airy, whimsical, and tremendously soft. Made from 80 percent organic cotton and 20 percent recycled polyester fleece, the pants are smooth but plush. They do get a bit warm for the shoulder seasons and summer, but out of the many sweatpants I've tested, I'm happiest with these. —Julian Chokkattu
Available Sizes XS to XXL Available Colors Athletics Sweatpant: 2. Cloud Straight Leg: 3 Fabric Details Athletics Sweatpant: 64% organic cotton, 36% recycled polyester fleece. Cloud Straight Leg: 80% organic cotton, 20% recycled polyester fleece Lots of Pockets
- Courtesy of Lululemon
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
If millennials are known for skinny jeans, Gen Z is known for the exact opposite of that. Think big, interesting silhouettes, varying waist heights, and different colors and washes. These trendy Lululemon cargos were a bit out of my early-thirties comfort zone. But they’re awesome. They’ve got a mid-rise fit that shows off just the right amount of tummy if you pair them with a crop top, and they’re roomy throughout the hips and thighs. The two-way stretch fabric is water-repellent and slightly ribbed, with a lightweight feel that’s perfect for summer (or sweating in a dance studio, presumably). There are pockets galore, including hand pockets with a hidden card sleeve, back pockets, and cargo pockets. All of these pockets are useful, and my phone has yet to fall out of any of them.
The waist has a drawstring, and the hems are cinchable to let you adjust how tight they are—a feature I appreciate as a shortie, since I can cinch them up if I don’t want them to drag on the ground. These pants run just a little big, and my only complaint is that the hand pockets tend to stick out a bit. (My younger sisters assure me that they look all right, but it still bugs me just a little.) Ultimately, though, I feel super cool when I wear these pants, both temperature- and style-wise. —Louryn Strampe
Available Sizes XXXS to XL Available Colors 7 Fabric Details Waistband: 88% nylon, 12% Lycra elastane. Pocket: 86% recycled polyester, 14% elastane. Body: 94% nylon, 6% elastane
Great for Travel
Slipping into these pants is always a treat. (I love the green color, too.) The tailored fit makes them acceptable to wear out and about, and the stretchy double-knit fabric makes them comfy no matter what you're doing. (They're made of 72 percent cotton, 22 percent polyester, and 6 percent spandex.) They have held up really well after more than two months of extensive use—with multiple bouts through the laundry—and I frankly prefer the inner drawcord since there's less of a chance of snagging in the wash). Despite my 6'4" frame, the Recover Pants come down to my ankles. These are the sweatpants I decided to bring on a trip to Italy as my nightclothes for when I'm lounging in the hotel, not only because they're very comfy to sleep in, but they also roll up tight and take up very little room, unlike many other sweatpants I've tested. —Julian Chokkattu
Available Sizes XS to XXL Available Colors 2 Fabric Details 72% cotton, 22% polyester, 6% spandex Old-School Cool
- Courtesy of Aritzia
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn-Strampe
WIRED editor Adrienne So swears by her high-school sweatpants, and this oversized pair from Aritzia remind me exactly of that. They’re almost shapeless, with a classic drawstring waist and elastic ankle cuffs. The rest of the pant leg is just big, cozy, fleece-lined goodness. The roomy fit is great for bumming around the house or running errands, though paired with a bodysuit and a cute pair of sneakers, you could probably wear these anywhere. The drawstring waist can be rolled up once or twice if you prefer, and it has an internal loop to knot rather than two laces to tie. The dart pockets are nice and roomy. The midweight Sweatfleece fabric is soft and cozy, but not stiflingly warm. I also like the slightly faded, washed-out colors, which lend to the vintage appeal. And finally, these are available in a truly gargantuan array of colors, sizes, and lengths, so it’ll be easy to find a pair that works for you. —Louryn Strampe
Available Sizes XXS to 2XL, in Short, Regular, or Tall lengths Available Colors 12 Core Collection, 17 Limited Edition Fabric Details 78% cotton, 22% polyester
Affordable Comfort
- Courtesy of Gap
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
For a vintage look with a more affordable price tag, these joggers from Gap are spot-on. They truly feel like I stole them from my boyfriend. They’re slightly oversized, with a hem that hits right at the ankle. They’re soft on the outside and softer on the inside, with a midweight terry cotton construction that feels pre-worn in the best way. Gap describes the fleece as “lived-in soft,” and I think that’s the perfect description. The inner lining is brushed and feels almost like fleece, but they’re not too warm for any season but summer. The silhouette is relaxed everywhere but the waist and ankles, and the slant pockets are average depth. These also don‘t have a drawstring, which may bother some people. But it didn’t bother me! I was too busy feeling cozy. —Louryn Strampe
Available Sizes XXS to XXL Available Colors 11 Fabric Details 77% cotton, 23% polyester
Honorable Mentions
Gap Heavyweight French Terry Seamed Wide-Leg Sweatpants for $70: As I mentioned earlier, sometimes nontraditional pants are just a bit too out of my comfort zone, and I found these to be difficult to style. The heavy French terry fabric is nice and warm, and some colors look almost like denim. But on my 5'1" frame, with no drawstring on the waistband, these regularly pooled at my ankles, and not in a cool counterculture way. I felt like I was dressing up in my dad’s clothes, and I constantly needed to hike them up on my waist. I could see these being very cool to the right demographic, and they’re well constructed with neat seam detailing. I just didn’t love them as much as the others I tested. —Louryn Strampe
Mack Weldon Ace Sweatpant for $88: I like that Mack Weldon offers a Regular or Tall fit for its Ace Sweatpant—I tried the latter—and it went down to my ankles (yay!). The fit is really nice here, though the pants tend to look a little wrinkly. The standout is the micro-brushed French terry texture. It feels smooth and soft to touch, though the pockets have an odd crinkly feel. There are two zippered pockets, one on the back and one low on the right side, the latter of which is a nice spot for earbuds. I like that the ankles are back-ribbed, which helps maintain a nice shape. These pants are made from 95 percent cotton and 5 percent Stretch. —Julian Chokkattu
Buck Mason Welterweight Sweatpant for $138: I love the look of Buck Mason's 1940s-inspired Welterweight sweatpants, with a lovely wide, ribbed waistband. The 100 percent cotton French terry fleece feels hardy and, while they don't feel tight and drape nicely, they're not what I'd pick for lounging on a couch. If I'm wearing these, I feel like I need to put a little thought into my outfit and then head out the door and show them off. I have two main issues, though: The first is that these pants are just not long enough for my 6'4" frame. That might not be an issue for you, but they land well above my ankles. Also, the inside of the pockets feels rough. —Julian Chokkattu
Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Sweatpant for $110: I regret asking for these sweatpants in white. Don't buy white pants. You'll quickly learn that it's really hard to keep stains away, especially on a piece of clothing designed for bumming around. Thankfully, Reigning Champ has multiple other color options, and the Vintage White I have isn't available anymore (it's not just me!). I'm 6'4", and I would have liked the pants to be a little longer to get closer to my ankles, but this is a common problem for me. My only other gripe is the label on the inside back of the sweatpants—the corners are super sharp and scratchy, and when they inevitably make contact with the skin, it's extremely unpleasant. When that's not happening, these 100 percent cotton sweatpants are comfy with a nice silhouette, and the slant pockets are roomy. —Julian Chokkattu
