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13 Best Sweatpants for Men
Fun fact: Sweatpants were invented for French athletes in the 1920s. Originally, the only color available was gray.
As the humble sweatpants celebrate a century, it’s fascinating to think about their fashion trajectory. Not so long ago, people who wore sweatpants were thought to have “given up” on life. This notion was even popularized on 90s sitcom Seinfeld. Fast-forward to today and sweatpants have never been so popular. They’re outrageously comfortable, stretchy, and above all, easy to wear – perfect for both cozying up and working from home.
These days, the line between athleisure and what’s barely appropriate for wearing in public continues to get increasingly blurry. We want to make sure you’re wearing sweatpants the right way, because it’s clear they aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon. This guide to the 12 best sweatpants for men in 2021 should help. Just remember, if you’re currently wearing the same sweatpants you slept in last night, you’re doing it wrong.
Best Buy
1. UNIQLO Ultra Stretch Dry Sweatpants
We’re huge fans of UNIQLO at NextLuxury. The brand is comprised of super affordable, ultra-modern wardrobe staples that are somehow effortlessly up-to-the-minute cool but not exactly trendy.
In other words, you can rest assured that whatever you buy from UNIQLO today will still be “in” a couple of years from now. The clothing is also well-made, so it’s completely realistic you’ll actually be wearing whatever you buy today in a couple of years.
All of that remains true with UNIQLO’s Ultra Stretch Dry Sweatpants. This pair is made from a high-tech “dry” material with a smooth surface and two-way stretch for ultimate comfort. UNIQLO incorporates layers of air into these pants, so not only are they quick-drying, but they also have excellent thermal properties and keep you both toasty when it’s cold out and cool when it’s warm.
The tapered jogger-style leg and double seams give these sweatpants for men a look that’s both classic and fresh. Three pockets, including one on the rear, provide excellent functionality.
2. Los Angeles Apparel 14oz. Heavy Fleece Pants
These sweatpants don’t have “heavy fleece” in their name for no reason — they are indeed heavy. Esquire compares them to “wearing a weighted blanket,” and that’s not at all an over-exaggeration.
They weigh a hefty 14 ounces and are exceptionally thick, so these sweats are an excellent choice for particularly cold days and nights. We’d also happily choose them for a variety of outdoor pursuits, like camping.
While the Heavy Fleece Pants have a pre-shrunk fit, it’s slightly slimmer than other sweatpants out there. Size up if you’re looking for a more relaxed, casual fit. The pants have two hip pockets, as well as a rear pocket, and a drawstring waist for a customized fit. They have a unisex fit and even come in XS, which is typically difficult to find.
Los Angeles Apparel is also an advocate of ethical fashion. The company provides its employees fair wages, uses recycled or organic cotton, and purchases yarns and other textiles that were grown in the USA, where it manufactures its apparel.
3. birddogs Classic Cotton Sweatpants - Julius Pleasers
It’s hard not to love a pair of sweatpants that look good on and off the couch. Birddogs delivered on just that. The Julius Pleasers are your answer for comfort and durability.
They also feature Birddogs’ signature lining. Underwear can be constrictive and uncomfortable, so Birddogs’ give you a lining option so you can skip all other underwear altogether.
4. Champion LIFE Reverse Weave Pants
Few brands are as synonymous with athletic wear as Champion. Along the same lines, nothing says “sweatpants” quite like the classic silhouette we all know and love. Joggers have plenty of places in our wardrobe rotation, but sometimes you just want to slip into a good ol’ fashioned pair of true sweats. These LIFE Reverse Weave Pants are those sweats.
Made of a slightly heavy-weight fleeced fabric blend of cotton and polyester, these sweatpants for men will keep you cozy and comfortable whether you’re hitting the gym, running errands around town, or lounging on the couch. They have an elastic waist with a hidden drawstring inside and classic tapered legs, and the fit falls somewhere between relaxed and slim.
These pants truly won’t shrink on you but order up a size if you prefer a looser, baggy fit. Finally, they have hip pockets and a rear pocket that’s actually large enough to hold your wallet.
5. Nike Sportswear Club Fleece
How can class sweatpants get even better? One way is to make them out of super soft brushed-back fleece. Nike did just that with the Sportswear Club Fleece, and the results are nearly perfect. The fleece is amazingly comfortable, cozy, and warm, without being too hot.
Nike also nails the fit. It’s truly athletic, so you have plenty of room to comfortably move, but they’re not by any means baggy.
There are two side pockets and a rear pocket with snap closure, which is a nice detail that gives added security when you’re carrying your wallet. The classic silhouette with a slightly retro, throwback look includes an elastic waist with adjustable drawstring and elastic cuffs.
Being that these men’s sweatpants are made by Nike, the company designed the cuffs so you can “show off your kicks.” We also love that they come in a variety of interesting colors well beyond basic gray and black, plus a tremendous range of sizes, including everything from XS to 4XL Tall.
6. Reigning Champ Heavyweight Slim Sweat Pant
The brand name may sound a bit arrogant (okay, more than a bit), but it’s not at all off-base. Reigning Champion makes phenomenal sweatpants, the type we’d be happy to never have to take off.
This Heavyweight Fleece fabric is what Reigning Champ started its empire on, and it’s only gotten better since its launch in 1998. It’s ultra-thick and crazy soft, which means not only is it warm and comfortable for chilly days, but it’s also durable.
These men’s sweatpants feature a tried-and-true classic silhouette with elastic cuffs, but they also have a decidedly modern slim fit. The thick ribbed waistband with exposed drawstring and embroidered crest logo label add a bit of refinement. There are also two hip pockets and a single back pocket, so grab your essentials and head literally anywhere you want in these bad boys.
7. ADIDAS Y-3 CL Track Pants
Admittedly, this is the most expensive pair of sweats on our list of the best sweatpants for men in 2021. If you’re an activewear or athleisure aficionado, though, or even just a fashion junkie, these Adidas sweatpants are well worth the investment.
Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto – the “Y” in Y-3 – is incredibly influential, known for bold and slightly “out there” designs. His style, in combination with iconic Adidas athletic wear, created one of the most coveted fashion collaborations in history nearly 20 years ago in 2003.
Today’s version of the Y-3 CL track pants is a simple and clean, yet subtly elevated ode to classic three-stripe Adidas track pants. No matter which of the four colors you choose, these pants are completely solid, with matching tonal accents.
They have a faux fly and a modern relaxed fit with a slim tapered leg so you can get away with wearing them in virtually any setting and with anything. Zippered pockets at both hips and the rear add to the premium feel, but the exposed drawstring keeps them decidedly casual-cool.
8. Carhartt Work in Progress “Chase” Lounge Pants
Carhartt has been around since 1889 and has always been highly regarded for making extremely comfortable and functional clothing that’s also impressively durable. The company may be more well-known for making “workwear” such as its iconic bib overalls and Watch hat, but trust us, it knows its stuff when it comes to men’s sweatpants as well.
The simple Work in Progress Chase pants are everything men’s sweatpants should be: true to size and perfectly fitted with just the right amount of movement in the legs, and functional, with a drawstring waist and three pockets. There’s a subtle gold Carhartt logo at the front left leg, the single embellishment on otherwise totally plain sweats.
The fabric is a blend of 58% cotton and 42% polyester and they shouldn’t shrink at all once washed. Like nearly all of Carhartt’s other clothing, the Chase lounge pants come in extended sizes from XS to 2XL.
9. Land’s End Men’s Serious Sweats Sweatpants
Land’s End has been in the game of making casual wardrobe staples for nearly 60 years — although interestingly, the company started out selling sailing supplies. Much of its clothing is still nautical-inspired today, such as the Squall Parka and Sail Rigger Oxford shirt, but the overarching theme across the entire brand is high quality at an excellent value.
That is exactly the case with the “Serious Sweats” sweatpants, a pair that’s made of ultra-thick and ultra-soft knit plush. The classic silhouette features a comfortable drawstring-adjustable waistband, tapered leg openings, and a relaxed fit that’s not too tight and not too baggy. There are two side pockets, but it’s worth noting that Land’s End recently removed the rear pocket these sweats had for some time.
According to the website, the company listened to customer feedback that people didn’t care for it. Something fairly unique about these pants is that they’re made of a high concentration of cotton (72%, with 28% polyester), but pre-shrunk so you can machine-wash them without fear of shrinking.
10. Russell Athletic Men’s Cotton Rich 2.0 Premium Fleece Sweatpants
In the late 1920s shortly after sweatpants were invented, Russell Athletic was the first company to make any tweaks to the simple but functional and beloved design. The pants had thus far only been made from knit jersey wool, and the material was itchy and not particularly soft. Russell Athletic made its own version from soft, stretchy, ultra-comfortable cotton and changed the sweatpants game forever.
That alone is enough for us to want to go out and buy a pair of Russell Athletic sweatpants for men. These ones are made from a lightweight ring-spun cotton yarn that’s super soft, durable, and doesn’t pill. They also have two hip pockets and an open bottom, as opposed to elasticized. We love this detail, as sometimes you just don’t want something hugging your ankles.
11. Armour UA Recover Fleece Pants
Under Armour is another company you can rest assured makes a pair of men’s sweatpants that’s damn near perfect. After all, the company was created to fill the major gaps where athletic wear was lacking. The UA Recover fleece pants are certainly not cheap, but they’re worth the investment, as Under Armour makes notoriously durable clothing that lasts for many years.
This pair is made from UA’s innovative mineral-infused fabric, which cleverly reflects your body’s energy right back into the muscles. It does this by using an infrared design on the inside of the sweatpants, and the technology helps the muscles to recover more quickly from strenuous workouts.
Other details we love include the thick waistband with external drawstring and zippered hip and rear pockets. They fit true to size and have a very slightly relaxed silhouette, so they’re just as suitable at home grabbing lunch as they are training in the gym.
12. Fred Perry Loopback Sweatpants
If you’re unfamiliar with Fred Perry, he was a fascinating man and world champion tennis player. To this day, he’s the only British player to have ever won a Career Grand Slam, winning all four singles championships. He achieved that at just 26 years of age and won several other championships and titles, including Wimbledon and seven other Grand Slam tournaments.
Fred Perry clothing has timeless tennis-inspired elements and is highly regarded as being both durable and comfortable. The Loopback sweatpants are no different – a classic, true-to-size pair with elasticized ankle cuffs and a drawstring waist. At the pockets you’ll find the signature nod to tennis: iconic “twin tipping” stripes and an embroidered Fred Perry laurel logo, which was an early symbol for Wimbledon.
13. Hanes Ecosmart Open Leg Fleece
Sure, there are countless pairs of fancier sweatpants out there with all sorts of bells and whistles (as you’ve seen from the previous 11 on this list), but have you ever heard the term, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Hanes has been in the sweatpants for men game for a long, long time, so they must be doing something right.
If comfort and function are your top priorities, save yourself the time and headache of searching for others — as well as a substantial amount of money — and just buy yourself a few pairs of these. With extended sizes up to 3X, a variety of colors to choose from, and a classic open leg silhouette, there’s a pair of Hanes men’s sweatpants for everyone.
Side pockets, an adjustable waist with inner drawstring, and recycled-cotton blend fabric provide a pleasantly surprising value at this price point. Note that Hanes’ EcoSmart line is typically not as heavy as some other fleece sweats. While many people prefer this, you may want to choose another pair if you’re looking for a super warm pair of sweatpants.
Sweatpants FAQs
Sweatpants can be a type of joggers and vice-versa, but it’s not necessarily a rule. Joggers typically have tapered legs with cuffs or elastic at the ankles, and often (but not always) hit just above the ankle. They can also be made of virtually any material. Sweatpants, on the other hand, are generally made of thick material and feature a more straight leg, whether it’s a relaxed or skinny fit.
Sweatpants are popular because they’re both stylish and outrageously comfortable. They’re also functional, keeping you warm and providing pockets for necessities.
You can absolutely wear sweatpants in public — with some caveats. First, it depends on where you’re going. Sweatpants do not belong on a date or at a family function. Ever. They’re perfectly fine for running errands, a super-casual lunch with buddies, or, of course, the gym. If you are going out in sweatpants, opt for a nicer, well-fitting pair like the ones listed here, instead of your oldest, most faded pair.