Three Things To Consider When Choosing Men’s Sweatpants
Materials, cut, and options all come into play when choosing sweatpants. Here’s how to find the perfect pair.
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Back in the day, sweatpants were something you wore to the gym. Today sweatpants are go-to clothing for lounging, working out, running errands, and even sleeping. There are lots of options to choose from, so here are three things to consider that will make your buying decision a lot easier.
You’ll basically have two choices in the way sweatpants are cut.
Tailored sweatpants (also called “joggers”) are more slim-cut (like skinny jeans) to hug your body and their fabrics aren’t as thick as traditional sweats. They are more tapered through the legs and usually have elastic around the ankles, which is nice for keeping the cold out on cool morning hikes or at fall tailgating events. Many have an elastic waistband and no drawstring.
These 100-percent polyester sweats offer warmth and breathability. Ribbed ankles keep the cold from creeping in. Southpole
Traditional sweatpants are more loosely cut. These are the sweatpants we all grew up with—plenty of room to move around in and ultra-comfortable.
These 50/50, cotton/poly sweats have generous front pockets and an open-bottom design that fits over the tops of shoes nicely for a good look. Champion
While cotton is still the classic sweatpant material, today’s styles are also available in cotton/polyester blends. This allows the materials to be more tailored and the polyester helps both breathability while providing a bit more warmth than cotton. You’ll even find sweatpant designs spilling over into the “fleece” category where lightweight, 100-percent polyester fabrics provide even more breathability—perfect to wear for workouts or even as a base layer when you’re headed out into colder weather or skiing.