If we could sum up men’s fashion in the past year with just a single article of clothing, there is no doubt in our minds that it would be the ever-so-classic pair of joggers. Dressing up, or getting dressed at all, had become a rarity last year. Now that we’re going out and strutting our stuff again, we still don’t really want to leave the house without wearing a comfy pair of the best men’s joggers.
Sorry, not sorry.
With that said, it’s time to finally take those loose, old sweatpants off and trade them in for a refined, cozy pair of joggers.
Now, if you’re a punny person; a joker of the “dad” variety, we’re sorry to say that, no, joggers are not slower than running pants. If anything, they’re cooler, and not because jogging requires less energy than running. But in a world of cuffed pants, the jogger presents a clean and easy alternative to looking good and sometimes even making a statement.
The Evolution and Mainstreaming of Men’s Joggers in 2021
Today, the world of menswear has created joggers for lounging, casual and dressy occasions, aside from the traditional activewear version. Most people are familiar with the pajama bottom or sweatpant versions, but casual and dressier joggers are widely popular in the streetwear and tailored fashion scenes. After the stay-at-home era of 2020, athleisure has officially gone mainstream, and joggers are now a great option for everyday wear, not just lazy Sundays or gym days.
Brands like Everlane, Mack Weldon and Lululemon have dominated the jogger style in recent times, helping to reshape the way the best men’s joggers are worn. While athletic apparel companies like Nike and Lululemon make excellent joggers for working out, you can also find stylish joggers from countless menswear brands and designers that don’t normally sell exercise clothing. New fabrics have been implemented, some even with prints or patterns, to separate from the lounge and activewear types. Today, it’s not uncommon to see a pair of joggers worn with some classic Gucci loafers, Jordans or Stan Smiths.
The evolution of the jogger has opened up the garment to be worn in new environments like the office, family gatherings and even award shows while achieving a level of presentation far more acceptable than exercise clothing. In fact, we’re in the midst of an athleisure boom, and it’s no longer taboo to leave the house in sweatpants — so long as you opt for stylish joggers and not your stained pajama sweatpants
To demonstrate their versatility, we’re always on the hunt for the best joggers for men available right now. For spring and summer style, we went looking for joggers with lighter materials and colors. Now that we’re heading into late summer and fall, we’ve included some warmer options with fleece and technical fabrics that will keep you warm and comfortable on cool evenings.
For the gym, the couch or weekend outings, there are stylish joggers for every type of guy. You can find a collection of our favorite men’s joggers in the shopping guide below.
Joggers 101
The traditional jogger has three distinct characteristics:
The best men’s joggers today remain true to their original uses — comfort and accessibility. In fact, they’re a derivative of a style of sweatpants largely associated with track and field, hence the name. But modern fashion, like every menswear staple, has twisted and translated this garment into multiple versions that are appropriate for all lifestyles.
1. Mack Weldon Ace Sweatpants
To say we love Mack Weldon’s Ace sweatpants would be quite an understatement. We’re obsessed. We want to marry them.
You can pair the Ace sweatpants with just about anything — your go-to college tee, your comfiest hoodie or even a polo if you want to wear them in the office. Once you try these on, you’ll never want to wear anything else.
At the end of last year, we named these joggers as the best sweatpants in our 2020 SPY Man Awards. And for good reason. We’ve been wearing these bad boys for quite literally the entire year and they’re still holding up as if they were brand new. While you can work out in these pants, they’re designed more for comfort than exercise. Each pair of Ace sweats is made with a super-comfy micro-sanded French Terry and has a tailored fit. There is just enough stretch for you to switch your position in your chair up to 27 times a minute when working, too. The pant legs aren’t quite as tight as most joggers, so if you prefer a more tapered fit, we recommend the Lululemon ABC Warpstreme or the Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger as an alternative.
Buy: Mack Weldon Ace Sweatpant $78.00
2. Lululemon ABC Jogger Warpstreme
Look, it’s no secret that we love Lululemon’s athletic gear. While a lot of joggers are perfectly ready to sit with you on the couch while you watch TV, these Lululemon joggers are designed for a more active lifestyle. Made with Lululemon’s unique Japanese-loomed four-way stretch Warpstreme™ fabric, the handsome-looking ABC joggers are designed to move with your body. This style offers a streamlined fit while providing ample room for glutes and thighs. So whether you’re working out or walking to your local cafe for a cup of joe, your ABCs will keep you comfy and stylish.
Buy: Lululemon ABC Jogger 30-inch Warpstreme $128.00
3. Under Armour Men’s Fleece Joggers
Amazon makes it way too easy to look good nowadays — especially when it comes to these dashing men’s fleece joggers. These Under Armour joggers are the perfect loungewear pants to wear all year long, whether you need to throw on a pair of pants to answer the door when the pizza guy comes or you need to run a couple of errands in the daytime. These particular joggers are made from a comfy and stretchy mix of 87% polyester and 13% elastane.
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Buy: Under Armour Men’s Fleece Jogger Pant $30.99
4. Vuori Sunday Performance Joggers for Men
Looking to stay comfy and cozy on the weekend no matter what you have planned? Snag yourself Voori’s Sunday Performance Joggers and call it a day. These loose-fitting sweats are a fresh take on your casual pair of joggers because they are stretchier and lighter than most alternatives. In terms of fit, they combine a relaxed fit in the waist and thighs with a tapered leg that keeps annoying bunches of fabric from collecting at your ankles. Like the Under Armour fleece joggers featured above, these joggers are made from a blend of 88% polyester and 12% elastane for a soft and flexible fit.
We’ve pictured the Indigo color below, but you can choose from a bunch of different colors and one camo print. These joggers feature a zipper leg pocket too so you can keep any small valuables on your body and never fear them falling out of your pants pockets. From the couch to the coffee shop, these are the joggers to rock Friday through Sunday.
Buy: Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger $89.00
5. Lululemon Surge Joggers 29″
Oh, so you’re exercising in your joggers? Wow. Who knew people could do that.
Maybe the reason you’re looking for joggers is so you can get back on your fitness game. If you’re scared to take your shirt off right now, don’t worry, we are too. Quarantine did us dirty. Thankfully, Lululemon’s Surge Joggers are the perfect pair to help you with your fitness journey. They are designed for high-performance activities such as running and lifting. Each pair is made with game-changing sweat-wicking fabric so you can stay dry no matter how hot it’s getting and there are also a number of cool colors available to choose from.
Buy: Lululemon Surge Jogger 29-inch Joggers $118.00
6. Everlane French Terry Sweat
When it comes to an everyday throw-on, Everlane’s french terry sweats are a solid pick. These ultra-comfortable men’s joggers are effortlessly cozy and a little heavy, making them ideal for cozying up on the couch. Because they’re within Everlane’s Uniform collection, they’re backed by a 365-day guarantee to ensure total durability. Meaning, if you wear them each and every single day and decide they don’t feel good on the 364th day after purchase, Everlane will replace them with no questions asked.
Buy: Everlane French Terry Sweat $68.00
7. SAXX Snooze Sleep Pants
We recently featured this pair of joggers in a sort of love story dedicated solely to these pants. SAXX, otherwise known for their extremely comfortable underwear, designed the Snooze Sleep Pants to ensure maximum comfort whenever they’re dressing that bod. Even just looking at them, you can tell they’re soft but also durable enough to wear multiple days in a row — not that you should. They’re built with stretch to keep you comfortable on the couch or snoozing away the day in bed. They’re really lightweight so it essentially feels like you’re wearing nothing, which is perfect for warmer weather. Wear these with a steaming hot, fresh pizza from your local pizza spot. Trust us, joggers and pizza are a winning outfit.
Buy: SAXX Snooze Sleep Pants $65.00
8. Southpole Men’s Active Basic Jogger Fleece Pants
Buyers on Amazon are obsessed with these joggers. Not only do they come in as many colors as the eye can see, but they have a comfortable fit, come in a number of inclusive sizes and look great on. If you need a solid pair of trustworthy joggers for whatever you might be doing, these are them.
Buy: Southpole Men’s Active Basic Jogger Fleece Pants $14.99
9. Champion Men’s Jersey Jogger
These are the sweats your dad wore in the 90s. Hell, these are the sweats your dad STILL wears today — probably the same pair, too. Champion, believe it or not, has been in production since 1920 and has been specializing in activewear almost from the start. They’ve seen their ups and downs throughout the years but they’ve always been good for quality goods. For now, Champion is probably at their highest point again in their existence, these are even, dare we say, quite trendy. This is precisely why your dad has hung on to them this long, he’s just a trend master.
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Buy: Champion Men’s Jersey Joggers $22.50
10. Lululemon At Ease Jogger
For some guys, the tighter fit of joggers doesn’t cut it the way they want them to. Thankfully, there are a number of looser, more comfortable joggers out there that won’t feel constricting in any way. Our favorite? The At Ease Joggers from Lululemon. These textured joggers are great from high-energy workouts to relaxed couch lounges. It’s got a four-way stretch fabric for ultra movability and comes in a variety of fun colors.
Buy: Lululemon At Ease Jogger $128.00
11. ASOS DESIGN Oversized Sweatpants
Oh, y’all thought we were leaving tie-dye in summer 2020? Cute. Real cute. Jokes on you, everything we own that we wore in summers’ past has been tie-dyed over the course of the past year, so we don’t really have any other option. Add to your growing collection of tie-dye with something you didn’t dye yourself, so you won’t have any tie-dye PTSD. These tapered sweats are perfect for casual errands and pair great with your favorite white tee, a classic bucket hat and a fanny pack worn around the chest.
Buy: ASOS DESIGN Oversized Sweatpants $40.00
12. Uniqlo Ultra Stretch Active Jogger Pants
From extra small to 3XL sizes, the Uniqlo Ultra Stretch Active Jogger Pants are made for just about anybody. Each pair is made with high-performance materials to stretch and dry quickly even during the toughest of workouts. If you’re the type to work out with your PKW (phone, keys, wallet), there’s a hidden zipper in the right pocket for safe-keeping. Lounging? These make for perfect couch sitters, too.
Buy: Uniqlo Ultra Stretch Active Jogger Pants $29.90
13. Born Tough Momentum Track Suit Jogger Pants
Made from Born Tough’s immensely stretchy Momentum fabric, these joggers are built for just about anything. Running, walking, sitting — whatever. You name it, you can get it done in these pants. The pants have two side-zip pockets to keep your belongings safe and are purposefully placed toward the top of the hip so they don’t get in the way during movement. They have a waist loop on the back to keep a towel if you need one as well. Coming in at just $30, you’ll be shocked with how high-quality they are.
Buy: Born Tough Momentum Track Suit Jogger Pants $35.00
14. Banana Republic Organic French Terry Jogger
Grey joggers are a must for anybody rocking the tapered style in 2021. If you don’t already have a grey pair, you’re doing it wrong. Sorry about it. These Organic Frech Terry Joggers from Banana Republic are some of our favorites because of their loose fit and casual approach. Best part of all? They’re 40% off right now.
Buy: Banana Republic Organic French Terry Jogger $35.99
15. Gap Camo Slim Canvas Men’s Joggers
For some guys, finding a cool pair of printed pants to break up the monotony of solid colors can be difficult. While a normal pair of joggers adds texture, a printed pair of joggers adds interest. Gap has found the spotlight in the jogger market, making some of the coolest joggers for men while finding new ways to make them interesting. This pair in camo is one of those fun prints that doesn’t look too loud yet still pushes the boundaries a little. Use this as a substitute for a pair of sweats and pair it with a white t-shirt and a clean pair of sneakers.
Buy: Gap Camo Slim Canvas Joggers $49.95
16. Amazon Essentials Men’s Straight-Fit Joggers
Once again, Amazon Essentials comes through with a great deal. This pair of joggers is what we’d consider to be the most basic, which actually makes them perfect for everyday use this year. Khaki or tan is one of the more popular colors and looks great with just about anything. This pair from Amazon is a straight fit, which means it’s a bit more relaxed, not as to-the-leg as some others in this article, but offers just as much mobility and comfort. For anybody trying to escape the everyday chino, this is your best option, and at a very low cost.
Buy: Amazon Essentials Men’s Straight-Fit Jogger Pant $24.00
17. Eleventy Stretch Wool Jogger Dress Pants
Joggers have been slowly creeping into formal wardrobes thanks to luxury fashion making the transition. This pair of joggers from Eleventy is a handsome example of a work-appropriate jogger. Right off the bat, we see that this isn’t a pair of sweatpants. In fact, this is a lightweight, textured wool material and is manufactured in Italy. Despite this, there’s still an homage paid to the classic jogger. The garment has stretch for comfort and a cropped bottom in place of the traditional cinching. And, even though Eleventy added a button and zipper, they kept the drawstring feature which acts as the “belt.” This is one of the best men’s joggers to dress up. Try it out with a pair of tan double monk straps and a blazer or dress it down with clean sneakers and a polo.
Buy: Eleventy Stretch Wool Jogger Dress Pants $395.00
18. Entireworld LoopBack Sweatpant
Our e-commerce editor Tyler sat down and had a phone interview with Entireworld’s inventor Scott Sternberg back in 2020 to talk about the importance of modern-day basics. One of our favorites from Entireworld is their sweatpant which is a casual go-to basic any guy can rock. The sweats scrunch at the bottom, creating that jogger look we’re used to, and come in a range of colors to choose from. Though they’re made to look dope as hell draped on your legs, they’re not just about looks. They’re also soft as can be. Throw them on when lounging around at home or when you’re strutting the streets in style.
Buy: Entireworld Loop Back Sweatpant $88.00
19. Standard Cloth Technical Cargo Jogger
One feature you’re likely to find on the best joggers for men is one or multiple cargo pockets. Even if it’s not your first choice, they’re very handy once you’re wearing them and can eliminate the need for a backpack when going out for errands. Standard Cloth did everything right when designing this jogger. Notice the attention to detail in the fine elastic drawstring, horizontal zip pockets and single-button pocket. The brand made every effort to be different and it worked perfectly. Style this jogger casually with confidence. Treat the brownish both as a brown and a red and match it with any color under the sun.
Buy: Standard Cloth Technical Cargo Jogger $69.00
20. Haculla Blurry Woven Joggers
While these are the coziest to wear when lounging on the couch while binge-watching Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette for no apparent reason, they are also pretty dope to rock on the streets whenever you’re looking to stand out a bit. Whether you’re snagging some groceries or heading to meet some friends for some drinks at the bar, these blurry, woven joggers checked in black and yellow will leave people’s mouths hanging in awe. So, what are you waiting for?
Buy: Haculla Blurry Woven Joggers $295.00
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