Like most menswear styles these days, there’s more beneath the surface when considering the best jogger pants. Perhaps you, like me, have grown much more acquainted with jogger pants in their various forms over these past few years, particularly for comfortable “Work From Home” style, yet they’ve long been a staple in any modern man’s list of workout gear (and comfortable, off-duty gear).
Join me as we journey into the world of jogger pants. Jogger pants were once reserved only for the gym, and once only made of heavy materials like super-thick cotton (decades back, of course). But the best jogger pants in modern times switch things up faster than you can say “athleisure.”
I’ve had personal experience with plenty of jogger pants, from stretchy, moisture-wicking pairs to more traditional offerings made from sturdy fabric – the kind that call to mind sweats that Rocky might wear, just a bit cooler in terms of style. The right wardrobe, and the right casual #OOTD, has room for both, in my experience.
And so, that brings us to today’s modern jogger, a style rooted in performance and yet made to be worn outside the house, beyond just lazy Sunday Netflix-binging sessions. That’s because joggers today are made from useful performance materials like stretch nylon or stretch cotton, and they also come in colors that are actually stylish rather than sporty.
Vuori’s joggers nearly take the cake on all fronts, hitting top marks when it comes to style, performance, comfort and wearability in casual situations.
They come in a wide range of colors, the fit is a clean and tapered design with a cuffed ankle for a secure finish, and the waistband stays in place and doesn’t budge with repeat movement. Functionality aside, these look modern and feel positively great.
The balance between sporty and stylish is a tricky one to strike, but Vuori nails it with the aptly named Sunday Jogger. These joggers seem to be everywhere these days (including my own wardrobe), and if you’ve spotted a Vuori ad or two somewhere, then perhaps now is the time to take that next step (trust me, it is – and these live up to the hype).
You can certainly wear these to lounge around on weekend days, but the moisture-wicking technical knit fabric is well-suited for workouts, too. And if you just want a pair of polished-yet-comfortable travel pants with handy zip pockets and a clean fit, the Sunday Joggers check all those boxes as well.
Team them with a super-soft Vuori T-shirt for the complete look.
If you’re looking to step into a pair of jogger pants without dropping a ton of cash, the classics will serve you very well indeed. In my experience, you simply need a classic, sturdy, simple pair from time to time. These are durable, but also comfortable, and finished with soft interior fabric – I also count them among my personal favorites.
Champion has been making athletic gear with reliable design in mind for decades, and these cotton joggers are about as reliable as it gets.
The cotton is lightweight enough to wear these on their own or as a warm-up layer atop athletic shorts, and timeless colors like Navy and Grey give them enough style to wear casually off-duty.
Champion gets the designer treatment in the latest installment of the legendary brand’s ongoing partnership with famed menswear designer Todd Snyder, and your off-duty wardrobe is all the better for it.
Call it personal preference, but Todd Snyder x Champion menswear has long been on my wish list. That was then, and this is now, and I’m pleased to say that the collaboration remains a personal staple in my wardrobe – cozy, well-designed, streamlined sweatpants and buttery-soft (yet durable!) sweatshirts very much included.
These slim sweatpants reimagine the gym staple in a modern way thanks to the sleek fit, while the garment-dyed 100 percent French Terry cotton fabric should prove extremely soft. Make these your go-to pair of weekend joggers.
Is it a jogger, a five-pocket pant or a touch of both? With Western Rise, the Colorado-based adventure gear brand, the answer is simply “yes,” and that’s a good thing for gym rats, hikers and stylish guys everywhere (yourself included).
In my experience, Western Rise uses remarkably durable and strong, yet lightweight fabric – and it also happens to be stretchy and weather-ready, all at once. These are also stain-resistant, and unlike some other joggers, they feature a clean-finished leg opening for a polished look.
Just when you thought you’d seen it all from Bonobos, the men’s clothing brand famed for its legendary chinos with a wide range of colors and fits, they go and do it again. By “it,” I mean taking aim at another category in the world of stylish men’s pants, using their trademark approach to fit and fabric in a quest to take on your wardrobe.
These are made with 4-way stretch fabric that’s also water-repellent, and side-zip elastic cuffs provide customized fit options. They also come in Short, Regular and Long lengths.
The best jogger pants are the kind you can wear from sunrise to sunset without missing a beat, and it helps that Public Rec’s fan-favorite pair lives up to that name. In fact, I’ve worn my own Public Rec jogger pants from day to night on long travel days, and I also don’t mind wearing them around town for quick errands.
The stretchy nylon and spandex blend is a perfect counterpart to the clean design details, including side hip pockets and a faux fly.
These almost look more like chinos than jogger pants, but cuffed ankle hems keep things clean and streamlined. The wide range of color options should suit every style taste, too.
Function and form exist in perfect harmony when it comes to these classic joggers from the revered gear purveyors at L.L. Bean.
You might trust the Northeast brand for its rugged boots, but consider adding this sustainable set of recycled polyester-blend joggers to your casual rotation, too.
They feature both quick-drying fabric and UPF 50+ protection, and the lightweight stretch design should prove comfortable even in more balmy conditions (like out on the trail, under the sun).
Does it get any better than Nike gear? The sportswear giant is an easy, reliable choice when it comes to the best men’s joggers, and that’s no joke.
Comfortable poly-cotton fleece makes the difference here, giving these an edge in cold-weather situations where you want to retain heat, especially as you warm up ahead of early morning training sessions.
Throw in the retro logo on the thigh, plus the affordable price and the cool selection of colors, and you’ve just about checked all the right boxes for your new must-have pair of jogger pants.
Lululemon has been making some serious strides in the menswear game when it comes to designing pieces that meet the modern demands of modern guys (like merging performance style expertly). It’s an approach that shines through with the ABC Joggers, made from breathable four-way stretch fabric designed to hold its shape all day long.
The fabric is also wrinkle-resistant and smartly tapered. Wear these out on day hikes–and then to grab an ice-cold beer at your favorite brewery.
The three-stripe design of Adidas is classic for a reason, signifying athletic performance and quality in spades. It’s also become an accepted form of retro style, but these might be the most workout-minded pair of joggers pants on this list.
Wear them as warm-up sweats or wear them through outdoor workouts in the cold weather, and the blend of cotton and recycled polyester fleece is an eco-friendly touch.
Tracksmith gear harkens back to a bygone era, calling to mind crisp morning runs in the cool fall air, with styles that have seemingly stepped straight out of an old college sports program.
I personally love the brand’s approach, and they’ve fused that with an eye for modern performance all the while, too.
That approach comes together handsomely with the warmup-ready, cooldown-approved Rapid Transit Pants, which feature four-way stretch, a streamlined yet layering-friendly fit, and the option to select from two seasonal weights.
Without a doubt, you’ve seen On sneakers on plenty of feet in recent times, so it only makes sense that the company went a step further and released the perfect companion to those groundbreaking shoes – one of your new favorite pairs of joggers.
They’re made with a blend of recycled polyester, Tencel and elastane for stretch and durability. And while they’re priced at a premium level, there’s no doubt they’re the perfect pairing with your everyday running shoes – and with neutral color options available, you still very well might want more than one pair.
Brands like Champion might have paved the way for sportswear to take over the world beyond the gym, and companies like Canada’s Reigning Champ are also blazing a new trail in modern times.
Pieces like the Coach’s Jogger are modeled off old-school sweats, but made with modern materials and rugged durability top of mind.
If ever you’ve tried a Reigning Champ tee or sweatshorts, as I have, you know the fabric is strong but supple, crafted to last and available in ever-versatile colors. What more could you want from a pair of joggers?
What does Athleisure mean?
Athleisure is the catch-all term for a trend that’s been on the rise across the world over the past decade-plus. Witness the fact that designers and brands are taking athletic staples, like the tapered sweatpant, and turning them into more luxurious (or at least, more stylish!) pieces you can wear aside from the gym.
What fabric is best for joggers?
My personal preference is a pair made from a stretchy, moisture-wicking performance knit – in this day and age, tapered joggers made from that useful fabric can work for long travel days (and the list goes on).
When should you wear joggers?
Granted, the best joggers can still put in hours at the gym, but as long as your joggers are clean and in good shape, they can go other places, too.
The right pair of joggers can function in a pinch with high-top sneakers and a short-sleeve henley for casual weekend days, and you can even take inspiration from the runway and wear your joggers with other menswear picks, like a classic pocket tee and a bomber jacket.
We’d suggest keeping jogger pants handy for casual days, but leaving them at home as you head to the office. And if your “office” is at your house these days, go on: Wear a set of jogger pants all day long, and thank us later. Stock up and shop the best joggers now below.