There was a time in my life when I was a salty jerk about people wearing sweatpantsin public. “Are jeans really that difficult to get on?” I would mutter while walking by people getting lunch in the pants they slept in. But when I became a father two years ago, I realized that jeans can, in fact, be exceptionally difficult to get on when you are in the depths of sleep deprivation. I actively developed a love of men’s athleisurepants that could pull triple duty: on the couch, in the gym, and around town.
To help you maximize both yourathleticand leisurepursuits this winter, I tested my favorites head to head.
The Test
- AthleticPerformance:While wearing each of these pants, I ran at least three miles and performed a circuitthat involved lunges, squats, and box jumps.
- Leisure: I slept in each of these pants and spent a rest day in them. I also worked in each pair for two full days from my home office.
- Style: I FaceTimed with an expert, fashion journalist , holdingup each pairand soliciting his opinion. And Igave him a close-up of the pants’ materials, pockets, buttons, and other smaller design details.
Best Style
Cotopaxi Baja Pant ($100)
Athleticism: The ample two-inch woven waist belt, coupled with remarkably stretchy fabric, put the Bajaneck and neck with (reviewed below)for athletic movementduring squats, lunges, and box jumps. A gusseted crotch and articulated knees give the pantsan athletic-specific feel, even though theywearlike a style piece.
Leisure: The fabric feels slightly more like a soft shell than the rest of the cotton or cotton-likeoptions on this list, but there was never a time that it disturbed my sleep or made me desperately wantto change out of them while watching a movie or playing with my daughter. And wearing this pantdidn’t give me acase of the cozies, like (also below). The more technical build enabledthe Bajato accept a DWR treatment—which give itan edge in inclement weather—and allows itto pass as a nicer pant.
Style: “Oh, those are wild,” Rakestraw said. Without the orange waistband showing, you could definitely dress these pants up, thanks to the cut and material. He was particularly interested in how visible seams along the knees added a layer of texture to the legs. “The thing going on with the knees makes them interesting and stand out—they don’t look like a sweatpant, they don’t look like a chino—they’re different enough that these are less like everyday wear and can actually be street style,” he said.
Most Athletic
Patagonia Trail Pacer Joggers ($99)
Athleticism: These will be my go-to running pants throughthe winter. A tight-but-not-too-tight leg geometry, extremely stretchy material (thanks to a healthy dose of spandex), and smart movement design details—like the gusseted crotch—made these fantastic in the weight room as well. While the Cotopaxi pantalso held itsown in the gym and on trails, proved the best at wicking moisture andnever feltbogged down during a toughhour of interval exercises.
Leisure: The next-to-skin feel was on par with the silkiest in this test. My only complaint while sleeping inthe TrailPacerwas that the zipper pulls on the pockets weren’t the most comfortable to roll over on while switching from side to side. But those pocketssecuredmy wallet, keys, and phone as I ran errands—another important part of a solid athleisure pant—so it feelslame to complain about that feature.
Style: “I love these,” Rakestraw said. “Looking at the actual fabric, these are the kinds of things that you can wear—I won’t say anywhere—but they will solve a lot of the question marks in your life.” Noting the slimmer cut, he added: “The actual taper the whole way through is cool. It’s nice to see outdoor companies start to think of athletes who might be inside today instead of out on the trail.”
Most Comfortable
Stio Turpin Fleece Pant ($89)
Athleticism: Thesewere great for cold runs outdoorsbut a nightmare in the gym. Ioverheated quickly in them, and the sweat hung around my inner thighs and at the crook of my knees. However, the thickness would make them nice under a pair of ski pants.
Leisure: I will live in around my house this winter. I am embarrassed (yetkind of proud) at the number of synonyms for supple I used to describe these pants in my notes. To put it succinctly: these were so comfy that they were the only pants I craved when I felt like I needed comfort. The stretchy waist and relaxed (but not baggy) legs added to their luxury feel.
Style: “I love Stio. These are standard box sweatpants—that is not a critique. Something that I really admire about Stio is that their whole thing, from soup to nuts, is, This is how people live in Jackson Hole,” Rakestraw said. “By the looks of it, these are pants for skiing and after. Every detail is for that. You are probably not wearing these out on the town, but if you are going to be warm and cozy, these are the pants.”
Most Straightforward
REI Co-op Active Pursuits Track Pants ($70)
Athleticism: Their 7percent spandex weave allows them to move, and I didn’t have any major complaints while performing squats or running in them; however, thelack of articulation or a gusseted crotch was notably constrictive during movements like lunges.
Leisure: The brushed interior of made them exceptionally comfortable for lounging, and theirperfect medium-to-light weight meant I stayed cozy without overheating. The zippers at the ankles were uncomfortable when lying down—I rolled up the cuffs to get to sleep—but these were excellent around the house or for grabbing a cup of coffee.
Style: “Super, super traditional sweatpants. I mean, you could throw a Champion logo on there,” Rakestraw said. “I love what REI does in making quality things accessible. If you are at aprèsor looking for a campsite, this is it.”
Best for Acro-Yoga
Prana Vaha Pant ($79)
Athleticism: The flowing nature of these generously cut straight-leg pants makes them fantastically comfortable. They aren’t the best as a stand-alone jogger, because of their lack of insulation and how they flap in the wind. And while I do not practice yoga, acrobatics, or acro-yoga, these did move very well during a parent-child gymnastics class with my daughter.
Leisure: These were another favorite around the house for two reasons:First, the three-inch stretch-knit waistband, the widest of the bunch, gives these an extremely pleasant fit that doesn’t slip down. Second, the hemp fabric felt soft next to my skin. However, I felt the least comfortable wearing these out to get coffee or grab groceries because of how baggy the legs are.
Style: “These are definitely more of an alternative sports pant. are not going to fool anyone, but if you’redoing those things, it is great for them,” Rakestraw said. “They are way more on the ‘ath’ side of athleisure. I have a pair of shorts with the same waistband, and they are super, supercomfortable, but I would never try to wear those shorts out. That straight leg has me thinking capoeira guys in Bob’s Burgers.”