When the time comes to stow away your rugged leather boots and step out instead in something more casual, you’ve simply got to get the details precisely correct. There’s no time to let your foot off the gas in matters of style, even when dressing casually, which is why men’s joggers still deserve your time, hard-earned cash and careful consideration. Joggers for men are the rare opportunity to dress in extra-cozy comfort while still looking put-together and casually cool. We’re here to guide you on the path towards finding a pair of joggers for men that check all the right boxes.
But first, let’s get right to the bottom of things as far as jogger pants are concerned. They’ve become a major force in the style world across the past half-decade or so, and even before that. You remember trolling menswear forums, Tumblr pages and Pinterest boards for examples of casually laidback, effortlessly cool Italian tailoring, right? And then, perhaps, you remember how things seemed to change slowly but surely, yes? Think: Fewer suits, more sneakers, more T-shirts and more jogger pants popping up on runways and those well-edited Pinterest boards and maybe even in the closet of your friend who stayed on top of every sneaker drop.
That’s all well and good, but jogger pants are now here to stay. In fact, it’s probably been that way for some time. Brands like John Elliott (more on his work in a second!) made a name for themselves by making joggers for men that were cool and edgy, plus surprisingly stylish. Jogger sweatpants are a bit more tame these days (although Elliott still makes some of the best jogger pants in the business), but again, it’s like we said: They’re here to stay.
Why You Need Jogger Pants Right Now
Perhaps you realized over the last year-and-change that you really needed an upgrade as far as your joggers were concerned. This brings us to another crucial point: Joggers aren’t quite your typical pair of sweatpants. Joggers feature a tapered cut and an elastic cuff, and a slimmer fit than lounge pants or sweatpants. We’ll get into our favorite jogger pants in just a second, but you should know that the design of joggers probably picked up some steam (in this writer’s opinion) as stylish guys wanted to show off their freshest kicks.
The design of joggers just works well to show off your shoes, and it helps that they can be worn with more laidback apparel like a crisp white T-shirt, all the better to put the focus back on your kicks. Now that we’ve gotten into it a little bit, you should be primed and ready to find your new favorite pair of joggers for men. But first, you have to know how to track down the proper pair in quick succession. We’ll give you a few pointers below.
How to Find Your New Pair of Joggers for Men
- Material: As with so many other menswear essentials we think you should own, you’ve got to keep the proper material in mind when searching for joggers. Most joggers are made with stretch cotton for comfort, and if you find organic stretch cotton joggers, that’s even better. Some use cotton-nylon blends, or fabrics you might find in sport or workout T-shirts (think of the Adidas “Three Stripe” Joggers you’ve seen everywhere for years, but especially on football pitches). Material is going to go a long way towards making your joggers comfortable and enjoyable to wear at home or out and about, showing off those new sneakers.
- Style: Like we mentioned up top, some joggers are more edgy or flashier than others. John Elliott makes joggers that more closely resemble moto pants, but with the comfort of sweats — they’re beloved for a reason by menswear aficionados. Other brands make joggers that look like plain, yet tapered, sweatpants, and other brands make men’s joggers that have handy side zip pockets, ideal for travel. Find the pair based on how you’ll wear yours, then get ready to unlock another level of comfort.
- Durability: This last point really is crucial. You’re going to want to look for a pair of jogger pants that look great and wear well, day after day after day. In that sense, we say you should stay away from pairs that are too cheap or too flimsy, and opt instead for a pair of well-made joggers that have durable materials and plenty of utility (like those helpful side zip pockets). That way, you’ll naturally want to wear them more with your favorite sneakers and laidback style picks, and when you do, they’ll hold up over time. It’s a winning situation all around, to be sure.
With those three crucial benchmarks in mind, it’s time to introduce the main event: The best jogger pants for men that you can buy right now, and then wear for seasons on end. Start your quest for style immortality right here, right now.
Our Favorite Jogger Pants to Wear Right Now
John Elliott Escobar Sweatpants
These are the famed jogger pants we mentioned above, the pair of pants upon which all other modern jogger pants are judged. That might sound like hyperbole, but for a good long while there, it was absolutely true. John Elliott jogger pants have changed how guys get dressed, making it all the more acceptable and cool to throw on some sleek sneakers and a breezy T-shirt while letting your jogger pants do the talking. These are made from soft 100 percent cotton, but bear in mind that they’re designed to fit slim, unlike baggy sweatpants of days gone by. We appreciate the range of dusty, cool colors, like the Hemp shade shown above. If you really want to step right up and dive headfirst into the world of stylish jogger pants, the John Elliott Escobar Sweatpants are about as optimal as it gets.
Wilson Metro Men’s Track Pants
Wilson is getting back into the sportswear game with these just-released track pants, a play off classic ’70s athletic wear that manages to feel fresh and current right now. The bright white colorway is eye-catching and more than suitable to wear outside the house, while the contrasting black and red touches are classic Wilson callbacks. They’ve got a slim, tapered fit that’s not as skinny as the John Elliott pants shown above, and they’ll also work well with your favorite Converse high-top sneakers (just like in the photo above!) or low-top kicks. And if you feel like dressing up these sweats a little bit — say, with a navy knit sweater polo — you can do that, too. Who said you need to stay in your old, sloppy sweats for Sunday brunch? Those days are long gone, and Wilson’s jogger pants can work for lazy days or training sessions, too. That’s the kind of versatility you can’t top.
Vuori Clothing Sunday Performance Joggers
We mentioned above that some joggers are outfitted with unique and helpful features like side zip pockets and extra storage space. Well, the joggers we had in mind are these Vuori Sunday Performance Joggers, what with a laidback name and the useful details you need in your new pair of jogger pants. What we’re trying to say is that if you need jogger pants to wear for lounging, these can get the job done. And if you need jogger pants to wear on the road for some extreme comfort, these can also get the job done handily. They’re a flagship of the brand for a reason, and its all the better for you and me both that they can easily team up with a soft, tech-minded Vuori T-shirt for supreme comfort and style.
Nathan Weekender Joggers
An ideal gift for the stylish guy, an ideal purchase for yourself and an ideal pick-up for Dad with Father’s Day on the horizon, these joggers from Nathan’s recently launched apparel line really are made for the guy on the go. This is especially true if you want a pair of jogger pants that offers up more performance attributes than some of the other, more style-minded items on this list. Why’s that? Well, it’s simple when it comes down to it. These are made with water-resistant, windproof stretch fabric that also happens to be quick-drying and moisture-wicking. If you need a pair of jogger pants for training sessions, early morning runs or day hikes, Nathan makes the right jogger pants for you. And at a sub-$100 price, you can pick up an extra pair for post-training lounging sessions.
Public Rec All Day Every Day Joggers
Public Rec started its brand with a focus on the basics of a wardrobe built for the guy on the go. That meant comfortable-yet-tailored stretch zip jackets and sleek, chino-style pants. That’s where the aptly named All Day Every Day line comes into play, and the pair shown above is the jogger iteration of the regular All Day Every Day Pants. You really can’t go wrong with either pair, but it’s these joggers we love in particular. The elastic waistband and faux front fly lend a surprisingly sleek finish to a pair of pants you can wear to lounge at home or work remotely from your favorite coffee shop. The range of colors and the tailored fit ensure they look just like your favorite chinos, so no one will be any the wiser that you’re going belt-less.
UpWest Cargo Jogger Pants
Here’s a pair of jogger pants that are as unique as they come, made with more of a fashion-forward tilt in mind than some of the performance-minded jogger options we detailed above. Not that that’s a bad thing, though. In fact, we could argue that during these work-from-home days, it pays off to have a full rotation of the best jogger pants on the market. Of course, that includes these unique cargo joggers, designed to be worn with rugged pieces like chukka boots or a short-sleeve henley to grab a laidback patio beer — at least, that’s how we’d wear them, once we’re wrapped up with the day’s work-from-home pursuits. If you agree, consider yourself in luck when it comes to shopping for your new favorite pair of jogger pants.