Way back when, they used to represent the pinnacle of athletic performance, the culmination of a century’s worth of fabric innovation. Then they became a little more like pajamas, or the pants you pull on to take a break from all the hard work you’ve put in, even if that “hard work” was just getting a fit off. (When you don’t want to expend another iota of energy getting dressed, they’re your fleece-lined panacea—an oasis of cozy zen in a cruel, hard-clothed world.) But the truth is, they can also work right in the middle of those two extremes, and get you through all your errands in comfort, and even a little style. That's because these days, the best of the bunch are spearheading the category's boldest transformation yet: helping you relax without looking remotely slovenly.
With this particular evolution in mind, we've assembled a who’s who of the softest, sturdiest, most stylish sweatpants on the planet, from exquisite designer riffs rendered in pure cashmere to bulk-buy stalwarts that only look better with a light dusting of Cheetos crumbs. Then we whittled them down to the absolute best sweatpants for men, each worn, tested, and (very lightly) sweated in by a fleece-addled braintrust of GQ editors. Everyday basics like T-shirts, underwear, and, yeah, sweatpants are easy to take for granted.
But when you experience a true upgrade, you’ll wonder why you skimped on something so essential. For sweats, Reigning Champ was that eye-opening experience for me. The Canadian company has been a leader in the genre for decades (even if they’re not exactly a household name like Champion or Hanes), and it’s the attention to detail at every step of the process that sets them apart from the rest.
At the heart of the brand’s high-quality product is the French terry fleece itself—burly and tough on the outside, brushed and soft on the inside, with plenty of gorgeous texture and made to their custom specs in Canada. It’s a midweight fabric that’s perfect for year-round wear (they also make lightweight versions for those of us who prefer a breezier option). And unlike many other options that cut their sweats from a synthetic mish-mash of materials, these are made from 100% cotton for a naturally soft and breathable experience.
From there, smooth flatlock seams keep everything together while upping the durability by a considerable margin, and the relaxed silhouette is right in line with classic sweats we’re feeling these days. Though we’re partial to the adjustable open hem, they also make a version with an elastic cuff that’s equally as good. The Details Fit Relaxed, standard, and slim Materials 100% cotton French terry Colors 5+ classic colorways Sizes XS-XXL It’s likely no surprise to you that Champion clinched a winning honorific on this list.
The American sportswear juggernaut—now owned by Hanes, another national icon—has been in the sweatpants business for just about as long as it’s been around. (Over a century, for those curious.) There’s a reason big-name designers from Milan to Mexico City keep turning to the Main Street stalwart to collaborate, GQ senior commerce editor Avidan Grossman notes: “Champion is the first name in high-quality, low-cost sweats.” Grossman has owned a few versions of Champion's Powerblend sweats, and touts their cozy fleece lining and roomy fit as crucial selling points. The Details Fit Relaxed Materials 50% cotton, 50% polyester Colors Charcoal, gray black, navy Sizes S-5XL, Big and Tall When Grossman and GQ style editor Yang-Yi Goh put together the inaugural class of Recommends All-Stars, there was only one pair of sweatpants they considered. Les Tien specializes in sweats of the highest order, they wrote then, cut with a tailor’s eye for precision and an Angeleno’s appreciation for pared-back ease.
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