Joggers vs Sweatpants: What Is Different and Which One to Buy

The four differences

Most of the confusion goes away once you look at four things. Cut, hem, fabric, and where you can actually wear it.

The hem is the tell. A fitted hem shows your shoes and gives the pant a shape. An open hem pools on the floor and reads as loungewear, which is fine, as long as you know that is what you are wearing.

What the fabric does

Fabric matters more than the name on the tag. A heavy cotton fleece holds heat. A stretch knit moves and lets it go. In Arizona that is the difference between wearing them for an hour and wearing them all day. Here is what is in our two joggers.

Alec is the cool morning and travel pant. James is the one you wear when you are moving and it is warm. Both are cut for an athletic build, not a boxy one.

Pick your pair

Alec Jogger Black

The one that works at dinner.

$89

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Alec Jogger Dark Green

Fall color, same cut.

$89

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James Jogger Navy

Lighter and tapered. Built to move.

$89

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James Jogger Tan

The daytime neutral.

$89

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Five rules for wearing joggers

1. Let the hem land at the ankle bone. If it stacks on your shoe, the pant is too long.
2. Pair them with a fitted top. A fitted pant under a huge hoodie looks like a mistake.
3. Keep your shoes clean. Clean shoes are what separates joggers from loungewear.
4. Match the color family. Black with black, tan with white, green with cream.
5. Use black or navy at night. Save tan and green for the day.

We go deeper on dressing them up in how to wear joggers beyond the gym, and on the office question in the gym to office outfit guide.

Where sweatpants still win

Sweatpants are better in two places. At home, and over something when it is genuinely cold. If you want a heavy, loose pant for sleeping, buy sweatpants and do not apologize. For everything else, the fitted hem wins. It travels better, it fits under a jacket, and it does not need an explanation. Packing for a flight? Read the travel day guide. Not sure about the top half? Crewneck vs hoodie settles it, and our family photo outfit guide shows the jogger in a dressed up setting. Browse every style in the men's collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are joggers better than sweatpants?

For most situations, yes. A tapered leg and fitted hem look intentional, travel well and fit under a jacket. Sweatpants are better for lounging at home.

Can you wear joggers to dinner?

Yes, in black or navy, with a fitted top and clean shoes. Skip anything with a loose hem, a logo across the thigh, or a baggy hoodie.

How should joggers fit?

Snug through the thigh without pulling, tapered toward the ankle, and long enough that the hem lands at the ankle bone. They should not stack on your shoe.

Are joggers too hot for Arizona?

It depends on the fabric. A lighter, sweat wicking stretch knit like the James Jogger works for warm days. For true heat, shorts are still the better call.

What is the difference between joggers and sweatpants?

Joggers are tapered with a fitted hem and are usually made from a lighter stretch knit. Sweatpants are straight and loose with an open hem, usually in a heavier fleece.

Keep reading

How to wear joggers beyond the gymCrewneck vs hoodie for menWearing gym clothes on the streetWhat to wear to the gym as a manTen men's activewear essentialsWhat to wear for family photos in Arizona