Sweatpants have been popular since the 1920s—when they were first invented in France for athletes to run and stretch in—but our obsession with them has fully taken off in the last few years. Since 2019, sales have skyrocketed, driven by our demand for all-day comfort, as we take work calls from the couch, run errands on the fly, do workouts in the living room and generally live more unstructured and fluid lifestyles. Sweatpants—with their stretchy knits and pull-on waistbands—are the kind of wardrobe basic that can handle whatever activity you’re up (or down) for.
Lately, both fashion and sportswear brands have been turning out fresh, elevated spins on the classic: Lululemon’s French Terry joggers keep you cool for workouts and zipping around on the weekend. Tory Burch’s track pants are cut from velour and look chic with sneakers for a night out. Quince’s cashmere sweats are cozy enough to sleep in. Bold colors—neons and pastels—have turned sweats into a fashion statement, too.
Ahead, 15 of the best sweatpants brands for women, to fit every style aesthetic and price point. (And to finish off your look, here are the best sneakers to pair them with).
Best Brands For Classic Joggers
Lululemon
Lululemon has built its reputation on all things athleisure; as you’d imagine, the selection of joggers is impressive and varied in style, from cropped to full length, lean to roomy. Their newest, the Scuba High-Rise, is cut from breathable French terry and is a versatile pick whether you wear them for a workout or just running errands.
Athleta
Athleta specializes in fitness essentials made to fit women’s bodies specifically. When it comes to joggers—which often have a slim cut—this is especially important. Their highly-rated selection extends to size 3X and includes fabrics beyond cotton, such as technical nylon and even linen. The cinched-ankle Balance Joggers falls perfectly on the leg and the drawstring creates a waist that never feels too tight or loose.
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective makes sweats you can feel good about wearing for many reasons, including that they’re made from recycled, discarded fabric scraps and 50% organic cotton, grown without chemical pesticides or insecticides. The Seattle-based brand has a great unisex selection in on-trend colors, including this zingy yellow pair.
Gap
If you want a pair of sweats that feels vintage, like you’ve worn it for years, but with a modern fit, Gap is a reliable source. Their well-priced joggers are washed to achieve the perfect amount of softness. This style is cut from French-terry knit and has a drawchord tie and elasticized cuffs so you can scrunch up the legs.
Best Brands For Wide-Leg Sweatpants
Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga has built a steady following with its stylish athletic-wear, expanding beyond cult-favorite leggings into other sporty basics. For a relaxed alternative to joggers, their wide-leg sweats strike the right balance between loose and tailored and look great with a closely-cropped sweatshirt and chunky sneakers.
Free People
Free People’s on-trend sweatpants capture a beachy, stylishly bohemian vibe, with many excellent wide-leg options. The fitted, ruched waistband on this pair provides the perfect contrast to the volume of the legs, which creates a flattering effect. The side slits also make them great for layering over leggings, pre- or post-workout.
Skims
To say Skims loungewear is popular is a bit of an understatement—the styles constantly sell out and command waitlists. The velour collection is among the brand’s most beloved—the track pants have a hint of stretch, an elasticized waist and side pockets and come in nine colors from gunmetal gray to dusty rose to rich mocha.
Best Brands For Cashmere Sweatpants
Quince
San-Francisco-based Quince doesn’t believe that nice things should cost a lot. Instead, their goal is to create luxury-like basics at a much lower price. You can’t beat the price or quality of the cashmere sweats, which are made from ethically-sourced, 100% Mongolian thick cashmere with a long-length fiber (which prevents pilling and thinning). This pair is hand washable, too, so you won’t rack up dry cleaning bills.
Summersalt
Women-founded Summersalt is all about well-fitting essentials—from bathing suits to bodysuits, available in a range of fabrics. The cashmere collection of sweatpants is made from a blend of 10% cashmere and 90% merino wool, sourced with cruelty-free methods, and comes in six different colors, including this chic black.
Best Brands For Designer Sweatpants
Tory Burch
Tory Burch’s sport line specializes in retro-inspired athletic-wear you can wear for actual workouts but mostly for refined lounging. These plush velour track pants have a ‘70s feel with contrast piping down the sides for an elongating silhouette. Pair them with white sneakers for a preppy-cool travel or weekend look.
Alexander Wang
New York designer Alexander Wang’s slightly more affordable line, Alexanderwang.T, channels an off-duty-model aesthetic. The focus is on slouchy, streetstyle basics like these pull-on sweats, which are cut from eco-friendly mushroom cotton-jersey that’s super soft against the skin and come in both neutral and statement-making colors.
Best Brands For Affordable Sweatpants
Amazon Essentials
Leave it to Amazon to engineer some seriously comfortable sweatpants. Their Essentials collection includes a number of flattering fits and versatile styles. The Relaxed Fit Fleece Jogger in particular has amassed more than 20,000 reviews for being soft and cozy but, importantly, not frumpy.
Hanes
American sportswear classic Hanes has been doing quality, affordable sweatpants for decades, so it’s a good brand to shop for your basics. The Luxe Sweatpants are especially popular, cut from lightweight fleece with a tapered leg for a sleek fit (that’s more of-the-moment than your mom’s Hanes).
Best Brands For Plus-Size Sweatpants
Mate
Mate is made sustainably in Los Angeles and emphasizes non-toxic, natural and organic materials in their apparel. The fashionable and Instagram-friendly sweatpants range from XS to 3X and you get waist and inseam measurements for every size, which makes it easy to find a perfect fit.
Universal Standard
Universal Standard makes sweatpants that, the brand says, are so cozy you’ll be “running home to get them on.” It’s an appealing thought. The New-York-based company emphasizes fit inclusivity and this pair of jersey joggers comes in sizes up to 4XL and is cut from soft Pima cotton, with a high waist and deep pockets.
