Curious about the difference between sweatpants vs joggers? Here’s everything you need to know.
In our post-Lululemon world, athleisure has come a long way when it comes to style. Don’t get me wrong. Athletic wear always eventually makes its way into mainstream casual wear. Don’t forget that even button-downs and polos were once just sports clothes.
I’m spotting joggers, specifically, in the most fascinatingly formal places. But do you know the difference between joggers vs sweatpants? More importantly, do you know when you should wear one over the other?
I survived the aughts tracksuit craze as a young person, never giving into athleisure as everyday casual wear. But there are some joggers out there that are just so clean-lined that I’m starting to question if I’ll continue to be able to say that.
Both joggers and sweatpants are athletic pants meant to be flexible and light, often with an elastic waistband. They’re usually made from stretchy fabrics, often knitted jersey, including cotton, fleece, nylon, and combinations.
So, let’s start by differentiating the two, starting with the question, what are joggers?
What Are Joggers?
Joggers are often lighter, with cinched elastic cuffs for hems and a slimmer fit.
As such, they’re a great option for outdoor workouts on warm days, as well as workouts that require more upper body work. However, looser joggers are also good for running.
Since they often have cleaner lines than sweatpants, many joggers can be worn as casual pants with everyday wear.
They’re popular as fashion athleisure, with some guys even buying them just for style purposes.
Since they have so much in common, you might be wondering: Are joggers sweatpants?
Honestly, it simply depends on who you ask. But since you’re asking me, here’s my answer.
Are Joggers Sweatpants?
Again, both joggers and sweatpants are athletic pants made of performance materials.
Though joggers are optimum for some activities (mentioned above) and sweatpants for others (we’ll get to that), they’re mostly interchangeable. At least, they are from a practical perspective.
As such, some might call the jogger a type of sweatpant. From a semantic perspective, it’s like the difference between mechanical watches and automatics.
Yes, automatics are a type of mechanical. However, you’ll always refer to an automatic as “an automatic” or “self-winding.” So, the term “mechanical” gets left over as the phrase for manual winds.
Even if joggers are technically sweatpants, the latter term ends up being reserved for non-jogger sweats. They both serve the same purpose but in different ways.
Now we can explore those different ways by asking, what are sweatpants?
What Are Sweatpants?
Sweatpants tend to be heavier, less clean-lined, and don’t have cinched hems. Because of this, they’ll induce more sweat.
However, since they’re often less close to the body than joggers, they’re a good option for cold-weather outdoor workouts.
Joggers are great for warm-ups, which is why many athletes wear them over their sports uniforms. However, joggers won’t comfortably fit over basketball or tennis shorts the way sweatpants do. After an intense workout, you can throw them over your light gym shorts for the cool down and stretches.
You can wear sweatpants casually, but they’re more popular as indoor clothes. Think lounging around the couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
So, now you know what each pant is best for.
Now, let’s get into the style of it all, starting with what you can actually wear with joggers.
What to Wear With Joggers
Here’s a list of garments that you can wear with joggers — and ones you absolutely should not.
What to wear with joggers:
- Crisp t-shirts, especially a white one
- Henley shirts
- Bomber jackets
- Utility shirts
- Flannels
- Athletic zip-ups
- Fitted hoodies
- Striped shirts
- Athletic pull-overs
- Denim jackets
- Pique polo shirts
- Quarter-zips
- Fitted hoodies
- Athletic baseball caps
- Quilted vest
- Fashion baseball caps, like leather or cashmere ones or flat-brimmed styles
- Waxed canvas jackets
- Classic straw hats, like a trilby or Panama hat
- Sneakers
- Sandals
- Espadrilles
- Leather boat shoes
- Literally any wristwatch
Tread carefully:
- Knit polos
- Button-down shorts
- Button-up shirts
- Cardigan
- Loafers
- Boots
- Blazers
- Suit jackets
- Oxfords or brogues (tread very carefully)
- Chukkas
- Chelseas
What not to wear with joggers:
- Anything tuxedo-related, which I deeply hope goes without saying
- Evening wear accessories like tie clips, cufflinks, and often even ties
- A full suit on your upper body (e.g. a tailored jacket, white shirt, and tie).
- Formal evening wear shoes like black opera pumps
Keep in mind that the way I did this list is to keep you safe and respectful of dress codes.
Of course, a more fashion-forward gent might be able to pull off a garment or two from the “no” pile. However, I’m sure that this won’t apply to most men.
I imagine if ever there was a time to wear something from a tuxedo with joggers, that it was highly specific. Perhaps a themed high-fashion event that only industry folks attend.
Those guys don’t need my advice.
How To Style Joggers
How to style joggers is fairly straightforward, as long as you stick to the safety garments up top. The next question to ask is, what look are you going for?
If you’re going for a classic casual look but just want to be more comfortable, do this.
Stay With Neutrals
First, stick to menswear neutrals like gray, navy, black, cream, olive, and maroon. And as always, stick to three colors tops. Pick a shirt and a pair of shoes that make sense together — a crew neck t-shirt and
Add Accessories
You can finish the outfit there or add some outerwear and accessories. For the former combo, you might add a lightweight Harrington or a waxed jacket, depending on the weather. For the latter, go for a boater hat or even an open, lightweight cardigan.
Try Monochrome
You can even do a monochrome polo and jogger combination. Then, match your outerwear to your shoes. Consider an olive polo with olive joggers. Then, you can wear white, leather low-profile
Now, you might be going for “a look,” and that’s actually quite easy to pull off, too.
Joggers With Workwear
Joggers can easily be incorporated into a workwear situation. They pair well with utility shirts and denim jackets.
You can even go for a Western style denim shirt with a denim jacket if you like. The denim on denim is balanced out by the clean lines of the pants. High-tops can emulate the silhouette of boots while still pairing sensibly with the joggers.
Joggers For a MIltary Aesthetic
If you want to go for a military aesthetic, find olive or khaki-colored joggers with pockets. This way, they have a similar look to cargo pants.
These pair easier with boots than cleaner-lined joggers do. You can also go for GATs.
Joggers With Athleisure
And, of course, athleisure is the jogger’s most natural habitat. A simple t-shirt and quarter-zip with white
Feel free to dip into trends like leather baseball caps and cashmere hoodies if that’s your thing. These types of garments are basically made to be worn with slim joggers.
Next, how far can you take joggers into formal territory? Let’s talk about how to dress up joggers.
How To Dress up Joggers
There are two ways to dress up joggers. First is by going for a high-low aesthetic. This means you’re fully embracing the fact you’re combining dressy garments with casual ones.
A good example is a henley, joggers, black leather
The second approach is by trying to incorporate the joggers more seamlessly into a smart casual outfit.
Keep in mind that no matter how seamlessly the joggers blend in, that you can never (read: should never) attempt to simulate a true suit. Relatedly, I’m not a fan of wearing your joggers with a tie, but to each his own.
Go for clean-lined joggers with no cargo pockets. Many brands have models that basically look like cinched chinos with a drawstring. Pick a neutral shade, like gray, navy, or olive.
Then, you can just pair it with a nice knit polo and loafers or oxfords. You can also try a button down with a cashmere vest and a blazer. It’s all about structure and clean lines.
And speaking of clean lines, have you ever asked yourself how should joggers fit? Good. Because no matter how well you style your joggers, they won’t look good if they’re ill-fitting.
Let’s talk about that next.
How Should Joggers Fit
For the most part, joggers should sit right at your hips or right above. They should fit slimly, meaning they outline your legs while leaving enough room between you and the garment. While they can fit looser than this if that’s your preference, remember they should never be skin tight.
They often taper towards the ankle and stop right above your shoes. They’ll typically show your bare ankles or your socks.
And for some inspo, here are some examples of men’s outfits with joggers.
Men’s Outfits With Joggers
Of course, these represent a range of personal styles and fits.
Just by adding a structured overcoat, this simple outfit levels up the formality. It’s a smart and easy high-low combination.
By simply going for well-fitted basics, a pop color makes all the difference. This is a great way to incorporate your favorite shades per season.
This outfit is proof that, in a lot of instances, you can easily replace jeans with joggers. In this case, it adds a distinction and cool factor.
This is a good example of my previous suggestion of going monochrome with your shirt and joggers. From there, you can let your outerwear and accessories make a statement.
Since joggers are already a bit irreverent, they pair well with fun patterns. If you don’t want the outfit to be loud, stick to neutral colors as this guy does.
This off-duty military man look is achieved through color and subtle texture. The joggers are simple but structured, and the fit is highly flattering.
And, of course, a looser-fit jogger goes naturally with a clean hoodie. It’s a mix of athleisure and everyday wear. It looks highly relaxed but not sloppy, thanks to the clean hues and contrasts.
Styling Men’s Sweatpants
I know that men’s sweatpants provide maximum comfort, especially if you want to be cozy. However, if you’re trying to wear a pair of non-jogger sweatpants as everyday wear, just know that it’ll look incredibly casual.
I personally don’t recommend it. But, if you want, there are some clean-lined sweatpants out there. They essentially fit like oversized trousers, which are trending now.
Stick to heavy weaves since they have cleaner structures and ones that won’t drag on the floor.
Do not go for a high-low look with sweatpants. It’s only for the purely casual. Stick to structured, well-fitting t-shirts, henleys, zip-ups, hoodies, and dress it up using accessories. Hats, watches, and sunglasses are good options.
And remember, only
Conclusion: Are Joggers Still in Style?
Since joggers are made for physical activity, they’re definitely still in style (at least here in the US). Sweatpants are arguably evergreen, considering athletic wear will always be a part of men’s fashion.
Just remember that dressing up in joggers is all about context and fit. Meanwhile, non-jogger sweatpants can only be worn casually, ideally indoors or during a workout.
Often, most people say one big difference between the two is that joggers are indeed more fashionable. That word is subjective, but we now know that they pair with non-athletic garments more naturally.
Do you wear your joggers as everyday pants? Let us know in the comments!
