14 Best Sweatpants for Women Who Love to Lounge

I love my yoga pants as much as the next millennial and my jeans are in constant rotation—but absolutely nothing compares to a cozy pair of sweatpants. When I picture my ideal Friday night, it involves me slipping on my largest, comfiest sweats and parking myself on my couch to rewatch Vanderpump Rules and pretend I don’t know Scandoval is coming (gasp!).

The best sweatpants I own are supersoft, have a relaxed fit, and basically feel like I’m wrapped in blankets. Sound like something you need in your life? We tested several pairs and included only the winners below; plus, we rounded up some other popular picks that reviewers swear by. You might want to take a sick day just to laze around in your new favorite bottoms (hey, no judgment here—use your benefits!).

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Free People Movement All Star Solid Pants
2. Best Budget: Old Navy Extra High-Waisted SoComfy Sweatpants
3. Best Wide-Leg: Abercrombie Essential Sunday Wide Leg Sweatpant
4. Best Jogger: Lululemon Scuba Mid-Rise Oversized Jogger
5. Best Lightweight: Vuori Performance Joggers
6. Most Versatile: Under Armour UA Meridian Cargo Joggers
7. Stretchiest: Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant
8. Best Straight Leg: Alo Yoga Accolade Straight Leg Sweatpant
9. Best Maternity: Kindred Bravely Bamboo Maternity & Postpartum Jogger
10. Best Cashmere: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Sweatpants

What to consider when shopping for the best sweatpants

To find sweatpants you’ll never want to take off, we recommend keeping these factors in mind.

Shop the best sweatpants

Best Overall: Free People Movement All Star Solid Pants

• Lightweight
• Breathable
• Versatile style

• Run large

I am actively excited about having these sweatpants in my closet. The inside is terry, like my favorite bath towel, so they feel lightweight and breathable (instead of suffocatingly warm). The design is super simple—even the Free People Movement logo is stitched in the same thread color as the sweats to blend in—so they don’t look overly sporty or pajama-y.

I also love the fit: The waistband isn’t too snug, and the fabric skims my thighs without sticking to them (unlike every pair of “loose” jeans I own). I’m between sizes medium and large in pants, so I went with a medium, knowing that Free People always runs big—and I’m happy to report that I made the right call.

Best Budget: Old Navy Extra High-Waisted SoComfy Sweatpants

• Comfortably baggy
• Available in multiple inseam lengths
• Wide size range

• Run large

I bought these sweats a few years ago, and I’ve worn them on a weekly basis since then. For transparency: The ones on Old Navy’s site now have a different waistband than the pair I’ve been wearing since lockdown (except for the color Wish Bone), but everything else is still the same.

I love how the ankle cuffs sit loosely instead of digging into my skin. The legs are really baggy, so they’re not the most flattering, but the pants are so comfortable that I don’t mind. If I have a stomach ache or have been stuck in tight jeans for too long, these are the first thing I reach for when I get home to give me some relief. And the fact that they’re still going strong after at least three years is pretty impressive, considering they’re only $35 (and constantly on sale!).

Best Wide-Leg: Abercrombie Essential Sunday Wide Leg Sweatpant

• Waistband stays in place well
• Thick material
• Doesn’t pill

• Too long for petite folks

These are the sweatpants to throw on when you want something more elevated than the threadbare pair you’ve had since college. The legs are wide without being crazy big and have handy side pockets that are deep enough for your phone.

“They’re super comfortable and flattering,” one SELF editor says. “Perfect for curling up in at home, but cute enough that I’d also wear them on a long flight.” The fabric feels thick and soft, and she says the pants haven’t pilled or shed, despite being fleecy on the inside. FYI: They don’t come in multiple inseam lengths, and the hems brush the floor on our five-foot-five tester, so they might be too long for anyone shorter.

Best Jogger: Lululemon Scuba Mid-Rise Oversized Jogger

• Hidden drawstring in waistband
• Slightly oversized
• Available in different inseam lengths

• Some reviewers say they shrink even from air-drying (although our tester did not experience this issue)

As soon as these joggers landed on one SELF editor’s doorstep, she wore them for four days straight. On top of being super soft and cozy, they’re just oversized enough. “They give that ‘I’m wearing my boyfriend’s sweats’ look—which, as a curvier person, can be difficult for me to achieve,” she says, adding that she wears a size 12 in Lululemon leggings and went with a size large in these. “The medium might have fit me and looked more like the slimmer fit you see on the models—but I’m happy to have the extra room.”

• Stretchy
• Lightweight
• Sweat-wicking

• Run a little large

These joggers are constantly in one SELF editor’s loungewear rotation. They’re stretchy and made with sweat-wicking materials, so you could work out in them if you really wanted to. “As much as my heavy-duty sweats are perfect for putzing around the house in the dead of winter, I tend to run hot—so on days that aren't truly frigid, I like my loungewear on the lighter side and these Under Armour joggers are perfect for that,” our tester says. “They're sturdy—not slinky—so they evoke sweatpant vibes without the, well, sweat,” she adds.

They run large, but our tester doesn’t mind: “That’s what makes them all the better for lounging or traveling.”

• Feels silky and cooling
• Stretchy
• Available in multiple inseam lengths

• A little short

These Spanx pants have some serious lore behind them; I’ve heard influencers boast about their unique fabric for years and was pumped to finally get my hands on a pair. The inside feels super silky and cool to the touch, while the outside is more of a typical sweatpant material. Honestly? They live up to the hype: Slipping these on my legs is as easy as spreading melty butter on warm toast.

Worth noting: I’m five feet five, and the regular length is slightly short on me. The hems hit at the top of my feet, which I think looks odd because of the pants’ flared silhouette. If I could go back, I’d opt for the tall inseam instead.

• Light, thin fabric
• Slimmer fit
• Available in a couple inseam lengths

• Some may find them too thin

“I haven’t found any short-person-approved joggers to beat these yet,” one five-foot-one SELF editor says. Their thin fabric and slim fit give them a different vibe from baggier pairs on our list: “I might be trying to fool myself, but I think they don’t look quite as casual as some other sweatpants do,” our tester says. “They’re the only joggers I’ve ever spent almost $100 on.”

• Soft and stretchy
• Ankle bands are comfortable, even when feet are swollen
• Fabric feels cooling

• Not available in many colors

If you’re looking for sweats that can grow with you through pregnancy and keep you comfy in postpartum days, pick up a pair of these 2023 Activewear Award–winning joggers. “I have LIVED in these joggers since they arrived. The bamboo fabric is super soft and cooling, which is especially helpful because I’m nine months pregnant and overheated all the time,” one tester wrote. “The waistband and ankle bands give them just enough structure to look stylish and put together, while also granting enough give for my belly and swollen ankles,” they added. Another tester called them “the most comfortable pants [she’s] ever worn.” Enough said.

• Soft and stretchy
• Comes in a bunch of colors

• May be too long for some

“These are my new favorite sweatpants by far, and I am sad when I have to wash them,” one SELF editor says. She wore the 2023 Activewear Award–winning sweats while lounging, sleeping, working, going out around New York City, and reorganizing her apartment. And despite being soft and stretchy, they didn’t lose their shape at all—even through all these hours of activity.

• Breathable
• Great value
• Sleek style

• Limited size range

Cashmere sweatpants can be the height of luxury—but who wants to spend a fortune on them? (We’re not all part of the Roy family.) This pair from Quince doesn’t cost a ton and has really impressed reviewers. They’re made from 100% Mongolian cashmere—and, based on my experience with Quince, they should feel fluffy (not scratchy) and cozy (but still breathable).

“Are cashmere sweats extravagant? Yes. Do you need them in every color? Yes,” one Quince reviewer wrote, adding that these are “light as a feather, but surprisingly warm.”

More great sweatpants we tested

We’re continually testing the latest and greatest sweatpants—here are a few more picks that SELF editors are loving right now.

Offline by Aerie Cloud Fleece Jogger

• Super soft
• Loose ankle cuffs
• Perfectly oversized

• The fuzzy fabric inside tends to shed

I’ve tested lots of sweatpants over the years, so I didn’t think I could be that impressed by yet another pair. But these Cloud Fleece Joggers have quickly become my new favorites.

They’re crazy-soft all around, and they fit me perfectly: As someone with thicker thighs, it can be challenging to find sweats that are loose enough, even if they claim to be “oversized,” but this pair nailed it. I never want to take them off.

Rhone DreamGlow Trouser

• Chic yet sporty design
• Can be dressed up
• Smooth fabric stays cool to the touch

• Runs large
• Only comes in one inseam length that will be too long for some

Sweatpants that look like workwear? Sign us up. “These are so incredibly comfortable, and sleek enough that you could absolutely wear them to the office,” SELF’s senior commerce editor says. “I like the subtle stripe down the side—it makes them feel a little sporty, but not too much like activewear. Plus, they have pockets!”

Aritzia Sweatfleece Cozy Fleece Mega Baggy Jogger

• Zippered pockets
• Loose ankle cuffs
• Drawstring is hidden inside the waistband

• Some might find them too thick or stiff

Aritzia’s new Sweatfleece line is a homebody’s dreamland. But after trying multiple pairs from the line, I realized that the Mega Baggy Jogger reigns supreme. They have zippered pockets that are perfect for holding my keys or wallet when I’m emerging from my cave (er—apartment) to do laundry or grab a coffee. Also, I like that the waistband and ankle cuffs don’t dig in or pinch, but still feel secure.

Uniqlo Sweatpants

• Budget-friendly
• Stretchy hems
• Very soft

• Might shrink after first wash

These cotton sweats have become one SELF editor’s school drop-off uniform. “I can't stand to put on real pants in the morning, I need something with a lot of flexibility that feels like a warm hug,” she says. “I needed a pair of sweatpants that fit a few very specific requirements: They have elastic hems, are not too wide leg (but not skin-tight, either), are soft to the touch, and are in a perfect shade of grey, which I think makes them a little more acceptable out of the house.” She found her perfect match with these.

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