Buying guide for Best sweatpants for women
Whether you’re in the market for fashionable athleisure, work-from-home loungewear, or workout essentials, sweatpants should be on your radar. Sweatpants aren’t the bulky, unisex gym class garments of yesteryear. Today you can choose from many styles of fashionable sweatpants made especially for women, ranging from branded joggers to cropped classic sweatpants.
When it comes to choosing sweatpants, fit is a top priority. Sizing can be hit or miss with sweatpants, especially with various material blends. According to many women, it’s a good idea to size up for certain sweatpants. For others, such as joggers that are fitted throughout the hips, it’s best to stick to your regular size.
Our buying guide covers all the factors you need to consider before buying your next pair of sweatpants, including popular styles, the most comfortable materials, and how much you should pay. We also offer tips on caring for your sweatpants so that they keep their color, softness, and shape.
Key considerations
The most important consideration when choosing sweatpants for women is style.
Classic sweatpants
Classic sweatpants have elastic hems at the waist and ankles. A popular variation is ribbed hems, particularly at the ankles. Regardless of the hem style, all classic sweatpants offer a baggy, spacious cut that gives the legs plenty of room to breathe and move.
Wearing classic sweatpants is as simple as pairing them with a hoodie, T-shirt, or tank top. To achieve a fashion-forward look, many women pair classic sweatpants with trendy sports bras, cropped tops, and sneakers.
Jogger sweatpants
Jogger sweatpants, or joggers, have a more figure-hugging fit. The signature feature of joggers is the tapered calf area, which sometimes features mesh or zipper panels. The seat area of joggers is typically more snug and fitted than the seat of classic sweatpants.
Joggers give wearers a polished sporty appearance, especially when paired with matching footwear. Some women also enjoy wearing neutral, cotton-blend joggers with fitted T-shirts, utility shirts, or matching sweatshirts.
Trouser sweatpants
Trouser sweatpants share many features of classic sweatpants, only their ankle hems are open like trousers. They’re popular among those who find elastic ankle hems to be bothersome or seek more airflow through the sweatpants.
Many women wear regular T-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, or sweatshirts with trouser sweatpants. Because trouser sweatpants aren’t very figure-flattering, it’s common to wear slim-fit T-shirts or ribbed tanks with them to emphasize the waistline.
Cropped sweatpants
Cropped sweatpants aren’t as common as other styles, but they do deserve an honorable mention. More often than not, they have elastic or ribbed cuffs and a hem that hits the mid-calf.
Cropped sweatpants are popular options for workout attire, particularly in warmer climates. They’re often thought of as spring or summer sweatpants, and they pair well with cropped tees and tanks as well as regular T-shirts and tank tops.
Plain jogger sweatpants with elastic or hemmed cuffs are ideal for travel. Not only are they comfortable, but they don’t have any metal parts that can set off alarms at security checkpoints.
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Features
Materials
The most common materials for sweatpants are cotton and cotton blends because they’re soft, breathable, and durable. Cotton blends often contain polyester, spandex, or Lycra for more flexibility. Blends are also considered somewhat more durable than their all-cotton counterparts as they’re colorfast, less likely to shrink, and won’t overstretch.
Waistband
For many women, the waistband design of a pair of sweatpants makes or breaks the purchase. Classic sweatpant waistbands feature elastic as well as a drawstring. Certain sweatpants only include one or the other. Another popular variation is a ribbed waistband, though more often than not it’s paired with a drawstring.
The waistband width is also important to consider. Thinner waistbands offer a streamlined silhouette. However, they’re prone to digging into the skin or rolling down. Medium-width waistbands are the most popular option, though many wearers agree it can be hard to find waistbands that sit properly on the hips or belly. Wide waistbands, which are usually three to five inches wide, are considered the most comfortable for their flexible, smoothing fit. Unfortunately, sweatpants with wide waistbands can be difficult to find.
Size
Women’s sweatpants generally follow small, medium, and large sizing, though some brands do offer plus sizes. This can make finding a well-fitting pair somewhat challenging as one manufacturer’s medium can be another manufacturer’s small or large. That said, many women prefer a looser fit in sweatpants. Reading through online reviews is a good way to see if the pair you’re considering runs particularly large or small.
Pockets
Many women prefer sweatpants that have pockets. While pockets are certainly convenient, they tend to cause sweatpants to sag or appear lumpy when they’re utilized, even when only holding keys or a phone.
Did You Know?
If you’re not a fan of figure-hugging yoga pants, joggers are a good alternative. They allow full range of motion, plus they’ll stay put through poses since they hug the calves.
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Accessories
Women’s hoodies: The North Face Women’s Half Dome Hoodie
Pair your sweatpants with a sporty hoodie, such as this one from The North Face. This signature pullover design has ribbed cuffs to retain body heat and keep out drafts. Choose from over a dozen colors, ranging from neutral to bold.
Women’s sneakers: Adidas Originals Women’s Superstar Sneakers
Neutral sneakers, such as this pair by Adidas, will complement every pair of sweatpants in your wardrobe. These classic low-tops are flexible and comfortable, especially with their padded heel collar and wide toe box.
Cropped tees: Icyzone Open Back Cropped Workout Top
Look no further for the perfect cropped tee than this one by Icyzone. Its open back is a fun, contemporary twist on the classic cropped tee that also helps keep you cool during workouts.
Women’s no-show socks: Saucony Women’s No-Show Cushioned Invisible Liner Socks
These ultra-soft no-show socks from Saucony are a favorite among active wearers. With a comfort toe seam to prevent irritation and a flexible material blend, they offer second-to-none comfort.
Trouser sweatpants aren’t ideal for wear in wet conditions since they can drag on the ground and will absorb moisture.
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Sweatpants for women prices
Women’s sweatpants range in price from $10 to $100, depending on the style, quality of the materials, and the brand.
Basic sweatpant designs typically cost $25 and below. They’re usually made of all cotton or cotton-polyester blends. More often than not, you’ll find mostly classic sweatpants in this price bracket.
Stylish and sporty sweatpants, many of which are made by trendy sportswear and athleisure brands, cost between $30 and $60. Their material quality and overall construction is superior to cheaper sweatpants.
Premium sweatpants run as high as $60 to $100. To their credit, these styles are incredibly well-made. However, you do often pay a premium for the brand name.
Tips
- Consider sizing up. When it comes to sweatpants, it can be a good idea to go a size up for comfort. And if the sweatpants have a high cotton content, they’ll end up shrinking a bit in the wash as well.
- Make it a set. Many sweatpants for women have matching sweatshirts that can be purchased separately for an effortless, comfy, and trendy look.
- Wash in cool water. To help preserve colors, especially in cotton-blend sweatpants, it’s recommended to wash them in cool water.
- Think twice before buying 100% polyester styles. While polyester sweatpants certainly have their positive attributes, they aren’t as breathable as cotton or cotton-blend sweatpants.
FAQ
Q. Are sweatpants for women available in different inseams?
A. There are a few manufacturers that make women’s sweatpants in petite, short, and long inseams. Unfortunately, for shorter and taller wearers, it can be somewhat challenging to find these specialized sweatpants.
Q. Why does the lining of my sweatpants feel coarse after washing?
A. This often occurs in sweatpants that have fleece linings, as repeated wash and wear results in thinning of the material as well as pilling. While you can’t restore fleece to its brand-new softness level, you can keep your sweatpants cozy by using fabric softener or dryer balls.
Q. How do I prevent the drawstring from slipping out of my sweatpants?
A. One option is to make double knots at both ends of the drawstring, which will be too large to slip through the drawstring holes. Some people recommend sewing buttons to the ends as well. Another option is to sew the back of the drawstring to the back of the sweatpants.
Q. What footwear should I wear with sweatpants?
A. If you’re going for a classic sporty look, stick to sneakers or slides with socks. For casual wear with regular tops, wear sweatpants with canvas slip-ons, mules, loafers, or ballet flats. Sweatpants are all about comfort, and your footwear should be comfortable, too.
