The Best Lounge Pants for Pretending to Work From Home

Uncomfortable pants are so 2023

Updated January 9, 2024 10:32 am
a collage of lounge pants on a interior background
The best lounge pants for men make all the difference.
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If the past four years and counting have taught us anything, it’s that the best lounge pants are a multi-faceted bitch.

For decades, you’ve probably lazed around in an old pair of flannel pajama pants or some basic Fruit of the Loom grey sweats you commandeered from K-Mart (remember K-mart?). Welcome to the twenty-first century, pal. We have joggers with silver-infused, sweat-wicking properties you can run miles or downward dog in, sweats specially built with passport-sized secure pockets and lounge pants so stylish you might catch them on the runway, not just the the grocery store. It’s pretty sick.

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There’s a definitive impetus for wearing sweats 24/7 in 2024; for some, it’s a not-so-new WHF lifestyle, while for others, it’s just taking advantage of the fact that it’s more or less totally appropriate to live out your days in cotton comfort. Plus, with the crappy tail end of winter still to come, its currently even less of a faux pas to adorn your legs in cozy comfort.

Either way, one good pair of lounge pants (or a full wardrobe of them) is all but essential in this day and age, and there are tons of options from great brands like Vuori, L.L. Bean, Todd Snyder and more. With the comfort factor only increasing as softer and more sustainable fabrics are utilized more and more, it really does just make sense to have some lounge pants on deck. And as the weather begins to shift, it’s critical to have the coziest pair of pants at your disposal.

In case you haven’t already maxed out your quote for bottoms that are trousers or jeans, we’ve rounded up a few of the top pairs out there out there from classic bulky sweats to more refined technical joggers. Below, the best lounge pants for men to chill in total comfort.


The Best Lounge Pants for Men

Beyond the exceptional details of Outerknown’s Hightide Sweatpants — ribbed waistband, cozy brushed interior and zip back pockets — we’re happy to report that they’re designed from recycled materials in conjunction with their 2030 goal of complete circularity, meaning you can lounge easy knowing that your very comfy sweatpants are also very good for the world.

We, too, would like to lay around knowing that we have enough in the bank to rock Thom Browne inside the crib.

Huge, fleecy as hell and washed in a sick OG grey, Reigning Champ’s Relaxed Sweats are the F-150 equivalent to your everyday jogger. They’re the epitome of comfort when the temps drop low, and with modern streetwear finishes, still look great if you choose to brave the cold.

Smart like dress pants with all the comfy charm of sweats, this elastic pant is the perfect lounge pant for those who want to feel like they’re wearing real trousers.

On the off chance you have a couple of cool racks sitting around, these woven pull-on pants collab from luxury labels Zegna and The Elder Statesman are just about the most comfortable lounge pants money can buy, complete with celebrity-approved (namely, Seth Rogan) brushed finish.

You should know that the big pants, little shirt trend extends even to the comfort of your own home, and Todd x Champion’s 20 oz. soft, midweight cotton French terry sweats are about as wide-load as it gets.

A good-looking athleisure jogger primed for running, traveling or just straight up chillin’, thanks to its soft stretch, moisture-wicking properties and shorter inseam to keep your ankles unweighted from any bulk.

Part sweat, part workout bottoms, part twill trousers and fully genius, these gym pants from Japanese label Beams Plus are the definition of multi-use.

Okay, you might not be pulling on Boulder-based Topo Designs fleecy pants if you’re headed to the office…or a date. But that doesn’t mean they’re not heavenly to watch TV and walk the dog in.

No way around it — Alo Yoga’s cozy sweats are practically made for lounging.

Who said lounge pants can’t look good? Universal Work’s slightly cropped herringbone drawstring trousers are a total ‘heads-know flex…and currently on sale at Mr Porter.

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