Leggings vs Sweatpants

The athleisure wars! We all have our favorite athleisure garments, but is there a *best* choice?

The simple answer is: No. 

Really, there’s a place for leggings and sweatpants in our hearts and our closets. But there are occasions and looks that lend themselves more to one or the other. And if you’re unclear about the difference between them, we’ll clear that up too!

What Are Sweatpants?

Sweatpants are loose-fitting pull-on pants usually made from sweatshirt material. They are usually widest at the waist and taper down the legs. They have an elasticated or drawstring waist and have cuffs at the ankles. Depending on the size and style you choose, the waist can sit lower to reveal your belly button or higher on the waist.

Sweatpants are often sold as part of a set with a matching sweatshirt.

Sweatpants were original workout clothes, but like most athleisure items, they’ve made their way into everyday outfits. Sweatpants have a definite casual look, and they’re usually worn in a very dressed-down look. Slouchy, soft, and somewhat lacking in shape, they definitely prioritize comfort over tailoring.

Sweatpants or Joggers?

Sweatpants are loose-fitting pull-on pants usually made from sweatshirt material. They are usually widest at the waist and taper down the legs. They have an elasticated or drawstring waist and have cuffs at the ankles. They also usually have front pockets on both sides.

Most joggers are usually made of lightweight material and are pretty fitted (unlike sweat pants which are made of thicker sweatshirt material). While they are fitted, they are not skintight garments like leggings. As joggers have transitioned into daywear, some have become more sophisticated, tailored, and even downright glamorous, while other styles are ideal for lounging.

When to Wear Sweatpants?

Sweatpants are oh-so-cozy. Perfect for curling up on the sofa, sick days, quick errands, or lazy dog-walk kind of days. It’s no wonder that students have long loved their sweats as they’re perfect for schlubbing around in (and we mean that with the utmost respect - we love a good schlub!)

Wear them with a t-shirt or denim jacket or go the classic route and pair your pants with a sweatshirt.

They are, however, less versatile than leggings or joggers and do not lend themselves to being ‘dressed up’ in the same way. That usually rules them out of most workplaces, for example (though, increasingly, most workplaces don’t follow any kind of formal or informal dress code).

What Are Leggings / Yoga Pants?

Basically, normal leggings are opaque (not see-through) skin-tight garments. They usually pull on and off (no zipper or other fastening), and while they may have pockets and other accents, most are unadorned with any pockets or seams beyond the seam that runs around the inner legs.

Leggings are usually made of cotton and lycra, though they now come in an astonishing range of finishes (shiny, matt), lengths (ankle and cropped), colors, cuts, and even materials (from plain cotton to denim-looking “jeggings” and even leather).

Key things to note about leggings:

• They’re opaque (i.e., not see-through)
• They come in different lengths, including
• Full-length
• Ankle-length, also known as 7/8 length
• Cropped
• Leggings come with different waist rises (similar to jeans), including:
• High waist rise
• Mid-rise
• Low-rise

When to Wear Leggings?

We wrote lots of advice about the different ways you can wear leggings over here. Like joggers (and arguably even more so), there are tonnes of options on how to wear leggings. They can be a feature garment in your ensemble or a supporting star. Leggings also provide a layering option in colder months, which can make them a serious alternative to tights. 

So, Which Is the Better Athleisure Look: Leggings vs Sweat Pants

As we said at the outset, there’s no one-time winner here. Sometimes you’ll want sweatpants, and sometimes you’ll reach for your favorite yoga pants. That said, there are some reasons you might choose one over the other, so let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros of Sweatpants

As mentioned, we’ve got a whole lotta love for sweatpants. Need us to make our case? Here are some winning reasons to wear sweats:

• Breathability/ventilation: Sweatpants are usually made of cotton and have a loose fit. This means there’s lots of air and breathability between your skin which will help keep you cool. If you experience crotch sweat a lot, you may love the breathability offered by sweatpants.
• Warmth: Made of thicker fabric, sweatpants usually offer a lot of warmth during the winter months. Because they fit more loosely, the air trapped inside will warm from your body heat, and that will help keep you warm too.
• Comfort: The word ‘sweatpant’ might just be a synonym for comfort. Seriously, we’re talking about ultimate, curl up on the sofa on a sick-day comfort here.
• Timeless look: Sweatpants have been a mainstay in closets for decades, and they show no sign of fading from favor.
• Not a body-con cut: There are days when we all feel a little bloated or less attractive, and sometimes body-con clothes can just feel like a spotlight on all the things making you feel self-conscious. Sweatpants offer a little less glare as their loose shape offers more coverage.
• Comes in a variety of colors/styles, etc.: Choice is great, and you can find sweatpants that are thicker, thinner, textured, and come in every color of the rainbow.

Cons of Sweatpants

Okay, so lots of reasons to love sweats, but there have to be some downsides, too, right? Okay, if you hold us hostage, we’ll admit the following:

• Shapeless: Yep, sweatpants are slouchy. Super slouchy. It can make them a little shapeless and unflattering. Baggy in the ass, sometimes in the wrong ways.
• Casual: It’s a stretch to say ‘casual’ is a con. But there are obviously times when we all want to be more put-together. On those occasions, sweatpants are not your friend.
• Not as versatile: Leggings and joggers have a definite advantage when it comes to versatility. You can dress them up and dress them down. Sweatpants? Not so much.
• Thigh-chafing can occur: Because sweatpants fit loosely, the skin of your inner thighs can rub together when you’re wearing them (especially on a hot day.) Moreover, the seams of sweatpants can exacerbate chafing. Chafing can be painful, but there are ways to prevent it (learn more here.)

Pros of Leggings or Yoga Pants

Fair’s fair: Now, let’s take a look at the pros of leggings/yoga pants:

• Supremely versatile: Leggings are ridiculously versatile. They can be worn from dawn to dusk in all manner of situations. Working out, working. Casual brunch, running errands, or swanky dinner. Leggings are a wardrobe chameleon.
• Moisture-wicking: While this may not be true of all leggings, many leggings on the market have sweat-wicking (or moisture-wicking) properties that will help keep you dry and cool on even the hottest day.
• Compression can be an option: Compression or compression zones have myriad benefits for healing muscles after a workout, helping circulation, or just providing extra support. Compression options are available in many styles of leggings.
• Timeless look: Leggings are also a wardrobe classic, and we wouldn’t recommend any wardrobe - no matter how capsule the collection - to forgo a solid pair of black leggings.
• Body-conscious cut: If you love a sleek silhouette, leggings have sweat pants trumped. That second skin feeling will give you a defined, clean look.
• Comes in a variety of colors/styles, etc.: Like sweatpants, yoga pants and leggings come in seemingly infinite styles, lengths, colors, and even materials.

Cons of Leggings

Well, that’s certainly a lot of pros of wearing leggings. But what are the downsides of leggings? There are a few:

• Body-conscious look: Simply put, the look isn’t something everyone likes. Leggings can show off every lump and bump, and some want to be a little more modest. That said, a lot of that rests with what else you wear with your leggings. Knee-high boots and a sweater, for example, can offer a lot of coverage. So think about the role you want your leggings to play: They can be the main star or the best supporting actor in an ensemble.
• Poor quality leggings can be see-through: To be clear: Leggings are not supposed to be see-through. But we’ve all been there. Seen somebody bend over to find they’re showing more than they perhaps intended. If you’ve lived through this embarrassment, it’s fair enough that you might have been scared away from leggings!
• Can exacerbate sweat and contribute to UTIs/yeast infections: Wearing skin-tight synthetic clothing can sometimes cause issues with breathability, and this can aggravate sweat and even be connected with UTIs and yeast infections. Because they’re looser, joggers may offer better breathability. (Side-note: If you do wear leggings, this is a good reason to make sure they’re sweat- and moisture-wicking.)

Ultimately: The Choice Is Yours!

The good news is that we all win: There are more and more athleisure choices to wear today than ever before. This means that we can all find ways of feeling comfortable no matter what our style.

If you’re like me, you don’t ever want to pick favorites from your comfy clothes. One pair of each, please! Variety is, after all, the spice of life!

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.