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The Best Men’s Running Pants for Cold-Weather Runs and Workouts
Go for a run, hit the gym, or just lounge—we recommend these running pants to get you through winter.
It’s finally pants season! This time of year, all those hot, humid, sweat-drenched runs are past memories, and thanks to the crisp cool air, running magically begins to feel easier. No matter what camp you’re in—tights or pants—running pants can be worn for more than just running, these days. Whether you’re pumping out a few reps at the gym or heading out to run errands, today’s running pants offer better mobility and breathability and are all-around more comfortable.
Best Men’s Running Pants
The Expert: My passion for running started over 25 years ago in my senior year of high school when I became the No. 6 ranked runner in the nation in the 3K. Since then, I’ve been addicted to competitive running at every distance, from one mile to the marathon and trail racing. My obsession with running gear started in 2014 when I wrote my first shoe review. Since then, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of articles of clothing and shoes for Runner’s World, Outside Magazine, Muscle and Fitness, Footwear News, and other outlets. Today, when I’m not out racing, training, and testing gear, I’m an online running coach and founder of Run Your Personal Best.
Materials Matter
Like all running apparel, fabric choice matters—a lot! It’s the most crucial factor when deciding on a pair of workout and running pants. Choosing the wrong fabric could turn an enjoyable run or workout into an uncomfortable swampy nightmare. Men’s running pants are generally made with a wide variety of fabrics. The most common are polyester, nylon, cotton blend, fleece, and spandex. Each material has strengths and weaknesses, and very often, manufacturers blend multiple fabrics to take advantage of a particular fabric’s strengths. For example, spandex or elastane is often blended with polyester to add stretch.
The key here is to ensure the material matches your environment. If you’re running outside in a cold and windy climate, look for a ripstop or durable water repellent (DWR) polyester blend that can repel rain and block the wind. In contrast, if you’re working out inside, where breathability is of the utmost importance, a lightweight polyester or nylon, without ripstop or a DWR coating, is more comfortable. Better yet, a performance cotton blend or fleece offers the highest level of breathability.
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Finding Your Perfect Fit
There are two types of long running bottoms: pants and tights. Tights are, just as the name suggests, skintight. On the other hand, running pants come in various cuts like relaxed or tapered. Understanding how each pant is cut can help you find the perfect fit for your body type and activity.
Standard or relaxed fit are the two baggiest cuts and tend to fit men with large quads and legs best. However, these looser fits are not the best for running because the excess fabric can get in the way during your leg swing. The wide leg opening can also allow cold air to creep in, too. Typically, these style pants are best for indoor gym use and worn over a pair of shorts during pre- and post-run wear.
A more suitable cut for running is athletic or tapered. This is when the pants have some room through the hips and upper quads and taper down through the ankles. Most true running pants feature an athletic or tapered fit.
One of the most overlooked parts of well-fitting workout pants is the inseam length. This measures the inside length from the crotch to the leg cuff. A proper fitting inseam should naturally rest just above the ankle. If your inseam is too long, your pants will bunch around your ankles, which can be annoying during running.
Convenient Features
One of my favorite features, and an absolute must for any warm-up running pants, is ankle zips. These long zippers, extending upward from the ankle cuff, allow you to take off the pants without the annoying hassle of removing your shoes. Another feature to look out for, especially if you like to carry items like your phone, is pockets. For a secure, bounce-free experience, you’ll want pants with a rear, waist-height, zippered pocket. Ideally, this should be built into the waistband for added security. Some pants also offer reflective tape along the seams to enhance nighttime visibility.
How We Evaluated
My testing started with extensive online research, where I sought to find the best customer-reviewed pants. After narrowing down the fan favorites, the testing began. Given that running pants aren’t updated as often as running shoes, I’ve had and tested some of these pants for several years. During testing, I evaluated each pair of pants based on fit, function, and features. For pants that stood out across all three evaluation criteria, I then categorized them according to their best use case, and a detailed review can be found below. After an exhaustive search to find the best men’s workout and running pants, here are the eight I recommend.
Under Armour Vital Woven Pants
Pros
- Outstanding price-to-performance
- 20 different size options ranging from X-small to 4XL Big Tall
Cons
- Inconsistent sizing, but generally runs small
This pant earns the name “vital.” Made of durable ripstop fabric, these Under Armour bottoms have a wind-resistant exterior with a soft mesh interior lining for comfort and breathability. Hand pockets are on each side, and 7-inch zippers at the leg openings let you keep your shoes on when you need to strip down.
Key Specs
| Size Range | XS–4XL (also available in tall sizes) |
|---|---|
| Materials | 100% polyester |
Pros
- Range of inseam lengths
- Excellent mobility
- Ankle zips for easy on/off with shoes
Cons
- Expensive
Many tapered joggers can feel somewhat restrictive in the hips and upper legs, but not the lululemon Surge Jogger. It features a fuller fit (than most joggers) through the glutes and thighs before tapering just below the knee. No other pants I tested had greater range of motion; credit to the Surge’s super stretchy quick-dry recycled nylon and Lycra elastane blend. As an added bonus, ankle zips allow easy on/off without taking off your shoes. A secure zipperless rear pocket allows for bounce-free smartphone carry, something I found most running pants can’t claim. But perhaps the best part is they come in three different inseam lengths: 27, 30, and 31 inches.
Key Specs
| Size Range | XS–3XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 79% recycled nylon, 21% Xtra life Lycra elastane |
Under Armour Qualifier Run 2.0 Pants
Under Armour Qualifier Run 2.0 Pants
Pros
- Water-resistant front pocket
- Wind-resistant yet breathable
Cons
- Seam across the knee can be uncomfortable
There’s a lot to love about this sleek pair from UA. Wind-resistant paneling insulates the thighs, while the rest of the leg breathes more easily, thanks to the thin brushed polyester-elastane fabric. This design makes the Qualifier fairly warm and best suited to easy runs in mild temperatures and hard workouts below freezing - this panel does run across across the knee at the bottom end, which some runners may find uncomfortable. Finally—as in, it finally exists in a pair of men’s running pants—a water-resistant pocket expands from the front waistband to hold a phone securely.
Key Specs
| Size Range | S–3XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 59% Elastarell, 41% polyester (body) and 87% polyester, 13% elastane (woven panels) |
Janji Transit Tech Pant All-Weather
Janji Transit Tech Pant All-Weather
Pros
- Excellent weather protection
- Comfortable tapered fit
Cons
- No ankle zips
If it’s cold enough to wear running pants, odds are you’re bound to run in inclimate weather at some point. Made of lightweight DWR-treated polyester that’s four-way stretch, these active pants ensure you stay warm and dry in light rain and snow. The tapered fit is slim through the hips and legs but not in a restrictive way. Two side-zippered hand pockets and an extra side pocket along the outer hip offer secure storage but aren’t the best for running with a phone. A lack of ankle zips makes these pants means it can be tough to take these off with shoes on. Still, these might just become your daily go-to cold-weather pants, just make sure you choose the all-weather option.
Key Specs
| Size Range | S–XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 88% polyester, 12% spandex |
Pros
- Mesh ventilation in areas of high heat
- Extra-long ankle zips
- Rear pocket for wallet
Cons
- Some runners might find them baggy and long
- Expensive
On’s Track Pants offer a looser, non-tapered fit without feeling too weighed down and baggy. The nylon fabric with a touch of elastane for stretch is remarkably lightweight and comfortable. Strategically placed ventilation behind the calf and upper buttocks allows heat to escape, while the extra-long ankle zips (up to knee height) make them an ideal warm-up pant, as they allow for no hassle on/off without taking off your shoes. Shorter runners might find the inseam length rather long at 31 inches. However, there is an option to cinch them tight via ankle drawstrings.
Key Specs
| Size Range | S–2XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 87% polyamide, 13% elastane |
Baleaf Flyleaf Ultra-Lite Mesh Joggers
Baleaf Flyleaf Ultra-Lite Mesh Joggers
Pros
- Lightweight, breathable material
- Affordable
Cons
- A bit restrictive at the knee
This is a true running pant ideal for crisp-but-not-cold spring and fall runs. The nylon-elastane blend material ranks among the thinnest and most breathable fabrics RW editors have tested. A perforated elastic waistband and laser-cut vents also help keep air circulating through your stride. Editors liked the nine-tenths length and tapered cut, which give this pair a close fit. The fabric doesn’t stretch quite as easily as other elastane blends, though, so it feels a bit tight when the knee bends. However, this doesn’t ruin an otherwise runner-friendly fit.
Key Specs
| Size Range | S–3XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 77% nylon, 23% spandex |
Brooks Spartan Pant
Pros
- Offers the mobility of tights without being skin tight
- Breaths exceptionally well
Cons
- Wind cuts right through fabric
These no-frills jogger-style pants offer everything you need and nothing you don’t, making them ideal for the runner who likes closer-fitting pants but is hesitant to wear skintight bottoms. The double-knit DriLayer fabric breathes exceptionally well, making them great for mildly cold days or indoors at the gym. However, they’re not the best in harsh, cold, and windy conditions. Short ankle zips make them easy to remove without taking off your shoes, and two side-zippered pockets can carry small items like keys or cards.
Key Specs
| Size Range | XS–2XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 90% recycled polyester, 10% spandex |
Pros
- Nice aesthetic available in seven colors
- Fabric boasts performance features and comfort
Cons
- Expensive
Durable and woven with four-way stretch poly-spandex fabric, the Transit blurs the line between workout and leisure apparel. These tech pants have back and side zipper pockets, an exterior drawcord to adjust waistband fit, and elastic cuffs. Moisture-wicking fibers rated at UPF 30+ lend protection on sunny days. The Transit Jogger is tailored enough to go running, then comfortable enough to lounge in when your workout is over.
Key Specs
| Size Range | XS–2XL |
|---|---|
| Materials | 91% recycled polyester, 9% elastane |
Expert Cory Smith Weighs in on the Best Fit and Fabric for Men’s Running Pants
RW: Should running pants be tight?
CS: How running pants should fit is mostly a personal preference. However, both tight- and loose-fitting pants each have advantages and disadvantages. Tighter, or form-fitting, pants tend to feel easier to run in, especially in wet conditions. This is because looser fabric can swoosh around, adding friction and resistance as you move through your gait. That said, some people might find looser-fitting pants more comfortable and more appropriate to wear outside of running.
RW: What should running pants be made of?
CS: Like all workout clothing, running pants should be made with a moisture-wicking fabric. The most popular moisture-wicking fabrics for running pants are polyester and nylon. Most pants will feature a blend of multiple fabrics and often include spandex or elastane to make them stretchy.
RW: Are jogger pants good for running?
CS: Just as the name suggests, jogger pants are made for running. The tapered leg with a tighter fit around the ankles reduces excess fabric from swinging around when you run. However, joggers have recently become more fashionable and trendy among non-runners. This has led to increased availability of lifestyle joggers that are not ideal for running because they are made from cotton or other non-moisture-wicking fabric. To ensure joggers are designed for running or other fitness-related activities, make sure they are made with a moisture-wicking material like polyester, nylon, or spandex.
Cory Smith is a running coach and journalist specializing in running and fitness-related content and gear reviews. He is the founder of Run Your Personal Best, an online running coaching business that has helped hundreds of runners achieve personal bests in distances ranging from 800 meters to 100 miles. Cory holds a USA Track & Field Level 1 and 2 Endurance Certification and was the former Head Cross Country/Track Coach at Penn State Brandywine. Over his running career, Cory has held three Maryland state records, was a two-time National Championship qualifier while at Villanova University, and holds personal bests of 4:03 in the mile and an 8:05 in the 3K.
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