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The Best Fleece Pants

Last updated on August 3, 2024
Categories Clothing & Accessories Tags
Best Fleece Pants

Our Review Process

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Our Picks For The Top Fleece Pants

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

Gildan Drawstring Closure Elastic Waistband Fleece Pants

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Gildan

Drawstring Closure Elastic Waistband Fleece Pants

If you're searching for a comfortable pair of fleece pants to wear around the house, these pants are an excellent choice. The fabric is smooth and soft to the touch and the pant legs are made with a relaxed fit. Although the waist is elastic, there's also a drawstring for a more custom fit.

Overall Take

Multiple Color OptionsYou'll find these fleece pants come in a choice of navy, royal, charcoal, dark heather and black.

 Runner Up

Champion Children’s Machine Washable Fleece Pants

Champion

Children’s Machine Washable Fleece Pants

Active boys will love these fleece pants, which feature the company's famous logo. The pants have a slim fit, yet are comfortable enough to shoot some hoops or toss a ball in the backyard with a few friends. Young men will appreciate the two side pockets, as they are great for warming hands or holding a cell phone.

Overall Take

Stylish Youth OptionThese fleece pants are available in youth sizes small to extra-large.

 We Also Like

Southpole Men’s Adjustable Ribbed Ankle Fleece Pants

Southpole

Men's Adjustable Ribbed Ankle Fleece Pants

These tapered fleece pants offer a tapered fit with a ribbed ankle cuff. The waistband has an adjustable cord for comfort. These pants are also available in big and tall sizes.

Overall Take

Ribbed AnkleThese fleece pants have a stylish and tapered fit.

 Strong Contender

Amazon Essentials Men’s Straight-Legged Fleece Pants

Amazon Essentials

Men's Straight-Legged Fleece Pants

Not only are these fleece pants comfortable, but they also offer an exact fit. The cotton/polyester pants have a drawstring waist, so you never have to worry about the pants sliding down. Consumers will love that the pants come in 13 different colors and patterns, like camo, blue, olive, burgundy and black.

Overall Take

Economical OptionThanks to the affordable price tag on these fleece pants, you'll be able to purchase more than one pair.

Buying Guide

Slipping into a pair of comfortable and soft pants feels great, especially if you’ve had a long day at work and you just want to lounge on the couch. Comfy pants are also perfect if you need to run some errands, play in the park with your kids, walk the dog and so much more. They are a versatile item everyone needs in their closet.

Fleece is a fluffy material that is made from polyester fiber.  The long strands of synthetic fibers are designed to trap heat, which helps keep you warm in the chilly months. Fleece can come in different weights, depending on the level of warmth you’re looking for. Microfleece is lightweight, perfect for milder weather. It is breathable and provides a low level of insulation. Many people choose microfleece when working out outside. Mid-weight fleece will definitely keep you warm when it’s chilly out. It’s a little less breathable than microfleece. Heavy fleece is your warmest option. As you’re shopping for fleece pants, you’ll want to keep in mind the weight that will work best for you.

Opt for a pair of fleece pants that have anti-pill qualities. This means that the fabric will not get little balls of thread clumping up on the surface of the material after you wear, wash or dry it. Typically, pilling happens with abrasion, or when the fabric rubs against something.

What to Look For

  • Consider what kind of fit you like for your fleece pants. Do you prefer a straight leg with a wide cuff, or you do prefer a narrower leg and cuff? Decide what kind of look works well with your style.
  • Pockets or no pockets? Having pockets in your fleece pants makes it easy to carry around your essentials such as your phone or wallet. However, the extra fabric can sometimes feel bulky and unnecessary if you don’t use your pockets.
  • Many fleece pants have a drawstring closure so you can adjust the fit along your waist. Some fleece pants have an elastic waistband with no drawstring. Decide whether you want the flexibility to adjust the waist of your fleece pants.
  • Fleece pants are available in a plethora of different colors. Do you want to go with a neutral like black, grey or white, or are you looking for a bold option like red, blue or pink? Consider what color your tops are and what will match best with the color scheme of your clothes.

More to Explore

American textile maker Malden Mills began working on developing polyester fibers for fabric in the 1970s, and in 1981, they launched the first fleece in sportswear in collaboration with what was then a small mountaineering gear outfitter, Patagonia. Because fleece has the unusual property of insulating even when wet, it boomed in the sportswear market and is ubiquitous today. Polartec emerged from Malden’s bankruptcy in 2007 with its fabric assets, and now, Polartec is improving on the original, making several innovative fleece fabrics that shed far less in the washing machine — which means less plastic is going into our waterways when we wash our fleece clothing.

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