Stock joggers if your buyers want a tapered, tidy leg they can wear out of the house, and sweatpants if they want a relaxed, straight leg for comfort and a streetwear look. Shorts extend either range into warm weather, and a tracksuit set turns one sale into two pieces.
The joggers vs sweatpants for brands question is less about the fabric and more about the leg and the buyer. This post explains the difference between the four styles in our range, which buyers each one suits, and how to combine them.
Joggers: tapered with a cuff
Joggers have a leg that narrows towards the ankle and finishes in a ribbed or elastic cuff. The cuff keeps the hem off the floor and shows the shoe. They look neat and slightly sporty.
- Fabrics: French terry, fleece or polyester knit.
- Sizes: S to 3XL.
- Who buys them: athleisure brands, gym brands, everyday casual ranges.
- Branding: a logo on the left thigh or hip in embroidery or screen print; heat transfer on polyester knit.
Joggers are the safer first style for most brands, because they suit the widest range of buyers and pair with almost any top.
The cuff is a design choice in itself. A ribbed cuff in the same colour gives a clean, sporty finish. An elastic cuff with a channel gives a softer gather at the ankle. A narrow cuff shows more of the shoe; a deeper one bunches the fabric more. Tell us the look you want and we confirm the cuff on your sample.
Sweatpants: straight or relaxed with an open hem
Sweatpants have a straight or relaxed leg with an open hem, no cuff. The fabric falls over the shoe and the overall look is looser. In streetwear, sweatpants in heavier fabric are often worn long so they stack at the ankle.
- Fabrics: French terry or fleece.
- Sizes: S to 3XL.
- Who buys them: streetwear brands selling alongside hoodies; lounge ranges.
- Branding: a bold print on the leg or a small embroidered logo at the hip.
Joggers and sweatpants side by side
| Joggers | Sweatpants | |
|---|---|---|
| Leg | Tapered | Straight or relaxed |
| Hem | Ribbed or elastic cuff | Open |
| Look | Neat, sporty | Loose, streetwear |
| Fabrics | French terry, fleece, polyester knit | French terry, fleece |
| Pairs with | Hoodies, tees, zip jackets | Hoodies, oversized tees |
Both have an elastic waistband with a drawcord, and pockets of your choice. Side pockets are the usual start; a back pocket or a zip pocket can be added where the style allows, and we confirm it at quotation.
A useful test: picture your buyer wearing the bottoms outside the house. If they would pair them with trainers and a fitted top, choose joggers. If they would pair them with a loose hoodie and want the fabric to fall over the shoe, choose sweatpants. Some brands stock both in the same fabric and colours, so buyers can choose the leg they prefer.
Shorts: the warm-weather extension
Shorts use the same waistband and pocket ideas in a shorter leg. They let you sell through warmer months or into warmer markets without changing your branding.
- Fabrics: French terry or polyester knit.
- Sizes: S to 3XL.
- Who buys them: athleisure brands, gyms, summer ranges.
French terry shorts feel casual and soft. Polyester knit shorts are smooth and light and suit sport and travel. If you already sell joggers in French terry, shorts in the same fabric and colours make an easy second style. Decide the leg length early: a shorter leg reads sporty, a longer one reads casual, and the length is confirmed on your sample.
Tracksuit sets: two pieces, one look
A tracksuit set pairs a top with matching bottoms in the same fabric and colour. The top can be a zip jacket or a pullover. You can add contrast panels, side stripes or zip pockets; we confirm the options at quotation.
- Fabrics: French terry, fleece or polyester knit.
- Sizes: S to 3XL.
- Who buys them: sports academies and clubs with their crest, athleisure brands, travel and gifting ranges.
In a set, the top and bottoms each count as a style for the minimum, so a set is 100 tops and 100 bottoms. Polyester knit sets hold colour well and suit team and travel use; fleece sets suit cooler markets and lounge buyers.
Choosing your first styles
Use your buyer and climate to decide.
- Streetwear brand selling hoodies: sweatpants in fleece or French terry, in colours that match your hoodies.
- Athleisure brand: tapered joggers in French terry, then shorts in the same fabric.
- Warm-climate online seller: French terry joggers and shorts.
- Academy, club or team: polyester knit tracksuit sets with a crest on the chest and thigh.
- Lounge or gifting range: a fleece set, top and sweatpants, packed together.
Two styles is a sensible start. With 100 pieces per style and sizes mixed, you can cover S to 3XL in two or three colours. The full range and fabrics are on our white label joggers page, and our post on what to check on a joggers sample explains what to look for once your first sample arrives.
Tell us who you sell to, where, and what you sell already, and we will suggest a style and fabric and quote it with your branding.