Men’s performance pants—travel pants, tech pants, whatever you want to call them—might just be for guys what leggings are for us ladies.
Consider the facts: You reach for them when you don’t want to wear “real” pants. They move with your body thanks to NASA-level stretch fabric. You’ve discovered that they pair well with…pretty much everything in your wardrobe.
Oh, and your butt looks great in them. #facts
Usually cut like a pair of 5-pocket jeans, and made from a blend of cotton and stretch fabric, you’ll find yourself reaching for these pants again and again if you’re back in an office at least part-time these days.
The fit of men’s performance pants
Mizzen+Main ‘Helmsman’ chino pant, $138
Designed with lightweight and 4-way stretch fabric, these performance pants are ideal for everyday.
Expect a pair of performance pants to fit close to your body (if you get them in your proper size, that is).
Think: slim, but not skinny.
Not only that, the way they feel when you first pull them on? Well, that’s how they’ll fit every time. That’s because performance fabric doesn’t shrink, and doesn’t require multiple washes to “break in” the way jeans do.
What men’s performance pants are made of
lululemon ABC slim-fit trouser in Warpstreme, $128
Lululemon’s ABC Pants are quickly approaching men’s wardrobe essential status. Find the right fit for you here.
Oh, just stain-fighting, wrinkle-resistant, no-shrink, no-fade fabric.
So, basically…magic.
The stretch elements mean you’ll never feel like you’re going to bust out of your pants when you take the steps two at a time.
What colors performance pants come in
Okay, don’t get freaked out, but these days, you can find performance pants in pretty much every color you can think of. Honestly? You’ve almost got too much to choose from when shopping.
Feel overwhelmed? Reach for neutrals like navy, black, brown, lighter brown, tan, grey, lighter grey…okay, you get the idea.
Meaning, you can wear pretty much any pair with pretty much everything in your closet right now. Easy, right?
Want to know what to wear with yours? Scroll on.
Check out 5 men’s performance pants outfits:
Monday
SG Says: Hello 2024 uniform! Our whole team loves this simple, yet stylish look anchored by the navy Passage Pant.
A tailored sweatshirt topped by a broken-in denim jacket will look great on Zoom or a casual office.
The accessories—colorful sneakers, dad hat, and subtle jewelry—take the outfit from just okay to totally juicy.
Tuesday
SG Says: Why yes, henleys are still a thing in 2024. Please make a note.
I love the mix of browns in this outfit, while the pop of red in the sneakers punches up the overall effect.
Wednesday
SG Says: Turtleneck? Check. Shearling-lined slip-ons? Check.
This is “big presentation at work” meets “at-home date night” chic.
Want to know more about dressing in one color head to toe? Check out our guide to color matching.
Thursday
SG Says: Never underestimate the power of a crewneck sweater layered over a light blue Oxford shirt. There’s just something that says, “I have my sh*t together” when you’re doubled up, up top.
Wear this look to work. Wear it on the weekend. Heck, wear it when you can’t remember if it’s a workday or the weekend.
Friday
slip-on sneakers | hoodie sweatshirt
SG Says: Wouldn’t this outfit look SO GOOD with a long camel topcoat thrown over it?
The secret to making casual clothes look…dare we say it…sophisticated is all in the construction.
High-quality fabrics, top-notch tailoring, and a slim silhouette will instantly elevate a basic outfit like the one above.
