These $40 Pure Cotton Joggers Are the Best Bargain in Pants

Quince is a direct-from-factory brand that offers steep discounts on well-made products by cutting out as many middlemen as possible.

I’ve worn a few products from its substantial online catalog before and always been satisfied with the quality, but I was genuinely blown away by the value of these 100-percent cotton sweatpants.

Qunice

At some point in the 2010s, jogger-style sweatpants, distinguished by broad elastic cuffs on the leg openings, became the default casual pants for men. As someone fortunate enough to work from home, I practically live in them for half the year.

I’ve worn and tested options from well over a dozen brands, and I was certain that Champion’s Reverse Weave Joggers would never be bested for overall value. They’ve got a substantial waistband and cuffs, reliable pockets, a crotch gusset — this is critical — and cost only $60.

Photo by Brad Lanphear for Gear Patrol

Then I tried the Midweight French Terry Slim Joggers from Qunice. After wearing them for two weeks, I’m convinced that they offer the best value in casual or athletic pants available.

Not only are they $20 cheaper than my beloved Champion joggers, they are also built from a 100-percent cotton French terry fabric, which tops the Reverse Weave blend.

More than it seams

Quince markets its products as alternatives to popular brands, and it isn’t subtle about which brands are being undercut. Product pages display a comparison chart featuring three or more popular alternatives, with the first item typically serving as the “inspiration.”

Photo by Brad Lanphear for Gear Patrol

Another telltale sign that Qunice’s Midweight Terry Joggers are modeled after Reigning Champ’s $118 Midweight Terry Sweatpant is the flatlock seam construction. So I compared the two, and overall, the fit and design are nearly identical, as is the 100-percent cotton terry fabric used in each.

One way Qunice cut the cost was by using a simpler variety of flatlock seam stitching, where the particular seam design used by Reigning Champ is denser and more secure. Otherwise, the pants are functionally identical.

Qunice

Compared to the other best option in the same price tier, Quince’s pure cotton joggers have a leg up on Champion for me because the latter’s blend of its Reverse Weave fabric has been gradually watered down with more polyester recently. It has dropped from 85 percent cotton down to 62 percent over the past few years.

The Midweight French Terry Slim Joggers are, as the name suggests, slimmer than Champion’s sweats, and the fabric is more breathable, which means that Qunice has the edge for athletic activities and warmer weather.

Attention to detail

What really won me over about the Midweight French Terry Slim Joggers is the impressive attention to detail for such an economically priced item.

Photo by Brad Lanphear for Gear Patrol

The pockets are built from the same fabric as the rest of the pants, not a cheaper, lightweight fabric as you typically find in affordable sweatpants. The slanted openings on the pockets are also reinforced with ribbons sewn along the inner seam, which should prevent fraying over time.

Best of all, Quince included a leg gusset in the crotch, which improves the flexibility and durability of the sweatpants. The diamond-shaped patch is made of a stretchy, ribbed cotton.

Photo by Brad Lanphear for Gear Patrol

Of course, $40 sweatpants do have some shortcomings. The ribbed cuffs at the leg openings are narrower and less secure than I would like — they stretch out after a few hours of wear — and although the waistband is broad enough, the loosely ribbed fabric and minimal stitching make it somewhat flimsy.

Availability and price

One more issue you may come across with these bargain joggers is that they tend to be out of stock.

As of this writing, the heather gray I have is completely sold out, but navy and black are still available in all sizes. Gray should be back in stock eventually, but there is no indication of when that will be.

The Quince Midweight French Terry Slim Joggers are available now from Quince for $40. Additionally, a heavyweight version is available for $50, also made of 100-percent cotton, and is currently only offered in gray.

Qunice

Quince Midweight French Terry Slim Joggers

• $40 at Qunice

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