Can You Go Hiking in Sweatpants? When to Wear Them

Can You Go Hiking in Sweatpants?

Yes I know, sweatpants are super comfy. I basically live in them during the fall and winter. But hiking in sweatpants is an entirely different thing.

Can you hike in sweatpants? Yes, hiking in sweatpants is acceptable. However, it might not be ideal in warm or wet conditions.

Can I Wear Sweatpants for Hiking?

Yep, hiking in sweatpants is fine depending on the hike, but it might not always be a good idea. If you're doing any overnight backpacking trips, I would leave your sweatpants at home (unless you are bringing them just to sleep in). Shorter hikes should be fine.

Water-resistance - One problem with sweatpants or joggers for hiking is that a lot of these pants might not be waterproof. If you encounter rain, river crossing, or sweat a lot, wearing sweatpants made from cotton or other fabric that holds water isn't a good idea. If you're looking for something to stay dry in, then polyester and nylon will do a much better job.

Warmth - Sweatpants can be good for cooler weather and even in the winter, but they can get pretty warm. If you are wearing sweatpants on a hot hike, then it might be too warm.

Cleanliness - Another downside of hiking in sweatpants is that the can get dirty really fast. Especially if you are wearing a light color that is cotton, they can get damp and dirty.

Durability - And if you are doing any type of bushwacking, sweatpants can snag on roots, rocks, and thorns and tear more easily.

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Why sweatpants are good:

• Comfy
• Easy to move in
• Keeps you warm
• Can be rolled up
• Can be inexpensive (see my hiking on a budget article)

Why sweatpants are not good:

• Not always water resistant
• Can be too warm
• Can get dirty fast
• Not as durable as normal hiking pants

Best Hiking Sweatpants

• Men's Contour Athletics Men's Joggers are made from an ultra-high quality lush polyster/spandex fabric blend to keep you dry and comfortable. They come with two zippered pockets and one zippered back pocket to hold your phone, keys, and snacks. They come with a waistband and ankle cuffs for a secure fit.
• Women's Cherokee Infinity Joggers are moisture-resistant, wrinkle-resistant mid-rise joggers that are made from a 95% polyester / 5% spandex blend. They come with slash pockets, a cargo pocket, and a back pocket to fit your phone and other valuables.

PS - Looking for the best hiking leggings with pockets? See our top hiking leggings.

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Best Fabrics for Hiking in Sweatpants

Not all sweatpants are created equal, and the fabric matters a lot more than most people think on the trail. Here's what to look for if you want to stretch a pair of sweats into real hiking duty:

• Polyester and spandex blends — the sweet spot. They dry fast, stretch, and shrug off light rain. 90% of "joggers" sold today use this combo.
• Nylon — more abrasion-resistant than polyester, so it's a better pick if you're pushing through scrub or scrambling on rock.
• Merino wool blends — warm when wet, naturally odor-resistant, great for cold-weather day hikes. Pricier, but they double as camp pants.
• Pure cotton (French terry, classic fleece sweats) — avoid on anything longer than a short walk. Cotton holds sweat against your skin and takes hours to dry, which is the main reason hikers warn "cotton kills" in cold weather.

If your sweatpants have a care label that says "100% cotton," save them for the couch and the campground, not the trail.

When You Should Skip Sweatpants Entirely

There are a handful of situations where sweatpants are the wrong call no matter how comfy they feel at the trailhead:

• Wet or unpredictable weather. Once cotton sweats are soaked, they'll stay soaked for the rest of the day and pull heat straight out of you.
• Bushwhacking or off-trail scrambling. Sweatpants snag on thorns, tear on granite, and don't protect against ticks the way tighter woven pants do.
• Hot-weather hiking. Even thin joggers trap more heat than shorts or breathable hiking pants, and that extra warmth accelerates dehydration.
• Multi-day backpacking. Pack weight and dry time matter — a wet pair of cotton sweats at the bottom of your bag is a small disaster.
• Winter above the snow line. Without a waterproof shell over them, sweatpants will soak through in minutes and leave you dangerously cold. See our winter hiking safety tips for the full cold-weather layering rundown.

Sweatpants vs Hiking Pants: What's the Real Difference?

Hiking pants (think Columbia Silver Ridge, Prana Stretch Zion, Fjällräven Vidda) are designed for exactly this environment. They use DWR-coated nylon or ripstop blends that shed water, resist tears, and dry in under an hour. Most have articulated knees, zip-off legs, and cargo pockets sized for a map or a phone you can actually reach while hiking.

Sweatpants win on three things: price, comfort, and freedom of movement. Hiking pants win on durability, weather protection, pocket layout, and pack weight. If you hike a couple of times a year on well-maintained trails in mild weather, a decent pair of polyester joggers will do the job. If you're out every weekend or taking on real terrain, the dedicated hiking pants will pay for themselves in a season.

How to Layer Sweatpants for Colder Hikes

If you want to use sweats into shoulder season, layer them properly rather than swapping to heavier pants:

• Base layer: a pair of thin merino or synthetic long underwear underneath. This is the layer that pulls sweat away from your skin.
• Mid layer: the sweatpants themselves, for warmth and comfort.
• Shell: a pair of waterproof rain pants stuffed in your pack. Pull them on the moment it starts drizzling or the temperature drops. Even a pair of emergency rain pants will save a wet-sweatpants situation.

Getting the layering right is the same principle we cover in our complete guide to layering clothing — base, mid, shell. Sweatpants slot in as the mid layer, never the only layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are joggers and sweatpants the same for hiking?

Close, but not identical. Joggers usually use a polyester or nylon blend with a tapered ankle, which is better on the trail — fewer snags and faster drying. Traditional sweatpants are often cotton fleece, which is a bad choice for anything beyond a short, dry walk.

Can I wear sweatpants hiking in summer?

You can, but you probably won't want to. Lightweight hiking pants or shorts breathe much better, and a hot day in sweatpants means more sweat, more chafing, and faster dehydration. Save them for cool mornings and shoulder-season hikes.

Are sweatpants okay for short day hikes?

Yes — for a well-marked trail under a couple of hours in mild, dry weather, a decent pair of polyester joggers is completely fine and a lot cheaper than dedicated hiking pants.

Will sweatpants protect me from ticks?

Better than shorts, but not as well as tight-woven hiking pants or a full gaiter setup. If you're in a known tick area, tuck your sweatpant cuffs into your socks and do a full tick check at the end of the hike.

What about hiking in sweatpants in the rain?

Only if they're polyester or nylon and you have a rain shell handy. Cotton sweats in the rain is the fastest way to end up cold, heavy, and miserable — and in cool conditions that's genuinely dangerous, not just uncomfortable.

Conclusion

Hiking in sweatpants can be fine depending on the type of hike you are doing. As long as you stay dry and aren't doing any technical or overnight hikes, you should be fine.