If you’re a parent, right now you’re in the thick of what I have now dubbed the “spring sprint” of end-of-school activities, field trips (why do they schedule them all for the end of the year??), and of course, spring sports.
Last night alone, my five children somehow managed to have seven different events, all in opposing directions and nearly at the same times, of course, leading me to coordinate what felt like NASA-level organization to get everyone where they needed to go.
Many of us parents are just trying to make it through at this point, so with endless games and practices and trying to fit in my actual job in somewhere, I don’t have a lot of time to think about what I want to wear while running around town.
My workout leggings don’t quite cut it in public, it’s not always warm enough for shorts, and I want to be comfortable, so I tried something new: jogger-style women’s sweatpants.
To me, jogger sweatpants hit all the boxes: I can pair them with a T-shirt and go to the soccer fields, fit in a walk if I missed my workout for the day, and still wear them to the grocery store to buy something for dinner. They look put together enough to pair with a jacket and sneakers, while still basically feeling like pajamas.
FullSoft Women's Sweatpants, 3-Pack
$30
from
I went with this three-pack of women’s sweatpants from Amazon because I liked the variety of colors and because I’m the mom of two teen daughters, so the majority of my comfy clothes are immediately swiped. I chose the full-length sweatpants, but there are also cropped capri options and solid black or gray colors if that’s your preference.
The color options are lightweight, not fleece-lined, which I wanted for spring and summer evenings and mornings at the soccer and ball fields. If you’re a sports parent, you know the mornings start out chilly, but come lunchtime, the sweat is real. Having full-length sweatpants gives me coverage but also lets me stay cool when needed.
“They’re more on the airy side and feel like polyester, so they’re great if you don’t want to be too warm,” one shopper described on Amazon. “They aren’t see-through and the colors are pretty. Overall, they’re a good choice for lounging or casual wear, just keep in mind they’re not super thick. If you’re looking for lightweight sweatpants, these are a great option.”
The sweatpants come in sizes XS to XXL, and although I normally have to order petite or short sizes because of my short stature, the sweatpants fit fine on me lengthwise. They have an elastic waistband, so they’re very adjustable. My favorite feature? Full pockets on both sides. My workout leggings could never, honestly.
Women's Sweatpants 3-Pack, FullSoft
An important feature to point out about these sweatpants is that even though the three-pack costs about $30, that boils down to only $10 per pair of joggers, which is a great deal. The pants have a 4.4-star rating on Amazon, but the ratings incorporate all versions of the sweatpants, including the fleece and capri versions, so keep that in mind when evaluating them.
As a mom constantly running kids everywhere and spending a lot of time on the sidelines watching my kids play sports, I’ve found swapping to women’s sweatpants to be a much more functional choice. As I already mentioned, the roomy pockets allow me to pack in a lot more – just last night, I had my phone, keys, snacks, sunglasses, chapstick, and for some reason, a spare sock. I definitely could not fit all that in my leggings.
And not to be that mom, but sweatpants also solve the ever-present problem with leggings wearing: to underwear or not to underwear. IYKYK. I make no judgment, but let me just point out that there are no issues with panty lines if you’re not wearing skin-tight leggings, you know?
The fit is also ideal if you’re a mom with a bit of birthing evidence left over in the tummy region. The sweatpants are high-waisted, with plenty of room to spare, so I feel like they are generous if you don’t want to wear anything too tight, and they can be pulled over a tucked-in shirt, too.
Overall, I’ve been really happy with these sweatpants as a swap for my leggings during these busy spring months. I haven’t actually worn the gray pair yet, but the black and pink are new staples in my wardrobe to go from working to soccer practice to, well, laundry. Motherhood, am I right?
“The waist height is perfect for me, because I like to wear my pants a little higher to hold everything together haha,” wrote a fellow shopper who agreed with me. “Overall 10/10! I will be buying more immediately.”
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