Tapered vs. Cuffed Joggers: Which Is Better for Men?
Joggers mostly come in two ankle styles: cuffed, with an elastic band at the bottom, or tapered with an open hem. It sounds like a small detail, but it changes how the pants look, fit and move. Here is how they compare.
What is the difference?
Cuffed joggers have a stretchy band at the ankle that gathers the fabric and holds it in place. Tapered joggers narrow gradually from the knee to the ankle and finish with a regular open hem, no band.
Cuffed joggers: pros and cons
Pros: the cuff keeps the hem up off the ground and out of the way, and the pants stay in place even if the length is not perfect for you. They have a casual, relaxed look.
Cons: the fabric can bunch up above the ankle, which looks more like loungewear. A tight cuff can also feel restrictive, and it can make legs look shorter.
Tapered joggers: pros and cons
Pros: a tapered leg follows your calf and finishes cleanly, without bunching. It looks sharper and works just as well outside the gym as in it. Without a band, nothing squeezes your ankle.
Cons: length matters more. If they are too long, the hem can stack up over your shoes, so check the fit.
Which is better for training?
Both can work. For lunges, squats and running, what matters most is stretch and a leg that is not so loose it flaps around. A tapered leg keeps fabric close without a band, which many guys find cleaner and more comfortable. For more, see the best pants for lifting and can you run in joggers.
Which looks better outside the gym?
This is where tapered joggers pull ahead. A clean hem over a pair of sneakers looks closer to a regular pair of pants, so you can wear them to grab coffee or run errands without looking like you just rolled out of bed. For outfit ideas, see how to style tapered joggers.
How to choose
- Choose cuffed if you want a relaxed, loungewear look or are between lengths and want the hem to stay up.
- Choose tapered if you want one pair that looks clean in the gym and out of it.
The KYNOS FlexStride Jogger
The FlexStride Jogger has a tapered straight leg that tracks the calf instead of pooling over the shoe, with no ankle cuff. It is made from 80% nylon, 20% spandex with four-way stretch, and has zip side pockets and a mid-rise elastic waistband with a flat drawstring. It comes in navy, black, and olive, sizes XS to 2XL, and fits true to size. If you are between sizes, size up.
For more, see joggers vs. sweatpants and what to look for in training joggers.
Browse the full men's joggers collection.