Best Pants for Lifting: What to Look For
Lifting asks more of your pants than almost anything else in the gym. Deep squats, hip hinges and lunges stretch fabric through the hips, seat and knees, and the wrong pair either pulls tight, slides down or gets in the way of the bar. Here is what to look for.
1. Four-way stretch
This is the big one. Four-way stretch fabric gives both across and along the fabric, so it moves with you through a deep squat instead of pulling back at the hips and knees. Look for spandex or elastane in the blend. For a quick way to test stretch, see what to look for in training joggers.
2. Room through the hips and seat
Lifting pants need space where you bend the most. If the fabric pulls tight across your seat or thighs at the bottom of a squat, the cut is too slim or the fabric does not stretch enough. Do a deep squat in the fitting room or at home before you commit. For more fit checks, see how gym clothes should fit.
3. A tapered leg
Wide, loose legs can catch on the bar during deadlifts and bunch over your shoes. A tapered leg stays clear of the bar path and your feet, and lets you see your ankle and knee position in the mirror.
4. A waistband that stays put
Your waistband should hold its position through squats, hinges and hip thrusts without digging in or sliding down. A drawstring helps you dial in the fit. If you wear a lifting belt, a flat waistband and a flat drawstring sit more comfortably underneath it than thick, bulky ones.
5. Fabric that handles sweat
Cotton fleece gets heavy and slow to dry when you sweat. Performance synthetics like nylon and polyester absorb very little water and dry faster. For the full comparison, see polyester vs. nylon vs. cotton for workouts and joggers vs. sweatpants.
6. Secure pockets
Open pockets dump your phone and keys on the floor the moment you lie down on a bench. Zip side pockets keep them in place between sets.
What to avoid
- Stiff jeans or chinos: little stretch, so they fight you at the bottom of a squat.
- Heavy cotton sweatpants: comfortable, but they soak up sweat and get baggy.
- Wide, loose legs: they catch on the bar and hide your form.
How the KYNOS FlexStride Jogger stacks up
The KYNOS FlexStride Jogger checks these boxes:
- Fabric: 80% nylon, 20% spandex, four-way stretch
- Weight: 180 GSM
- Leg: tapered straight
- Waist: elastic with a flat drawstring
- Pockets: zip side pockets
- Colors: navy, black and olive
- Fit: true to size; the model is 6'0" and wears a medium
Pair them with the right top: see athletic fit vs. regular fit t-shirts and what to wear to the gym.
Browse the full men's joggers collection.