Warm, soft pants for indoors and out

November 8, 2022 6:15 PM

I need pants that are soft enough for yoga/exercise, but keep me warm and stop the winter wind while I walk the dog.

I walk the dog at 6:10AM, then want to come home and do some stretching/yoga/whatever indoors -- without having to change pants. I am a guy, 6'1" and 190#.

It's cold in the New England winter, so I need something that blocks the wind and the chill.

I already have a pair of REI Co-op Hyperaxis Fleece Pants, which are made with "Polartec Power Stretch Pro" that is super soft and stretchy.

Can I do better, or are these about as good as I can expect for warm+soft+windproof?

posted by wenestvedt to Shopping (6 answers total)

This isn't what you asked for, but this product changed my life so much last winter specifically on the change-pants-to-walk-dogs front that I have to share.

Get a NorSari wearable blanket!!!

I got one of the three bear rated ones and it is SO warm and SO nice. I just velcro it on over whatever normal clothes I've chosen to wear that day and am immediately transformed into a being impervious to winter. Does it look kind of dumb? Yeah. We all look like idiots in the winter, cold is a great equalizer, it's fine. Happy to be warm and dumb looking, thanks.

When I say this changed my life I am not exaggerating at all. It's easier to put on than my coat, and I don't have to plan my clothes around my dog walks. I hemmed and hawed about spending 150 bucks (!!!) on a stupid velcro blanket, but it honestly just WORKS and is perfectly built for its use case. 10/10 I've already brought it out and staged it by the door in anticipation of the first temperature dip.

(The pocket is also just the right size for a kindle, a small flashlight for finding poops in the dark, and a roll of bags!)
posted by phunniemee at 6:53 PM on November 8, 2022 [21 favorites]

I just got a pair of these Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger pants. Very comfy, warm, stretchy. I haven't worn them in cold windy weather yet, but I anticipate walking the dog in temps in the 30s and 40s with them (not close to NE winters, I know). Check out some of their other pants, too. Upping the ante to some other lined hiking pants might be an option, but as for using them for yoga... I'm not sure.
posted by Snowishberlin at 6:51 AM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]

How do you feel about tights? Men’s winter running tights (many of which are wind or water resistant) might be an option, or fleece lined leggings for men.
posted by MadamM at 8:53 AM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]

Ah, you want Uniqlo Heat tech leggings. They come in tall sizes, and there's an extra warm style now as well. They block wind but are breathable. Per their sizing calculator, you'd probably want an XL.

If it's really cold, I sometimes wear two pairs, but that's like, Canadian winter level warm.
posted by ananci at 1:48 PM on November 9, 2022 [3 favorites]

Get a pair of wind pants, typically tightly woven nylon or other synthetic, pull them on over fleece pants when it's windy and/or cold. I layer rain shell over a fleece jacket and it's quite effective.
posted by theora55 at 3:01 PM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Update: it was 30 this morning and 26 two days ago. I wore the REI pants for my dawn walks and was quite comfortable both days (two 1-mile loops, about 35 minutes each day). Then I went downstairs and did about ten minutes of easy yoga -- shut up, I just had my appendix out -- and the pants were perfect for that, nice and stretchy.

In short, the pants I met along the way are my true friends. They cost way more than I otherwise would spend on sweatpants, but I had a gift card.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:40 PM on November 10, 2022 [1 favorite]