5 Best Vuori Pants for Men: Tested and Reviewed

My pants game has suffered for a long time.

I’m admittedly picky when it comes to finding just the right fit for a pair of jeans, but finding quality denim that isn’t sabotaged with stretch fabric is near impossible these days. 

After buying and returning enough pairs of pants to make my wife question my sanity, I started to think that maybe I was after the wrong thing.

Maybe, instead of looking for stiff fabrics that are almost guaranteed to not check my rigorous list of “how pants should fit” boxes, I should go with the times and try out some modern, performance fabrics.

I remembered seeing ads for a brand called Vuori with pants that blurred the line between what you can wear to the gym and the office, so I figured that was a good place to start.

Did I expect Vuori to have so many pant options that I could wear a different one every day for a month?

Nope, sure didn’t.

But I went ahead and bought five different pairs to compare them side-by-side, so you can find which Vuori pants are best for you.

My Recommendations

Best All-Rounder: Meta 5-Pocket Pant

The Meta Pant is Vuori’s flagship, everyday pant. It’s a spin on traditional five-pocket pants in the sense that it keeps the same profile but uses technical, anti-odor, stretch fabric. 

I frequently wear these pants to work and choose them for happy hour, running errands, traveling, or hitting the golf course. 

The main differentiator between the Meta Pant and any other regular pair of pants is their proprietary VersaLife midweight fabric. This fabric is made from 100% polyester, bringing four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry properties to the table. 

I’ve been in too many travel situations where I’ve nearly missed a train that would have caused me to miss my flight home, and let me tell you, having pants that breathe well and wick moisture is a game-changer. 

Another modern update over traditional pants is a hidden, zippered pocket, which keeps your valuables secure in everyday life, especially while traveling and in crowded areas.

Most of Vuori’s pants have fixed lengths and come in Small, Medium, Large, etc. sizing, but the Meta Pants have waist options from 28”-38” and inseam lengths from 30”-34”, which is great for my extensive lower half. 

Best of all, you can choose between nine different colors, which made it a lot easier for me to justify buying multiple pairs.

Best Casual Pick: Optimist Pant

I’m a sucker for a good pair of corduroys and the Optimist Pant just made my affliction worse. 

These two-way stretch cotton corduroys bring serious comfort and softness, largely due to an enzyme wash of the fabric.

I’m not typically a fan of drawcord, elastic waistbands on my pants but the Optimist Pants are actively changing my mind. This style of waistband ensures a comfy, snug fit that you don’t have to suck in your stomach to get into, and they feel like a good pair of sweats while commanding the casual style of corduroys. 

These are my go-to pants when it comes to watching the game with friends, running errands, walking the dog, traveling, or any other casual activity under the sun. 

They have a relaxed fit, which I found to err on the slim side, but I can only imagine them being too tight if you have legs like Tom Platz. 

I was wondering why Vuori named these the “Optimist,” but once I tried them on and noticed how good they made me feel, I had to admit I was feeling more optimistic about life. Funny how that works.

Best for the Gym: Fleet Pant

I’ve done a good bit of running in my day, but never with a good pair of running pants. When running in the colder months, I stick to shorts and resign myself to being miserable for a few minutes while my body heats up from the run.

That said, I was excited to see if Vuori’s Fleet Pants could keep me from freezing my ‘nads off without hindering my ability to run or do any type of dynamic movement. 

Spoiler: mission accomplished.

The Fleet Pants are made with a performance stretch knit that brings the right balance of warmth and breathability. Having an extra layer on my lower half made me notice the cold much less, but the pants also didn’t get stifling or hot on the back half of my run.

These pants have a modern cut that tapers down to the ankle, which leaves plenty of room for movement without being too baggy.

The Fleet Pants also have a zippered pocket, which I consider essential on any worthwhile pair of running pants or shorts. 

The interior is brushed to give it extra softness and comfort, and the 4-way stretch fabric that’s quick-drying and moisture-wicking works well in the gym to boot.

 I wore these on my most recent leg day and had no issues with the pants being restrictive on dynamic movements like squats, leg presses, leg extensions, hamstring curls, or Bulgarian split squats. 

That said, I don’t recommend barbell deadlifts in the Fleets, as the bar may scrape against the thin fabric over your shins and tear it.

Best for Travel: Ponto Performance Pant

Considering how much time I’ve spent on planes, you’d think I’d have my travel clothing figured out. 

What I wear on a plane isn’t always comfortable. My mentality has usually been to wear my bulky items so that I have more room in my suitcase or duffel, but that ends up with me wearing jeans, Doc Martens, and sweaters on the plane.

Not great for comfort, especially the jeans part. 

Given the buttery soft feel of the Ponto Performance Pants’ DreamKnit fabric, I decided to try them out on my next long car ride, and boy, did they make a difference. 

Besides the surprising comfort and softness, these pants also have tons of stretch and are warm enough for cooler conditions but breathable and moisture-wicking to keep you comfy when sprinting to catch your plane. 

I’m a big fan of the cut, which is relaxed with a slight taper towards the ankle that allows plenty of movement. 

Speaking of which, these aren’t called “Performance” pants for no reason. The stretchy fabric and moisture-wicking properties make these an excellent choice for the gym or any other physical activity. I just happen to prefer them for traveling overall.

Like you’ve probably come to expect from Vuori pants at this point, they also have a zippered pocket to keep valuables secure and flush against your body.

Best for Lounging: Coronado Pant

Lounging is serious business, and like any other serious task, it’s essential to dress appropriately. 

Just as Seal Team Six doesn’t hop into a Black Hawk wearing shorts and flip flops, it’s unwise to embark on a lounge sesh in rigid, tight pants.

That’s why Vuori’s Coronado Pants are my go-to choice for slow days at home. These modern sweats bring serious softness, comfort, and stretchiness to the table, or, more appropriately, your couch. 

Sweatpants are generally soft, but from the first moment I got my hands on these, I knew they were in a different realm altogether. 

Best of all, Vuori calls the Coronados “pants” for a reason, and designed them without the typical sweatpant or jogger profile so you can take the comfort to the streets without looking like a slob.

These really look like a pair of jeans or chinos, just made with stretchy DreamKnit fabric. Vuori even stitches in a fake fly at the front of the pants, with no utility besides making them look like normal pants.

How Do Vuori’s Pants Fit?

Vuori’s sizing is primarily done through waist measurement ranges comprising Small, Medium, Large, etc. Most of their pants come with a fixed inseam length that should be appropriate for the majority of guys unless you’re an NBA player.

I ordered true to size for my waist measurements, and the fit is great, but the pants are slightly tighter than I expected. Most have a modern, slim cut that rides close to the leg, so if you prefer your pants with a little more internal room, I’d recommend sizing up. The elastic waistbands should size down effectively.

For pants that allow you to choose waist and inseam lengths, like their Meta Pants, Vuori’s pants have a great fit on the whole. Still on the slim side, but the waist and length are spot on.

How to Wash Vuori Pants

As a rule of thumb, always wash your Vuori pants in cold water and with like colors. None of the fabrics are too delicate for machine washers and dryers, so there’s no need to hand-wash them, thankfully.

You can also tumble dry Vuori pants on a low heat setting, but remember to remove them from the washer and dryer promptly. Letting them sit in either machine for too long can damage the fabric.

Another rule of thumb: don’t iron any Vuori pants. All of their pants have at least some polyester content in the fabric, which doesn’t handle an iron’s direct heat well. That is, of course, unless you like melted pants.

The only point where washing your Vuori pants gets specific is with the Coronado Pant. The ultra-soft fabric of these pants does better in the wear and tear of a machine washer if you turn them inside out. 

If that’s a lot to remember, you can also just turn all these pants inside out before washing them to help them last as long as possible.

Also, it’s good practice to only wash your Vuori pants with other athleisure and performance wear garments. Heavy cotton articles like jeans can rough up the soft, polyester-based fabric and reduce its longevity.

In a similar vein, make sure every zipper on your Vuori pants is closed before starting a wash or dry cycle. The zippers can get stuck on other zippers, they can break, or they can tear fabrics that aren’t heavy-duty.

Which Is Right for You?

When it’s all said and done, if you’re looking for a great everyday pant that can be used at happy hours, in the office, or on your next trip, I recommend the Meta 5-Pocket Pant. They’re comfortable, stretchy, lightweight, breathable, and have a flattering, modern cut.

For more casual outings like running errands or strolling the beach, check out the Optimist Pant.

If you’re in the market for a new go-to pair of pants for the gym, running, or anything in between, I recommend the Fleet Pant.

When it comes to traveling and long hours of time stuck in a metal tube hurtling through the stratos or a metal box shredding the pavement, the Ponto Performance Pant will keep you comfy and temperature-regulated the whole time.

Just want to lounge at home in a soft pair of sweats? You don’t get cozier than the Coronado Pant, and these also don’t look bad outside the house, either, for whenever you’re forced to get off the couch.

So, which pair of Vuori pants are you choosing?

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