I bought these pants in April last year. Paid $110. Wrote it down in my notebook that same night. The ink smudged because my hands were wet from doing dishes. I remember being annoyed about that.
A year later, the smudge is still there. So are the pants.
I wear them a lot. Maybe twice a week in winter. Less in summer because LA gets too hot for fleece. But when it's cold enough, these are the ones I reach for. Not the Nike pair. Not the Uniqlo pair. These.
Here's why.
The fabric still feels good.
Not new-good. Broken-in good. The fleece has softened in a way that doesn't feel cheap. No pilling on the thighs. No weird thinning where my knees bend. I checked the inside seams last week — all holding up except one loose thread near the right cuff. I haven't fixed it. Probably should.
For comparison, I have a pair of Nike Tech Fleece joggers that started pilling after four months. Those cost $120. These Essentials are holding up better. That's not nothing.
The fit changed, but not in a bad way.
When I first got them, they were boxy. Almost too wide in the leg. I almost returned them. Sophie said they made me look "like a kid wearing his dad's pants." She wasn't wrong.
After a year and maybe 25 washes, they've relaxed. The width stayed the same but the fabric drapes better now. Less stiff. More of a straight-leg look than a wide-leg look. I roll the waistband once to keep them sitting right on my sneakers. That helps.
I'm 5'9, 165 pounds. Size small. Still fits.
The waistband stretches. A lot.
This is the problem.
After a full day of wear, the waistband loosens by maybe an inch. Not enough to fall down. Just enough that I have to pull them up when I stand up from the couch. Annoying but not a dealbreaker.
After washing, they tighten back up. So it's a cycle. Tight on Monday, loose by Wednesday, wash on Thursday, repeat.
I asked a brand rep about this last fall. He said it's "by design for comfort." I think that's just what they say when they don't want to fix something. But whatever. I've lived with it for a year. I'll live with it for another.
The red candle thing.
Two months ago, Sophie lit one of those expensive candles she gets from the farmers market. She left it on the coffee table. I sat down without looking. My left thigh hit the candle. Hot wax dripped onto the pants.
I said a word I won't write here.
The wax came out after two washes. No stain. No damage to the fleece. I was honestly surprised. Most other sweatpants would have a scar there forever.
Would I buy them again?
Yeah. Probably.
But not for full price. I'd wait for a sale or grab them from a restock at $90 or less. $110 is fair for the quality. $130 is too much. That's just hype pricing.
If you want a pair that fits the same but costs less, try the Uniqlo U wide sweatpants. They're $50. The fabric isn't as nice — thinner, less structured — but the cut is similar. I own both. I wear the Uniqlo ones when I know I might spill something. I wear the Fear of God ones when I want to feel like I made a good decision.
One thing I still don't know: how long the elastic in the cuffs will last. It's still tight after a year. But year two? Year three? I'll let you know.
Assuming I don't lose them first. Or set them on fire.
Sophie just bought a new candle. Lavender this time. I'm keeping it on the kitchen counter. Far away from my pants.
