Fleece Joggers vs Sweatpants: Which Should Your Shop Sell?

March 10, 2026 5 min read By Cameron Wells

Quick Answer

Joggers have a cuffed, elastic ankle. Sweatpants can be cuffed or open at the bottom hem.
The catalog carries both styles: cuffed joggers from Cotton Heritage and Independent Trading Co., and open or cuffed sweatpants from Jerzees.
Joggers tend to photograph and sell better for a fitted, athleisure look. Open-bottom sweatpants read more classic and relaxed.
Most shops do fine starting with one style and adding the second once demand shows up.

Table of Contents

The fit difference
What the catalog carries
Which sells better
Which to list first
Frequently Asked Questions

Customers use "fleece joggers" and "fleece sweatpants" almost interchangeably in search, but the two do describe slightly different garments, and a shop deciding what to list benefits from knowing the difference before choosing. Here is the fit distinction, what is actually in the Bear Grips catalog, and how to decide which to sell first.

The Actual Fit Difference

A jogger has an elastic, cuffed ankle that pulls the fabric in at the hem, giving a tapered, athletic silhouette. A sweatpant, in the classic sense, can have either a cuffed ankle or an open, uncuffed hem that hangs straight down. In everyday search and casual use, the two terms overlap heavily, and many shoppers use "fleece sweatpants" to mean any fleece bottom regardless of hem style.

What the Bear Grips Catalog Carries

Style	Brand	Hem	VIP base
Unisex Premium Fleece Jogger	Cotton Heritage	Cuffed	$48.88
Men's Midweight Performance Joggers	Independent Trading Co.	Cuffed	$40.88
Men's Pocket Sweatpants	Jerzees	Open bottom, with pockets	$40.88
Men's Open Bottom Sweatpants	Jerzees	Open bottom	$40.88
Women's Wave Wash Sweatpants	Independent Trading Co.	Check product page	$39.88

The two Jerzees styles cover the classic open-bottom look, while Cotton Heritage and Independent Trading Co. cover the cuffed jogger silhouette. For the Jerzees-specific version of this comparison, see open bottom sweatpants vs joggers.

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Which One Actually Sells Better

Joggers tend to photograph better on a model and read as more current athleisure, which helps in shop photos and social posts.
Open-bottom sweatpants read as a classic, no-frills piece, appealing to customers who want a straightforward loungewear staple without a fitted ankle.
Neither is objectively better. A gym or studio audience skewing younger or fashion-forward tends to favor joggers. A broader, more general audience often does fine with either.

Which to List First

If choosing only one bottoms style to start, the Cotton Heritage Unisex Premium Fleece Jogger is the simplest single pick since it is unisex, meaning one size chart and one listing covers the widest range of customers. Add a gendered Jerzees or Independent Trading Co. option once demand justifies a second bottoms SKU. See the full lineup for every option side by side.

List Your Fleece Bottoms

Joggers or sweatpants, cuffed or open, five styles to choose from. Open your shop and pick your first bottoms listing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a real difference between fleece joggers and fleece sweatpants?

Joggers have a cuffed, elastic ankle. Classic sweatpants can be cuffed or open at the hem. In everyday use the terms overlap heavily.

Does the Bear Grips catalog carry both styles?

Yes. Cotton Heritage and Independent Trading Co. carry the cuffed jogger silhouette, and Jerzees carries open-bottom sweatpants.

Which style should a new shop list first?

The Cotton Heritage Unisex Premium Fleece Jogger is the simplest starting point since it is unisex and covers the widest customer range with one listing.

Do joggers cost more than sweatpants?

The Cotton Heritage jogger is the most expensive bottoms style in the catalog at $48.88 VIP base. The other jogger and sweatpant styles are all within a dollar of each other at $39.88 to $40.88.

Cameron WellsCustom Apparel and POD Industry Writer

Cameron has been writing about the custom apparel and print on demand industry for seven years, with a background in e-commerce operations. He covers platform comparisons, no-minimum vendors, and what is changing for small custom merch businesses.