There is a reason this colour in this particular garment has become something of a cultural shorthand. Grey sweatpants done well are one of the few things in a man’s wardrobe that manage to feel completely relaxed without looking like you’ve stopped caring. Done badly, they just look like you’ve stopped caring. The difference is in the weight of the fabric, the cut through the seat and thigh, and whether the waistband holds its shape after twenty washes or starts to fray and sag. We’ve been looking specifically at pairs that work as hard off the sofa as on it, the kind you can wear to the shop, to a weekend morning with friends, or simply around the house without that nagging feeling that you should have made more effort. These are the ones we actually reach for when the others are clean too. Grey sweatpants with nothing to be embarrassed about.