Most cotton joggers feel fine in a photograph and disappointing the moment you actually put them on. The fabric is either too thin and shapeless, or too stiff and plasticky, and within a week they’ve pilled at the thighs and lost whatever structure they had. We’ve worn enough poor ones to know that the category deserves more credit than it usually gets, and that the good ones really do exist.

What separates a jogger worth keeping from one that ends up at the back of a drawer is the weight and finish of the cotton. You want something with enough body to hold a clean line at the ankle but soft enough that wearing it all day doesn’t feel like a compromise. The waistband should sit properly without rolling. The fit should look considered, not accidental.

These are the ones that feel as good as they look. That matters more than the price tag, and it shows.