The Best Pajamas for Men for Gifting This Holiday Season and Beyond

It’s come to our attention that even guys who don’t give much thought to their daily wardrobe are highly opinionated about their jammies. Yes, grown men can be reduced to stubborn grade-school boys who turn up their nose at that cool new pair of PJs you’ve just gifted them. However, there’s a wide world of pajamas out there to choose from and odds are, the guy in question hasn’t scoped out all the options, including improved breathability, increased comfort, luxe material and all kinds of new lengths and designs. So we’re here to help you choose a new pair of pajamas to make every guy’s sleep experience better. We’ve found the best pajamas for men: the best overall, most comfortable, best flannel pajamas and more options to make gifting a snap. (Hint: You pretty much can’t go wrong with J, Crew Cotton Poplin Pajamas ($98; $60), which we determined to be solidly the best overall in terms of quality fabric, comfortable fit and classic styling)

A word about successfully gifting PJs: We suggest starting by sleuthing (or sometimes straight up asking about) your giftee’s current sleepwear and even sheets preferences, then gifting him something in that that style or fabric, only better. For example, if he’s a boxer shorts-and-old-T-shirt combo guy, gift him a matching shorts set that doesn’t have a collar or a full pant leg. If he’s always stealing the covers, maybe upgrade his button-front cotton jammies to a pair of Brooks Brothers flannel pajamas ($118; $83) that will keep him toasty without sleeping under all the covers. And if he loves crisp sheets, gift him a pair of Lake Pajamas Pima cotton pants ($86) with an almost satiny, non-stretch softness.

We took an informal poll of our nearest and dearest men’s preferences. Next we vetted pairs in a range of materials from silks to synthetics, according to reviewers. We looked at elements of durability, washability and noted which pairs had favorable return policies. And we really looked for what’s most comfortable, because all it takes is one poking tag or too-tight design to add to insomnia instead of sweet dreams.  We were sure to include all the most popular styles including classic button-front PJs, T-shirt styles, shorts and even matching dad-child sets. And we assessed the collections from classic sources including L.L.Bean and Nordstrom as well as newer brands including Lake Pajamas and Eberjey.

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• Material: Popular materials include cotton, silk, viscose derived from bamboo, wool, polyester and various percentages of stretchy man-made fibers such as elastane. Conventional wisdom states that natural fibers are preferable to synthetics, however new technical fabrics such as the wool-eucalyptus-fiber-elastane blend from Dagsmejan are engineered to maximize comfort and wick moisture (yes, sweating while you sleep is a thing).

• Breathability: Gastroesophogeal reflux, anxiety  and a host of other health issues can cause night sweats, in which case you’ll want a breathable fiber like a light cotton that’s going to allow air flow or a thermoregulating fabric such as natural silk that has thermoregulating properties.
• Stretchiness: A matter of personal choice, the stretchy/non-knit divide pits guys who like the cuddly softness of fabrics with give against others who prefer a lightweight fabric feel.
• Waistband: Elastic waistbands, drawstring closures or combinations of the two are common designs. Again, this is up to the wearer’s personal preference.
• Warmth: Flannel pajamas are a wintertime classic for good reason—they have a brushed surface with fibers that form a slightly furry nap that helps to trap warmth. Too, lightweight wool is a popular winter weave that acts as an insulation layer, whether you’re wearing a heavy wool coat through the snow or a lightweight wool pajama across that chilly living room before the heat’s circulated through your home.

Machine-washable fabrics are key, as well as durable weaves that can withstand the rigors of frequent laundry as well as nighttime tossing and turning. Cotton is the age-old favorite, but increasingly, eco-conscious options like bamboo-derived viscose and Lyocell from eucalyptus are popular options. We recommend sticking to these natural fibers, including ever-warm wool and temperature-regulating silk, except when synthetics are used to enhance performance.

Washable silk is prized for its ability to even out sleeping body temperatures, as are tech fabrics that thermoregulate.