Hockey Joggers & Shorts: The Gameday Comfort Guide

The best gameday outfit isn't always the loudest one. Sometimes it's the one you can wear from the couch to the bar to the arena without changing — and hockey joggers and shorts have quietly become the most versatile piece of hockey apparel you can own.

This guide covers what to look for, how sublimation construction changes everything, and where to actually find joggers and shorts that represent your team in something other than a basic logo on a plain pair of sweats.

Why Hockey Fans Are Wearing Joggers

The jersey still owns game day. But joggers have carved out their own lane in hockey fan apparel — and it makes sense.

At home, they're comfortable. At a watch party, they read as clearly intentional hockey gear without being a full uniform. At the arena, they layer under a hoodie or sit easily under your seat. And for younger fans especially, the athletic cut fits the vibe better than the traditional fan tee-and-jeans combo.

Hockey shorts solve a different problem: they're made for warm environments. Summer watch parties, pregame tailgates, warm-weather arenas, and every informal hockey-related setting where a hoodie would be overkill.

What to Look for in Hockey Joggers

Construction: Sublimation vs. Printed Blanks

The biggest quality dividing line in hockey joggers is whether the design is sublimated or printed onto a generic blank.

Sublimated joggers have the team design woven into the fabric through heat transfer — the dye becomes part of the garment rather than sitting on top of it. The result: vibrant all-over designs that cover the full garment, including waistbands, side panels, and legs. Colors stay true after repeated washing because there's no surface print to crack or peel.

Printed blank joggers work differently. A plain jogger gets a logo or design screen-printed or heat-pressed onto it. These are common at big-box retailers. The design coverage is limited, the prints fade over time, and they look like what they are: an afterthought.

For the kind of bold, team-specific design that actually looks like it belongs to the sport, sublimation is the standard worth shopping for.

Material

Almost all sublimated hockey joggers are polyester or a polyester blend. This isn't a downgrade — it's the right call for this type of garment:

• Holds color permanently — Sublimation dye bonds with polyester fibers. Cotton can't hold the dye the same way.
• Lightweight and breathable — Better for active wear and warm arenas than heavy cotton sweats.
• Moisture-wicking — Draws sweat away from the body during high-energy environments.

If you want the heavy cotton sweatpants feel, a printed blank on a cotton jogger will get you there, but you'll sacrifice design quality. For all-over team designs, polyester sublimation is the right material.

Fit and Features

• Elastic waistband with drawstring — Standard and practical. Look for a wide elastic waistband for comfort during longer wear.
• Tapered leg vs. straight leg — Tapered reads more athletic and modern. Straight leg is more casual. Both work for gameday.
• Side pockets — Useful for phone, keys, tickets. Check that pockets are real, not decorative.
• Cuffed ankles — Help keep the fit clean, particularly with tapered cuts.

What to Look for in Hockey Shorts

Construction

Same principle as joggers: sublimated designs give you all-over coverage that printed blanks can't match. Hockey shorts in sublimation typically feature team colors and designs across the entire garment, making the design intentional rather than incidental.

Length

Hockey shorts run across a few standard lengths:

• 5-inch inseam — Athletic cut, runs short. More comfortable in warm weather.
• 7-inch inseam — Versatile middle ground. Works for most situations.
• 9-inch inseam — Longer cut, more casual. Better for fans who prefer less exposure.

Most hockey fan shorts land in the 5-to-7-inch range, reflecting the athletic aesthetic of the sport.

Material

Like joggers, quality hockey shorts use polyester for sublimation compatibility. Lightweight mesh options exist for maximum breathability — these are particularly useful for warm-weather events or fans who run warm.

Which Teams Are Available

Not every team gets equal representation in joggers and shorts. Here's the landscape:

NHL Teams

NHL team joggers and shorts are the easiest to find across most product types. All 32 active teams have some licensed merchandise available. Independent brands like BenchClearers carry sublimated options that go beyond the basic designs available at big-box retailers.

Shop NHL Joggers & Shorts →

AHL Teams

The American Hockey League has strong representation for fans who prefer minor league merchandise — particularly through independent licensed brands. AHL sublimated joggers and shorts are available for active clubs and many relocated or defunct franchises.

If your team is the AHL affiliate your whole family follows instead of (or alongside) the NHL parent club, you can find gear that looks as good as anything in the major league market.

Shop AHL Fan Gear →

Roller Hockey & Historical Leagues

Roller Hockey International (RHI) teams from the 1990s and early 2000s have a smaller but dedicated fan base — and licensed RHI merchandise, including sublimated joggers and shorts, is genuinely rare to find anywhere. For fans who remember teams like the New England Sting, Chicago Cheetahs, or Los Angeles Blades, the options for officially licensed gear are extremely limited.

We carry licensed RHI merchandise for several historical franchises — if you're looking for RHI gear, it's worth checking the full collection.

Browse All Licensed Hockey Apparel →

How to Style Hockey Joggers and Shorts

The watch party look: Hockey joggers paired with a matching team hoodie is the standard and it works — coordinated sublimated sets are the most visually striking option. If the hoodie and joggers share team colors, the full set reads as intentional fan gear.

The arena casual look: Shorts or joggers under a team tank top. Works for summer preseason games, warm arenas, or any game where the vibe is more casual than a winter playoff night.

The layered outdoor look: Joggers under a windbreaker when you're heading to an outdoor game or tailgate. The jogger design shows through until you zip up — and when you're settled in, you can layer as needed.

For more ideas on putting together a complete gameday look, see our What to Wear to a Hockey Game guide →.

Sizing and Fit Considerations

Sublimated athletic wear typically runs true to size for athletic builds. A few notes:

• If you're between sizes and tend to layer, size up — sublimated polyester doesn't stretch the same way cotton sweats do.
• Check the waistband style: drawstring + elastic gives more adjustability than elastic-only.
• Jogger lengths vary by brand. When in doubt, check the listed inseam measurement rather than just the size.

Where to Find Real Team Hockey Joggers and Shorts

The honest landscape:

Big-box retailers (Fanatics, Dick's): Mostly screen-printed logo on blank joggers. Fine for basic needs, not for bold design coverage. Limited to active teams with high commercial demand.

Team stores: Authentic merchandise, but limited to current-season products. Relocated teams, defunct teams, and AHL clubs are rarely covered.

Independent licensed brands: Best option for all-over sublimated designs, minor league coverage, and historical team merchandise. BenchClearers carries NHL, AHL, and RHI joggers and shorts in sublimation-quality designs.

For the widest selection of officially licensed hockey joggers and shorts in sublimation designs, browse the full collection →.

The Bottom Line

Hockey joggers and shorts earn their spot in any fan's rotation because they actually work across every gameday scenario. All-over sublimated designs are the dividing line between forgettable sportswear and gear worth owning — and the licensed options keep expanding beyond the obvious NHL teams.

Whether you're gearing up for game night at home, heading to the arena, or representing a minor league team that never gets the merch it deserves, there's a pair of hockey joggers or shorts that fits the moment.

Shop All Hockey Joggers & Shorts →

Also read: What to Wear to a Hockey Game (Men's & Women's Guide) → — The full gameday outfit guide for every type of fan. | Hockey Hoodies: The Complete Buying Guide → — Everything you need to know about finding the best team hoodie.