Healthy Fit Care:

For three months, I sported 15 pairs of Leggings around the city. Some tagged along to my favorite yoga studios for power vinyasa and heated hatha flows. Others were sidekicks for a bit more heavy weightlifting, running and hiking through my favorite local parks, traveling across the country, yoga teacher training, and nibbles at my favorite local eateries. Suffice it to say, I used the past several months to find out just how compatible each pair was with my wildly unpredictable lifestyle.

The Ultimate Legging Test

As a retired lululemon educator, avid fitness enthusiast, yoga teacher, and certified personal trainer, I’ve been in the Legging game for a while. Leggings are the one constant in my ever-changing wardrobe, and finding dependable, quality options that accommodate my many endeavors has become a bit of a specialty. Through this project, I get to share this niche with you—my fellow women pursuing the perfect pair of black stretchy pants to support you as you conquer your next sweat sesh, athleisure adventure, and whatever else your day has in store.

Criteria to Consider When Shopping for the Best Workout Leggings

Material

You may have noticed the exceedingly wide range of activities listed above. Well, for each one, there’s an ideal legging Material. Unfortunately, the best leggings for a slow yoga flow won’t typically be conducive to your weekend WODs at your favorite CrossFit box. While some materials tend to feel like a traditional legging, boasting that familiar cottony-soft feel, others have a notably sleeker finish. With this, we tend to see a shift from matte, brushed fabric to a silky, cool weave.

These differences reflect a number of factors that are important to consider. Moisture-wicking properties, for example, are highly variable and tend to be most effective in workout leggings that have a silkier finish. This technology will help the leggings remain dry during circumstances that are sure to create quite a bit of sweat. Bikram, anyone?

Four-way stretch is another characteristic that I took into consideration while evaluating each of the leggings I tested. This is present when a legging can easily stretch in both directions: crosswise and lengthwise. Many leggings with spandex blends offer this feature, and let me tell you, it’s a must!

The wash and care instructions are yet another detail worth considering. Some workout leggings require a bit more love and patience than others. While this may not be a deal breaker, it’s nonetheless worth considering prior to making a purchase.

Clinginess is a major factor as well! Have you ever had a pair of leggings that always looked as if it had picked up every fleck of lint or dog hair within in a 10-foot radius? Certain materials tend to latch onto particles more than others, and more often than not, these are the same cottony soft fabrics we love lounging around the house in. Others, though, are seemingly repellent and can make a great pick for travel days and pup walking.

Last but certainly not least, the sheerness of material can often be the deciding factor when it comes to purchasing a new pair of workout leggings. Whether you’re hanging out in downward dog, whipping through a few snatches, or chasing your precious toddler around the kitchen, the material of a legging determines whether or not you’ll be bending over without hesitation. Some fabrics, quite embarrassingly, fall short.

Rise

Where should the waistband of your leggings fit? Well, truth be told, it’s up to you and your personal preference! Of course, many women love their low-rise pairs, but it seems the majority of companies are gravitating toward designing workout leggings that boast high-rise waistlines.

Is this high-waist fit better? Not necessarily, but they certainly leave you feeling far more hugged and supported. There’s also the undeniable fact that high-rise waistbands create the illusion of an hourglass figure for even those with square torsos—myself included.

Note that within the realm of the high rise, there are still variations. High-rise for one brand may mean two inches below the belly button, while other brands’ high-rise leggings reach up toward the sternum, resulting in a dramatically different look and feel.

Length

Leggings offer just as many options for length as they do for rise! There are pairs that sit around the ankles, others that fit snug around the lower calf, and still more that land either right above or just below the knee. I’ll be referring to these as full-length, ⅞ length, and capri throughout my reviews. Preferences for each of these will depend largely on an individual’s height. As a petite woman, my personal collection features many of my go-to ⅞ length leggings.

Full-length leggings often have extra fabric that gathers around the ankles of shorter gals, which certainly isn’t always an issue! With that said, this may not be conducive to activities like high-intensity spinning. Capris are an obvious fix to this, with a much shorter length that’s perfect for sweaty pursuits that call for a bit more breathability. Not all of us enjoy this “half-pant” look though, and if that’s the case for you, the ⅞ length will help you inhabit the middle ground with enviable style.

Paneling

Ah, the perks of mesh detailing. Aside from the aesthetic advantages we’ve all seen and loved, mesh paneling also offers a degree of technicality to a pair of leggings. In many cases, companies include this feature to improve the breathability of the pant. Of course, some workout leggings offer far more assistance in this department than others.

When meshing is present in a pair of leggings, it’s important to understand how this could potentially affect their fit, stretch, and comfort. Various brands have mastered high-quality flexibility, but others manufacture leggings that are far more likely to snap at the seams around less expertly-executed mesh paneling when they’re pulled up the body.

With aesthetics in mind, let’s also remember that meshing is hella cute in the gym but not always ideal for everyday wear. If you’re a feisty mama who loves the look of skin shining through those peek-a-boos, don’t let me stop you! Many of us, though, prefer a solid fabric look for our athleisure pursuits and lounging around the house. Ultimately, the look and feel of mesh paneling is something to keep in mind as you consider what you can comfortably wear your leggings with and where you want to sport them.

Pockets

Side pockets, waistband pockets, zippered pockets—all the pockets. Given our countless gadgets, many brands are creating leggings that offer several different ways to carry our necessities. Side pockets are particularly effective for stashing phones during workouts or errand runs, while waistband pockets are better suited for cash, IDs, cards, and loose keys.

Zippered pockets can be used in a similar fashion but with an added security measure to ensure your valuables won’t slip or fall out during any intense movement. (Because no one wants to replace an iPhone screen, am I right?) If you like keeping your items on your body (literally), this is one feature that you won’t want to dismiss.

Everyday Wear

With each of these characteristics carefully considered, there’s still one more important feature to add to the list. Despite the hundreds of leggings gracing the market, not all conform well to daily wear. Details like the fabric quality, waistband rise, length, paneling, and pockets can all affect how well a legging fits into your wardrobe, weekly routines, and travels.

If you’re a woman who’s constantly on the go, this is an important criterion to keep in mind. On days you find yourself rushing from the yoga studio to lunch with your girlfriends, a dependable pair of leggings that goes just as well with your favorite sporty crop as it does a cozy button-down is simply non-negotiable. If this scenario sounds all too familiar, it’s easy to see why the level of comfort and the overall look of the pant are also worth considering!

Best Leggings for Yoga

Requiring greater flexibility than any other style of workout tight, the right pair of yoga leggings must blend comfortable fabric with a reliable, solid finish. In my frequently changing world, they also need to support me in each of my yogi pursuits: from the slowest yin flows to the most upbeat power vinyasas (and everything in between)!

Winner: Athleta Meshblock Pocket Salutation Tight

These leggings offer a goddess warrior squat-proof, naked-feeling fit and super-cute aesthetics. Merging heavenly soft material with side pockets and mesh cutouts for both functionality and style, these leggings are the ultimate game changer.

Material: You’re sure to notice this feature as soon as you slide this legging on, but the Salutation Tight is made with highly breathable material. This airy, thin fabric wicked away the possibility of any lingering sweat during class. The all-too-common dilemma of visible sweat spots? Not an issue with this legging. The overall fit is remarkably comfortable: I did not experience any chafing or excessive compression along the seams of these yoga pants. After taking them off, there wasn’t a single hint of residual indentation down my legs.

Athleta’s mesh is far more flexible than what you’ll find in many other pairs. In fact, it moves with the legging during the wildest yoga sequences. The matte black material denied any possibility of sheerness. It held up throughout my widest prasarita padottanasana and wasn’t shiny in the least, which I loved.

Despite the clinginess that often accompanies luxuriously soft leggings, the Athleta Meshblock Pocket Salutation Tight was essentially anti-clinging and anti-pilling. No visible pup hair despite our tightest early morning snuggles. What’s more, according to Athleta’s website, the Salutation Tight can be machine washed and dried, which is a definite win for the modern yogi.

Rise: Thanks to a high-rise waistband that hits just below the belly button—and the already mentioned soft matte material—flowing through a vinyasa class in these yoga leggings combines comfort with undeniable style. The waistband lays flat and never gathered beneath my form-fitting lululemon Cool Racerback. Throughout each of my yoga classes, the high-rise waistband successfully resisted folding and bunching.

Length: The Meshblock Salutation Tight comes in regular, plus, petite, and tall sizes, meaning you can find the perfect length for your yoga flow. I wore the regular tight with a 26” inseam for reference.

Paneling: The strategically placed mesh blocks flatter a woman’s natural curves and contribute to breathability, making these great go-to leggings for hot and power yoga flows. With that said, be sure to remove them after heated classes. Although they are moisture-wicking, no one enjoys a clammy feeling after 90 minutes of perspiration.

Pockets: These yoga leggings feature a waistband pocket that’s useful for non-clunky items like cards, cash, or a loose key, although I wouldn’t recommend using it for any such items during a flow. A nagging poke into your abdomen isn’t necessarily conducive to a moving meditation. Walking into my local yoga studio, I was pleased to find that the side pockets easily accommodated my iPhone 6s during the quick commute.

Everyday Wear: Not only do these leggings afford you the opportunity to move through your day freely—you’ll also look good doing it! After my most zenned-out (non-heated) yoga flow, I threw on platform Vans and a boxy striped crop to give the femininity a bit more ’90s edge, then grabbed a casual dinner with my beau in the city.

Considerations: If you’re looking for cellulite-concealing compression, this won’t be your ideal pair of yoga pants. A thicker, slightly sleeker fabric would be your best alternative. As mentioned, the sweat I’d worked up during the 108-degree dates with my mat resulted in a noticeably moist feeling. I loved the comfort mid-class but made sure to change into my breezy romper before heading out to my favorite coffee shop. With that said, the general breathability isn’t quite enough for a quick transition from the studio to your next activity.

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Runner-Up: lululemon Align Pant

If you’re looking for a legging that boasts the same level of comfort, tummy-hugging waistband, and naked-feeling fabric without the mesh paneling, then the lululemon Align Pant is the perfect option. Made with a nearly identical material, the cut-outs are the only detail that distinguishes the winning Athleta Meshblock from this deserving runner-up.

The softness of the lululemon Align Pant is coupled with similar moisture-wicking properties, a small pocket in the waistband, and a variety of lengths to choose from depending on your stature. On days when I knew I’d be rushing from one activity to the next, this was the legging I reached for first! As cute as mesh can be, it isn’t always my desired look when running errands or headed to a mid-afternoon kombucha date.

Wanting more deets about this flattering legging? It’s my clear winner in another category, so read on as I’ll discuss the Align Pant in greater detail below.

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Best Leggings for Running

Unlike yoga leggings, running tights have yet another crucial dimension to consider: compression. The right pairs will often be designed with material that contributes to a sturdier sensation and boasts a sleek finish to minimize the possibility of pilling during the high-friction activity. Wearing various pairs from the city streets to hidden dirt trails and back for my gym’s newest Skillmill allowed me to test just how much these running leggings could withstand.

Winner: Athleta Up for Anything ⅞ Tight

Athleta struck gold when they perfected the balance between well-built compression and uncompromising comfort in this running legging. With the sought-after bells and whistles, including everything from a secure zippered pocket to reflective properties, these leggings seem to have it all. Of course, I put them through a battery of tests to see if these lived up to their hype—wearing them during a variety of sessions ranging from all-out sprints up the grassiest hills to low-intensity steady state walks after an hour of heavy training. This legging finished leaps and bounds ahead of the others.

Material: The material used for the Up for Anything running tight is the No. 1 reason for its greatness. I was impressed by how the silky material quickly dried my sweat without revealing panty lines. I’ll admit: As a woman who prefers to workout sans underwear (who needs that extra layer?!), I also appreciated how well this legging fit along the crotch during my most intense training sessions.

Although the material fits snug against the length of the pant (waistband included), it didn’t dig into my obliques or leave me unable to fully enjoy my post-run meals. These leggings provide phenomenal support and compression without preventing you from, you know, living.

Also worth noting, as light as these leggings felt during my toughest (and most humid) runs, they would still be thick enough to appease any woman hoping to hide her cellulite. Of course working up a sweat in your favorite running leggings means frequent laundering, and the cool, sleek material resists pilling after washing and wearing. There wasn’t a single sign of wear after this intensive three-month test. The cherry on top? These leggings repel even the finest dog hair, which means taking your excited pup along for a breezy jog through the park just got that much more enjoyable.

Rise: The flat waistband on these high-rise leggings fit my abdomen so well that any mid-run adjustment was altogether unnecessary. As mentioned, I felt supported and entirely comfortable.

Length: The ⅞ length of the Up for Anything Tight is ideal for women with a shorter stature and tailors perfectly to the calves. Because of this, there’s no need to fold the bottom of the pant or worry about excess fabric gathering around the ankles. This running tight comes in plus, petite, and tall sizes—making it a great option for the entire sisterhood of asphalt kickers.

For even more runner-friendly personalization (and safety!), the bottoms of these running leggings can be rolled up to reveal a clever added feature: reflective piping. This subtle and easily hidden detail makes the Up for Anything Tight ideal for any sunrise or sunset adventure.

Paneling: These leggings don’t feature mesh panels, but the curved stitching along the upper glutes certainly adds an element of feminine style. The breathable fabric design doesn’t require any additional venting as it prevents overheating on even the warmest summer days.

Pockets: These Athleta running leggings give you the option of keeping a smartphone secure against your thigh (and unaffected by any inevitable jostling) thanks to the included zipper pocket.

Everyday Wear: Slim-fitting and tailored along my entire leg, I was confident sporting these leggings both during my runs and meetings with potential clients. How often can we say that? Chic athleisure? YES.

Considerations: It’s difficult to find anything negative to say about these running tights. While it may be a bit nit-picky, the one area for improvement has to do with the side pockets. The slightly bulky appearance could easily be eliminated by cutting down the amount of material used, but all in all, these running tights are as close to perfect as you can get!

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Runner-Up: Core 10 Run High Waist ⅞ Crop Legging

For a budget-friendly option, the Core 10 Run High Waist Crop is a wonderful alternative. The silky material is similarly resistant to pilling and clinging while also providing the moisture-wicking properties we all rely on during our running endeavors.

This crop fits shorter in length than Athleta’s Up for Anything Tight, with laser-detailed mesh cutouts along the calf. Both details support noteworthy breathability, and the paneling gives an enviable aesthetic appeal. Although not as supportive as the aforementioned winner, the Core 10 Crop does offer a drawstring in the high-rise waist to ensure that waistband wiggling is kept to a tolerable minimum.

The overall quality and compression may not be entirely comparable to Athleta’s line, but this is another running legging that I still genuinely enjoy wearing—intensive research aside.

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Best Gym Leggings

What makes a legging perfect for the gym? Simple: material that’s thick enough to provide reliable compression without tiptoeing into suffocation territory, squat-proof four-way stretch, and ample moisture-wicking properties. With my tendency to spontaneously throw CrossFit WODs, Olympic Weightlifting, and HIIT conditioning circuits into my usual bodybuilding training, the right gym legging has to move from one task to another without a single hitch to earn a space in my closet.

Winner: lululemon Speed Up Tight

lululemon triumphed over my sweaty battery of tests with the Speed Up Tight. By the end of these legging-filled months, this was the one pair of leggings I habitually reached for before booking it across town to my favorite CrossFit box. Their consistent responsiveness during wildly unnatural movements (hang snatches, anyone?) and high-quality construction pushed them far ahead of the rest of the pack.

Material: The thick, sleek fabric used for these lululemon tights was particularly remarkable, and no, I’m not exaggerating. The four-way stretch supported me through every direction of lunging, jerking, and pulling, while the sweat-wicking properties kept me feeling comfortably dry.

Due to their silky finish, the material prevented any chafing along the inner seams or snagging during my fastest intervals on the assault bike and prevented fuzz harboring, too. As long as the Speed Up Tight is laundered properly (meaning wash on cold with like items and air dry), they’re also fairly anti-pilling—performing for a notably long period of time before showing obvious signs of wear.

As compressive as compression could ever be, this lululemon l