To not toot our personal horn, however we all know a factor or two about the perfect train leggings right here at SELF—the truth is, we acknowledge a choose few of them yearly throughout our Activewear Awards. Whereas it could sound dramatic, we expect a high-quality pair of leggings could make all of the distinction in how your day goes. (In case you’ve ever tried lifting weights or having fun with a vinyasa circulation whereas sporting leggings that slip down, pinch, or pull in all of the improper locations, you recognize this to be true.)
With that in thoughts, we curated an inventory of nice train leggings for all kinds of actions, chosen from tons of pairs we’ve examined and had advisable to us by consultants through the years.
Our prime picks
- Finest General: Athleta Salutation Stash Tight
- Finest Finances: Outdated Navy Excessive-Waisted PowerSoft Leggings
- Finest for Yoga: Lululemon Align Excessive-Rise Pant
- Finest for Working: Tracksmith NDO Tights
- Finest for Fitness center Exercises: Reebok Lux Excessive-Rise Leggings
- Finest for On a regular basis Put on: Spanx Booty Increase Energetic 7/8 Leggings
On this article
What to search for when searching for train leggings
In case you’re able to replace your leggings assortment, listed below are just a few ideas we suggest maintaining in thoughts as you store.
Excessive-impact actions, like working, and gentler actions, like stretching, name for various kinds of leggings. For the previous, it’s your decision a pair that’s thicker, extra compressive, and sweatproof. In the meantime, you’ll most likely desire softer, lighter-weight leggings for yoga, Pilates, and different lower-intensity exercises.
Leggings are available in a spread of lengths, from full-length (which means they go all the best way to the underside of your ankle) to 7/8 (which hit round or simply above the ankle) to capri (which normally cease on the center of your calf). When unsure, measure your inseam size—the gap out of your crotch to the spot in your leg or ankle the place you need the leggings to hit—and have your quantity helpful when you browse.
Any leggings ought to have quantity of spandex, Lycra, elastane, or different stretchy materials to make sure they match near your physique with out proscribing your motion. Past that, search for pairs made with moisture-wicking, breathable, squat-proof, further mushy, or cold-weather-ready supplies. As talked about above, your go-to exercises also can aid you decide which materials will work finest.
That is extra a private desire than the rest, however it’s nonetheless vital to test how excessive the waistband goes on a brand new pair of leggings, particularly if protection and assist are key for you. Yow will discover low-, medium-, and high-rise choices, however high-rise is the commonest.
Don’t neglect nice-to-have parts like a drawstring, well-placed pockets, and breathable mesh panels. Relying on what you want, these add-ons can flip a strong pair of leggings into an distinctive one.
FAQs about searching for train leggings
Ought to I measurement up or down in leggings?
In case you’re between sizes, it’s best to normally measurement down in leggings. Since they’re sometimes manufactured from stretchy materials, they need to broaden to fit your needs, they usually are inclined to get looser over time, so beginning with a tighter pair is normally higher. (In any case, leggings are supposed to be cosy—and also you don’t need them to be falling down as you’re employed out.) That being stated, when you’re contemplating an excellent compressive pair of leggings, you may wish to measurement up, because the cloth will match tighter and will really feel too restrictive in a smaller measurement.
Why do my leggings roll down on the waist?
Leggings which are too huge, have misplaced their elasticity, or are lower-rise could also be extra prone to roll down. So if this can be a widespread difficulty for you, search for kinds which are high-waisted, with a thick, compressive waistband and a drawstring.
However, generally super-high-waisted kinds can roll down to satisfy the indent of your pure waist. Ideally, the highest of your leggings’ waistband will hit you proper at your pure waist or solely barely above. While you strive them on, leap round, bend, and stretch in your leggings to verify they’ll keep put.
Store the perfect train leggings
Whether or not you’re a runner, a yoga fanatic, a hiker, a die-hard lounger, or all the above, a wonderful new pair of leggings awaits you under.
Finest General: Athleta Salutation Stash Tight
- Extraordinarily comfy and versatile
- Breathable cloth
- Sturdy
- Subsequent to none—virtually good
Wherever your day takes you, you’ll be ready in Athleta’s best-selling Salutation Stash Excessive Rise Legging. It’s one of many model’s hottest leggings for its splendidly deep pockets (that one way or the other don’t add a ton of bulk); large, cozy waistband; and thick cloth.
Unimaginable sturdiness was one more reason we named the Salutation Stash the Finest Leggings for Fairly A lot Something in our 2024 Activewear Awards—one in all our judges was assured that these can final for years of damage. “These are my every thing leggings,” they wrote. “I’ve been shopping for the Stash from Athleta for years, they usually maintain up. I educate barre, elevate weights, hike trails, and browse the aisles of Dealer Joe’s in them always.”
Sizes: XXS to 3XL | Lengths: Petite, common, and tall | Supplies: Nylon, Lycra, recycled polyester, elastane, polyester (relying on the colour)
Finest Finances: Outdated Navy Excessive-Waisted PowerSoft Leggings
- Nice worth
- Ultimate for high-sweat actions
- Gained’t present sweat
- Some reviewers be aware the material could possibly be thicker
These Outdated Navy leggings had been our readers’ choose for this 12 months’s Activewear Awards—and wow, did they’ve loads to say: “I actually have 25 pairs, they usually’re the one bottoms I’ll do races in. The aspect pockets are so nice, I don’t even have to put on working belts throughout my coaching runs to maintain my telephone, gum, and keys helpful,” one defined.
One other reader shouted out their worth level, sturdiness, compression degree, and, maybe most significantly, sweat resistance: “I put on them for my lengthy runs on the treadmill, they usually don’t present sweat stains.”
Sizes: XS to 4X | Lengths: Petite, common, and tall | Supplies: Polyester, spandex
Finest for Yoga: Lululemon Align Excessive-Rise Pant
- Extraordinarily mushy and stretchy
- Big selection of colour choices
Arguably the most-loved Lulu bottoms throughout the board, the Aligns belong within the dictionary underneath “yoga leggings.” Additional mushy and non-constricting, they’re designed to really feel like a second pores and skin that strikes with you as you stretch, bend, and circulation.
“It really doesn’t really feel such as you’re sporting pants, they usually by no means trigger chafing,” wrote one 2024 Activewear Awards choose. Whereas they’re principally excellent for yoga, our judges and one SoulCycle teacher additionally advisable the Align leggings for indoor biking and easily sporting round the home.
Sizes: 0 to twenty | Lengths: 23, 25, 28, and 31 inches | Supplies: Nylon, Lycra elastane
Finest for Working: Tracksmith NDO Tights
- A number of pockets
- Adjustable match
- Reflective particulars
- Moisture-wicking
- Not tremendous compressive
- Expensive
Each distance runner is aware of that pockets are every thing, and this pair packs a lot. With two giant, envelope-style pockets and a 3rd, zippered one at the back of the waistband, you received’t should put on a working belt on longer loops.
These high-waisted leggings are constructed from a double-sided cloth that’ll preserve you heat on chilly mornings or evenings—plus, they’ve a drawstring, so you may alter the match (which means they’ll nonetheless really feel good after the post-gel bloat). Zippers on the ankles additionally make them straightforward to get off whenever you’re sweaty.
Sizes: XS to L | Lengths: Common | Supplies: Lycra, polyester, nylon, polyamide, elastane Lycra, polyurethane
Finest for Fitness center Exercises: Reebok Lux Excessive-Rise Leggings
- Comparatively reasonably priced for the standard
- Compressive, supportive match and really feel
- Additional high-rise waistband
- Some could discover the compression too robust
In case you’re in search of workhorse leggings that’ll sustain with you thru HIIT lessons, lifting periods, and cardio exercises, you want a pair of supportive, ultra-high-waisted Reebok Luxes, which received a 2023 Activewear Award for his or her reliability and flexibility.
“Generally full-length leggings look ‘bunchy’ on the ankles, however these had been good,” one SELF tester wrote. “The excessive waistband is extraordinarily comfy and flattering. They’re completely squat-proof as nicely. I felt very assured, and I used to be capable of full all exercises with out having to drag them up or alter them in any respect (even throughout a sweaty vinyasa yoga class).”
Sizes: XXS to XL | Lengths: Quick, common | Supplies: Nylon, elastane
Finest for On a regular basis Put on: Spanx Booty Increase Energetic 7/8 Leggings
- Thick and just a little compressive
- Sweat-resistant
- Cozy, flattering match
- Might run small, in accordance with reviewers
A two-time Activewear Award winner in 2021 and 2022, Spanx’s Booty Increase Energetic leggings are about as dependable as leggings get (and win bonus factors for his or her extremely flattering match). “These are perfection,” wrote one tester, who wears a measurement 2X. “They didn’t transfer. The leggings are high-waist and canopy my whole tummy as a plus-size girl. The place have these leggings been all my life?”
One other SELF tester raved about their versatility: “I might put on these leggings to the workplace and nobody would know that they’re for exercises.” They match like a glove and look nice even after hours of damage, making the Booty Increase Energetic our prime choose for all-day put on (no contest!).
Sizes: XS to 3XL | Lengths: 25 inches | Supplies: Nylon, elastane
Finest Compression Leggings: SuperFit Hero SuperHold Pocket 7/8 Leggings
- Extraordinarily supportive
- Thick, opaque cloth
- Extensive measurement vary
- Have a tendency to draw lint and pet hair, in accordance with reviewers
At this level, it’s an odd 12 months when SuperFit Hero’s extremely compressive, squat-test-passing SuperHold pocket leggings don’t win an Activewear Award (their earliest look was in 2019). All through the years, they’ve wowed our testers with their extraordinarily safe match, inclusive measurement vary, and general nice look (an influencer who examined a pair in 2022 stated the SuperHolds had been their go-to leggings for on-camera work).
“The leggings positively did every thing they had been alleged to do,” one 2023 tester wrote. “They had been supportive, comfy, cute, and helped me keep dry after I was actually sweaty. I particularly appreciated how the waistband stayed in place, and general I didn’t have to regulate something throughout my exercises.”
Sizes: L to 7X | Lengths: 29 inches | Supplies: Polyester, spandex
Finest for Lounging: Past Yoga Spacedye Caught In The Midi Excessive Waisted Legging
- Very mushy
- Tons of colour choices
- No exterior seam
- Material has four-way stretch that strikes with you
- Inseam could also be too brief on some individuals
When you’ve gotten an extended day of nothing deliberate, a supremely cozy pair of leggings makes for a fantastic uniform. Those that come to thoughts for us are simply Past Yoga’s super-soft, clean Spacedye tights.
“These leggings positively lived as much as my expectations,” wrote one 2023 Activewear Awards tester. “I discovered myself reaching for them many times, since they had been so comfy, cute, and I didn’t should fiddle with them whereas educating or working towards yoga.” In 2024, we additionally gave a nod to the Out of Pocket model of those leggings, that are simply as cuddly however function two drop-in aspect pockets too.
Sizes: XXS to 4X | Lengths: 24 inches | Supplies: Polyester, elastane
Finest for Chilly Climate: Baleaf Fleece-Lined Winter Leggings
- Lined for heat, but breathable
- Finances-friendly
- A number of colours to select from
- Might bunch on the ankles, in accordance with reviewers
In case you courageous icy temps within the title of your exercise (or commute), you want a pair of Baleaf’s refreshingly reasonably priced fleece-lined leggings. “The wind doesn’t pierce by way of them like a number of different leggings. They’re additionally sweat-wicking, so they’re nice for figuring out,” Lindsey Quebedeaux, a observe and cross-country coach, runner, and walker from New Braunfels, Texas, beforehand informed SELF.
They’re accessible in a number of kinds: The one-pocket model has a mid-rise waist; the three-pocket is high-rise; and the waterproof model has an extra-high waist that ought to turn out to be useful when it’s chilly and moist exterior.
Sizes: XS to 3XL | Lengths: 27-28 inches (relying on the scale) | Supplies: Polyester, spandex
Finest for Mountaineering: Out of doors Analysis Advert-Vantage Leggings
- Very sturdy
- Stretchy
- UPF 30 helps shield your pores and skin from the solar’s rays
- Too light-weight for mountain climbing in chilly climate
- Restricted colour choices
Hikers ask a number of their leggings: They need to be straightforward to maneuver in, however they will’t rip or snag when the path will get tough. Few pairs strike a steadiness between stretchy and difficult fairly just like the Advert-Vantage from Out of doors Analysis.
Made with mountaineering in thoughts, they’re abrasion-resistant by way of the knees and hips and supply full vary of movement. As our 2023 Activewear Awards tester put it, “I’m able to transfer at any angle in these they usually keep in place. I additionally really feel like they’re good for journey as a result of they’re sturdy, light-weight, and have some compression.”
Sizes: XS to XXL | Lengths: 25 inches | Supplies: Nylon, Lycra
Finest Shade and Sample Choices: Sweaty Betty Energy Exercise Leggings
- Massive collection of sizes and styles
- Has two pockets
- Sweat-wicking cloth
- Adjustable drawstring contained in the waistband
These are an all-around glorious pair of leggings, and you’ll’t beat the choices in terms of colours and patterns—there are 28(!) to select from. These stretchy tights are nice for just about any exercise, with a big aspect pocket, a again zippered pocket, and an adjustable inside drawstring. Sweaty Betty is beloved for his or her vibrant patterns, so when you’re in search of a very distinctive set, this model is the one to buy.
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Lengths: ⅞, full-length | Supplies: Polyamide, elastane
Finest Dimension Vary: Girlfriend Collective Luxe Legging
- Comfortable and compressive
- Has three pockets
- Moisture-wicking
- Big selection of sizes
- Heavy cloth isn’t the perfect for decent exercises
These high-waisted leggings are thick and compressive—good for anybody who likes their tights to really feel like a robust hug. With a refined sheen, these would work equally nicely for a health club day or a cute errands outfit. They’ve three small pockets (two on the entrance waistband and one on the again) and are made with cozy, peach-fuzz-like cloth.
Sizes: XXS to 6XL | Lengths: 23.75 inches, 28.5 inches | Supplies: Recycled plastic bottles (RPET), spandex
Finest for HIIT: Vuori Day by day Legging
- Keep-put waistband
- Exceptionally comfy
- Adjustable drawstring exterior the waistband
- 4-way stretch strikes with you
- No pockets
- Not tremendous compressive
- 7/8 size could also be too brief for tall individuals
In case you really feel like your tights by no means keep in place, it is advisable to strive Vuori’s Day by day Legging. One SELF author swears by it for working, HIIT exercises, or actually any train that’ll have you ever bouncing round.
“The tremendous excessive, large, segmented waistband and drawstring combo actually helps them keep put and never roll down, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing. I by no means have to drag these up and alter them throughout exercises, which makes me attain for them time and again,” she says. They’re lower to a 7/8 size, so that they’re good for anybody on the shorter aspect who hates when their full-length leggings bunch up. The thick cloth makes them excellent for sweaty exercises, and, per our author, they’re extremely mushy and flattering.
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Lengths: brief, common, lengthy | Supplies: Polyester, elastane
Finest with Pockets: Nike Go Agency-Help Excessive-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
- Supportive, hold-you-in really feel
- Six pockets
- Additional-wide waistband
- 7/8 size could not work for tall people
In case you’ve bought stuff to carry, these leggings have the space for storing you want. Nike’s Go tights have two angled aspect pockets alongside the thighs, three drop-in pockets alongside the again waistband, and a zipper pocket on the thigh, so you may simply pack your telephone, gels, headphone case, lip balm, keys, and playing cards. Compressive and supportive, with an extra-wide waistband, these will sustain with you as you run, squat, and hike.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Lengths: Common | Supplies: Nylon, spandex
Most Stretchy: Gymshark Important Seamless 2.0 Leggings
- Comfy
- Seamless across the waist
- Moisture-wicking cloth
- A number of colours to select from
- Not compressive
- No pockets
Gymshark’s Important Seamless 2.0 leggings will transfer with you all day lengthy, with a large, ribbed, seamless waistband and stretchy, safe cloth that’s shaded to contour your physique. Moisture-wicking nylon makes them a strong choose for sweaty conditioning periods too.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Lengths: Common | Supplies: Nylon, elastane
Finest Splurge: LNDR Limitless Pocket ⅞ Legging
- Tremendous light-weight
- Sweat-wicking cloth
- Has two waistband pockets
- Mild compression
- Some reviewers say they’re not thick or opaque sufficient
- Restricted measurement vary
This pair from LNDR is ideal for anybody who doesn’t like cumbersome aspect pockets, however desires extra space for storing than a zippered again pocket. The drop-in pockets on these are uniquely positioned excessive on the waistband, so you may simply cowl them with a shirt or tank.
These leggings are additionally very smoothing and light-weight, so that they’ll really feel notably good in scorching settings. “These are my favourite leggings of all time,” wrote one LNDR buyer. “They’re tight in all the suitable locations and tremendous comfy.”
Sizes: XS to XL | Lengths: 8/8 (full-length), 7/8, 6/8 (capri) | Supplies: Polyamide, elastane
How SELF exams and selects train leggings
For SELF’s Activewear Awards, we faucet staffers, on a regular basis exercisers, and consultants of all stripes (together with hikers, marathon runners, weight lifting trainers, and health coaches) to check dozens of leggings. They put their gear by way of the wringer, sweating, transferring, and dwelling of their attire for weeks all through the testing interval, then use our official Activewear Shopping for Information to find out which objects had been really the perfect. You’ll be able to relaxation assured that the leggings that made the lower had been road-tested to the fullest.
After we search for suggestions exterior of our yearly awards, we ask trusted health consultants within the subject for his or her absolute favorites. Whereas a flashy new pair that they’re enthusiastic about is all the time of curiosity, we wish to know which leggings they arrive again to time after time—these are those we function.
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