To not toot our personal horn, however we all know a factor or two about the very best train leggings right here at SELF—in actual fact, 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 circulate whereas carrying leggings that slip down, pinch, or pull in all of the fallacious locations, you understand this to be true.)
With that in thoughts, we curated a listing of nice train leggings for all kinds of actions, chosen from tons of pairs we’ve examined and had advisable to us by specialists through the years.
Our high picks
- Greatest General: Athleta Salutation Stash Tight
- Greatest Finances: Outdated Navy Excessive-Waisted PowerSoft Leggings
- Greatest for Yoga: Lululemon Align Excessive-Rise Pant
- Greatest for Operating: Tracksmith NDO Tights
- Greatest for Gymnasium Exercises: Reebok Lux Excessive-Rise Leggings
- Greatest 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 here are just a few suggestions we advocate maintaining in thoughts as you store.
Excessive-impact actions, like working, and gentler actions, like stretching, name for several types 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 a variety of lengths, from full-length (which means they go all the way in which to the underside of your ankle) to 7/8 (which hit round or simply above the ankle) to capri (which often 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 whilst you browse.
Any leggings ought to have an excellent quantity of spandex, Lycra, elastane, or different stretchy materials to make sure they match near your physique with out limiting your motion. Past that, search for pairs made with moisture-wicking, breathable, squat-proof, additional comfortable, or chilly weather-ready supplies. As talked about above, your go-to exercises also can allow you to decide which materials will work greatest.
That is extra a private desire than the rest, however it’s nonetheless essential to test how excessive the waistband goes on a brand new pair of leggings, particularly if protection and help are key for you. You’ll find low-, medium-, and high-rise choices, however high-rise is the most typical.
Don’t neglect nice-to-have components like a drawstring, well-placed pockets, and breathable mesh panels. Relying on what you want, these add-ons can flip a stable pair of leggings into an distinctive one.
FAQs about searching for train leggings
Ought to I dimension up or down in leggings?
In case you’re between sizes, you must often dimension down in leggings. Since they’re sometimes made from stretchy materials, they need to broaden to suit you, and so they are inclined to get looser over time, so beginning with a tighter pair is often higher. (In spite of everything, leggings are supposed to be cosy—and also you don’t need them to be falling down as you’re employed out.) That being mentioned, in the event you’re contemplating a brilliant compressive pair of leggings, you may wish to dimension up, because the material will match tighter and should really feel too restrictive in a smaller dimension.
Why do my leggings roll down on the waist?
Leggings which are too massive, have misplaced their elasticity, or are lower-rise could also be extra more likely to roll down. So, if this can be a frequent concern for you, search for kinds which are high-waisted, with a thick, compressive waistband and a drawstring.
Alternatively, typically tremendous high-waisted kinds can roll down to fulfill 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. If you attempt them on, soar round, bend, and stretch in your leggings to ensure they’ll keep put.
Store the very best train leggings
Whether or not you’re a runner, a yoga fanatic, a hiker, a die onerous lounger, or all the above, a superb new pair of leggings awaits you under.
Greatest General: Athleta Salutation Stash Tight
- Extraordinarily comfy and versatile
- Breathable material
- 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); huge, comfortable waistband; and thick material.
Unbelievable sturdiness was another excuse we named the Salutation Stash the Greatest Leggings for Fairly A lot Something in our 2024 Activewear Awards—one among our judges was assured that these can final for years of wear and tear. “These are my the whole lot leggings,” they wrote. “I’ve been shopping for the Stash from Athleta for years, and so they maintain up. I educate barre, carry 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)
Greatest Finances: Outdated Navy Excessive-Waisted PowerSoft Leggings
- Nice worth
- Superb for high-sweat actions
- Received’t present sweat
- Some reviewers word 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, and so they’re the one bottoms I’ll do races in. The aspect pockets are so nice, I don’t even must put on working belts throughout my coaching runs to maintain my telephone, gum, and keys helpful,” one defined.
One other reader shouted out their value level, sturdiness, compression stage, and, maybe most significantly, sweat resistance: “I put on them for my lengthy runs on the treadmill, and so they don’t present sweat stains.”
Sizes: XS to 4X | Lengths: Petite, common, and tall | Supplies: Polyester, spandex
Greatest for Yoga: Lululemon Align Excessive-Rise Pant
- Extraordinarily comfortable and stretchy
- Wide selection of colour choices
Arguably the most-loved Lulu bottoms throughout the board, the Aligns belong within the dictionary underneath “yoga leggings.” Additional comfortable and non-constricting, they’re designed to really feel like a second pores and skin that strikes with you as you stretch, bend, and circulate.
“It actually doesn’t really feel such as you’re carrying pants, and so they by no means trigger chafing,” wrote one 2024 Activewear Awards decide. Whereas they’re principally superb for yoga, our judges and one SoulCycle teacher additionally advisable the Align leggings for indoor biking and easily carrying round the home.
Sizes: 0 to twenty | Lengths: 23, 25, 28, and 31 inches | Supplies: Nylon, Lycra elastane
Greatest for Operating: Tracksmith NDO Tights
- Numerous pockets
- Adjustable match
- Reflective particulars
- Moisture-wicking
- Not tremendous compressive
- Dear
Each distance runner is aware of that pockets are the whole lot, and this pair packs a lot. With two massive, envelope-style pockets and a 3rd, zippered one at the back of the waistband, you gained’t should put on a working belt on longer loops.
These high-waisted leggings are comprised of a double-sided material that’ll maintain you heat on chilly mornings or evenings—plus, they’ve a drawstring, so you’ll be able to modify 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
Greatest for Gymnasium Exercises: Reebok Lux Excessive-Rise Leggings
- Comparatively reasonably priced for the standard
- Compressive, supportive match and really feel
- Additional high-rise waistband
- Some might discover the compression too sturdy
In case you’re searching for 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 gained a 2023 Activewear Award for his or her reliability and flexibility.
“Typically 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 in a position to full all exercises with out having to drag them up or modify them in any respect (even throughout a sweaty vinyasa yoga class).”
Sizes: XXS to XL | Lengths: Brief, common | Supplies: Nylon, elastane
Greatest for On a regular basis Put on: Spanx Booty Increase Energetic 7/8 Leggings
- Thick and a bit of compressive
- Sweat-resistant
- Cozy, flattering match
- Could run small, in line 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 dimension 2X. “They didn’t transfer. The leggings are high-waist and canopy my total tummy as a plus-size lady. The place have these leggings been all my life?”
One other SELF tester raved about their versatility: “I may 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 wear and tear, making the Booty Increase Energetic our high choose for all-day put on (no contest!).
Sizes: XS to 3XL | Lengths: 25 inches | Supplies: Nylon, elastane
Greatest Compression Leggings: SuperFit Hero SuperHold Pocket 7/8 Leggings
- Extraordinarily supportive
- Thick, opaque material
- Large dimension vary
- Have a tendency to draw lint and pet hair, in line 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 dimension vary, and general nice look (an influencer who examined a pair in 2022 mentioned the SuperHolds had been their go-to leggings for on-camera work).
“The leggings undoubtedly did the whole lot they had been imagined 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
Greatest for Lounging: Past Yoga Spacedye Caught In The Midi Excessive Waisted Legging
- Very comfortable
- 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 have got an extended day of nothing deliberate, a supremely comfortable pair of leggings makes for an excellent uniform. Those that come to thoughts for us are simply Past Yoga’s tremendous comfortable, easy Spacedye tights.
“These leggings undoubtedly 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 instructing or training 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
Greatest for Chilly Climate: Baleaf Fleece-Lined Winter Leggings
- Lined for heat, but breathable
- Finances-friendly
- Numerous colours to select from
- Could bunch on the ankles, in line 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 via them like plenty 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 instructed 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 dimensions) | Supplies: Polyester, spandex
Greatest for Climbing: Outside Analysis Advert-Vantage Leggings
- Very sturdy
- Stretchy
- UPF 30 helps defend your pores and skin from the solar’s rays
- Too light-weight for mountaineering in chilly climate
- Restricted colour choices
Hikers ask plenty 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 hard fairly just like the Advert-Vantage from Outside Analysis.
Made with mountain climbing in thoughts, they’re abrasion-resistant via 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 and so they 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
Greatest Colour and Sample Choices: Sweaty Betty Energy Exercise Leggings
- Massive collection of shapes and sizes
- Has two pockets
- Sweat-wicking material
- Adjustable drawstring contained in the waistband
These are an all-around glorious pair of leggings, and you may’t beat the choices in relation to 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 in the event you’re searching for a really distinctive set, this model is the one to buy.
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Lengths: ⅞, full-length | Supplies: Polyamide, elastane
Greatest Dimension Vary: Girlfriend Collective Luxe Legging
- Tender and compressive
- Has three pockets
- Moisture-wicking
- Wide selection of sizes
- Heavy material isn’t the very best for warm exercises
These high-waisted leggings are thick and compressive—good for anybody who likes their tights to really feel like a powerful hug. With a delicate sheen, these would work equally nicely for a fitness center 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 material.
Sizes: XXS to 6XL | Lengths: 23.75 inches, 28.5 inches | Supplies: Recycled plastic bottles (RPET), spandex
Greatest for HIIT: Vuori Each day Legging
- Keep-put waistband
- Exceptionally comfy
- Adjustable drawstring exterior the waistband
- 4-way stretch strikes with you
- No pockets
- Not tremendous compressive
- ⅞ size could also be too brief for tall individuals
In case you really feel like your tights by no means keep in place, it’s worthwhile to attempt Vuori’s Each 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, huge, 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 modify them throughout exercises, which makes me attain for them time and again,” she says. They’re minimize to a ⅞ size, in order that they’re good for anybody on the shorter aspect who hates when their full-length leggings bunch up. The thick material makes them superb for sweaty exercises, and, per our author, they’re extremely comfortable and flattering.
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Lengths: brief, common, lengthy | Supplies: Polyester, elastane
Greatest with Pockets: Nike Go Agency-Assist Excessive-Waisted ⅞ Leggings
- Supportive, hold-you-in really feel
- Six pockets
- Additional-wide waistband
- ⅞ size might not work for tall of us
In case you’ve acquired 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’ll be able to 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 Very important Seamless 2.0 Leggings
- Comfy
- Seamless across the waist
- Moisture-wicking material
- Numerous colours to select from
- Not compressive
- No pockets
Gymshark’s Very important Seamless 2.0 leggings will transfer with you all day lengthy, with a large, ribbed, seamless waistband and stretchy, safe material that’s shaded to contour your physique. Moisture-wicking nylon makes them a stable choose for sweaty conditioning periods too.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Lengths: Common | Supplies: Nylon, elastane
Greatest Splurge: LNDR Limitless Pocket ⅞ Legging
- Tremendous light-weight
- Sweat-wicking material
- Has two waistband pockets
- Gentle compression
- Some reviewers say they’re not thick or opaque sufficient
- Restricted dimension 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’ll be able to simply cowl them with a shirt or tank.
These leggings are additionally very smoothing and light-weight, in order 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 best locations and tremendous comfy.”
Sizes: XS to XL | Lengths: 8/8 (full-length), ⅞, 6/8 (capri) | Supplies: Polyamide, elastane
How SELF assessments and selects train leggings
For SELF’s Activewear Awards, we faucet staffers, on a regular basis exercisers, and specialists of all stripes (together with hikers, marathon runners, weight lifting trainers, and health coaches) to check dozens of leggings. They put their gear via the wringer, sweating, transferring, and residing 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 actually the very best. You’ll be able to relaxation assured that the leggings that made the minimize had been road-tested to the fullest.
After we search for suggestions exterior of our yearly awards, we ask trusted health specialists within the area for his or her absolute favorites. Whereas a flashy new pair that they’re enthusiastic about is at all times of curiosity, we wish to know which leggings they arrive again to time after time—these are those we function.
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