V Vocni High Rise Maternity Yoga Pants
These moisture wicking capri yoga pants are a great option for pregnant yogi mamas who tend to sweat during yoga class. Theyre made of soft, stretchy lux material and provide the coverage you need when bending over AKA they arent see through. They come in a variety of colors, with shorts as an option as well
Why Is Fabric So Important
The basis of a pair of leggings is core-spun yarn, which Preeti Arya, assistant professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology, describes as a fine filament of elastane yarn with fiber surrounding it.
No matter the brand, the basic yarn type is often roughly the same, as we found out from reading the tags of our contenders. Whether a pair feels thick and provides adequate coverage comes down to the density of the fabrics knit. Two pairs can have nearly identical fiber content, but if the knit on one is less dense, its opacity will be altered.
Fabrics that wick are meant to keep you dry during a workout. Unlike natural fibers such as cotton or linen, which are known to become waterlogged, synthetic fibers operate similarly to capillary action, with the space between the fibers acting like a capillary tube. So the minute … perspiration touches it, it gets sucked up, explained Arya. From there, it evaporates. Antimicrobial finishes, meant to sidestep stink, can be applied directly to a fabric by dipping it into a chemical bath containing an antimicrobial formulation.
Once a legging is produced, brands usually put it through standardized tests to evaluate how well it holds up to, say, the equivalent of 20 washes, the steadfastness of a dye , and its ability to withstand abrasion, pilling, tensile strength, and stretchability.
Old Navy Leggings That Prove Exactly Why Your Next Pair Must Have Pockets
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
“Who needs pockets?!” From dresses to sweats, some place to slip your stuff is at least a very-nice-to-have, if not absolutely mandatory. Of course, when plans include outdoor workouts or other excursions where you don’t want to carry a bag, grabbing a pair of leggings with a roomy pocket or pockets! can save your whole hands-free day.
We browsed a bunch of Old Navy pairs from crops to full-length and picked out 13 that deserve a closer look. There are front pockets, side pockets, flap pockets, and hidden pockets, too, so check ’em all out ahead.
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Best Leggings To Wear As Pants: Zella Live
Ah, the age-old debate: Whether leggings can double as pants. Whatever your feelings were on this polarizing question before the pandemic? Yeah, were gonna go ahead and assume that nowadays its a resounding yes across the board.
For what its worth, weve always been on team Leggings as Pants, and after testing out the Zella Live-In Leggings, even more so. Theyre designed like your standard pair of everyday leggings seams on either side, gusset for additional support, wide waistband with only a small, penny-sized circular logo near the hip. As an added bonus, they feature a blink-and-youll miss it discreet pocket on the left side of the waistband just big enough for a credit card or some keys .
While we didnt find these leggings ideal for sweaty workouts due to their shapewear-like, compressing fit, thats the very same reason we enjoyed them as everyday pants to rock during our work-from-home day, walks around the neighborhood with our dog and even just napping on a lazy weekend. Theyre crafted from a poly-spandex blend that feels high-quality and well worth their $59. We were fans of the secure waistband that didnt budge , and as one of our testers put it, These wouldnt be my go-to exercise leggings, but I would definitely throw them on if I were being lazy and wearing leggings to work or out to a bar.
Why You Should Trust Us
I cover fitness at Wirecutter and wear workout leggings nearly every day in anticipation of testing items like treadmills, indoor-cycling bikes, yoga mats, and GPS running watches. For nearly two years as a full-time personal trainer, my daily uniform centered on workout gear. I currently own more than 20 pairs of leggings.
To understand more about the textile side of workout leggings, I spoke with several textile and performance-wear experts, including Andre West, director of the Zeis Textiles Extension for Economic Development at NC State University Preeti Arya, assistant professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Susan Sokolowski, PhD, an associate professor and director of the sports product design MS program at the University of Oregon, who also worked at Nike for 20 years.
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Yoga Pants With Pockets That’ll Make Your Workout So Much Better
If youve ditched your phone, keys or wallet during a workout class because you simply didnt have a place to carry them, well, youre not alone.
Figuring out where the heck to store your essentials while wearing leggings is a problem women shouldnt have to deal with, but they do a lot more than men. Fortunately, there are companies out there designing practical leggings with pockets thatll store more than just your house key.
Below, take a look at these 13 yoga pants with pockets thatll make your workout that much better:
My New Favorite Leggings Caused A Frenzy At The Gym And They’re Only $36 At Old Navy
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
I don’t think there’s such thing as owning too many black workout leggings. As someone who loves to try different athletic brands, you can best bet that my wardrobe contains options that run the gamut from the thrift store finds to Lululemon treasures . I have a pair of ultra-stretchy ones, super-compressing ones, majorly high-waisted ones, and the list goes on. But one style that I didn’t have and so desperately wanted? A cool, shiny pair that was kinda-sorta reminiscent of faux leather.
My dreams came true when I stumbled upon Old Navy’s High-Waisted PowerSoft 7/8-Length Side-Pocket Leggings For Women , which I was very impressed to see had a nearly perfect five-star rating. Naturally, I added them to my shopping cart and prayed they’d be worth the hype. .
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A Pea In The Pod French Terry Jogger Pant
Maternity jogger pants are a cousin to yoga pants. The kind of cousin where you can tell they come from the same family but were definitely raised by different parents. These pants made of french terry rest under the belly and are incredibly soft and airy for a yoga class or a yoga class you intended to take but stayed on the couch instead.
Best Budget Leggings: Colorful Koala Womens High Waisted Yoga Pants 7/8 Length Leggings With Pockets
Perhaps youve stumbled across leggings from this delightfully named brand on Amazon and, like us, immediately wondered, Could more than 20,000 five-star reviews be wrong? Well, reader, it turns out, they could not: In our opinion, the Colorful Koala Womens High Waisted Yoga Pant is indeed a five-star budget-priced legging that ticks pretty much all the boxes given its affordable price point.
We loved how supportive the stretchy, soft material was during workouts, and though these leggings arent as buttery-soft or second skin-level stretchy as the Lululemon Align Pant, for almost a quarter of the price tag they come pretty darn close. While one of our testers had issues with the waistband periodically rolling down, she still appreciated how secure the leggings made her feel while exercising, particularly given the price.
And they come through in the durability department as well. One editor whos been wearing this pair regularly since last year notes that while they do start to attract fuzz and fade after some time, after wearing them at least twice a week for several months, she even found them to be holding up better than her Align leggings as far as pilling. We also noticed that they did a good job of repelling pet hair, as the fibers of this poly-spandex fabric dont seem to attract stiff hairs but rather allow them to slide right off.
Basically: For under $30, we think youll be more than pleased by the quality, fit and comfort of these leggings.
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Lululemon Align Yoga Pants
Okay, these Lululemon yoga pants arent technically maternity, but speaking from experience, they dont need to be. They literally expand with your body and are so soft and stretchy, they pull over your baby bump as if they were made to do it. And the best part is you can continue wearing them forever. Check out all the color options or stick with black whatever works and choose from three lengths.
Best Overall Leggings: Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket Ii 7/8 Tight
Weve long been fans of the Athleta brand for all things active-related , and so it was no surprise that we were beyond impressed by the Salutation Stash Pocket II 7/8 Tight. A newer version of Athletas customer-favorite Salutation Stash Pocket Tight, this pair is crafted from the same fabric as the original but with some improvements, like a sturdier waistband and fewer seams for a smoother legging.
The breathable leggings are made from Powervita fabric, a blend of nylon/Lycra spandex that the brand describes as having interlocking construction to provide light compression that delivers just-right support. Based on our testing, we can indeed confirm this to be accurate: After both working out in these and wearing them for everyday activities including a whole lot of lounging around the house we found the leggings were equal parts comfortable, sweat-wicking and flattering. Even after wearing them a few days in a row without washing them, they continued to be formfitting and didnt stretch or sag in any areas. We had no issues with the secure waistband.
After washing and drying these leggings several times during our testing, we didnt observe any noticeable pilling, fading or stretching, though one of our testers did notice some lint/pet hair buildup, which was easily removable with a sticky roller.
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How We Picked And Tested
The rise of athleisurehigh-performance, sports-oriented clothing worn, well, just about everywherehas arguably changed the way many people dress. Workout leggings in particular occupy an outsize space in the athleisure-verse. Vice President Kamala Harris famously wore them on Election Day 2020 many of us donned them daily for the better part of that year, thanks to the pandemic.
When we Googled the term workout leggings, we got about 160 million results. To narrow the enormous field, I surveyed my own wardrobe of leggings, noting the brands I wore the most. I read numerous best-of lists from the likes of The Strategist, Who What Wear, Good Housekeeping, Runners World, and Yoga Journal. I focused on versatile, quality pieces that could carry you through a sweaty workout, a low-key yoga session, an afternoon of errands, or a day spent working at your dining room table. I did not consider high-performance compression leggings meant for recovery.
A quick note on vocabulary: We refer to these garments as leggings throughout this piece. Others, however, including Susan Sokolowski, PhD, an associate professor and director of the sports product design MS program at University of Oregon , told us that those in the sports-apparel industry call them tights.
For a better understanding of what goes into a pair of workout leggings, I took a closer look at some of their key elements:
Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation 7/8 Tight
Athleta’s leggings come in six different colors, ranging from a light pink to jet black. The brand calls the Powervita fabric “buttery soft,” and the three-layer waistband will keep you looking and feeling your best regardless of where you wear them. They have over 560 five-star reviews from shoppers that are raving over the pair’s quality look and feel.
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Spanx Faux Suede Leggings
Spanx put faux-leather leggings on the map with its bestselling pair, but the brand recently debuted a pair of faux-suede leggings that are destined to become just as popular as their predecessors. They’re equally as luxurious, as they are stretchy and comfortable, and come in four different Earth-toned colors that are perfect for fall styling. You can find them in sizes XS-3X in tall, regular and petite sizing.
Degree By Reflex Leggings
Available in multiple color options, these leggings are an Amazon favorite. They pass the “squat test” and are made with compression material and a slimming waistband, so you’ll look and feel your best every time you put them on.
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Emma Stessman
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Best Workout Leggings: Lululemon Align Pant
The Lululemon brand is practically synonymous with the word athleisure, and whether you love it or love to hate it, one thing is certain: Lululemon makes some seriously fantastic leggings with a fandom that can only be described as cult-favorite status. Yes, $98 may seem like a steep price to pay, but if youre serious about your fitness and/or yoga gear, there are several reasons youll want to add the Lululemon Align Pant to your workout wardrobe.
Touching the fabric of the Align, to the Lululemon newbies in the room, is a sensation like none other, giving new meaning to the phrase buttery soft. The leggings scored perfect marks for everyday comfort and stretch and nearly perfect marks for comfort during high-impact activities we soon came to understand what people mean when they say they truly forget theyre wearing any leggings at all with these on. We loved how lightweight yet opaque this pair was, and how secure the high waistband remained throughout workouts. Only one tester had an issue with the waistband rolling, but that seemed to be an issue due to sizing: Based on our experience , we might recommend sizing down one size for the most comfortable fit. As a bonus, the nylon-Lycra elastane fabric seemed to magically repel pet hair for one of our testers who is used to living her life in black leggings covered in white dog and cat hair.
Other Leggings We Tested
Lululemon Wunder Under High-Rise Tight
While this pair didnt quite have that second skin-type stretch to it as the Lululemon Aligns did, we were still impressed by their comfort and performance. We appreciated their supportive but non-constricting waistband, their opacity and their smooth, soft feel to the touch. Some long-term wearers of the Wunder Unders have noted theyve held up exceedingly well after years of washes, with no pilling, lint or fading to note, making them a worthy investment for their nearly three-figure price tag.
Our testers considered this pair stylish enough to wear outside of the gym , and their thicker fabric makes them a good choice to wear in chillier weather too. That said, some of us felt the material was a little too thick and constricting for optimally comfortable workouts in warmer weather, and one found the waistband to sometimes roll beneath her belly button during workouts, which wasnt ideal. If, however, youre looking for leggings that feel a bit more like shapewear and give you that held in feeling and/or you want a good pair for running outdoors when the weather isnt sweltering these are a great option that have proven excellent at standing up to years of wear. Theyre available in sizes 0020, in 25-inch and 28-inch inseams and seven colors.
Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Legging
CRZ Yoga High-Waist Tight Yoga Pants
Leggings Depot High-Waisted Legging
Old Navy High-Waisted Elevate Compression Leggings
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Comfortable And Chic With A Splurgeworthy Soft Feel: Beyond Yoga Spacedye Caught In The Midi High Waisted Legging
How they fit: These leggings are stretchy instead of structured, with light compression. They were so comfortable that most of our testers forgot they were wearing them. Our panel consisted of four testers: a 5-foot-2-inch petite tester who typically wears a size 4 a 5-foot-2-inch plus-size tester who typically wears a size 1618 a 5-foot-9-inch tester who wears a size 2 and a 5-foot-10-inch tester who wears a size 68. The Beyond Yoga Spacedye Caught In the Midi High Waisted Legging is available in XXS to 4X and in one length, Midi . And the super-soft fabric has a luxurious, almost sueded texture.
Why theyre great: These leggings are the next best thing to being naked. Our testers unanimously agreed that they were the softest, most comfortable, super-luxe leggings they tried. Put them on in the morning, and you likely wont think about them again all day. The fabric is softer than that of any other pair we triedit feels almost like suede. Theyre thin and stretchy versus structured, and they provide light compression. This pair has a simple, body-conscious silhouette thats seamless down the outside of the legs and a subtler aesthetic that lends itself to daily wear.
I stretched and put these leggings through a 30-minute high-intensity kettlebell workout, and they felt cool, comfortable, and not wholly unsupportive. In fact, I didnt think about them at alla good sign. Another tester wore them for a full day of running errands and forgot about them.
