The 13 Very Best Women’s Leggings

Whatwe’relookingfor

Size range:0 to 14 |Fabric:81 percent nylon, 19 percent elastane |Compression:Medium |Pockets:Two side pockets

Lululemon’s leggings are a significant investment but one that I — as well as fellow Strategist staffers and numerous fitness experts we’ve spoken with over the years — have found to be worth it. While the brand’s Wunder Train pants are my favoritefor yoga, these Align leggings are thinner and more flexible, which makes them more comfortable to wear while lounging. They’re also ideal maternity wear: Strategist contributing editor Jessica Silvester wore them whileseven months pregnantand says the same pair snapped back into shape and still fits her regular proportions years later.

Size range:XS to 3XL |Fabric:82 percent nylon, 18 percent elastane |Compression:Medium |Pockets:Waistband pocket, two side pockets

So what’s thedifference between $33 and $98 leggings, anyway? The Lululemon Align fabric above looks and feels smoother than Baleaf’s and has stronger lines of reinforced stitching at the seams. But after extensive testing, I’ve found that both brands hold up well in the dryer and will last for years without shrinking or warping in shape. Baleaf’s leggings are affordable yet comfortable, even if they don’t look as nice as expensive brands. As Strategist contributor Maggie Slepian puts it, they’re “right between the compression levels of more supportive tights (which can feel too restrictive for all-day wear) and supersoft leggings (which can sag and lose their shape).” So you can work out in them or work from home in them. Which is not so much the case with ultracompressive leggings that have a higher elastane percentage.

Size range:XXS to L |Fabric:87 percent polyester, 13 percent elastane |Compression:Low |Pockets:None

A put-together pair of leggings is hard to find. My fellow Strategist writer Lauren Ro is very particular about wearing athleisure outside the house, and as much as she adores herLulu Aligns, “they’re slightly too unstructured to comfortably wear around town.” She searched for a pair of leggings with a soft feel that were smoothing and supportive (but not too sporty-looking) and settled on these. “They have a bit more compression than the Aligns without being too tight, giving me more definition and, let’s be honest, confidence,” she says. “I wore them withSpanx’s AirEssentials Half Zipto dim sum with the family and felt like a polished Pilates mom — even though I was unshowered and had bits of har gow in my hair.”

Size range:XS to XL |Fabric:75 percent polyester, 25 percent elastane |Compression:High |Pockets:One back pocket, two side pockets

Speaking of sweat, these Under Armour leggings are made from moisture-wicking polyester as well as elastane, making them optimal for high-intensity exercise. Acha says that they provide muscle compression without feeling too tight and can be worn alone or as a base layer. She also likes that they feature a convenient back zip pocket for storing salt pills or nutrition gels as well as reflective stripes for extra safety at night. The brand’s leggings are known for being durable; one of her fellow fashion consultants has worn a pair regularly since 2012.

Size range:XS to XL |Fabric:92 percent cotton, 8 percent elastane |Compression:High |Pockets:Available with or without

This year I went on a quest to findnatural-fiber workout gear, which is happily becoming a more mainstream concept as we cut back on global plastic consumption. I was first drawn toMate’s tightsbecause they both look and feel familiar. Some cotton workout leggings can be a little baggy, but these closely resemble a pair of sleek and compressive polyester yoga pants. The weave is tight and thick enough to mimic a synthetic fabric, the wide waistband compresses your abs, reinforced seams on the sides provide structure, and there’s plenty of stretch. The remarkably smooth cotton sculpts your body somewhat but remains breathable — unlike polyester, which often makes me overheat. I was particularly struck by how well-made these leggings are. There are no loose threads, and the stitching is even. Much more so than other options, they seem explicitly designed for high-intensity workouts. I was able to go running in mine without having to stop and pull them up or adjust the fit and found them just as comfortable as my nylon leggings for Pilates. They did bunch a bit around the ankles; if you’re short like me, definitely opt for themidirather than full length.

Size range:XS to XL |Fabric:77 percent polyester, 23 percent elastane |Compression:High |Pockets:Front and back waistband pockets, side pockets

Resident Strategist writer and runner Brenley Goertzenloves these leggingsthat have streamlined her training sessions by letting her leave the house without a running belt. They have a built-in belt around the waistband with enough space for her phone, keys, gels, AirPods, and even a few treats if she’s jogging with her dog. And there are still twodrop-in side pockets on both legs for even more storage. Convenience aside, these are also just a great pair of exercise leggings, with high compression and a tight fabric weave that wicks sweat away from the body.

Size range:XXS to 6XL |Fabric:79 percent RPET, 11 percent elastane |Compression:Medium |Pockets:One back pocket

I’m not exactly sure how Girlfriend Collective manages to turn plastic bottles into pants, but the result is unusually comfortable and stylish. These yoga pants are a hit among Strategist staffers as well as athletes and yogis we’ve spoken to over the years, including Jones, who calls them “by far the most sustainable” leggings that are “still concerned with fit and look.” Health-care entrepreneurHil Moss, abreast-cancer survivorwho has undergone a mastectomy and rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, says that they made the process just a bit easier: “I have multiple pairs in different colors. That’s how much I love them.”

Size range:XXS to XXL |Fabric:96 percent acrylic, polyester, and rayon; 4 percent elastane |Compression:Very low |Pockets:None

I like to wear Uniqlo’s Heattech leggings around the house during winter, when central heating is doing most of the work but I still want an extra boost of warmth. They’ve also come in handy while waiting for the Q train in cold and windy subway tunnels. Over the years, numerous fashion insiders have told us that they love their Heattech layers too; celebrity stylistKrisana Sotelois a fan, and so isRicher Poorerco-founder Iva Pawling, who ran to purchase a pair during an unexpected freezing-cold NYC trip. “They were easy to wear under jeans and saved my built-for-70-degrees self,” she says.

Size range:2XS to 2XL |Fabric:74 percent polyamide, 26 percent elastane |Compression:High |Pockets:None

Strategist contributor Katie Stone, who has triedallthe activewear brands, recently did a 180 onVuori’s popular leggings. She especially recommends this drawstring pair, which she says will stay perfectly positioned during whatever sort of reformer-Pilates gymnastics position you find yourself in. The fabric is thick and structured, so they’re ideal for colder weather and higher impact activities, but the drawstring also means that you can loosen things up a bit when lounging at home.

Size range:XS to XL |Fabric:90 percent Supplex, 10 percent elastane |Compression:Medium |Pockets:None

While most leggings are utilitarian-looking at best, Live the Process’s ballet-inspired designs manage to be “shockingly beautiful,” as Jones puts it. “If anyone wants to splurge on the nicest yoga pants out there, their shapes and colors are amazing,” she says. “So is the quality of the material.” Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo, who has been wearing the same pair of Live the Process leggings for close to a decade, agrees. The brand’s stirrup leggings were first recommended to me by dancerAngela Trimbur, who came across them while receiving breast-cancer treatments a few years ago. “I spent a lot of time at home resting in blah-looking basics that left me feeling extra blah,” she recalls. “I realized that investing in chicer looks to rest in made me feel more confident, hopeful, and happy.” These days, she wears them while dancing in her home studio and then tosses street clothes over the top to run errands.

Size range:XXS to L |Fabric:87 percent nylon, 13 percent elastane |Compression:Low |Pockets:None

Flared yoga pants are both trendy and versatile; what I especially like about Alo’s Airbrush ones is that they’re constructed from a soft and stretchy matte fabric rather than the more traditional shiny yoga-pant material. This means they really do work as (very comfortable and flattering) everyday pants if you throw a T-shirt over the top. I tried both the flared and bootcut styles and would advise the latter if you favor a subtle ’90s look over a more billowy ’70s one.

Ourexperts