Activewear Week: The Best Workout Leggings for Every Type of Exercise
It’s undeniable that the right tool makes every job easier. That fact isn’t limited to pressure cookers (Instant Pot anyone?), jumper cables, and flat irons, but also workout clothes. Slip on the wrong leggings for yoga and Half Moon can slip into a super moon by the time you hit Downward Dog. Wearing running tights to kickboxing can squelch a full sweep. You get the idea. Conversely, the right leggings for a given activity give you all the freedom you need with the support you want to jump, lunge, kick, and spin your heart out without worrying about missing a step.
A proper pair of leggings hug your body with appropriate snugness where you want them to stay put and allow ease of movement and full range of motion where you need them to allow a little give. They shouldn’t bunch up, ride down, rub, chafe, or give you even a hint of camel toe (which is more than unsightly—it’s uncomfortable!). If your sport requires that you carry stuff, they should have the appropriate number of pockets in easy to access places. If you need extra protection—think sitting on a bike seat—they should provide that, too. They should also look as good as they feel, so you feel comfortable and confident rocking them out in public.
To help you find the right leggings for every activity, we built the ultimate list of leggings for every exercise. Our picks are a result of intel from Women's Health editors who personally tested their favorite pairs, and reviews from real women of various shapes and sizes. If you're looking for your next go-to tights, capris, or pants for basically every activity you do, here are the pairs that have a leg up (ha!) on the competition—so you will too.
4 Steps For Finding The Best Workout Leggings
Consider fabric. You'll want to opt for fabric that meets your preferences. Ask yourself are you looking for a barely-there feel, or something that'll keep you warm when it's a little chillier outside. Are the seams flat and is the material anti-chafing? Think about what bothers you about the leggings you already have and seek an upgrade.
Make sure their squat-proof. To test their opacity, head into the dressing room, squat, and look in the mirror to see if your skin peeks through. If you're shopping online, check out the reviews to see what other people who have already purchased the leggings you're considering have to say.
Test their sweat-wicking ability. If you're prone to working up a sweat, then you're going to want leggings made with moisture-wicking tech. Looking for a way to test them without actually buying them: throw a drop of water into their inside layer and observe what happens.
Consider style. Determine whether you're more comfortable with capris, or long tights, leggings with side pockets or ones who boast a pocket in their waistband. Style can quite literally mean how they're structured, but you also want to make sure you're also spending your money on leggings you actually think are cute.
Best Overall Workout Leggings
Technically these leggings are designed for yoga, but countless reviewers have said these Wunder tights have taken them through all their workouts from strength-training to Pilates. The leggings are made with a breathable, moisture-wicking, and cottony-soft Lycra fabric that contributes to stretch and shape retention, and don't forget to take advantage of the waistband pocket.
Related: The Super-Comfy Workout Sneakers Everyone Is Obsessed With Right Now
Wunder Under High-Rise Tight 28", $98.00, Lululemon
Best Value Workout Leggings
Adding to your workout wardrobe doesn't mean breaking the bank and these leggings are proof. Made with some of the same features at the more expensive brands– a secure fit, breathable fabric, and complete opacity– you can grab a pair of these leggings for under $20. Plus, you don't have to get them in a basic black. These leggings are available in 25 colors.
Satina High Waisted Leggings, $15.99, Amazon
Most Popular Workout Leggings On Amazon
A number one best-seller on Amazon, these leggings have over 6,000 5-star reviews from people who say these leggings are comfortable, squat-proof, and fitting for exercise like weight-lifting, not just yoga. They're designed to booty-lifting fabric that contours and flatters, and a waistband inner pocket, in case you have nowhere to stash your car keys.
High Waist Yoga Pants with Pockets, $26.95, Amazon
Best Workout Leggings For Yoga
No activity places the extreme fit demands on a pair of pants like yoga. One minute you’re arching backward like a willow in the wind and the next you’re folded forward like a sapling that’s snapped in half. Unless you want to spend half the class pulling up your pants, you need a pair that sits and stays to keep you covered while giving freedom to your every move. These high-rise, second skin leggings hit the bulls-eye. Voters loved silky feeling fabric, flat no-chafe seams, and the 7/8 length that sits right above the ankle for a less restrictive feel.
Athleta Marble Salutation 7/8 Tight, $89.00, Athleta
Best Workout Leggings for Lifting
If you're looking for a secure fit that can handle your deadlifts, without feeling too constricting, then these Body Glove leggings are it. They're made with double-layered inserts and a super stretch fabric to help you avoid friction no matter how many reps you're tackling. Worth nothing: these babies also comes with side pockets for each storage of small valuables.
Switch up your squat with these 20 variations that will help you tone your butt:
Saturn Pintuck Performance-Fit Leggings, $79.00, Body Glove
Best Workout Leggings For Long Distance Running
Stay dry and comfortable mile after mile thanks to the barely-there feel from these Under Armour leggings. The super-soft fabric is made with sweat-wicking tech, and reflective details to add some extra safety to your low-light runs. Customers raved about their compression fit and the water-resistant waistband pocket that stores and keeps your phone dry all the way through the end of your run.
Related: These Are The 4 Best Leg Exercises For People Who Want To See Serious Results
Women's UA Speedpocket Run Crop, $74.99, Under Armour
Best Leggings For Low-Impact Workouts
Bend and stretch away because these leggings from Alala are made with anti-chafe, breathable material that's cozy and comfortable, and since these don't skimp out on style, you'll want to wear them to more than just your workouts. The heroine tights come in a chic color block design that makes them anything but basic.
Heroine Tight, $88.00, Alala
Best Workout Leggings For High-Impact Exercise
If you're looking for durable leggings that keep snug no matter how many times you put them through the wringer (aka get familiar with the floor during your burpee sets), then these Sweaty Betty leggings have got you covered. They're made with stretchy, quick-drying fabric that gets you through the sweatiest workout while looking good, thanks to its butt-lifting properties.
Related: 'I Worked Out In My Living Room For A Month—Here's What Happened'
Power 7/8 Workout Leggings, $100.00, Sweaty Betty
Best Workout Leggings For Running
The number one seller from Girlfriend Collective, these leggings keep compression, comfort and ease of movement in mind, so that each stride isn't hijacked by thoughts that your leggings are sagging or moving out of place. Hat tip to these for keeping sustainability in mind. These eco-friendly high-rise leggings are actually made from 25 recycled water bottles.
Black Compressive High-Rise Legging, $69.00, Girlfriend Collective
Best Opaque Workout Leggings
The TechSweat fabric on these high-waisted leggings is super light, but that doesn't mean they sacrifice coverage. Breathable, sweat-wicking, and made with a hi-rise waistband that stays in place, these leggings can take on high intensity exercise with ease, but they're perfect for lounging around and running errands, too. The opacity of these leggings from Outdoor Voices lets you bend over to pick up your groceries without worrying that your butt is on full display.
TechSweat 3/4 Leggings,$85, Outdoor Voices
You Might Also Like
