People Prefer These $25 Leggings over More Expensive Pairs

We updated this guide in February 2023 to include new picks from Lululemon, Athleta, Spanx, Aerie and more, based on recent testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab.

When you realize that a newly purchased garment has pockets, it's the best feeling. Even more important when exercising, leggings with pockets hold your essential items, whether you're working out at the gym or going for an outdoor run; it's easy to keep your phone, keys, ID and credit cards accessible without carrying a bulky bag. Leggings and yoga pants with pockets are convenient and comfortable when you're not working out too.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests workout leggings and yoga pants by evaluating things like the construction, stretch recovery, pilling resistance, moisture management, opacity and washability. We then have consumer testers wear them during real workouts to get feedback on aspects like comfort, fit, breathability and appearance. Testers wore these pairs for over 300 hours of exercise during yoga practice, HIIT workouts, weight lifting, running, Pilates classes and more. We found the best leggings with pockets during our most recent test of 38 different pairs of leggings with over 150 testers.

Our top picks:

While some leggings have just a small insert in the waistband to hold a card or key, there are also workout pants with wider pockets at the waist, deep pockets against the thigh and even pockets with zippers so you don’t have to worry about larger items like your phone falling out. After reading through our top picks, keep reading to learn about our testing protocols and shopping tips.