A flattering, feel-good pair of workout leggings can be all the motivation you need to get in a gym session, yoga class or jog. They’re also a comfortable, non-confining option for supermarket trips, casual outings and working from home. In short, you should own a pair! 

But leggings that are perfect for one person are shlumpy—or worse, scandalously see-through—on another. Some people value plenty of pockets and sturdy, smoothing fabric while others want material that is as thin and breathable as possible. Leggings that sail through a spin class might not be sturdy enough for a hike. 

We put a range of leggings through the wringer—exercising, running errands and eventually, machine-washing them—to find the best options for all those activities and situations. 

Our top picks include the best overall workout leggings; comfortable, body-hugging leggings with side pockets; high-waisted sustainable leggings; compressive plus-size leggings; pocketed budget-friendly leggings that smooth; and seamless leggings for high-impact activities.

If you’d like to read how we vetted and tested these leggings and which experts we consulted, scroll down for more detail.

Lululemon ’s Wunder Train leggings are made to sweat in yet have that barely-there feel the brand has become known for. They’re made of sweat-wicking, quick-drying fabric that is supportive enough for the most vigorous workouts but still looks and feels elegant. The material has a brushed look with a bit of sheen on the outside; the inside feels cool against your skin, which is what you want in a no-holds-barred boot camp or kickboxing class. In fact, our tester was caught off guard by how temperature-regulating they were—they kept her warm during a crisp morning trail run, but cool doing high-intensity intervals indoors. Those familiar with Lululemon’s much-coveted Align leggings will know the soft buttery feel of their fabric; the Wunder Trains may not be quite as comfy as the Aligns to lounge in, but they excel at the gym.

The high-rise waistband has an additional elastic drawcord so you can adjust the tightness—a game-changer for preventing roll-downs when you’re doing a set of squat jumps or going for a run. (Those with wider hips and a smaller waist will appreciate the drawstring even more). The internal pocket on the waistband is big enough to fit a credit card and key. 

Even in the bright “Ripened Raspberry” color, sweat didn’t show through, and these leggings dried the fastest of those we tested, within 10 minutes . They aced the squat test, too, with zero show through. They stood up well to machine washing, retaining their shape with no pilling.

Athleta’s Salutation Stash Pocket II leggings were the softest of every pair we tested and had just enough compression to smooth and shape your body while still allowing for ease of motion. They’re fully opaque, offering complete coverage during squats and bends, and have what every person running errands needs: capacious pockets. 

The double-layer waistband sits a bit higher than the Wunder Trains’ and didn’t roll down or shift during yoga, hiking or a session on the indoor rower. It was also a favorite feature for how good it looks for leisure wear: It cinches the waistline more than our top pick does, which makes for a nice silhouette, and the subtle V-shape in the back adds a slight, flattering bum lift. For a day spent running around, the deep side pockets accommodate a phone, credit card and car keys, but when you’re not stashing your stuff, they stay nicely flat. 

The Salutation leggings felt slightly less cooling than and didn’t wick as effectively as the Lulus. Sweat marks were slightly visible after a tough workout (our tester tried the “Spiced Cabernet” color), but the tights dried completely in about 15 minutes. They’re also rated UPF 50+, a nice add-on for frequent outdoor exercisers.

Plus-size fitness instructor Jessie Diaz-Herrera describes herself as obsessed with these leggings. Plus, she says, they wear and wash well. “I’ve had [the Salutation leggings] for four years, and they’re still in great condition.” 

Girlfriend Collective’s Compressive High-Rise Leggings are a do-it-all workhorse that shape, lift and stretch to move with you. And on days when you can’t check “worked out” off your list, you can still feel virtuous because these are made with post-consumer recycled polyester. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day, with a smoothing waistband that is not too tight, well-placed seams that hug the hips and squat-test-surviving opacity. Their slight sheen and more structured design also make them a decent substitute for actual pants.

The Girlfriend Collective leggings aren’t as sleek-looking as the Lululemons or as soft as the Athletas, but they have a design detail that stood out to our panel: added seaming around the hip area that helps contour any body type. They did a better job than the Girlfriend Collective pocketed version at hugging the body, and they fit well in the crotch and waist, areas that can sag unprettily.

Though the Compressive High-Rise leggings feel a little sturdier than other brands we tried, they wicked moisture well, hid sweat and dried within 15 to 20 minutes. 

A note about Girlfriend Collective’s sustainability cred: I’ve written about shopping sustainably, and when I see multiple third-party certifications stacked up, it suggests a brand is serious about its environmental and social impact. Girlfriend Collective’s recycled polyester material is certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, ensuring the clothing, including the dye, is free from substances harmful to human health. The leggings are sewn in an SA8000-certified factory, which assures fair and safe working conditions. You can also recycle these Girlfriend Collective leggings; when they’re no longer wearable, return them through the brand’s ReGirlfriend program to be upcycled and get some credit toward a new pair. 

Superfit Hero phased out some of its sizes at the end of 2020 to focus solely on extended and plus-size leggings, which are now available in sizes large (12/14) through 7X (40/42). That’s not to say that the other brands we ranked highly don’t accommodate larger women, but this brand’s focus on that market met with approval from our panel. Our top pick for working out, the Lululemon Wunder Trains, are only available up to size 20 (equivalent to XXL), which isn’t nearly as inclusive a range. 

These thick and comfortable full-length leggings are supportive and smoothing without feeling restrictive, and the 5-inch band stays put. For Diaz, having a thicker waistband in plus-size leggings is crucial. “It’s going to keep everything nice and tight,” she says, “and give you better lower back support.” There is also more stretch to the fabric on the Superfit Hero leggings than on leggings of the same sizes from other brands, making them easier to get into. 

They’re tough enough for outdoor sports and soft enough for yoga, plus completely squat-proof. We found that the Superfit Hero Superhold leggings aren’t as breathable as some of the slick, techier fabrics in our lineup for high-intensity activities, nor are they as quick drying. They might not be a go-to for a midsummer run, but they’ll perform admirably for cooler-weather activities and everyday wear. 

The 6-inch side pockets could be a bit deeper; a tester’s iPhone 12 sat loosely in the pocket and poked out the top. As with the other brands we recommend, the Superhold leggings retained their shape after washing, but the printed pocket logo might have the potential to crack or peel after multiple runs through the machine.

Colorfulkoala’s high-waisted yoga pants have amassed over 46,000 Amazon reviews and have gone viral on TikTok as a dupe for Lululemon’s popular Align leggings. They come pretty close to that soft buttery feel Lulu is known for, though the fabric isn’t quite as lightweight or luxe. Still, the Colorfulkoala leggings are more than comfortable enough for yoga, and the slightly thicker fabrication means they look appropriate for running errands or meeting friends for lunch. 

Not that you can’t sweat in them. In fact, these leggings perform impressively well given that they cost a fraction of most of our top picks. They have a ton of stretch, which makes moving in them easy, and while the olive green pair chosen for testing showed sweat, they dried relatively quickly. They don’t have the exceptional breathability of the Lululemon Wunder Trains or Gymshark Apex leggings, though, so you might not love them on hot days or for hard-core exercise sessions.

They scored well on fit, as well. The seamless waistband design dips down in the back for a flattering, booty-enhancing fit, a similar look to the Athleta leggings. It wasn’t as stay-put as the waist on the Athleta’s, though, sometimes rolling down when hiking and during some yoga poses. The side pockets accommodate a large iPhone with a fit just tight enough to keep it from bouncing around while moving. 

Colorfulkoala’s size range could be more accommodating (they’re available in XS to XL). Working toward that goal, the company has recently released a plus-size version (size 3X and 4X and only in black) that we were not able to test.

If you’ve ever wanted to look like a superhero, Gymshark High-Rise Apex leggings are your silver bullet. Their two-color design highlights the body’s curves and gives the impression of sculpted muscles. Their high-contrast look can be a tad jarring depending on your color choice, but looking this strong might just motivate you to go out there and actually get strong. 

Gymshark is known for its seamless activewear, which is constructed differently than standard cut-and-sew garments (which is how all the other leggings in our review are made). Seamless pieces are made on high-tech circular knitting machines that use a computer program to knit a single tube, much like how socks are made. Our tests didn’t show seamless versions to necessarily be more comfortable, but the capacity to manipulate the knit pattern throughout the garment allows the unique “superhero” design, as well as various other intriguing textures, densities, colors and patterns. That includes mesh vents on the legs, which made for welcome added air flow. Along with our top pick, Wunder Trains, they were the most breathable and moisture-wicking of the bunch, and they dried just as quickly post-workout.

Apex Leggings have a ribbed waistband that uses a slightly thicker knit in the back, offering good lower back support without feeling too restrictive in the front. They’re probably a little bit too compressive to make for comfy just-hanging-out leggings, but their breathability and quick drying time puts them on par with our top pick for sweaty workouts.

The biggest caveat: The Apex’s next-to-skin fit doesn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination. The flashy “Papaya Orange” color we tested wasn’t totally opaque in a deep squat, though darker colors might fare better. 

The leggings are available in sizes XS to XXL, which isn’t as inclusive as others. Overall, we found that seamless options aren’t that widely available in plus sizes . 

Nike DryFit One leggings ($55) are a versatile staple that can take you from the gym to school pickup, but they didn’t rise to the top in any one category. They’re supportive, but not as supportive as our Girlfriend Collective or Gymshark picks. Their seamless sides make for a flattering fit, but we found that feature in Lululemon’s Wunder Trains, and those were both more breathable and more sweat wicking. Ultimately, they were edged out by the just-as-versatile Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise leggings, which were simply more flattering.

The Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket II leggings, cousin to our top Athleta pick for leggings with side pockets, come in a Laser Cut version ($108) that is a worthy upgrade because the cutout detailing on the leg adds extra breathability and looks stylish. The limited size range (XS-XL only) of this style kept us from making them a top recommendation, but we liked the fit and style. 

We loved the springiness in the Outdoor Voices Move Free leggings ($88) and felt they were great for high-impact activities like CrossFit or a kickboxing class. The double elastic in the mid-rise waistband took a little fiddling to get situated just right. 

We gave the Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket Legging ($88) a shot, but felt that the fit of the waistband and hip area on the brand’s High-Rise Compression leggings was much better. We had trouble keeping the waistband on the pocketed leggings from rolling, and they sometimes slipped down while jogging and hiking. 

While Fabletics activewear has a devoted following, the brand uses a membership-based subscription model, so we chose not to test its leggings at this time. We may consider it for future updates. 

I’ve written in-depth reviews of fitness, outdoor apparel and gear for brands including REI, Treeline Review, Outside and Gear Patrol, and I was a staff writer at a leading product-reviews site. As a guest on the Consummate Athlete podcast, I’ve talked about what to wear hiking, including leggings. I own about two dozen pairs myself. 

We also consulted fashion, fitness and textile experts. To better understand workout wear construction and performance-driven fabrics, we spoke with Deborah Beard, associate chair of technical design and pattern making at the Fashion Institute of Technology, who literally wrote the textbook on garment engineering, fit and sizing. 

Jessie Diaz-Herrera is the founder of Curves with Moves and an inclusive fitness advocate who co-runs a wellness event group called Power Plus Wellness. Because we gave priority to brands that offer inclusive sizing, we leaned on Diaz-Herrera’s experience with a variety of leggings brands from the perspective of a plus-size woman and fitness instructor.

Addie Stohler, a stylist ambassador for Stitch Fix, an online styling and shopping service, is also a fitness instructor, and assessed the leggings landscape with an eye toward both aesthetics and performance.

There’s a seemingly endless supply of workout leggings to browse on the internet. A quick Google search offered up more than a billion—yes, with a b—results. 

We started our quest by researching the bestselling, highest-reviewed leggings. We took into consideration reviews in major publications, both general interest and fitness focused, as well as those at major online retailers, including Amazon, and on popular athletic brands’ websites. With the input of the pros on our panel, we focused on versatility and range of use, choosing leggings for sweaty workouts such as HIIT and running, relaxed activities like yoga and stretching, and the ability to transition easily from the gym to the grocery store. 

We included mid- and high-rise styles, pocketed and unpocketed. As The Wall Street Journal newsroom has reported, there’s a growing demand for more inclusive athletic gear, so we leaned toward brands that offer sizes XXS to XXL and 1X to 7X. We also kept the price point between $25 and $125. 

To arrive at the 10 pairs we selected for wear-testing, we considered fabric, fit and performance. The overall aim for any pair of leggings is, of course, comfort, which comes down to the feel of the fabric against your skin; how well the leggings fit, especially in the waist and hip areas; pocket placement; waistband design; compression; and whether they stay put during various activities. To judge pockets, we considered how bulky they looked and whether they would interfere with fitness activities—for instance, poorly placed back pockets or side pockets can be uncomfortable to lie down on for workouts done on a mat. Leggings with supportive, budge-proof waistbands were ranked higher.

For more technical parameters, our experts helped us judge comfort and quality on these four factors:

Each pair of workout leggings was worn fresh out of the packaging for at least 10 hours over the course of a day, while running errands, working from home and playing with kids, then worn during a rigorous workout—hiking, trail running, indoor rowing, rock climbing or a combination. They were then laundered in a standard washing machine and laid flat to dry, exercised in twice more and laundered again. 

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