A good pair of leggings are a workout essential, especially when they’re high-waisted, super absorbent and have built-in compression and smoothing qualities. The last thing you want to worry about mid-sun salutation is where your leggings are—or aren’t. There are leggings at just about every price point, but how do the $30 leggings compare with the $130 leggings? We got our hands on some popular pairs to find out.
To see how well each of the leggings would perform we wore them during a 75-minute hot yoga flow class—the sweatiest and most demanding workout we could think of. (Some leggings were tested twice, because, science.) We’ve ranked all of the leggings from most to least favourite—taking into consideration performance, fit and price.
Price: $108, Lululemon
These leggings provided excellent compression, especially in the upper thigh and butt area—definitely the best of the bunch. They’re snug and supportive, but not hard to shimmy into. They absorbed lots of sweat, but not as rapidly as the Nike tights. And, One big plus—they did not shift during class.
Price: $75, Nike
Initially, these leggings looked quite small, but they stretched evenly over my body and offered decent compression (I would have liked more in the butt/thigh region, but it wasn’t a deal breaker). The legs have little vents that run along their length—making them super breathable, without sacrificing coverage. Plus, they absorbed a lot of sweat very quickly, which meant I was more dry than usual after a hot yoga flow class. The best part? They didn’t shift at all —I pulled them up once or twice during class because I wanted to, not because I needed to. The only thing I didn’t love was the construction of the crotch—it reminded me of the wool tights I wore as a kid.
Price: $65, MEC
These leggings offer good overall compression and have quite a large waistband, which offered lots of support. However, they definitely rolled down my torso during a hot yoga flow class. I especially liked the raw edge of the ankle opening, it makes it easier to remove the leggings in a rush without worrying that I’m going to tear any stitching (something I’ve done with other legging in the past). The MEC Sculpt High Rise Tights also did a really good job absorbing sweat—of which there was plenty!
Price: $35, H&M
By far the least expensive legging that we tested, these bargain bottoms are a great choice for budget-minded fitness fans. They slipped on easily and moved well with me during hot yoga. While the waist of the pants did roll down from time to time, it’s nothing I wasn’t willing to overlook from a $35 pair of leggings.
Price: $115, RYU
These tights have some respectable compression, so getting them on for the first time was an exercise in determination. On the bright side, they’re quite long—I’m tall and enjoyed the slightly loose ankle bunching. By design, the RYU Cardio Tight has a shorter waistband with two built-in zippered pockets—great in theory, less so in a 75-minute hot yoga flow class. The waistband of the pants kept rolling down my sweaty torso during class. However, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them for spinning or running—any activity with less up and down.
Sydney: I actually liked them much better (than other leggings that I’ve tried). My legs didn’t get as hot (at an Orange Theory interval training class), they were great on my run (under wind pants) and although they did roll down a little at the waistband on the rowing machine, it was minimal (as in, I wasn’t hiking them up every time I got up). We also did a bunch of floor exercises (sit ups, plank, etc) and they were great there, too–very comfy, no pulling, bunching, slipping, sagging, etc.
Price: $84.95, Gap
With lots of air flow (thanks to discrete discreet mesh panels along the legs and waist) and respectable stretch and compression, these leggings held their own during a hot yoga flow class. The thick waistband kept everything held in, but I didn’t feel squished or restricted in any way.
Sydney: These tights pulled on effortlessly—like butter! Plus, they felt super smooth and stretchy once they were on. All good until I hit the rowing machine, when I could feel the very top start to roll a bit as I amped things up (had to do some discreet “hiking” as I moved to the weight station, but nothing major). Biggest drawback was on the treadmill, when my legs started feeling hot.
Price: $50, Old Navy
Overall, Old Navy’s leggings offered good compression. I felt very held in and secure throughout my 75-minute hot yoga practice. The pants didn’t roll down during hot yoga and they didn’t need be shifted or adjusted once—impressive for any legging. However, they weren't as breathable as other leggings we tried, and the fabric had an almost fuzzy quality to it—not slick or smooth.
Sasha: At about half the price of Lululemon leggings, Old Navy’s High-Rise Elevate compression leggings are a good value. The high-waist compression panel around the waist does keep your tummy tucked in, and the seam styling gives it a Lulu-like feel. The thick material passes the squat test with flying colours–no underwear showing through at all. However, I like more compression in the thighs and especially the butt. I felt more jiggle than I wanted to during my workout.
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