The Best Leggings For Women, Based On Rigorous Testing

The best leggings for women should be supportive, comfortable and breathable. I spent 10 weeks testing 14 different leggings to find the absolute best. After putting the contenders through the paces of running, yoga and circuit workouts, I determined Lululemon’s SenseKnit High-Rise Running Tights to be the overall winner. For a budget-friendly option, you can’t beat IUGA High Waist Yoga Pants. Ahead, you’ll find all my top picks, along with new additions tested by Forbes Vetted staffers.

Body fabric: 76% nylon, 24% elastane | Size range: 0 to 14 | Colors: Rhino Grey and Black

Best For:

• High impact activities when you want compression and support
• Minimizing sweat during a workout
• Preventing inner-thigh chafing

Skip If:

• You’re on a budget
• You prefer supersoft, stretchy leggings instead of a performance-oriented fit

The Lululemon SenseKnit High-Rise Running Tights are sleek, compressive and supportive, without sacrificing breathability, making them perfect for high-impact activities. I started testing the SenseKnits when I was 6 weeks postpartum, and in these leggings, I felt like I could easily clock 7:40 miles in a half-marathon again.

Here’s why: Unlike most of the other leggings I tested, these have compression zones knit right into the material, made with a proprietary fabric blend called SenseKnit. If you’ve ever worked out in compression tights, you know that extra support often means extra sweat, but this pair has ventilation zones to minimize dampness.

Unlike many of the other leggings I tested, the SenseKnits are made for running, which you can see in the details, from the lack of an inseam (no inner-thigh chafing!), to the low-profile (but functional) envelope pockets that tuck valuables away without bouncing, to the targeted ventilation and compression zones. The design has been carefully thought out, and as a runner, I appreciated each and every feature. Still, there are more comfortable leggings out there, made of softer, stretchier fabric for lounging and athleisure wear. But on the days I wanted to feel fast and strong during my workouts, the SenseKnits were my top choice.

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The 2024 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.

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Fabric: 77% polyester, 23% spandex | Size range: XS to XXXL | Colors: 30+ total, including Black and Navy Blue

Best For:

• Comfort during low-impact workouts
• Wide range of sizes and colors
• Affordability

Skip If:

• You do intense workouts
• You work out in hot weather or warm studios and gyms

Out of the box, these IGUA High Waist Yoga Pants have nearly all the same features as the pricier leggings I tested for $100 or more—the waistband stash pocket for keys, the handy phone pocket on the hips, the flatlock seams, the opaque fabric, the array of colors—it’s all there. And for $25, that’s really a bargain. The IUGA leggings are flattering, stay put and are soft and comfortable. The 4-inch waistband is even wider than the norm, which makes these incredibly nice to lounge around in, and far comfier than some of the more performance-oriented leggings I tried.

If you’re looking for leggings that can handle the occasional run or yoga class, the IUGAs are perfectly wonderful, and a total steal. However, as your demands—or your workouts—ratchet up in intensity, these leggings start to fail in some aspects. I noticed this mostly during interval training, as sprinting builds up heat fast, even in 55 degree weather. My legs quickly grew hot and sweaty and stayed that way for the duration of the workout. Under similar circumstances, more performance-oriented (and also more expensive) leggings wicked the moisture away and also breathed better, leaving my legs cool even while sweating.

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Fabric: 80% nylon, 20% elastane | Size range: XS to XL | Colors: 3 total, including Black and Navy

Best For:

• Runners looking for warmth without weight
• All-weather workouts
• People who find traditional gusset (crotch) designs problematic

Skip If:

• You live in a mild climate that doesn’t get colder than 50 degrees

As a year-round runner who lives in Vermont, I’ve gotten used to cold-weather running gear that is heavy and stiff, forcing me to choose between being warm and being comfortable. By contrast, I put on the Tracksmith Turnover Tights and had no idea they were winter-weight leggings—the fabric is incredibly stretchy and lightweight. On a chilly fall trail run, this pair also easily flicked off the mud and light rain I encountered, thanks to its smooth yet durable finish.

While the Turnover leggings eschew ankle zippers or oversized pockets (there’s just one small rear zipper pocket big enough for a credit card, keys and a moderately sized phone), there are several standout design features. One is the 1.5-inch waistband that’s sewn into the top of the tights to minimize sagging and lend extra stability. The inseam is also unique, in that it’s a U-shaped panel that runs continuously from ankle to ankle, through the crotch, creating an unbroken line that’s extremely comfortable. It’s a step up from the traditional V-shaped inseam that only goes down the inside of the legs below the crotch, which can lead to riding up. Instead, the Turnover leggings stay exactly where they’re supposed to and keep you warm while doing it. Plus, at $128, they provide an excellent warmth-to-cost ratio in my opinion.

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Fabric: 74% nylon, 26% spandex | Size range: XXS-XXL | Colors: 4 total, including Blue Clematis and Purple Nebula

Best For:

• Yoga or other moderate workouts
• Softness and a comfortable texture
• Wearing to work to yoga and back again

Skip If:

• You prefer cropped or seven-eighths length leggings, or have a shorter frame

If you’re looking for all-day comfort in leggings that can also handle a daily workout or yoga practice, the Zella Studio Luxe High Waist Pocket Leggings are an excellent option. The fabric has a luxurious hand feel that’s smooth, buttery and supportive. Also great: It’s completely opaque without feeling heavy or bulky—a metric I tested using a mirror and direct sunlight—which makes the Zella Studio Luxe a top pick for many activities, and especially for yoga, where a round of cat-cows or a sun salutation can leave you wondering just how much is on display to your fellow yogis.

As a busy person, I appreciated that I could throw these on in the morning to drop my infant off at daycare, then immediately hit the yoga mat before sitting down at my desk, still wearing these leggings. I particularly liked how the flexible, high-waisted style didn’t roll, pinch, gap or bind as I moved through an hourlong flow practice or pelvic-floor rehab, which involves a variety of guided body-weight exercises. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Zella Studio Luxe handled high-impact interval-training workouts as well without sagging or chafing.

The only drawback is the length; I’m relatively tall at 5 foot 6 and still felt the 26.5-inch inseam could be a touch shorter. But, if you like full-length leggings that can tackle anything, these are up to the challenge.

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Fabric: 81% nylon, 19% Lycra elastane | Size range: 0 to 20 | Colors: 10 total, including Grey Eucalyptus and True Navy

Best For:

• A high-rise waist that doesn’t roll down or dig in
• Wearing year-round for low-impact activities
• Squat-proof fabrication that’s not see-through

Skip If:

• You don’t like a high waisted legging

Lululemon’s bestselling Align leggings live up to the hype, according to the Forbes Vetted staffers who tested them. “The performance was great. I walked, worked out on my Peloton and wore them on an international long haul flight and I felt supported without being restricted,” said one tester. Staffers consistently praised the high-rise waist for its comfort. “These leggings felt like a second skin and moved with my body beautifully. They didn’t roll down at all and the crotch didn’t sag even during activity—this is a problem I have with many pairs of leggings.”

Staffers also obsessed over the softness and fit of the Aligns. “The mat