16 pairs of workout leggings we swear by for everything from yoga to distance running
Alo Yoga
Best for: Yoga, weight training, static workouts
Why you should buy them: These leggings feel like a second skin, but one that's so stretchy you could bend into a pretzel and you wouldn't feel any pulling, digging, or resistance. Every time they come out of the wash, they're the first pair I put on for a workout.
They're best for anything that involves bending or stretching a lot (they were designed for doing yoga) but I've worn them running plenty of times and I honestly love them for any type of workout. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor
Zella
Best for: Yoga, gym, active day
Why you should buy them: My mom was the one who introduced me to Zella leggings and I knew they would become one of my favorite pairs from the moment I tried them on. The leggings are fitted and have a decent amount of support, so they are best suited for activity versus lounging.
I like that they are tight enough to stay in one place throughout the day, but don't squeeze my waist or leave those pesky seam indents in my skin. The leggings come in tons of styles and colors, but I enjoy the plain black high waisted pair. —Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern
Girlfriend Collective
Best for: Anything, particularly HIIT and hot yoga
Why you should buy them: Girlfriend Collective makes my favorite athleisure leggings by a mile, but their LITE pair is one of my all-time favorites for relatively inexpensive, barely-there HIIT leggings. They're lightweight (the sort that means you should pack seamless underwear if you don't want panty lines), quick-drying, and made from recycled fishing nets.
These are the leggings I'd take to a hot yoga class. My favorite thing about them is that they feel porous — like they're breathing, too — instead of laying on top of the skin, trapping moisture and heat. Plus, they come in five great colors, have a high high-rise, and look pretty great on. Find a full review here. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter
Skins
Best for: Outdoor running
Why you should buy them: Motivating yourself to go on a run can be a challenge, but adding cold weather to that is another obstacle in itself. These leggings make winter runs outside much more bearable.
A cool feature is the gradient compression — the highest compression is applied at the calf and it gradually decreases as you move up the leg. Ultimately, this will help support your legs through long runs and speed up recovery time. The best part is the soft, fleece-like interior that keeps you cozy on cold days, but is still thin enough to make sure you don't overheat when you start breaking a sweat. —Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter
Saucony
Best for: Year-round running
Why you should buy them: These Saucony leggings are aptly named the Bullet Crop, which makes me feel like I'm running a lot faster than my FitBit would indicate. The cropped length also makes my legs look miles longer than my actual run, and the compression fit keeps everything feeling tight and supported. —Jada Wong, Insider Picks editor
Spanx
Best for: Running, cycling
Why you should buy them: Spanx makes my all-time favorite pairs of tights, so I had high hopes for its leggings. And my faith was not misplaced ... the Active Printed Leggings are amazing.
They're breathable, supportive but not suffocating, and surprisingly comfortable, offering more stretch than similar compressive leggings I've tried that makes them much easier to get into and out of. I'm not sure what witchcraft went into the design, but they also manage to create a smooth-all-over look I love.—Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks director of content strategy
Lululemon
Best for: Yoga, HIIT, weight training
Why you should buy them: If I could only wear one pair of leggings for the rest of my life, it would probably be these. They're versatile enough for workouts and leisure wear and are made of some of the softest fabric I've ever exercised in.
They're constructed with Luxtreme, Lululemon's signature fabric, which wicks sweat, is super stretchy, and is engineered not to shrink. These truly feel like a second skin, hugging your shape and making it easy to move. I was hesitant to spend almost $90 on a seemingly regular pair of leggings, but I've had these for almost three years and they've held up their shape, softness, and color. Plus, they make my workouts easier by making me feel comfortable, so I think they're a good investment. —Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter
90 Degree by Reflex
Best for: Running, high-impact activity, hiking, walking, athleisure
Why you should buy them: My mom sent me these leggings, informing me that they were her favorite, and that's saying something because she's been around for 60+ years and running daily for about 40 of them.
These leggings are under $40 and have officially replaced all of the leggings I used to buy for twice the price. The fabric is sleek and sweat-wicking without being constrictive (true compression tights are a pet peeve of mine), and the waistband stays up perfectly when I run without cutting in. The seams don't leave marks on my skin and the color is jet black and opaque.
The back yoke is also very slimming — these are definitely leggings I wear to the grocery store too. They run true to size and at 5-foot-8, the length is perfect on me, but shorter ladies may be better with a capri style. —Grace High, Insider Picks analyst
Alala
Best for: Running, HIIT, weight training
Why you should buy them: As I rotate through different workout leggings during the week, Alala's tights are always the ones I look most forward to wearing. They're stretchy, soft, and not overly compressive, with breathable mesh panels at the spots that get surprisingly sweaty, and two pockets (one in front and a zippered one in back) to stash my keys or ID. The waistband doesn't dig into my skin or roll down, so I have no distractions as I run or attend a class.
The fabric dries fairly quickly, too. Even if I've just sweated up a storm, they look and feel like they haven't been touched in the less than 10 minutes it takes to walk from my gym to my subway station. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter
Eleven by Venus Wiliams
Best for: Year-round running
Why you should buy them: This pair has the highest rise ever — I swear it goes right up to underneath my rib cage, which I love because it just kind of keeps everything tight and supported. The seamless knit feels like a second skin and doesn't require any awkward adjusting or maneuvering midway through my runs, and the compression fabric is supportive yet breathable. The dark gray side panel also makes this pair feel slightly more special than boring gray leggings, but isn't super loud.
It's worth mentioning, though, that I'm 5-foot-4, and the leggings are really long on me. I have to fold up the bottoms a few times so there's no bunching around my ankles. —Jada Wong, Insider Picks editor
2XU
Best for: Running
Why you should buy them: The gist of these leggings is that 2XU made them specifically for the impact that running has on the leg. Internally, they have selective, anatomically mapped compression to bring more blood to key areas like quads and calves so you can perform better and recover faster without losing any upfront mobility as with all-over compression.
While that's a big perk, I love them equally as much because they feel like a thin second skin. I overheat easily during cardio, and these are the leggings I'd wear all the time if I could afford to. There have been complaints in the past that this pair is see-through (which 2XU responded to by adding denser paneling to the back) but I've never had an issue. Find a full review here. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter
Beyond Yoga
Best for: Yoga, athleisure
Why you should buy them: These are straight up the most comfy leggings you'll ever encounter. Remember those soft jersey sheets you probably had in high school or college? These have a similar feel, but with a little more heft so they're not see-through whatsoever. They're honestly so soft, snuggly, and stretchy that you'll want to spend your whole weekend curled up in them, but they hold up to actual yoga workouts exceptionally well, too, thanks to a high-rise waist that never digs in or pulls when you're bending and twisting every which way.
I will say that if you wear them casually a lot, they will pill in the thigh area from chafing, but if you reserve them for actual workouts exclusively, they should hold up for years. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor
Skechers
Best for: Yoga, gym, active day, lounging
Why you should buy them: Turns out Skechers makes more than just shoes. I am a huge fan of the brand's Go Flex High Waisted Leggings. They look like any other pair of black leggings, but they come with pockets, lounge-worthy comfort, and a breathable material.
The versatility is also a huge draw — they work well for a morning at the gym, a trip to the grocery store, and an evening watching my favorite shows. Though they are super soft and don't restrict my movements, they still fit my body all day long without stretching out. Plus, they're pretty cheap. —Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern
Athleta
Best for: HIIT, weight training
Why you should buy them: Athleta's colorful Contender line could just be the right burst of energy to get you excited and ready for your workout, especially on those days when the comfort of your couch calls to you with alarming appeal.If you're looking to keep a low profile at the gym, these are not the leggings for you. In a sea of gray and black workout apparel, they stand out like a sore thumb — I get compliments all the time for both the bright green color itself and how easy it is to find me in a crowd.
The smooth, compressive fabric feels great on my skin and it's punctuated by laser-cut holes for breathability. The thick waistband is nice and supportive, with an adjustable drawstring that I take advantage of depending on the type of workout I'm doing. I also like that, compared to other brands, the regular length is true to its word and hits a few inches above my ankles. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter
Under Armour
Best for: Year-round running, yoga, pilates, barre
Why you should buy them: I have several pairs of capris from UA's Heat Gear line — that's how much I love the fabric and fit. They're all slightly different from each other style-wise (and I'm partial to the ones that have side pockets), but the fast-drying, super-stretchy Heat Gear fabric is just so comfortable and lightweight that I can wear it all year round without overheating. I also like the capri length because it makes my silhouette look sleeker and I don't need to fold the legs. —Jada Wong, Insider Picks editor
Old Navy
Best for: Running, classes at the gym, outdoor activities, athleisure wear
Why you should buy them: Not only are these compression workout bottoms inexpensive, but they also do the job just as well as any other expensive brand. They're breathable, provide a sculpting shape, and are made of Go-Dry technology to wick away sweat. Plus, they're incredibly durable, having lasted me a couple of years after washing them once a week. —Francesca Rea, Insider Picks content producer
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