The best gym leggings 2024: for every type of workout

On the hunt for a pair of the best gym leggings to wear during strength training, on your runs or in Pilates class but not sure where to spend your money? With so many different brands and designs on the market, it's a tough decision. This is where Tom's Guide can help, we've tested and rounded up a handful of top performing leggings to help whittle down your search.

We test any leggings we try across a range of workout styles to see how they feel and perform during cardio work, high-intensity training, weight lifting and lower intensity workouts such as yoga and Pilates. The main things we look for is how well they fit, if they're actually supportive and are they sweat-wicking.

Keep scrolling to find the best gym leggings that came out in trumps during our testing.

What did we look for when deciding the best gym leggings

There are lots and lots of leggings out there marketed as leggings for working out in, but to be very frank with you this doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be suitable for exercising in. There are various features that make a good quality pair of performance gym leggings, here's what we look for when testing leggings.

First, the fit is very important. Leggings should hug your body without sagging at areas that naturally stick out more (the knees or bum), and they should run true to size. They also need to be sweat-wicking and non-see-through. Support and compression are key too, we don't want to feel so locked into our leggings that we feel restricted but we also don't want to feel like they are going to slip down our hips as we exercise.

Materials like nylon or polyester tend to make a good sweat wicking pair of gym leggings as opposed to a cotton pair of fashion purpose  leggings. The better your leggings are at sweat wicking the less likely you are to experience chafing in them, so material is certainly a factor to look out for.

Durability is another important factor. The material shouldn't be quick to bobble or pille, and the leggings should retain their shape and color after multiple washes. Very importantly you want to choose leggings that offer good value—those that last longer than a few months and keep you looking and feeling great.

The quick list

Best gym leggings you can buy today

Best Sweaty Betty gym legging

These are Sweaty Betty’s best-selling leggings and for good reason. They are a brilliant all-rounder — we’ve worn them on the run, for HIIT classes, and just walking the dog and they’ve performed brilliantly. They are sweat-wicking, fast-drying and the high-waistband stays put, no matter what you’re doing. They also come in a wide variety of patterns and sizes to suit every style. 

The Power leggings have Sweaty Betty’s “bum-sculpting” technology and flattened seams for a more streamlined look on the body. They’ve also got three different pockets — two drop-in side pockets on the legs, and a zipped pocket on the back of the leggings which is perfect for your keys when you’re on the run or in the gym. They also come in two different leg lengths — a 7/8, which is perfect for more petite women, as they’ll be pretty much full length on them, and a full leg length. 

One thing to note before buying these — they’re only 80-90% squat proof, so certain patterns and colors might be the tiniest bit see-through when you’re squatting, or wearing them when stretching. 

Best Lululemon gym legging

There’s a reason why these Lululemon leggings are famous — they are wonderfully buttery-soft and extremely comfortable. Made from Lululemon’s Nulu fabric, the Align leggings are designed to be supportive and soft for yoga classes, Pilates, hiking, and just wearing day-to-day (trust us, you won’t want to take them off). They also come in three different leg lengths — 25, 28, and 31 inches, which makes them the perfect choice for shorter or taller yogis. 

The Align leggings come in a huge range of colors and patterns, and last year, Lululemon also released an Align with leg pockets, which come in handy when carrying your phone or keys around in the gym. The high-waistband doesn’t budge, and we’ve worn these for hikes and yoga classes and found them wonderfully supportive.

The downside with the Align is that they aren’t the most sweat-wicking or fast-drying. The fabric is thick and plush but doesn’t dry as fast as some of the other leggings on this list, meaning you might finish your workout with some visible sweat patches. While this shouldn’t bother you (sweat is the sign of a good workout, right?) if you are conscious, or heading to a Barry’s Bootcamp class, you might want something that will keep you a little dryer. 

Take a look at all of the best Lululemon leggings to shop here. 

Best Nike gym legging

If you’re someone who wants one pair of leggings you can wear for everything, the Nike Dri-Fit One has been made for you. They are squat-proof enough to wear for your HIIT class, but also comfortable enough to wear on your yoga mat at a retreat. Nike has also made these leggings in a huge range of lengths and sizes so you can find your perfect fit. 

The waistband on the Nike One isn’t as high as some of the others on this list — it sits just below the belly button. Fit-wise, the leggings have a tighter fit for a body-hugging feel and seamless sides to avoid any uncomfortable chafing. 

Pocket-wise, the One leggings have some smaller hidden pockets in the waistband which are big enough for some keys or maybe a hairband. There’s nowhere to stow your phone or your gym pass, but if you can get over that, these are a pair of brilliantly versatile gym leggings. 

Best Gymshark gym legging

The chances are you’ll have seen a girl with these leggings in the gym or on your Instagram feed. They’re super popular thanks to the high-waisted, seamless design, which is comfortable for just about everything (although we wouldn’t wear these running due to the lack of waistband). They’ve also got ruched detailing on the bum for a flattering fit that makes the glutes look more sculpted. 

In the gym, these leggings are fully squat-proof and come in a number of different shades and patterns. There aren’t any pockets, so you’ll need to find somewhere else to put your keys and phone, however, the fabric and fit are comfortable during most gym sessions. 

The drawback with these leggings is that they only come in one leg length, so shorter women might find they have to fold the leggings or get them taken up, for them to sit neatly on the anklebone. 

Best structured gym legging

These are Sweaty Betty's latest innovations and they are a brilliant buy if your 2024 goal involves yoga or Pilates. They are super high-waisted, and the waistband does a good job of sucking everything in, without rolling or bunching — during testing, we found these didn't budge at all during Pilates classes. 

Unlike other yoga leggings on the market, these leggings have a drop-in pocket on your leg for your phone if you do want to wear them in the gym. While we haven't worn these for a run (they don't have a drawcord waistband), on hikes with the dog, having somewhere to store your phone is handy. 

For their buttery-soft fabric, these leggings wick sweat remarkably well, and are 90% squat-proof, although you are likely to see some sweat patches at the end of a workout. If this doesn't bother you (why should it?) and you're looking for a comfortable pair of leggings to keep up with you, these tick the right boxes. 

Best gym legging for running

When it comes to the best running leggings on the market, it doesn’t get better than the Lululemon Fast and Free tights. They’re super lightweight, made from Lululemon’s Nulux fabric that offers “weightless coverage”. They also have a great amount of storage, with two drop-in leg pockets big enough for your smartphone, gels, and running gloves, and a number of smaller pockets on the waistband. None of the pockets are zipped, however, we’ve never had a problem with anything falling out on the run. 

Fit-wise, the Fast and Free leggings come in two different leg lengths — a 25 and a 28 inch. The 25 inch leg is designed to sit above the ankle, however on petite runners, it’s more like wearing a full-length tight. The waistband is high, sitting above the belly button, and has a drawcord, so you can customize the fit and prevent the leggings from slipping on the move. 

If you’re planning on wearing these on the run and to the odd HIIT class, they’re squat proof and feel sleek and cool to the touch, even when wet. We’ve had pairs of the Fast and Free for years and they’ve washed well, without bobbling, although it’s important not to tumble dry them, or use fabric softener on your gym leggings. If you can afford them, these are a brilliant buy. 

Best gym legging for training in the dark

These Brooks leggings are some of the best reflective running leggings around, with 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black Stretch reflectivity panels in critical motion zones to help drivers see you running up to 600 feet away. They are also sweat-wicking and fast-drying and are made from a thicker fabric which provides more insulation when the temperature drops. 

Fit-wise, the Brooks leggings come up full-length and a 7/8 leg length, which is a better choice for petite runners who don’t want to have to fold their leggings up. They don’t have a drawstring waist, so you can’t adjust how tight the waistband sits, however, we didn’t have any problem with slipping or bunching up on the run. 

A great buy for runners who are training in the evenings and are worried about their visibility in low light.

Best plus size gym legging

These Nike leggings offer plus sizes and are designed to offer a firm amount of support for a range of workouts. We were impressed by the number of pockets in these leggings — there's six, including a handy zipped pocket on the leg, perfect for your essentials. 

The leggings come in two different waistbands — a mid-rise, and a high-rise, which sits above the belly button for a locked-in fit on the run. Nike has thought of everything — there's a toggle on the drawcord waistband to stop it becoming bunched in the wash, and keep it in place when you're on the run. We had no issue with chafing or slipping when wearing these leggings. 

The downside is that these are a more compressive fit, which won't be for everyone. You wouldn't want to wear these sat at your desk, for example. That said, they're an excellent pair of running leggings, and we loved how soft and comfortable they kept us on the move. 

Best flared gym legging

One of the biggest trends in workout gear in 2023? Flared leggings. Best suited for hikes, yoga and Pilates, the slight flare elongates the legs, and helps upgrade your post-workout look. Our flared leggings of choice are the Groove Super-High-Rise flares from Lululemon, which fit like normal leggings to the knee, then flare outwards for a flattering fit. 

The leggings are available in sizes 0-20, and come in 14 different sizes. The super high waistband sits above the belly button, and hugs the stomach for a comfortable fit. The Nulu fabric is the same as that used in the Align leggings, so it's extremely soft and comfortable. That said, it's not the most sweat-wicking, so if you're wearing these in a light color for a warm hike, you might get some visible sweat patches. 

The only downside with these leggings is they only come in one, very long, leg length of 32.5 inches. Our tester is 5"2 and had about a foot of material to take off the bottom. The good news is, Lululemon offers free alterations in store, but if you're looking to buy these online, be aware you're probably going to need to get them turned up. 

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