The 14 Best Workout Leggings We Found for Every Need After Testing Dozens

We love these leggings for all-day wear because of their comfortable fit and casual style. They’re ankle-length with a 25-inch inseam. They offer moderate compression and a high-rise waist. “The material is superb,” said Brown. “The leggings have a wide waistband with a drawstring that is both flattering and functional. I can wear these for any activity, from my indoor cycling to Pilates classes.”

These leggings are both washer and dryer-friendly, so they’re easy to care for. Whether you’re headed to the gym, meeting a friend for a walk, or running to the grocery store, their versatility makes them a good fit for an active lifestyle. They’re moderately priced at under $100 and available in seven different colors. Sizes range from extra small to double extra large, but they do tend to run a little small. So, if you’re between sizes, we suggest sizing up.

The Ultimate Leggings from Adanola are high-waisted with a comfortable, 4-way stretch. They provide medium compression and a smooth, snug fit, which prevents them from rolling or slipping during an active day.

We love that they’re reasonably priced and available in sizes XXS to 3XL in regular, tall, and ⅞ inseams. The leggings also come in 20 colors, including classic black and grey, and more playful colors like berry red and dark plum. “They're buttery smooth and pretty comfortable to wear all day,” said editor Ally Hirschlag. “When I work out in them, the waistband stays put, and I don't really feel the need to adjust them."

The T1 Thermal Tights from Planet Nusa are runners’ tights designed for cold weather. They’re perfect thermal leggings for distance runners who want to keep clocking miles during the winter months. They feature thermal panels on the front of the legs to help keep you warm when temperatures drop. They’re also high-waisted with a snug fit, and made from a quick-drying fabric that wicks sweat away from the body.

We love that they feature reflective details, a good safety measure for short winter days when you’re squeezing in runs before the sun is up. These leggings offer medium compression with enough stretch to move easily during workouts. We think they’d be a great choice for milder winter days, as well, since they’re not too warm.

The Baleaf Laureate fleece-lined leggings are specifically designed for outdoor exercise during colder winter months. During testing, I found them warm enough for below-freezing temps, especially when I paired them with warm socks and a coat on top. I tried them out on walks, and because they’re water-resistant, I even wore them while playing in the snow with my kids. I am sensitive to how some fabrics feel, so I was worried I wouldn’t like the fleece on my skin, but these leggings are super soft.

They’re available in sizes extra small to triple extra large, though they only offer one inseam length. We’d love to see this brand extend its sizing to include a wider range of body types. They feature three pockets, including a zipper pocket, and a wide waistband that offers a little extra compression at the waist.

The High-Waist Airlift Legging from Alo is compressive with four-way stretch fabric, ideal for long runs, whether you’re hitting the trail or hopping on the treadmill. When wearing these leggings, you can expect a snug fit that stays put during the most intense bursts of activity. They’re available in full-length and ⅞ inseams in sizes double extra-small to extra-large. Black, Smoky Quartz, and Crystal Clear Blue are three examples of the twenty colors you can choose from.

“I love these leggings because they offer the perfect compression,” said writer Julia Childs Heyl. “They are so lightweight and non-restrictive, yet they stayed in place just fine for a 3.5-mile walk and an active day with my toddler. I would buy these a thousand times over and honestly just might.”

These more affordable leggings from Under Armour are designed for performance. They’re made with sweat-wicking, fast-drying polyester elastane. They’re shown to be good at controlling odor, even on long, sweaty runs.

“Aim for material that is breathable, often labeled as ‘dry-fit, air-wicking,’” says Brown. “They should definitely not fit loose, or the air-wicking material won’t work. It needs to be on the skin to pull the moisture out.” Additionally, a good fit with decent stretch will prevent leggings from rolling or needing to be adjusted during a run, according to Brown.

We love that they're available in short, regular, and tall inseams, but the tallest inseam of 29 inches might be too short for taller runners. They come in sizes double extra small to triple extra large, and feature a drop-in pocket for your phone and a small snack to fuel your run.

During testing, these leggings offered uniform, tight compression throughout my legs, but I never felt they were so compressive that they were uncomfortable to wear. I actually wore these while traveling to help with circulation and felt they helped keep me comfortable on a long flight. They’re among my favorite leggings I’ve tested, and I wear them regularly to the gym and around the house. Elastique Lisse Leggings are available in sizes extra small to extra large. You can choose between a 25- or 27-inch inseam.

“Leggings that slide down are so annoying. It means that the cut or brand is not for you, or they’re too big,” says Brown. “They need to be snug enough around the waist, hips, and butt to prevent sliding down. I find that light, extra stretchy material will actually help them stay in place better than the thicker fabrics.”

The ODODOS Tummy Control Compression Leggings fit Brown’s description to a T. These leggings offer snug compression alongside a four-way stretch, which moves with you during your workout. Plus, they’re super budget-friendly at under $25 per pair. They are available in a 25- or 28-inch inseam, 21 colors, and sizes extra small to double extra large.

I found these leggings to be the most comfortable of the ones I tried. (I even slept in them at one point because I enjoy wearing them so much.) I appreciated the four-way stretch the most during yoga because I didn’t need to tug at or adjust the leggings when moving from one pose to the next. The fabric is incredibly breathable, with moisture-wicking properties that I appreciated when I went for a long walk on a warmer day. I also love the flare version — I was comfortable wearing them all day as I ran errands.

These affordable leggings from Quince legitimately compete with leggings twice their price. We love how they pair a buttery-soft feel with medium compression for a super comfortable fit. The fit is snug, but not so tight that it keeps you from moving easily.

Shorter folks will appreciate the 25-inch inseam — unlike some other brands, it legitimately fits like a ⅞ legging on us. We do wish they would consider adding more inclusive sizing in the future, though, as they currently only go up to XL. Choose from five understated colors, including Big Sur Green and Moonlit Grey.

“I find the compression just right, slimming in the right places, but not too tight or too loose,” said Hirschlag. “The pockets would be useful for a slim phone or card holder if you were running errands after the gym and didn't want to bring a bag. They're also a great length for shorter women.”

With an affordable price point and a wide size range (extra-small through 4XL, available in tall, regular, and short), the Extra-High Waisted PowerSoft Boundless Leggings from Old Navy just make sense. They’re super high-waisted and made from 4-way stretch, moisture-wicking fabric, so you can move with abandon during your next workout. Since they’re super-soft, I also love these leggings for yoga and pilates. 

The Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Leggings offer an impressive range of sizes, spanning from extra small to sextuple extra large. They’re highly compressive and have four-way stretch. During testing, I found the fit just right, holding everything in place during higher intensity workouts, including HIIT and chasing my kids around the park. I felt like the contouring seams were really flattering, and I appreciated not having to deal with rolling or waistband folding during exercise.

We love that the Girlfriend Collective’s products are made from recycled water bottles, and the brand encourages reselling or recycling after purchase. I have found these leggings to have a long lifespan. I bought my first pair of Girlfriend Collective leggings when the brand launched in 2016, and they’re still in rotation almost 10 years later.

These leggings are lightly compressive with great stretch, perfect for any lower-intensity workout. We love how soft and smooth they are, and the hidden pocket inside the waistband for essentials like keys or credit cards. So you can flit from a Pilates class to running errands with no stop off at home in between.

I spent two weeks testing these legs and loved that they delivered on their promise to stay-put. I wore them for workouts, for housework, and for chasing my preschooler around the house on snow days. Spanx offers the OnForm leggings in five colors in sizes extra-small to triple extra-large.

These well-priced leggings hold their own compared to higher-end brands. They have a snug fit and high-rise waistband that doesn’t roll down during workouts. We also love the large side pockets for easy storage of your phone or keys, whether you’re running into the store or moving from machine to machine at the gym.

These leggings are made from a soft-to-the-touch polyamide-spandex blend that offers moderate compression. Sizes range from extra small to quadruple extra large. Based on customer experience, we found that some colors aren’t as compressive as others, and that the sizing might vary slightly between colors as well. Since these leggings can be purchased on Amazon, returns are easy if you don’t find the right fit the first time.