17 best gym leggings 2023 for every kind of workout
On the hunt for the best gym leggings? You've come to the right place. As shopping writers and self-confessed spin/1Rebel/workout addicts, we've tried more than our fair share. After all, we're firm believers that your gym leggings are one of your most crucial pieces of fit-kit. When you feel your best, you perform your best – and investing in a pair of sports tights that don't fall down, don't turn see-through when you squat and which flatter your figure will make you feel great.
Of course, to the untrained eye, gym leggings can all look the same. But trust us when we tell you that they can vary wildly. Search for "gym leggings" in Google and you'll be faced with over 158,000,000 (!) results, making the process to your dream pair of sports leggings a little overwhelming (and confusing). Workout leggings don't always come cheap, and when you're spending upwards of £50, you want to be sure they'll deliver. Ahead, everything you need to know in your quest to achieve your fitness goals – as well as our favourite pair of gym leggings ever.
What to look for in a pair of gym leggings | What's the difference between yoga pants and gym leggings? | How to make your gym leggings last longer | How we tested | Our full reviews.
The best gym leggings 2023 at a glance:
- Best gym leggings overall: lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pant 28, £88, Lululemon
- Best squat-proof gym leggings: Power High Waist Gym Leggings, £80, Sweaty Betty
- Best budget gym leggings: Go Move Printed High Waisted Gym Leggings, £27.50, Marks and Spencer
- Best high-waisted gym leggings: Daily Legging, £90, Vuori
- Best gym leggings with pockets: UA RUSH™ SmartForm Perforated Ankle Leggings, £89, Under Armour
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What to look for in a pair of gym leggings
Firstly, your gym leggings need to stay up when you're squatting, lunging, running and weight-lifting. High rise leggings with a chunky waistband – perhaps even a waistband with an internal drawcord – will stay put no matter how low you go. No one wants to be constantly tugging at their waist, or pulling up material around the crotch area. The Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25" from Lululemon have an internal drawcord to tighten them and avoid them falling down mid-run, as do these epic £25 (!) gym leggings from the M&S GoodMove collection.
Secondly, the best gym leggings should be opaque AF so your neighbours don't get a glimpse of your cotton underwear when you squat in front of your window. The Bamboo Clothing High Waist 7/8 Enduro Bamboo Leggings passed the squat test time and time again, serving up coverage that's worth shouting about.
Lastly? Your training leggings need to be sweat wicking, absorbing moisture from your skin and drying quickly. This is particularly important in the winter so that you don't stay damp and catch a chill. Every pair of sculpting gym leggings in this edit are as moisture wicking as they come, but if you want to test the claims, place a drop of water on the fabric and make sure it spreads out sharpish (and doesn’t bead up).
What's the difference between gym leggings and yoga pants?
It's worth noting here that you may have noticed our existing round up the best yoga pants. If so, you're probably left wondering what on earth the difference is. And you'd be forgiven. Granted – the difference between the best yoga leggings and the best gym leggings is minimal – but, generally speaking, yoga pants are much softer while gym leggings are compressive and more supportive.
How do you make leggings last longer?
Only wash your leggings when you actually need to (read: when you've run a 10k in them; not when you've just sat on the sofa) – and don't wash them at a temperature any higher than 30 degrees. Turn them inside out when you wash them, avoid fabric softner and refrain from putting them in the tumble drier. It'll only turn them saggy.
How we tested the best gym leggings
We've done the part that’s even *harder* than the workout itself: testing a whole bunch of the best gym leggings from brands like Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Puma, Reebok and Under Armour. Sounds like the dream job, but we did have to work up an almighty sweat in the process.
The result is a carefully curated of bestsellers for you to wishlist, from seamless gym leggings, to plus size gym leggings, Nike gym leggings, Gymshark leggings and black gym leggings that'll look just as great with your sweatshirts at brunch as they will when you're pounding the pavements. Each of the leggings here have been physically sweat-tested by a member of the GLAMOUR UK team. We've practised our Sun Salutations in them, relentlessly knocked out burpees, press ups and dumbbell snatches wearing them and even donned them during our weekly food shop. Each pair has been scored on style, stretch and sweat-wicking ability, as well as their comfort, ability to stay up and retain their quality when washed.
After more workout content? Shop the best sports bra, best fitness trackers and best running trainers. We've also got the best black leggings, if you're looking for an every day pair.
Ahead, the best gym leggings to add to your basket in 2023.
1. Best eco gym leggings
ENDURO Bamboo Deep Waistband Leggings
Sizes: 8-18.
Colours: Navy, black, printed.
Fabric: 64% Bamboo Viscose, 24% Organic Cotton, 12% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “In the making of this product, 213.8 days of drinking water have been saved, 4.8 km of driving emissions avoided and 1.6 squared meters of land has been farmed without pesticides. If that's not reason enough to invest in a pair of super-soft, high-waisted every day leggings, I don't know what is.”
2. Sweat-resistant gym leggings
Sizes: XS-XXL.
Colours: Plum, brown, black, blue, pink, olive, orange, maroon, teal.
Fabric: 83% nylon, 9% elastane, 8% polyester.
Style: High-waisted; seamless.Why we love them: “It's no secret that Gymshark are one of the leading brands in the gym leggings department, but it's made all the more better when they're all as affordable as they are. The sweat seamless design are, as you can imagine, seam-free, and they are quick drying – so you don't need to cover up with a hoodie after a workout or worry about chafing.”
3. Best gym leggings overall with a high waistband
Sizes: US 0-20.
Colours: 35 different hues, including a selection in the sale.
Fabric: Lululemon Nulu fabric.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “These are, hands down, my most favourite pair of gym leggings ever – and the pair I reach for the most. Whether I'm spinning, doing a HIIT session/HIIT workout or lazing around on the sofa, they're an absolute DREAM to wear. The fabric is so buttery soft you can hardly feel you're wearing leggings at all, they're squat-proof, super high-waisted and they never fall down mid-downward dog. So, so good. I'm after them in every other colour.”
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Lululemon discount codes at checkout.
4. Best black gym leggings
Sizes: XS-XXL.
Colours: Black marl, woodland green marl, maroon marl, espresso marl, violet marl, pearl blue marl, vanilla brown mar, chilli red marl, fawn marl, smokey grey marl, moonstone blue marl, sorbet pink marl, cherry brown marl, apricot orange marl, bright purple, teal, stellar blue.
Fabric: 93% Nylon 7% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “In the world of gym leggings, GymShark are behind some of the most popular and influencer-adored. For good reason, As with anything with a whole lot of hype behind it, I was a little sceptical, but these seamless vital leggings make me feel so confident when working out. Not only are they sweat-wicking, contoured to your body shape and supremely comfy, but they have been crafted using dope dyeing technology that uses less water, energy and chemicals – as part of the brand's sustainability strategy. Epic.”
5. Best budget gym leggings
Go Move Printed High Waisted Gym Leggings
Sizes: 6-24.
Colours: Lilac mix, black/grey mix, sapphire, dark blue mix.
Fabric: 73% polyester, 27% elastane.
Style: Mid-rise.Why we love them: “M&S GoodMove activewear is really really good – much better than you'd expect for the humble price tags. These high-waisted gym leggings are great for everything from Pilates to running and hiking – and coming in under £30, you can afford to pick up a few pairs in one.”
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Marks & Spencer discount codes at checkout.
6. Best squat-proof gym leggings: Sweaty Betty power leggings
Sizes: XXS-XXL.
Colours: Black, plum red, khaki, blue cheetah print, black fade print, green disperse print.
Fabric: 62% Polyamide, 38% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted; bum-sculpting.Why we love them: “For something which feels a little more compressive than the Lululemon Align pants, Sweaty Betty's bestselling Power High Waist gym leggings are my go-to. They're more high-waisted than the aforementioned – and while they're not quite as soft, the extra thickness gives you that little more coverage when you're moving around. They're bum-sculpting which makes me feel really confident in the gym, and the fabric wicks away sweat in an instant. Even in the sweatiest workouts, I never feel cold or damp. Consider me a firm fan.”
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Sweaty Betty discount codes at checkout.
7. Best gym leggings: TALA scrunch bum leggings
Sculpt Seamless Scrunch Leggings
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: Black, cacao, chai, charcoal, navy, slate, oxblood, violet, blue.
Fabric: 51% recycled polyamide, 38% recycled polyester, 11% elastane.
Style: High-waisted; scrunch bum.Why we love them: “It's official: if you want your bum to look especially good in the next pair of leggings you invest in, it's got to be this pair. There's subtle ruched detailing to the behind which enhances your assets with a contouring effect, but doesn't create any lumps and bumps at the front. We are now collecting every colour.”
8. Best tall gym leggings
Sizes: XXS-XXXL.
Colours: Blue, coffee bean, black, grey, olive, dark olive.
Fabric: 70% nylon 30% elastane.
Style: High-waisted; wrap over.Why we love them: “As a tall girl, I constantly struggle to find gym leggings that are actually long enough – but Adanola have thoughout of that. These are available in a regular length as well as a tall length/full length, so I don't have to rock the ankle-swinger/capri look any more. The wrap around waist is my favourite detail too, it just lends a fancier touch to my routine, and I find lounging in them is just as easy as working out is.”
9. Best gym leggings with pockets
UA RUSH™ SmartForm Perforated Ankle Leggings
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: Sonar blue.
Fabric: 77% Polyester/23% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “The brand behind the sports bras I always reach for is Under Armour – so it's no surprise that their gym leggings are equally as good. This pair are made using UA RUSH™ technology – an infrared technology that reflects your body's energy to help you work harder and recover faster. Impressive, huh? The fabric is also anti-odour (always welcome), and finished with strategically-placed perforations for added ventilation where you need it most. Oh, and the pocket provides space for you to carry your card, phone or keys when you're working out. Very handy.”
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Under Armour discount codes at checkout.
10. Best gym leggings to add to your gym wear/sportswear
Sizes: XS-XXL.
Colours: Grey, black, blue.
Fabric: 63% nylon 37% elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “In our opinion, Gym + Coffee is underrated. While the brand doesn't necessarily focus on colour or pattern throughout their designs, it does hone in on performance – and that's the most important thing, no? While wearing these leggings we felt utterly confident going from the squat rack to the stair master. They didn't budge. We'd love them even more if they were seam-free at the crotch.”
11. Best period-proof gym leggings
PUMA X Modibodi 7/8 Recycled Active Legging Moderate-Heavy Aubergine
Sizes: XS-4XL.
Colours: Burgundy.
Fabric: 80% Recycled Nylon 20% Spandex outer.
Style: High-rise period proof.Why we love them: “Creators of some of the best period pants on the market, Modibodi, have teamed up with PUMA to create a pair of gym leggings which are period-proof. Yep: these bad boys absorb between two and three tampons' worth of blood when you're menstruating, so you don't have to bother with wearing a tampon during your workout. A much more sustainable alternative to single-use period products. They have an invisible pocket to the back, and have been crafted with recycled fabrics and a super soft, fast-drying power mesh interior."
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Modibodi discount codes at checkout.
12. Best maternity gym leggings
Nike One Women's High-Waisted Leopard Print Leggings (Maternity)
Sizes: XXS-XXL.
Colours: Leopard print.
Fabric: 79% polyester/21% elastane.
Style: Maternity.Why we love them: “Highly rated, these Nike maternity leggings offer both comfort and coverage. Designed with extra length to stretch all the way over your bump, the zonal fabric grows with you and will support any workout during all three trimesters of your pregnancy.”
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Nike discount codes at checkout.
13. Best luxe gym leggings for second skin-like finish
Alo Yoga Airbrush Stretch Leggings
Sizes: XXS-L.
Colours: Grey, black.
Fabric: 87% nylon, 13% elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “Alo Yoga is so popular in the US, and now we've tested these leggings we can see exactly what's caused it. They fit like a dream. Built with four-way stretch and a super high waist, these leggings also feature breathable odour-control technology so you can wear them straight to brunch after your gym sesh. Versatile.”
14. Best high-waisted leggings
Sizes: XS-L.
Colours: Blue, caramel, lake, black, green.
Fabric: 85% polyamide, 15% elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “I'm obsessed with the colour of these leggings, just as much as I'm obsessed with the fit. The wide elasticated waistband is super stretchy and flattering, and it sucks you in and supports you while you do your sets. Better yet; they're on sale.”
15. Best gym leggings/running leggings
Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25"
Sizes: 0-20 US.
Colours: Black, pink, red, teal, navy, grey, blue, lilac, printed.
Fabric: Lululemon Nulux fabric.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “Fast & Free gym leggings are Lululemon's running tights – and boy are they good. They're lightweight, they pass the squat test with flying colours, have two (!) side pockets that are big enough to fit your phone and feature a continuous drawcord at the waist to keep your leggings up all-run.”
16. Best gym leggings for performance and strength training
Sizes: XXS-XXL.
Colours: Atlantic, black, pine.
Fabric: 58% recycled nylon, 42% elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “Made of premium performance fabric at an Italian mill, the Perform Legging® features an extra-high waist, minimal seams, an interior pocket, and lightweight compression with technical sweat-wicking properties. All you could want really. Plus, they're comprised of 58% recycled nylon.”
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17. Most stylish gym leggings for a yoga class
P.E. NATION Del Mar Paneled Printed Stretch Recycled Leggings
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: Black.
Fabric: 78% recycled nylon, 22% elastane.
Style: High-waisted.Why we love them: “I'm a firm fan of P.E. Nation, and the fact that their leggings are cut from moisture-wicking stretch fabric made using 78% recycled fibers in the blend only makes me love them more. These are designed for low-impact sports like Pilates, Barre and yoga - and they have a hidden pocket for your AirPods or keys.”
Save when you shop for the best gym leggings with these Net-A-Porter discount codes at checkout.
