The Best Workout Leggings For Every Type Of Sweat Sesh (2024)

Each one is squat tested and editor approved.

By Jasmine Gomez and ​Selene Yeager
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It’s undeniable that the right tool makes every job easier. That fact isn’t limited to pressure cookers (Instant Pot anyone?), jumper cables, and flat irons, but also workout clothes. Slip on the wrong leggings for yoga and your half moon can become a super moon by the time you hit downward dog. Wearing running tights to do kickboxing can squelch a full sweep. You get the idea. Conversely, the right leggings for a given activity give you all the freedom you need with the support you want to jump, lunge, kick, and spin your heart out without worrying about missing a step.

A proper pair of leggings hug your body with appropriate snugness where you want them to stay put and allow ease of movement and full range of motion where you need them to allow a little give. They shouldn’t bunch up, ride down, rub, chafe, or give you even a hint of camel toe (which is more than unsightly—it’s uncomfortable!). If your sport requires that you carry stuff, they should have the appropriate number of pockets in easy to access places. If you need extra protection—think sitting on a bike seat—they should provide that, too. They should also look as good as they feel, so you feel comfortable and confident rocking them out in public.

To help you find the right leggings for every activity, we built the ultimate list of leggings for every exercise. Our picks are a result of intel from Women's Health editors who personally tested their favorite pairs, and reviews from real women of various shapes and sizes. If you're looking for your next go-to tights, capris, or pants for basically every activity you do, here are the pairs that have a leg up (ha!) on the competition—so you will too.

4 Steps For Finding The Best Workout Leggings

  1. Consider fabric. You'll want to opt for fabric that meets your preferences. Ask yourself are you looking for a barely-there feel, or something that'll keep you warm when it's a little chillier outside. Are the seams flat and is the material anti-chafing? Think about what bothers you about the leggings you already have and seek an upgrade.
  2. Make sure they're squat-proof. If you're shopping online, check out the reviews to see what other people who have already purchased the leggings you're considering have to say. For at-home try ons: To test their opacity, find a mirror squat, and look to see if your skin peeks through.
  3. Test their moisture-wicking ability. If you're prone to working up a sweat, then you're going to want leggings made with quick-dry tech. Looking for a way to test them without actually buying them: throw a drop of water into their inside layer and observe what happens.
  4. Consider style. Determine whether you're more comfortable with capris, or long tights, leggings with side pockets or ones who boast a pocket in their waistband. Style can quite literally mean how they're structured, but you also want to make sure you're also spending your money on leggings you actually think are cute.

Best Value Workout Leggings

Satina High Waisted Buttery Soft Leggings

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Best Value Workout Leggings

Satina High Waisted Buttery Soft Leggings

Now 17% Off

Adding to your workout wardrobe doesn't mean breaking the bank and these leggings are evidence. Made with some of the same features at the more expensive brands–a secure fit, breathable fabric, and squat-proof opacity–you can grab a pair of these leggings for under $20. Plus, you don't have to get them in a basic black. These leggings are available in 25 colors.

Most Popular Workout Leggings On Amazon

Iuga High Waist Yoga Pants with Pockets

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Most Popular Workout Leggings On Amazon

Iuga High Waist Yoga Pants with Pockets

Now 31% Off

A best seller on Amazon, these leggings have over 6,000 5-star reviews from people who say these leggings are comfortable, squat-proof, and fitting for exercise like weight-lifting, not just yoga. They're designed to booty-lifting fabric that contours and flatters, and a waistband inner pocket, in case you have nowhere to stash your car keys.

Best Overall Workout Leggings

Lululemon Wunder Under High-Rise Tight

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Best Overall Workout Leggings

Lululemon Wunder Under High-Rise Tight

Technically these leggings are designed for yoga, but countless reviewers have said these tights have taken them through all their workouts from strength-training to Pilates. The leggings are made with a breathable, moisture-wicking, and cottony-soft Lycra fabric that contributes to stretch and shape retention, and don't forget to take advantage of the waistband pocket.

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Best Workout Leggings For Yoga

Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket II Tight

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Best Workout Leggings For Yoga

Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket II Tight

No activity places the extreme fit demands on a pair of pants likeyoga. One minute you’re arching backward like a willow in the wind and the next you’re folded forward like a sapling that’s snapped in half. Unless you want to spend half the class pulling up your pants, you need a pair that sits and stays to keep you covered while giving freedom to your every move. These high-rise, second skin leggings hit the bulls-eye. Voters loved silky feeling fabric and flat no-chafe seams.

Best Workout Leggings for Lifting

Body Glove Saturn Performance Fit Legging

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Best Workout Leggings for Lifting

Body Glove Saturn Performance Fit Legging

If you're looking for a secure fit that can handle your deadlifts, without feeling too constricting, then these Body Glove leggings are it. They're made with double-layered inserts and a super stretch fabric to help you avoid friction no matter how many reps you're tackling. Worth nothing: these babies also comes with side pockets for easy storage of small valuables.

Best Workout Leggings for Lifting

Body Glove Active Workout Leggings with Pockets & Sheer Mesh Detail

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Best Workout Leggings for Lifting

Body Glove Active Workout Leggings with Pockets & Sheer Mesh Detail

Now 29% Off

If you're looking for a secure fit that can handle your deadlifts, without feeling too constricting, then these Body Glove leggings are it. They're made with double-layered inserts and a super stretch fabric to help you avoid friction no matter how many reps you're tackling. Worth nothing: these babies also comes with side pockets for easy storage of small valuables.

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Best Workout Leggings For Long Distance Running

Under Armour Women's UA Speedpocket Run Crop

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Best Workout Leggings For Long Distance Running

Under Armour Women's UA Speedpocket Run Crop

Stay dry and comfortable mile after mile thanks to the barely-there feel from these Under Armour leggings. The super-soft fabric is made with sweat-wicking tech, and reflective details to add some extra safety to your low-light runs. Customers raved about their compression fit and the water-resistant waistband pocket that stores and keeps your phone dry all the way through the end of your run.

Best Leggings For Low-Impact Workouts

Alala Heroine Tight

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Best Leggings For Low-Impact Workouts

Alala Heroine Tight

Bend and stretch away because these leggings from Alala are made with anti-chafe, breathable material that's cozy and comfortable, and since these don't skimp out on style, you'll want to wear them to more than just your workouts. What's more:These tights come in a chic color block design that makes them anything but basic.

Best Workout Leggings For High-Impact Exercise

Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Workout Leggings

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Best Workout Leggings For High-Impact Exercise

Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Workout Leggings

If you're looking for durable leggings that keep snug no matter how many times you put them through the wringer (aka get familiar with the floor during your burpee sets), then these Sweaty Betty leggings have got you covered. They're made with stretchy, quick-drying fabric that gets you through the sweatiest workout while looking good, thanks to its butt-lifting properties.

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Best Opaque Workout Leggings

Outdoor Voices Core 3/4 Legging

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Best Opaque Workout Leggings

Outdoor Voices Core 3/4 Legging

Now 61% Off

The TechSweat fabric on these high-waisted leggings is super light, but that doesn't mean they sacrifice coverage. Breathable, sweat-wicking, and made with a hi-rise waistband that stays in place, these leggings can take on high intensity exercise with ease, but they're perfect for lounging around and running errands, too. The opacity of these leggings from Outdoor Voices lets you bend over to pick up your groceries without worrying that your butt is on full display.

Best Workout Leggings For Running

Girlfriend Collective Moss Compressive High-Rise Legging

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Best Workout Leggings For Running

Girlfriend Collective Moss Compressive High-Rise Legging

The brand's best seller, these leggings keep compression, comfort and ease of movement in mind, so that each stride isn't hijacked by thoughts that your leggings are sagging or moving out of place. Hat tip to these for keeping sustainability in mind. These eco-friendly high-rise leggings are actually made from 25 recycled water bottles.

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Jasmine Gomez

Commerce Editor

Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she's not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.

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​Selene Yeager

“The Fit Chick”

Selene Yeager is a top-selling professional health and fitness writer who lives what she writes as a NASM certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified coach, Pn1 certified nutrition coach, pro licensed off road racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete.

The Best Workout Leggings For Every Type Of Sweat Sesh (2024)
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