This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide, just what’s still available.
The Alo 7/8 High-Waist Airbrush Legging felt soft and thick to the touch but scratchy on the body, and multiple testers had complaints (too tight in the thigh, too hot even when sitting around).
The Athleta Salutation Stash High Rise ⅞ Legging was fine yet inconsistent. Our petite tester (XS petite) liked the fit and length, but another tester (1X) wasn’t able to get them on.
We chose not to test leggings from Fabletics, a subscription-based company, because we just don’t think it’s necessary to receive new leggings on a monthly basis.
The high-compression Fanka Body Sculpt 7/8 Leggings (Reversible Wear) fit very tightly. Though they weren’t wholly uncomfortable during a run and strength exercises, they wore me instead of me wearing them.
The stretchy, seamless, full-length Gymshark Vital Seamless 2.0 Leggings are very specific. They’re like a thick, snug pair of tights with an ultra-high waist, resulting in a saucy silhouette that put a little swagger in the step of a few testers. They felt great while exercising, but they’re not for everyone.
The thick, bright Loony Legs Recycled Floral Leggings “Fireflies” Blue/Yellow with Pockets felt cool to the touch, though not particularly smooth or soft. They have nicely sized side pockets, but I found them a tad droopy in the crotch.
We tried four pairs from Nike. The Pro 365 leggings have mesh vents at the calves and slick, techy fabric with a nice weight to it, but their mid-rise waist didn’t fly with some testers. The Go Women’s Firm-Support High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings with Pockets look great and have a super-slick, almost slippery texture. They have six pockets, including a zippered one on the thigh that seemed extraneous. (Ultimately, they felt like a lot.) The wetsuit-like Universal Women’s Medium-Support High-Waisted Full-Length Leggings with Pockets looked sleek, but we struggled to get our phones in and out of the side-drop pockets. And the slightly coarse Zenvy Women’s Gentle-Support High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings had a wide, deep back pocket that didn’t hold our phones as securely as we would’ve liked.
The thin fabric of the Offline By Aerie Real Me High Waisted Crossover Legging doesn’t have enough body to hold up the pair’s crossover V-shape waistband, which folded over repeatedly during testing.
Sleek, smooth, and well-made, the On Performance Tights have a waistband that hits closer to mid-rise than high-rise. Alas, during a run, my phone bounced around in their large back pocket; also, the pocket’s location makes it trickier to access items while in motion.
We tried the Pact Everyday Legging, a pair made from 92% organic cotton and 8% elastane. (That exact model has been discontinued, but this similar pair is still available.) They felt fine—if a bit rough and stiff—but didn’t move with the same fluidity as our picks, fitting tight at the waist and ankle and gathering behind the knees.
Fittingly, the Spanxshape Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings are more like shapewear than workout leggings, with their slightly nipped-in waist and snug, held-in feel. But the seam across the midsection seems awkwardly placed, and they weren’t as sleek or invigorating in motion as we’d like.
The Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Gym Leggings performed great on a 5½-mile run, and we liked the techy fabric, flattering seams, and smooth texture. They have a zippered back pocket for keys or a credit card but just one drop-in pocket on the left side, which felt a hair unbalanced.
The light, slippery Vuori Evolve Legging performed just fine in testing, though the waistband slipped about an inch. But their pick-worthy sibling, the Vuori AllTheFeels Legging, proved comfier and more versatile.
The Zella Live In High Waist Leggings made it through a lot of activities (indoor cycling, stretching, running errands), and they also have a warm, loungy feel. But our petite tester (size petite XS) found them much too tight, and another (size XL) thought they felt cheap and not stretchy enough.
Flared leggings
Smooth and comfortable, the Beyond Yoga Spacedye All Day Flare High Waisted Pant (a wider-leg cousin of our Beyond Yoga pick) has a very high waist and pronounced flare, which makes them feel less versatile. And (somewhat oddly) this pair has small front slash pockets, which bulged if we put anything in them.
The two small back pockets on the Halara HaloTek Air High-waisted Flare Yoga Leggings with Pockets were an insurmountable dealbreaker. (One tester called them “embarrassing,” while another remarked, “Are these leggings trying to masquerade as slacks?”)
We liked the ultra-smooth fabric of the Lululemon Align Mini-Flare Pant. But the proportions were off, striking an awkward silhouette for most of our testers. This pair was tight in the calf before opening slightly to a “mini-flare” at the hem, so it was caught between a standard legging and a boot-cut legging.
The thin, stretchy fabric of the Offline by Aerie Real Me High Waisted Crossover Flare Legging feels cheap, and it doesn’t have enough heft to keep the waistband up and in its properly crossed-over form.
This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Jennifer Hunter.
