The best gym leggings are not always the easiest to find, especially when their are so many activities that always need the right fit. I will say; good gym leggings from the best activewear brands is something that you should invest in year-round, not just at the start of the year because it was your New Year’s Resolution. We all know that owing that perfect fit is integral if you want to motivate yourself to move your body. Comfort is key.
When you feel your best, you perform your best – and therefore a pair of sports tights that don’t fall down, don’t turn see-through when you squat and fit you like a glove is guaranteed to make you feel great. There’s nothing worse than not feeling 100% comfortable when working out, not feeling secure in my gym fits can instantly make me crumble and we don’t want that do we girls?
Best gym leggings FAQs, answered:
Be it for a morning spin session, a brisk walk with the dog, reformer pilates class, or lovely outdoor run, GLAMOUR writers have been hard at work finding you the best gym leggings to shop this season.
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. It can be a little overwhelming to figure out what the best style, material, and colour is to invest in. After all, they’ll likely end up being one of the most worn and washed items in your wardrobe.
To make sure you pick a pair that truly delivers, we’ve sought advice from some experts, and whittled down a selection of the best gym leggings worth considering this season, and don’t worry there are some plus-size options too.
What the experts say to look for in a pair of gym leggings
While we’re all for the matching sets that the TikTok girlies don to grow their glutes, there’s a lot of science that goes into gym wear. From Lioness players to Olympians, sportswear designer Lily Rice has dressed some of the world’s best athletes — and she firmly believes that fit trumps everything when it comes to choosing your ultimate legging.
“You definitely want to try before you buy and don’t be afraid to pop a few squats and lunges before you purchase. Leggings should feel comfortable around the waist, too loose and you’ll be pulling at them after the first mile, too snug and you won’t be able to stomach wearing them again!” she says.
“An adjuster in the waist is a great asset as it helps personalise the fit. Check the fabric is thick enough that you feel supported and covered. A good test is to hold the leggings in your hands and stretch the fabric, if white starts to show or if you can see through it when given a gentle stretch, then that fabric is way too thin. Make sure the front crotch fits comfortably too, a gusset (the small panel of fabric you get in the crotch of some leggings) can benefit the fit but it’s not vital in seamless leggings.”
How we tested the best gym leggings:
From running your first 5K to unwinding in a yoga class, there are so many different ways to keep fit these days — so your leggings need to be versatile, long-lasting, and comfortable. Shopping writers Sophie, Georgia, Karina, Ria and Felicity have put their top picks through their paces, trying them in a variety of activities like running, walking, spin classes, reformer pilates, barre, and good old-fashioned weight lifting in the gym.
Every pair of leggings that made it into this guide is guaranteed to be one that they’d be happy to recommend to a friend — and they’ve made sure to share why. Because if you feel and look good in your gym ‘fit, you’re bound to have a better workout (we think so anyway!). You can read more about how we test here.
After more workout content? Shop the best sports bras, best plus size activewear and best running trainers.
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