Best Leggings Brands Reviewed: Ultimate 2026 Roundup

The best leggings brands for women in 2026 are Alo Yoga, Athleta, Beyond Yoga, CRZ Yoga, Girlfriend Collective, Gymshark, Loony Legs, Lululemon, Sweaty Betty and Vuori, and the right one depends on your size, your workouts and how much risk you can take on returns. Flagship pairs from these 10 brands run from $32 to $134, size ranges stop anywhere from XL to 6XL, and return windows range from 15 days to 120 days. Buying the wrong pair can cost you close to $100 plus return shipping.

Who wrote this: this guide is editorial content published by Loony Legs, which is also one of the 10 brands featured. The brands appear in strict alphabetical order. The order is not a ranking, and Loony Legs gets the same structure and the same standard of honest watch-outs as every other brand.

Who is this guide for? Anyone choosing between the best brands of leggings for gym sessions, yoga classes, running errands or daily wear. If you want bold prints rather than plain black, Loony Legs (featured below, in alphabetical position) may be worth starting with for this specific use case. If you need sizes above XL, start with Athleta, Beyond Yoga, Loony Legs or Girlfriend Collective.

Shop the full range of Loony Legs printed leggings

How We Chose These 10 Leggings Brands

We chose these 10 leggings brands by comparing published product data, not by ranking them on taste. Every brand had to sell women's leggings directly to US shoppers, have recognizable flagship leggings, and appear in current US buyer conversations, from editorial roundups to Reddit threads. 

We then checked each brand's own US site on October 29, 2026 for seven attributes: flagship price, fabric composition, size range, lengths, pockets, return window and one labeled piece of third-party evidence.

Best Leggings Brands Compared: Price, Fabric, Sizes and Returns

The best leggings brands differ most on size range and return terms, not on fabric. The table below puts the 10 flagship pairs side by side so you can rule brands in or out before you read the detail.

Three patterns stand out. Six of the 10 flagships use nylon (polyamide) and four use polyester. Only five brands sell a version of their flagship in 3X or above. Review scores do not follow price: Alo Yoga and Lululemon score below 2 out of 5, while $54 Gymshark scores 3.5 from more than 42,000 reviews.

The 10 Best Leggings Brands, in Alphabetical Order

Each of the 10 leggings brands below gets the same six-part profile: overview, core leggings, typical buyers, pricing notes, strengths and watch-outs, plus one labeled piece of review evidence.

Alo Yoga

• Overview: Alo Yoga is a Los Angeles activewear brand founded in 2007 and known for studio-to-street yoga leggings. 

• Core leggings: the Airlift High-Waist Legging, with a smooth, compressive finish, and the softer Airbrush line. 

• Typical buyers: yoga and Pilates regulars who also wear leggings for day wear. 

• Pricing notes: the Airlift 7/8 lists at $128 at Revolve, the highest flagship price in this guide after Sweaty Betty.

• Strengths: two distinct fabrics, the compressive Airlift and the softer Airbrush, so you can choose the feel you want within one brand, and a high waist cut built for yoga classes. 

• Watch-outs: sizes stop at XL (US 16 to 18, per Nordstrom), and final sale items cannot be returned under the 30-day policy. 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 1.4 out of 5 from 1,430 reviews as of October 2026 (Trustpilot).

Athleta

• Overview: Athleta is a San Francisco brand founded in 1998 and owned by Gap Inc. since 2008. 

• Core leggings: the Salutation Stash High Rise Legging in Powervita fabric, 75% nylon and 25% Lycra per Navy Exchange. 

• Typical buyers: women who need petite or tall lengths or extended sizes. 

• Pricing notes: $109 list for the full length style.

• Strengths: XXS to 3X in Regular, Petite and Tall, plus bonded side stash pockets for walks and strength training. 

• Watch-outs: final sale items cannot be returned or exchanged under the 30-day policy, and the product page leaves its fabric and care section blank. 

• Evidence (B Corp certification): Athleta has held B Corp status since March 2018.

Beyond Yoga

• Overview: Beyond Yoga is a Los Angeles brand founded in 2005 and acquired by Levi Strauss & Co. in 2021. 

• Core leggings: the Spacedye Caught In The Midi High Waisted Legging, 87% polyester and 13% elastane, with a 28 inch inseam. 

• Typical buyers: lounge and yoga wearers who want a buttery soft, second skin feel. 

• Pricing notes: $99.

• Strengths: sizes run XXS to 4X (4X fits a 30 to 32 inch waist), one of the widest ranges here, and a midi length that suits taller wearers. 

• Watch-outs: the flagship has no pockets, and the brand advises sizing down in Spacedye if you are between sizes; final sale is excluded from the 30-day returns. 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 1.8 out of 5 from only 25 reviews as of October 2026 (Trustpilot).

CRZ Yoga

• Overview: CRZ Yoga is a budget yoga brand sold through its own US store and Amazon. 

• Core leggings: the Butterluxe Yoga Origin Legging 25", 81% polyamide and 19% Lycra, offered in six inseams from 19 to 30 inches.

• Typical buyers: shoppers who want a lightweight, comfortable legging for yoga or everyday wear at a fraction of premium prices. 

• Pricing notes: $32, or $36 for the plus size listing.

• Strengths: the lowest price in this guide and the widest inseam choice, which matters for petite and tall bodies. 

• Watch-outs: the core listing stops at XL, the flagship has no pockets (a separate pocket version exists), and under the return policy customers pay return shipping, customs and taxes. 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 1.7 out of 5 from 214 reviews as of October 2026 (Trustpilot).

Girlfriend Collective

• Overview: Girlfriend Collective is a Seattle brand founded in 2016 that makes leggings from recycled plastic bottles. 

• Core leggings: the Compressive High-Rise Legging, 79% recycled polyester and 21% spandex, which the brand says uses 25 recycled bottles per pair. 

• Typical buyers: sustainability-minded buyers and plus size shoppers. 

• Pricing notes: $108.

• Strengths: the widest size range on a single flagship in this guide, XXS to 6XL across 11 sizes, plus three lengths (23.75, 28 and 31 inches) and a compressive fabric for gym sessions. 

• Watch-outs: only one small hidden back pocket and no side pockets, so a phone will not fit; returns run 30 days for US customers. 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 3.1 out of 5 from 55 reviews as of October 2026 (Trustpilot).

Gymshark

• Overview: Gymshark is a gym wear brand founded in 2012 in Solihull, England, by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan. 

• Core leggings: the Vital Regular Leggings, a seam free knit in 93% nylon and 7% elastane. 

• Typical buyers: weight training and HIIT regulars who want gym leggings under $60. 

• Pricing notes: $54.

• Strengths: the second lowest price here, a knit-to-shape construction, and Regular and Tall lengths. 

• Watch-outs: sizes stop at XXL (US 14), the flagship has no pockets, and in the US items discounted 60% or more are final sale (returns policy). 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 3.5 out of 5 from 42,423 reviews as of October 2026, the largest review base in this guide (Trustpilot).

Loony Legs

• Overview: Loony Legs is a printed activewear brand founded in 2020 by Valentina, with her husband Luca handling marketing.

• Core leggings: Bold printed leggings in buttery soft 82% polyester and 18% spandex, printed to order with water-based inks, such as Black & Wow and Fairy Forest. 

• Typical buyers: women who want bold prints for Pilates, gym and daily wear. 

• Pricing notes: $92, or $96 for pocket leggings.

• Strengths: prints you will not find at the other nine brands, sustainable production in Latvia, Spain, North Carolina or Mexico, and two side pockets on the pocket range that fit a phone. 

• Watch-outs: sizes depend on the line, with core printed leggings in XS to XL, a separate plus size range in sizes 16 to 28 and pocket styles such as Wild Mirage in 2XS to 6XL; returns must be requested within 15 days with the buyer paying return shipping. 

• Evidence (Judge.me verified reviews): 4.85/5 from 3,248 reviews as of October 2026.

Lululemon

• Overview: Lululemon is a Vancouver brand founded in 1998 and the brand shoppers most often benchmark against, judging by searches such as "which brand of leggings is better than Lululemon".

• Core leggings: the Align High-Rise Pant 28" in Nulu fabric, 81% nylon and 19% Lycra, also sold in 25 and 31 inch lengths. 

• Typical buyers: yoga and low impact workout regulars who want a buttery soft feel. 

• Pricing notes: $98.

• Strengths: sizes 0 to 20, three inseams and a hidden waistband pocket that fits a card or key. 

• Watch-outs: Lululemon itself positions Align as best for low impact workouts like yoga, so choose a different line for sweaty workouts or high intensity exercise, and returns must be unworn and unwashed within 30 days.

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 1.6 out of 5 from 1,510 reviews as of October 2026 (Trustpilot).

Sweaty Betty

• Overview: Sweaty Betty is a London activewear brand founded in 1998 and owned by Wolverine World Wide since 2021.

• Core leggings: the Power Workout Leggings, 62% polyamide and 38% elastane per Anthropologie, in 24 and 27 inch lengths. 

• Typical buyers: runners and gym regulars who carry a phone. 

• Pricing notes: $134 at Anthropologie.

• Strengths: a side slip pocket plus a back zip phone pocket, the best pocket setup in this guide, and sizes XXXS to 4XL. 

• Watch-outs: 4XL maps to a US 18 on the brand's size guide, so the range is narrower than the labels suggest, and it is the most expensive flagship here. 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 3.8 out of 5 from 17,599 reviews as of October 2026, a global and likely UK-weighted score (Trustpilot).

Vuori

• Overview: Vuori is a Carlsbad, California, brand founded in 2015 by Joe Kudla.

• Core leggings: the AllTheFeels Legging in BlissBlend, 75% recycled polyamide and 25% elastane, in Short, Regular and Long lengths. 

• Typical buyers: buyers who want one versatile legging for lounging, travel and light workouts. 

• Pricing notes: $110.

• Strengths: a 120-day return window, four times the 30 days most brands here offer, which removes most of the risk of trying a new brand. 

• Watch-outs: sizes stop at XXL, there are no direct exchanges (you place a new order and return the original, per the return policy), and the only pocket is a small side waistband pocket. 

• Evidence (Trustpilot, customer service): 2.0 out of 5 from 139 reviews as of October 2026 (Trustpilot).

Which Leggings Brand Fits Your Needs?

The best brand for leggings depends on the one constraint you cannot compromise on. Use this decision guide, built from the comparison table above, to narrow 10 brands to two or three.

• Want prints, not plain black: Loony Legs, whose whole range is printed; most other brands lead with solid colors.

• Need sizes above XL: Girlfriend Collective (to 6XL), Loony Legs pocket range (to 6XL), Beyond Yoga (to 4X), Athleta (to 3X, with Petite and Tall).

• Need pockets: Sweaty Betty (side pocket and back zip phone pocket), Athleta (side pockets), Loony Legs pocket range (two side pockets).

• Want the lowest price: CRZ Yoga at $32, then Gymshark at $54.

• Want the safest returns: Vuori at 120 days; avoid brands where you pay return shipping if you are unsure of your size.

• Want recycled fabric: Girlfriend Collective (25 bottles per pair) and Vuori (recycled polyamide).

• Do yoga or Pilates: Alo Yoga, Beyond Yoga, Loony Legs, Lululemon Align, all built around a soft, low compression feel.

Which Type of Leggings Do You Need?

The type of leggings you need depends on your main activity, because gym, running, yoga and everyday leggings use different fabrics, compression levels and pockets. Matching the type first stops you paying for features you will never use.

Gym Leggings for Strength Training and HIIT

Gym leggings for strength workouts and HIIT need squat proof fabric, a high waistband and a sweat wicking finish. Gymshark Vital and Sweaty Betty Power are built for these intense workouts and both use nylon or polyamide blends. A seam free knit, like Gymshark's, also reduces rubbing at the inner thigh.

Running Leggings and Compression Leggings

Running leggings need stretchy fabric that wicks sweat, a secure pocket for a phone and enough compression to stop fabric bouncing during high impact workouts. Compression leggings such as Girlfriend Collective's Compressive High-Rise hold the muscles more firmly than yoga styles, while Sweaty Betty's back zip pocket keeps a phone in place on long runs.

Yoga Leggings and Pilates Leggings

Yoga leggings use softer, buttery soft fabric with light compression, because floor poses reward comfort over hold. Lululemon Align, Beyond Yoga Spacedye and Alo Yoga's Airbrush line suit low impact workouts and yoga classes.

Everyday Leggings for Daily Wear and Winter

Everyday leggings need breathable fabric and a comfortable waistband you can wear for long periods, from the school run to a flight. Vuori AllTheFeels and CRZ Yoga Butterluxe are lightweight leggings that buyers often choose for lounging, travel and daily wear. For winter wear, look for a thicker or brushed fabric, or layer a full length pair under a long fleece.

How to Choose a Good Pair of Leggings

A good pair of leggings stays opaque in a squat, holds its waistband in place and fits the activity you do most. Check these five points before you buy from any brand.

Check the Fabric Blend

Fabric blend decides how a legging feels, breathes and recovers. Nylon (polyamide) blends such as Lululemon Nulu feel smooth and cool; polyester blends such as Beyond Yoga Spacedye feel softer and take color well. An elastane or spandex share of 18% to 25% gives the four way stretch most workout leggings need, so the leggings fit like a second skin without sagging, while a higher share, like Sweaty Betty's 38%, feels more compressive. For sweaty workouts, look for a fabric the brand describes as sweat wicking or moisture wicking, which moves sweat off the skin so you stay drier.

Choose a High Waistband That Stays Put

A high waistband is the best defense against leggings that roll down. Look for a wide waistband that sits at or above the navel and gives more support through squats and lunges; most flagships in this guide are high rise. A crossover waistband adds hold if rolling is your main complaint, and tummy control leggings add a firmer front panel for extra smoothing.

Do the Squat Test for Squat Proof Fabric

The squat test shows whether leggings are squat proof or see through. Put them on in daylight, squat in front of a mirror and check whether skin or underwear shows. Do it before you remove the tags, because most brands only accept unworn returns. Darker colors and busy prints hide more than pale solids, and no thin pale legging is completely squat proof.

Match Pockets to Your Workouts

Pockets matter most for running, walking and running errands. A phone needs a side pocket or a back zip pocket; a hidden waistband pocket only holds a key or card. Many yoga leggings, including the Beyond Yoga flagship, skip pockets entirely.

Read the Size Chart and Return Window Together

The size chart and the return window decide how costly a mistake is. If you are between sizes, follow each brand's own advice, then buy from a brand with a long window or free returns. A 15-day window with paid return shipping leaves little room to check that the leggings stay up through a full week of gym sessions.

Your Next Step

Pick the one constraint that matters most to you, whether that is size, pockets, price, returns or print, and use the comparison table to cut the list to two brands. Then do the squat test on day one, inside the return window. If prints are your priority, browse the Loony Legs best sellers and check the size chart before you order.

Shop the full range of Loony Legs printed leggings

Best Leggings Brands: Frequently Asked Questions

Which brand of leggings is better than Lululemon?

No brand of leggings is better than Lululemon for every buyer, but several beat Align on specific needs. Girlfriend Collective and Beyond Yoga go to larger sizes, Sweaty Betty has better pockets, Vuori has a longer return window, and Gymshark and CRZ Yoga cost less.

Are expensive leggings worth it?

Expensive leggings are worth it when the extra money buys something you need, such as extended sizes, better pockets or a longer return window. Price alone does not predict service: in this guide, Alo Yoga and Lululemon sell $98 to $128 leggings yet score below 2 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

What is the best material for leggings?

The best material for leggings is a nylon or polyester blend with 18% to 25% elastane or spandex. Nylon blends feel smoother and cooler for sweaty workouts, while polyester blends feel softer and hold prints well. Cotton leggings absorb sweat, so they suit lounging more than workouts.

Are leggings still in style for women?

Leggings are still in style for women in 2026: all 10 brands in this guide sell them as a core line, in styles from plain black high waisted cuts to flare leggings and bold prints. Many buyers wear the same pair for workouts, travel and running errands