As a longtime health and fitness journalist, I’m not exaggerating when I say finding the best leggings has taken me testing at least fifty pairs over the past decade, from designed for running, to winter leggings that've kept me cozy during the chilliest hikes. During my tireless quest to find the just-right pairs—ones with the perfect level of compression, and comfy fabric that won't slip, sag, or pill, I’ve locked in a few personal favorites (I wear the Vuori leggings on this list everyday–they're my top pick for versatility). I also polled editors and fellow fitness pros to share their own reviews.
To narrow down the list, I took various factors into account, including whether or not the leggings rolled down at any point, how sweat-wicking they were, and how well they stood up to at least five washes. Ahead, the best leggings for the gym, yoga, cardio, wearing as legit pants, and everything in between. Here’s what we considered during testing: is continuously monitoring the best products on the market, on behalf of our readers, and that research extends to the best leggings for women.
This year, we’ve kept tabs on the most talked-about leggings and the latest releases from the brands our editors stand by. Our contributor Kristine Thomason is fitness editor and writer with over a decade of experience, who has tested over fifty pairs in her career. To narrow down the best leggings for women on this list, she considered brands and styles from 2024 that suited vari.