If you're anything like me, you have a complicated relationship with leggings. After living in them when they were all the rage during the early 2010s, I sternly rejected all types of form-fitting bottoms in favour of spacious and baggy silhouettes that I found made me more comfortable (and were more 'on trend'). But since investing in several pairs of cross-waist leggings for exercise and leisure, I am once again a legging fanatic.
Sure, they may not be hugely different to regular , but I have always found that the cross-over waist style is not only more supportive and less slippy around my waist (making them a joy to exercise in) but also infinitely more stylish, meaning my athleisure game has really stepped up - and that I can wear them for more occasions than just working out. I'm a huge reformer fan and also try to go on long walks as often as possible, so I have tried out many of these leggings for lengthy exercise sessions and through plenty of movement. As a Shopping Editor, I also get the opportunity to try out a lot of different fitness brands, so I have a pretty good idea of the various leggings on the market and how they perform.
Senior Health and Sustainability Editor and marathon runner has also weighed in with her top picks, and I'll go as far as saying that no one knows a great pair of leggings quite as well as her. You can be sure that each and every pair of cross-waist leggings in this guide has been put through its paces (literally and figuratively). Whethe.