The best gym leggings for every shape and style

From high-waisted to cropped, size-inclusive to ‘leak-proof’, we’ve listed the best gym leggings to suit your needs.

Women at gym in best gym leggings

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

Gym leggings are a go-to not only for working out but for comfort too. When you’re working out at the gym, you want to feel your best so you can power through your session and achieve your fitness goals. But there’s nothing worse than wearing gym clothes that make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. The biggest culprit for this? Gym leggings.

Gym leggings that are see-through, fall down at the waist, lose their elasticity in the wash, or fit awkwardly to your body shape are the worst, especially considering most come with a higher price tag than your other workout clothes. While there are plenty of gym legging styles and brands on the market, sadly not all are created equal.

To help find the best gym leggings for you, we've pulled together a list of the best from top brands, reviewers’ favourites, and ones we’ve tried and tested ourselves.

At Yours, we want you to feel confident as you move, so we’ve found the best for every type of gym legging: high-waisted, cropped, sustainable, size-inclusive, squat-proof, ‘no-leak’, and more.

Best gym leggings

Best all-round gym leggings

Description

From weightlifting to running a marathon on the treadmill, these Sweaty Betty gym leggings will

Best affordable gym leggings

Description

At under £20, these Ewedoos Yoga Pants with Pockets are affordable without compromising on quality

Best no-leak gym leggings

Description

If you're worried about your period or pesky bladder leaks, these gym leggings are the solution

Best yoga leggings

Description

The Goodmove Go Balance High Waisted Yoga Leggings are simply a dream. Expertly made to smooth,

Best running leggings

Description

If you're a keen runner and want to invest in the best leggings for your endurance training at the

Best scrunch bum gym leggings

Description

Scrunch bum Slimbelle Seamless Leggings accentuate your cheeks with seam placement to give your

Best gym leggings for style

Description

Style is subjective, but we're pretty sure everyone will be a fan of these! Available in black and

Best compression gym leggings

Description

Under Armour has a whole wealth of great leggings, and these compression leggings help to deliver

Best high-waisted gym leggings

Description

Available in a bunch of cool colours, these Gymshark gym Vital Seamless 2.0 leggings will mould to

Best sustainable gym leggings

Description

TALA has become a favourite on social media for its sustainable gym wear that's functional,

Best gym leggings for comfort

CRZ YOGA Women’s Naked Feeling High Waist Leggings

Rrp: £25.00

Price: £23.00

Description

Speaking of comfortable leggings, these CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling High Waist Leggings also

Best maternity gym leggings

Description

If you're pregnant, these comfortable Nike One Women's Maternity Leggings will fit snuggly over

Best gym leggings for recovery support

Description

As well as offering comfort, support, and style, these high-waist Kymira Sport Infrared leggings

Best gym leggings with pockets

Pour Moi Energy Mesh Panel Sports Leggings
Price: £27 (was £32)

www.pourmoi.co.uk

Description

Perfect for running, spinning, HIIT, yoga, and more, these Pour Moi Energy Mesh Panel Sports

Best gym leggings for inclusive sizing

Description

Thankfully more and more brands are becoming size-inclusive, and so we're glad to see gym wear

Best petite gym leggings

Description

These Adidas Techfit Long Leggings come in a range of petite sizes so you'll be sure to find your

Best squat-proof leggings

Gymshark Flex High Waisted Leggings
Price: £32 (was £40)

uk.gymshark.com

Description

These Gymshark Flex High Waisted Leggings, available in a host of beautiful pastel colours as well

Best cropped gym leggings

Description

Another pick from Marks & Spencer, these Goodmove Go Move Cropped Gym Leggings are perfect if

Best gym leggings for sculpting

Description

These Spanx Active Booty Boost High-Rise Stretch-Jersey Leggings from SPANX are perfect for

How do I choose gym leggings?

If you don’t already have a style or certain requirements in mind, there are some key factors that will help to narrow down to exactly what you want.

Size

Most importantly, you need your gym leggings to fit! Check the brand’s size guidelines before buying as sizes can differ across brands (infuriating, we know). We’d also recommend checking the reviews of customers, as this will give you an indication if you need to size up or down.

Material

Most workout leggings are made from synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon, due to their sweat-wicking properties and ability to stretch. They dry out quickly, aren't susceptible to over-stretching, and are lightweight. You may also see the addition of Spandex, Lycra, or elastane, which puts the stretch into your workout gear.

For lighter activities like yoga, you could probably get away with cotton leggings, which are breathable and comfortable. However, as they do absorb moisture, they aren't really suited to heavy workouts.

Workout class in leggings
©Getty Images

Style

This is completely down to preference with so many choices available. From experience and exploring the market, high-waisted leggings are the most popular and are more supportive. If you’re petite or have shorter legs, you may want to either opt for petite gym leggings, or leggings 7/8 in length.

Budget

Leggings can really vary in price, so if you have a budget, try to stick to it! We've included leggings from a range of price points, with prices between £9.99 and £108.

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