I don’t know about you, but I LIVE in black leggings. Probably a little more than I should. And since I’ve now become somewhat of a legging aficionado, I’ve got a lot of opinions. So, I today I present the Ultimate Guide to the Top Rated Leggings on the Internet.
Sometimes I feel like Goldilocks…I have ones that are too tight, too long, too see-through, too slippery, not firming enough.
And of course, which pair you choose, all depends on what you’re wearing them for. Are you lounging at home or jumping up and down at Pure Barre? Are you going on an international flight or going for a run?
So I thought it’d be fun to conduct a little experiment where I tried out eight of the top rated black leggings on the internet over the course of a few months.
I tested them in a number of different ways, from sitting at a coffee shop for hours (comfort is OBVIOUSLY of the utmost importance here) to putting them through vigorous HIIT/ bootcamp and hot yoga classes to long-haul travel.
My test subjects were selected through both the best online reviews and recommendations from my loyal readers!
I also decided not to include brands like Nike or Under Armor, because I feel like most of them will get the job done and are fairly reliable. Instead, I wanted to try out some pairs and brands that might still be new to you.
Here are the contenders:
–Zella Live-In High Waisted Leggings: $54-$59, Nordstrom
–90 Degree by Reflex – High Waist Power Flex Legging (Tummy Control): $25.99, Amazon
– Align Pant: $98, Lululemon
– Alice and Belle Women’s Classic High Waist Leggings High Rise Yoga Pants: $33.95, Amazon
– High Rise Elevate Built-In Sculpt 7/8 Length Compression Leggings: $39-$44.99, Old Navy
– Salutation Stash Pocket 7/8 Tight in Power Vita: $43.97- $89, Athleta
–Alo Airbrush High Waist Leggings: $82, Nordstrom
–Alo Airbrush Tech Lift High Waist Leggings: $104, Nordstrom
Read on to see which leggings come out on top!
The Reviews:
–Zella Live-In High Waisted Leggings: $54-$59, Nordstrom
This is the pair I see constantly recommended by bloggers. Rated 4 and a half stars with almost 6,000 customer reviews on Nordstrom, the Zella leggings became one of my favorites for everyday use.
The fabric is very soft and it feels like everything is just sucked in, which really, what more could you want from your around-town leggings.
They started to pill, however, when I wore for more active workouts like a run or hot yoga.
Something about the heavier fabric also feels more like a pant than a legging. There’s no fear of them being see through in my opinion.
–90 Degree by Reflex – High Waist Power Flex Legging (Tummy Control): $25.99, Amazon
This one was recommended by a few friends AND is the top rated legging on Amazon. This is a great budget pick at $25.99. They made me feel super secure, while still being comfortable. I enjoyed wearing these for just about every workout.
My only criticism is they were a little long on me and the crotch sagged a little bit during jumping activities. Planning on spending a couple of dollars to get them hemmed. I already bought another pair in blue!
– Align Pant: $98, Lululemon
I own five pairs of the Align pants, need I say more?
These are my absolute FAVORITE leggings, and hands down, worth every penny. I treat myself to a pair every Christmas. I’ve worked mostly from home the past few years and these are my go-to everyday pant.
They’re super soft and feel like you’re wearing nothing. On the flip side, I don’t feel like they hold much in, but they’re incredibly comfortable.
I also don’t like to work out in them because they feel really delicate and pill easily. But they’d be great for a yin yoga workout or a walk.
– Alice and Belle Women’s Classic High Waist Leggings High Rise Yoga Pants: $33.95, Amazon
These were another pair that were highly rated on Amazon. They get 5 stars with almost 150 reviews.
I did not like these at all. They felt like a cheap leotard on my legs….VERY shiny and VERY slippery. I sent them back immediately.
– High Rise Elevate Built-In Sculpt 7/8 Length Compression Leggings: $39-$44.99, Old Navy
You won’t necessarily find these Old Navy leggings on any top 10 list, but they are my secret weapon.
They make great workout leggings, no matter what you’re doing. I actually love running in these because they feel very secure and don’t slide down.
But long haul travel is where they really shine; I wear these exclusively on long-haul flights, where I want a compression-type legging.
– Salutation Stash Pocket 7/8 Tight in Power Vita: $43.97- $89, Athleta
These were a reader’s recommendation, and I love them.
This pair from Athleta makes a great all around legging. I found them a little slippery for hot yoga; they work best for cardio or other circuit training workouts.
They feel almost as soft as the Align, but with a little more structure.
My favorite part is that they have a big side pocket that you can slip your phone or keys into.
–Alo Airbrush High Waist Leggings: $82, Nordstrom
This is the pair I’m actually wearing right now! The Alo Airbrush High Waist Leggings get 4 and 1/3 stars on Nordstrom with 217 reviews and are what I’d call my errand pant now.
They’re more structured than the Align (which at times I feel a little exposed in because they are so light), but almost just as comfortable.
The online review that says it best: “They suck you in without suffocating you…I feel like I lose 10lbs every time I put them on!”
These work best for everyday use, travel, yoga and barre or lifting workouts. I found they sagged a little bit during a run or other cardio activities.
Also, it says that it runs small and to size up. I would say the complete opposite. I ordered a medium, and I could’ve gotten away with a small. They’re very forgiving, and I’m slightly worried about them stretching out over time.
–Alo Airbrush Tech Lift High Waist Leggings: $104, Nordstrom
This pair from Alo is another one of their top rated leggings. The company website deems them “a fresh take on Alo’s popular Airlift legging.”
They don’t have a ton of online reviews, but I chose to try these out, because all of the reviews were overwhelmingly glowing: 5 stars across the board.
I liked this pair, but I don’t love them, and I certainly don’t love them for $104. I think there’s a lot better leggings out there.
The good: they were comfortable and stayed in place during just about every workout. I also like that they are capri’s for us short ladies out there. The description says they’re meant to sculpt, shape and smooth, and I really feel that they achieve this.
The bad: the material is just weird to me. It feels like 80’s spandex, and it’s really shiny and slippery. They’re actually the pair I’m wearing in the pictures throughout this post.
Here are the winners:
Best Budget Legging: –90 Degree by Reflex – High Waist Power Flex Legging (Tummy Control): $25.99, Amazon
Honorable Mention: High Rise Elevate Built-In Sculpt 7/8 Length Compression Leggings: $39-$44.99, Old Navy
Best Legging for Comfort:– Align Pant: $98, Lululemon
Honorable Mention: –Alo Airbrush High Waist Leggings: $82, Nordstrom
Best Legging for Travel: – High Rise Elevate Built-In Sculpt 7/8 Length Compression Leggings: $39-$44.99, Old Navy
Honorable Mention: –Alo Airbrush High Waist Leggings: $82, Nordstrom
Best All-Around Legging: – Salutation Stash Pocket 7/8 Tight in Power Vita: $43.97- $89, Athleta
Honorable Mention: –90 Degree by Reflex – High Waist Power Flex Legging (Tummy Control): $25.99, Amazon
Best All-Around Workout Legging (Cardio, Weight Lifting, etc.): – Salutation Stash Pocket 7/8 Tight in Power Vita: $43.97- $89, Athleta
Honorable Mention: High Rise Elevate Built-In Sculpt 7/8 Length Compression Leggings: $39-$44.99, Old Navy
Shop the Look: Top Rated Leggings
