The Very Best Leggings for Basically Any Situation

These Old Navy leggings were our readers’ pick for this year’s Activewear Awards, and, wow, did they have a lot to say: “I literally have 25 pairs, and they’re the only bottoms I’ll do races in. The side pockets are so great, I don’t even need to wear running belts during my training runs to keep my phone, gum, and keys handy.” Another reader shouted out their price point, durability, compression level, and, perhaps most importantly, sweat resistance: “I wear them for my long runs on the treadmill and they don’t show sweat stains.”

• Available sizes: XS to 4XL | Available lengths: petite, regular, and tall | Available colors: 4 options

• Pros: Extremely soft and stretchy, wide range of color options
• Cons: Lacking compression

Arguably the most-loved Lulu bottoms across the board, the Aligns belong in the dictionary under “yoga leggings.” Buttery soft and non-constricting, they’re designed to feel like a second skin and move with you as you stretch, bend, and flow. “It truly doesn’t feel like you’re wearing pants, and they never cause chafing,” wrote one 2024 Activewear Awards judge. While they’re basically ideal for yoga, our judges and one SoulCycle instructor also recommended the Align leggings for indoor biking and simply wearing around the house.

• Available sizes: 0 to 20 | Available lengths: 23, 25, 28, and 31 inches | Available colors: 12 options

• Pros: Designed to reduce friction, zippered back pocket and side pockets
• Cons: On the pricier side

Above all, a good pair of running leggings shouldn’t distract you from your pace. And with their sleek, sweat-wicking fabric and impressive fit, Lululemon’s Swift Speed tights are very good, indeed. “[They] hold up tight in the waist—no sagging,” Sammie Bennett, Trail Sisters group leader in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and ambassador for Gazelle Sports, previously told SELF. Their continuous drawstring holds the waist in place, while the inseam-free design prevents chafing, so you can focus on your strides ahead.

• Available sizes: 0 to 20 | Available lengths: 28 inches | Available colors: 6 options

• Pros: Relatively affordable for the quality, compressive and supportive
• Cons: Some may find the compression too strong

If you just want some workhorse leggings that’ll keep up with you through HIIT classes, lifting sessions, and cardio workouts, you need a pair of the supportive, ultra-high-waisted Reebok Luxes. They won a 2023 Activewear Award for their overall reliability and versatility. “Sometimes full-length leggings look ‘bunchy’ at the ankles, but these were perfect,” one tester wrote. “The high waistband is extremely comfortable and flattering. They’re absolutely squat-proof as well. I felt very confident and comfortable, and I was able to complete all workouts without having to pull them up or adjust them at all (even during [a] sweaty vinyasa yoga class).”