IF you don’t think that leggings are a comfortable must-have for working out and chilling out, then you don’t own the best leggings out there.
The best leggings feel like you’re not wearing anything at all, never losing their elasticity and staying securely in place whether you’re doing the downward-facing dog, a HIIT workout or settling down on a lazy Sunday.
In 2022, working from home is fast becoming the norm, so leggings are coming in handy for long days in front of the computer – with many of us admitting to wearing our funkiest, cosiest pair while on Zoom calls with our bosses. Paired with a smart-looking top, of course.
Loungewear is undeniably having a moment, with leggings at the forefront thanks to their flexible stretch, versatility and flattering, streamlined silhouette.
It’s the piece of clothing that joins gym bunnies, TV marathon-lovers, and everyone else who prefers something comfy and practical to walk their dog in: they’re such an easy go-to.
We’ve searched far and wide for the best leggings around (goodbye see-through knicker-revealing mishaps), including maternity styles, ultra-sporty gems, and sculpting magicians! Time to find your perfect pair.
Best leggings at a glance:
Best thermal leggings: M&S Heatgen Thermal Leggings
Best leggings for sustainability: BAM’s Enduro Deep Waistband Bamboo Leggings
Best flattering loungewear leggings: Skims Ribbed High-Rise Stretch-Cotton Leggings
Best period-proof leggings: WUKA Perform Leggings
Best leggings for pregnancy: Seraphine’s Bamboo Over-Bump Maternity Leggings
Best shaping leggings: Wolford’s Velvet 100 leggings
Best leggings for tall women: Long Tall Sally Black Cotton Leggings
Best leather-look leggings: Zara Faux Leather Leggings
Best high-waisted leggings: Nike Pro Dri-FIT Women’s High Rise Leggings
We tested: Snag 7/8 Leggings
Best workout and work-from-home leggings: Lululemon Align High-Rise 28″ Leggings
Best fur lined leggings: High waisted serious sweats fleece lined leggings
Best leggings for sustainability: BAM’s Enduro Deep Waistband Bamboo Leggings
Enduro Deep Waistband Bamboo Leggings, £27.50 (was £55) from BAM – buy here
If you’re looking for quality leggings that are eco-friendly to boot, BAM has an amazing range of plain and printed styles that are ideal for yoga, sports and everyday wear — plus, BAM has just announced plans to reduce all of its impacts (climate, waste, water, chemical, human and land use) by 2030. Nice one.
Made from bamboo, this striking, funky pair is non-see-through, supportive and irresistibly comfortable.
Plus, bamboo works really well as a performance fabric due to its sweat-wicking absorbency, without the stickiness, and is a brilliant choice when shopping for more sustainable, eco-conscious sports gear. Win-win!
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Best flattering loungewear leggings: Skims Ribbed High-Rise Stretch-Cotton Leggings
Skims Ribbed High-Rise Stretch-Cotton Leggings, £62 from Selfridges – buy here
Kim Kardashian’s shapewear and loungewear label Skims is well-known for its seriously sculpting pieces, and the Ribbed High-Rise leggings are no exception.
Slipping on with an elasticated waistband, the all-over ribbed texture is enhanced by the super soft stretch-cotton fabric, crafted with premium comfort in mind.
Complement the high-rise waist by pairing them with a knitted cropped jumper, or oversized tee, for a 10/10 loungewear look.
Best period-proof leggings: WUKA Perform Leggings
WUKA Perform Leggings, £49.99 – buy here
There’s nothing worse than worrying that your leggings won’t be leakproof when you’re mid-flow and working out while on your period.
Or, bending into the downward dog position, worrying about how your bulky pad looks from behind…
With WUKA’s Perform period-proof leggings, you can squat, shimmy, run and ride to your heart’s content and forget about your pad not being enough when it comes to your next workout.
WUKA’s leggings, made from recycled polyester, have integrated seamless period pants inside and can hold up to three tampons’ worth (around 15ml) of blood – replacing period products altogether when it comes to keeping active.
The sustainable, lightweight fabric is super absorbent and has a moisture barrier, to wick away sweat and your period flow, as well as a comfy addition to your active lifestyle – plus, they’re size inclusive too, going up to a 6XL.]
Best thermal leggings: M&S Heatgen Thermal Leggings
Heatgen Thermal Leggings, £12 from Marks & Spencer – buy here
When the frost is biting, or you fancy hitting up a camping or hiking excursion, you might need a bit of extra help to keep cosy.
You’d never know these leggings from M&S (available in black and navy) were thermal as they look just like any other average pair, but they’ve been intertwined with HeatGen technology.
So not only are they as soft and stretchy as the retailer’s regular offerings, they will help keep you toasty when it gets chilly.
Best leggings for pregnancy: Seraphine’s Bamboo Over-Bump Maternity Leggings
Black Bamboo Over-Bump Maternity Leggings, £32 from Seraphine – buy here
Pregnancy is hard enough to handle without uncomfortable clothing making day-to-day movements even more difficult.
Black leggings will likely become your go-to once you’re expecting, and because Seraphine is a specialised brand for all things maternity, it should be your first point of call when looking for leggings that’ll fit.
This pair fits like a second skin, shaping and smoothing your legs to provide all-day support.
With dresses or sweaters (because seriously, who cares about wearing leggings as trousers when you’re 30 weeks pregnant?) they’ll keep you comfortable during a tiring nine months.
Best shaping leggings: Wolford’s Velvet 100 leggings
Velvet 100 Leg Support Leggings, £94 from Wolford – buy here
Wolford is the hosiery brand of choice for celebs such as Kim Kardashian and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
The label is known for its figure-sculpting designs, so you can be rest assured that these leggings will fit like a glove; with no saggy bottoms or baggy ankles in sight.
How, you ask? They’re a hybrid between leggings and tights: not made of jersey, but a nylon stretch-knit fabric that will lift your buttocks and slim your thighs.
Sitting high on the waist to really suck you in, they’re crafted without seams at the crotch to ensure optimum comfort and prevent that dreaded camel toe we’re all too familiar with.
Best leggings for tall women: Long Tall Sally Black Cotton Leggings
LTS Black Cotton Leggings, £12.99 from Long Tall Sally – buy here
If you’ve been blessed with height or long pins, you may also feel like you’ve been cursed when it comes to shopping for clothes; particularly with leggings, which can look ridiculous at the wrong length.
Long Tall Sally’s range offers great length and amazing, flattering cuts that never scrimp on style or comfort, either!
These high-waisted leggings come with a longer length leg and soft body-con blend.
Plus, LTS aren’t just inclusive for the taller babes amongst us – but they also go up to a size 32.
REPLACE Best leather-look leggings: Zara Faux Leather Leggings
Zara Faux Leather LeggingsZara
Faux leather leggings, £15.99 (was £25.99) from Zara – buy here
For the perfect wet look, without paying the huge price tag for real leather – or missing out on style, and comfort – Zara’s pair are a go-to wardrobe piece.
These faux leather leggings also have a zip fly and button combo, to mimic jeans or smart trousers – so you’ll be extra comfy, all the while discreetly wearing leggings.
You’ll look the part with long boots and a chunky jumper by choosing from black, or the ecru and dark beige colour options.
Normally, leather leggings could cost you anything from a few hundred, up to over £1,000 (ouch) so these are a bargain – and suitable for the animal lovers and anti-animal cruelty shoppers among us.
Best high-waisted leggings: Nike Pro Dri-FIT Women’s High Rise Leggings
Nike Pro Dri-FIT Women’s High Rise Leggings, £49.95 – buy here
Made from at least 75 per cent of recycled polyester fibres, these Nike Swoosh leggings are super flattering, high-waisted and a more sustainable option.
Available up to a size XXL (UK 24-26) these figure-hugging high-rise leggings are ideal for working out and lounging about.
With a thick, supportive elastic waistband, they won’t roll down when walking or running, and the stretchy Dri-FIT fabric is made to keep you feeling cool while wicking away sweat.
We tested: Snag 7/8 Leggings
Snag 7/8 Leggings, £25.99 – buy here
We love Snag here at Sun Selects, after having reviewed both its range of tights and chub rub shorts – and we’re pleased to see that the brand has now ventured into size-inclusive leggings that fit, going up to a size 36/38.
Snag’s sizes are arranged by letter, rather than number, and are true to size – but it’s best to check out its size guide before you commit to buying.
We tried Snag’s 7/8 leggings in black in a size E (UK 16-18), but they also come in purple, and can safely say that they are fully opaque, as well as the best pair of fitted leggings we’ve owned.
The tights boast a wide, high-waist band, to stop them from falling down, and feel soft to touch – they are quite thick, too, meaning you can’t see your knickers when walking or bending over.
However, these leggings are pretty warm, thanks to the thickness, so they’re not one to wear in warmer months and we couldn’t imagine wearing them to work out in. They’d be fine for a few squats and a yoga sesh, but perhaps paired with a light top.
Still, we wore them with a long jumper and jacket, as well as trainers, and found they fitted great for a long day out idling around the shops, and commuting during the week.
The best part? They have pockets! Seriously. The pockets are big enough to fit your phone in, and your whole hand if you want to show off to your friends.
Our only qualm would be that the stitching around the pockets and seams was quite wide, meaning you couldn’t wear them for a more formal occasion or a night out, say, but it’s evidence of great craftmanship, if anything.
We loved the ankle-length, meaning you can pair them with trainers or boots, and found them super comfortable.
Plus, Snag is a living wage employer and all of its products are made from recycled materials, including these leggings which are made from recycled polyamide, elastane and certified eco-responsible viscose.
You can read our full review of Snag’s tights here.
Best workout and work-from-home leggings: Lululemon Align High-Rise 28″ Leggings
Lululemon Align High-Rise 28″ Leggings, £88 from Lululemon – buy here
Looking for something to easily work out and work from home in? Lululemon’s activewear is luxuriously soft, sculpting and flexible enough to easily wear day-in-day-out.
Cut from the brand’s signature Nulu fabric, they’re lightweight, moisture-wicking and fitted with a hidden slip pocket for storing your keys, if you’re off out for a run.
The leggings come in an array of muted stylish colours, including Grey Sage, Dark Olive, Cassis, and Red Merlot.
They’re on the pricier side, but a trusty fan favourite because they’re so comfortable that you’ll want to wear them for working out, working from home and just about everything in between. You’re welcome.
Best fur lined leggings: High Waisted Serious Sweats Fleece Lined Leggings
High waisted serious sweats fleece lined leggings, from £50 from Lands’ End – buy here
With the cold weather truly setting in and a cost of energy crisis to consider, we need to wrap up as warm as possible.
Enter fleece lined leggings, and specifically these ones from Lands’ End.
Available in five colours from black to dark peacock – a turquoise green – you’ll feel super snug slipping these on.
With an elasticated waist and side pocket, these are not only seriously warm but mega comfortable for lounging around at home or going on a walk.
Best fashion leggings: Gymshark Training Leggings
Training leggings, £35 from Gymshark – buy here
Although these are called training leggings, you can wear these anywhere. Pair with a cap and oversized hoodie for walks in the park and then through on a big coat for athleisure heaven.
Affordable at £35 but still well made, there’s a reason Gymshark’s had such huge growth despite being a relatively young company.
Don’t feel like you only need to stick to black as there are ten other colours to choose from including a bold red and a deep green.
Which is the best material for leggings?
If you want leggings to lounge around in, soft cotton leggings will be your go-to.
Cotton is a breathable material that will keep you feeling fresh, and is generally very comfortable to wear all day long.
However, it’s worth mentioning that cotton doesn’t hold up so well to stretching and although it’s strong, over-wearing it can result in a loss of shape. Choosing a cotton blend with Lycra or Spandex is therefore a good option for adding stretch to your leggings.
If you want something longer-lasting, a pair of polyester leggings are a good idea as they’re water-resistant and sweat-wicking, making them a very popular choice for activewear.
What are the most comfortable leggings?
If you want to feel cool and comfortable in the warmer months, bamboo has become an incredibly popular sustainable fabric choice for leggings, as it’s highly moisture-absorbent, eco-friendly and has a similar look and feel to cotton.
For the cooler months, wool or thermal leggings could be your best option: while a little pricier, it’s perfect for keeping pockets of air trapped and holding in warmth.