Thousands of Women Agree These Are the 3 Best Leggings, Period

If you ask me, there's no worse feeling than getting into a run and having your leggings slip down, popping into a squat and worrying about everything being on display, or moving through Chaturanga and thinking about anything besides your peaceful flow. I'm a fitness fanatic, so I do all of the above on a weekly basis and am a big proponent of everyone having access to activewear that allows them to do the same. A few things that I look for in a good pair of leggings are a quality fabric that can stand the test of infinite workouts and laundry loads, a waistband that stays put, and of course something that flatters every body type.

There are a lot of leggings on the market that people rave about. But for my readers, I want the absolute best, so that's why, after reading thousands of reviews on different styles, I tried a few of the best for myself. You have no idea how hard it was to narrow it down to the absolute top three, but I did it, and I'm telling you that you can trust me on this one. I've done many different types of exercises while wearing the finalists and can confirm they are really that good. I also tapped a few of the fitness experts who made these leggings come to life so we could learn about the backstory of each pair. So what are you waiting for? Learn more about the best leggings on the market below.

1. All Access Center Stage Leggings

What makes All Access special?

All Access is Bandier’s performance activewear brand that was launched in 2018. It hits perfectly at the intersection of fashion and fitness. The fabrics we select have purpose and are held to high-performance standards but designed to make you look and feel amazing.

Describe why the Center Stage Leggings are the best on the market.

We obsessed over this legging for 18 months. We wanted to develop a legging with no center seam, an absolute must for me, that was considered a true performance legging that could also be worn every day. We tested so many fabrics and first launched Center Stage in All Motion—it's high compression, breathable, and quick-drying. We just introduced it in Sport Rib, which feels like a second skin.

We also made sure the wide waistband stays put when you’re working out and that both fabrics pass the squat test and are completely sheer proof. And because the pocket-or-no-pocket debate is real, we offer the Center Stage with or without pockets.

What inspired the creation of the Center Stage Leggings?

We have a great understanding of who our customer is and design our pieces around direct feedback from our stores, Studio B and social, and what we see as opportunities within the market. The Center Stage Leggings were born out of a necessity to find one legging that includes all of the design elements that allow them to perform in your workouts, while also being stylish enough to wear in everyday life.

I have drawers filled with leggings, but I fell in love with this pair fast. They were unlike anything I'd ever tried. It's rare to find a waistband that can stay in place without feeling too tight, but this pair most certainly does. I love wearing them for heavy sweat days since they're one of the only leggings in my collection that can keep up with me, but they are so comfortable I drag them along to my Pilates classes as well.

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2. Sweaty Betty Super Soft Leggings

What makes Sweaty Betty special?

The women who make up our active community are really the special sauce behind Sweaty Betty. Our mission since 1998 has always been to empower these women through fitness, and that mission sits at the heart of everything we do as a business, from the way we design our collections to the way we speak to our customers. Our community is really the fabric of the brand, and that’s what makes us stand out.

Why are the Super Soft Leggings the best on the market?

If I had to pick one attribute of this new Sweaty Betty best seller, it’s the fit. The fit is superb. We’ve combined a soft, flattering hand feel with compression, so it feels smooth and silky on but also holds you in everywhere. I actually don’t know how our design team pulled this off, but it’s brilliant. That perfect fit is what really allows her to not only feel great but also hold that pose or feel the stretch. My favorite of the hundreds of five-star reviews from customers says, "Love these. No readjusting, hitching, or fidgeting—just yoga. Bring on more colors!”

What inspired their creation?

The Super Soft Legging was the result of a year of development from our expert design team and was trialed extensively in-house to ensure a perfect fit. We are very picky when it comes to fit and won’t quit until it’s just right. It can be a tedious process, but the result makes it so worth it.

Our best-selling Power Leggings are a tried-and-true favorite for everything from running to HIIT—incredibly versatile. But we really wanted to perfect a softer legging for yoga. That’s where Super Soft came in. Everything from the buttery-soft feel to the sweat-wicking material was created with our customer in mind. 

I can't stop reaching for these leggings. Lately, they're my most-worn pair. The pockets come in clutch, so I often wear these out and about for my "hot girl walks," workout classes, and any other excuse I have to get out of the house. The center seam is my favorite aspect of the leggings because it makes them feel different and adds a fashion element to a quite functional piece.

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3. Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Leggings

What makes Girlfriend Collective special?

Girlfriend Collective is a sustainable and size-inclusive women’s and men’s activewear and lifestyle brand designed to fit every body with sizes ranging from XXS to 6XL. With over 500,000 leggings sold (each pair of leggings is made from about 25 recycled water bottles), we are on a mission to create a positive impact with customers, the planet, and within the apparel industry by outfitting, inspiring, and empowering those in pursuit of a better world.

Describe why the Compressive High-Rise Leggings are the best on the market.

Our Compressive High-Rise Leggings were the first product we ever made, so naturally, we wanted these leggings to be the very best out there. Our Compressive fabric is squat-proof, sweat-wicking, molds to your body over time, and has top-tier compression for optimal muscle recovery after those intense workouts. Plus, each pair saves 25 post-consumer water bottles from the landfill and can be recycled with our garment takeback program, ReGirlfriend, when you’re ready to part ways with them (a long time in the future, of course).

What inspired the creation of the Compressive High-Rise Leggings?

We saw a lot of brands zeroing in on performance without thinking about sustainability or only focusing on sustainability without perfecting performance—so we wanted our leggings to be the very best of both worlds. We spent two years obsessing over every detail of these leggings, from the fabric development to the design and fit, and the end result speaks for itself.

I am always looking to try as many new things as possible when it comes to my wardrobe, so it's rare that you'll see me reordering an item. But when it comes to these Girlfriend Collective leggings, I assure you this isn't my first rodeo. I've been wearing them for about two years, and they've gotten the most wear out of anything in my closet. That's how good they are.

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