I Put the Leggings Brand Beloved by Pilates Princesses to the Test—Does It Deserve the Hype?

Much has been discussed about what makes the ultimate leggings to work out in. Irrespective of intensity and type of training, your chosen ensemble must be suitable for moving in, keep you free from sweat and won’t ride down when squatting, lunging or running. Less important, though a significant factor to consider nonetheless, they have to be non see-through, chic enough to make you look polished when grabbing a coffee after class and comfortable enough to wear them for hours on end when lounging around the house. A crucial list of prerequisites, yes. But it’s not one that’s unattainable. Especially when there are styles like Adanola leggings around.

The British-based athelisure brand was founded in 2015 by brothers Hyrum and Josh Cook. In under a decade, the Manchester natives established themselves as pioneers in a considerably oversaturated activewear market, especially here in the UK. Stripping things back to basics, the label’s streamlined shapes, neutral colours and unfussy designs—read: no zips, excess straps or drawstrings to contend with—earned them a following that led them to earn upwards of eight figures a year.

Data aside, it’s their aesthetic approach to fitness that warrants them a mainstay in cool girl wardrobes, with everyone from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to Kaia Gerber spotted sporting the brand’s Ultimate Leggings. Kendall Jenner, too, is an ambassador for Adanola, though these A-lister endorsements do just as much to sell the brand as their enviable social media presence and organic pick up by stylish women. (It’s true, just one scroll through their social media feed and I’ve already added several pieces from their new collection to my cart.)

It’s a brand you’d see worn by the women who attend Pilates classes in Chelsea’s King’s Road and grab matcha at Marylebone’s Abeulo café. This reputation precedes them, but does that make Adanola’s leggings worth the hype? As a studious fashion writer who always remains in the know, this is a question I’m plagued with when it comes to dishing out recommendations for stylish gym clothes. And as an Australian, I do feel that this is my speciality, considering we’re home to so many incredible brands, such as Nagnata and Pinky & Kamal, that are innovators in this category.

To caveat, however, I’m not an athlete by any means. I’ve never had an interest in racing in marathons, I don’t participate in garish CrossFit classes, and you’ll never catch me recording myself dripping with moisture while trying the Tracy Anderson Method. To me, the marker of whether Adanola leggings warrant the hype is whether or not they’ll show my underwear when I have my legs in straps during a Reformer class, maintain their shape after washing, won’t gather around my ankles or leave me with a heat rash after exercising.

So, to honestly review Adanola leggings, that’s exactly what I did. Clocking upwards of 50,000 steps in them, I tried and tested the brand’s most in-demand styles to see what the fuss is really about. Was I sold? Scroll on to find out…

A Fashion Editor's Review of Adanola Leggings

With almost a million Instagram followers and nearly 10,000 positive reviews on their signature style, I was curious to know what made Adanola’s just that cut above the rest. So, I placed an order for two of their best-selling leggings: the Ultimate Leggings and Ultimate Wrap-Over leggings.

Arriving in a basic black plastic mail bag, the first thing I was drawn to was the feel of the material. According to the website, it’s a “four-way stretch fabric”. Upon closer inspection, this translates to 70% recycled polyamide and 30% elastane. This composition is pretty common for high-quality leggings, though it’s worth stating from the outset that it is a synthetic blend, which may be irritating to some sensitive skin types. In saying that, there was something about the touch and texture that just felt different.

Within my first couple of wears, I noticed that the lower half of my body felt supported and compact, but not constricted. As the style is designed to be high-waisted, the front band felt quite firm around my tummy, leading me to feel as if I was wearing some cutting-edge or technologically-advanced trouser that was designed for performance.

Because the fit really sculpts to your body, I was concerned that it would dig into my skin and easily roll down. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. The Adanola leggings truly did stay up most of the time and when they moved down, which was during more intense moments of exercise, like when doing mountain climbers or sit-ups, they only shifted by a few inches. They were quite conservative in height, too. Sitting right on my hips, they didn’t expose too much of my torso when wearing a sports bra or push out my rolls when sitting.

Don’t get me wrong, though, they still are very comfortable. Out of the two I tried, I surprisingly preferred the wrap-over style. Instead of a thick waistband, this style features a gentle front curve. Looking at the website, I first thought that the leggings were designed with a V-shape. Once I received them, however, I discovered that wasn’t the case at all. Rather, the leggings were made of two separate pieces that gently folded over one another. When doing oblique work or any side-lying stretches, this shape helped the leggings stay put better than the other did.

Call it the placebo effect, but as these are a true compression tight, I did leave my class like I exerted more energy and had more defined muscles, purely because of how tight the leggings were.

Note to self: Wear seamless underwear next time!

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Are Adanola Leggings True to Size?

The one area in which the Adanola leggings felt short wasn't anything to do with the make or cut of the leggings at all. Instead, I was slightly vexed by the limited brick-and-mortar presences, which made it hard for me to try on sizes before ordering online. Like shooting blind, I randomly selected the size and length I thought fit me best, which is hard to do when you’re in between sizes and halfway between lengths.

(For the record, Adanola leggings are offered from an XXS to XXXL, a non-negotiable range for any brand around today, and in regular, tall and ⅞ lengths.) Adanola is stocked at Harrods, Selfridges and select Soho Houses, but department stores don’t usually carry the full range, and if they do, the larger sizes are typically the first to be omitted, meaning that the only real way to see what size fits you best is trial and error.

I learned this the hard way, ordering the Wrap-Over Leggings in a medium with regular length and the Ultimate Leggings in a small with tall length. The Ultimate sadly were too long on me and wrinkled around my ankle, much to my dismay.

In saying that, I would argue that Adanola leggings are true to size—it's just a bit of a mission to find what size that is!

Are Adanola Leggings Sweat Proof?

Yes! Adanola leggings are super breathable and quite sweat-proof. Even in tougher, intermediate and advanced classes where I left looking like I just went for a dip in the sea, I never felt like my legs were damp.

Are Adanola Leggings Stretchy?

Pleasantly, Adanola leggings are stretchy enough to accommodate an array of movement, but not so stretchy that they can droop or hang.

Are Adanola Leggings Worth It?

It's the answer you've all been waiting for. Are Adanola leggings worth it? Honestly, yes. For £40, they are on the pricier side, but the quality does warrant its slightly higher cost. What you're mainly investing in is the endurance of the fabric. These will survive high intensity and can last you for several years, if taken care of. These leggings are the definition of 'what you see is what you get'. So, if you're expecting well-made essentials that can see you through daily tasks, that's exactly what you'll receive.

What Adanola Leggings Are Best?

Adanola offer three different types of leggings: the Ultimate, which is a classic cut, straight fit, the Wrap Over leggings, defined by the folded band, and the Pocket leggings, which come with a side pocket that can fit your phone.

While I didn't try the Pocket—I gauge it's the same as the Ultimate, just with the added sleeve—I personally found the Wrap Over to be the best as they were the most comfortable. Despite this, I would recommend the Ultimate leggings for anyone who is new to the brand, as it is their top-rated and trademark style.

Whether you're curious to know what all the fuss is all about or are convinced that they're a worthy addition to your workout wardrobe, ahead you'll find the best-rated and reviewed Adanola leggings that have surely impressed this fashion editor.

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