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Lululemon leggings have been the gold standard for aspirational athleisure and tech-forward workout wear for more than 25 years. The Canadian-based brand has created such a cult favorite that websites like Lulu Fanatics and Lululemon A2Z were created to help fans find their favorite sizes, colors and prints in store and buy/sell/trade sites. Nowadays, you can’t hit a gym (or a shopping mall) in North America without seeing a pair of Lululemon leggings or their iconic ohm-shaped logo. If you’ve been curious to experience what the fuss was all about before purchasing a pair for yourself, here’s a quick guide to the best Lululemon leggings for your lifestyle.
How to choose the best Lululemon leggings
Lululemon leggings are now sold in various lengths and the four signature Lululemon fabrics. When you find your favorite pair for your favorite activity, you can choose to get them in 23-inch (capri length), 25-inch (⅞ length), 28-inch (ankle length) or 31-inch (tall length). Lululemon stores also offer free hemming so you can get any pair to the exact length that works for you.
Fabrications include:
- Nulu™: A “second skin” fabric that is breathable, lightweight and buttery soft.
- Luxtreme™: A sweat-wicking, breathable fabric made with Lycra® for four-way stretch and shape retention.
- Nulux™: A weightless, quick-drying, breathable fabric that passes the squat test.
- Everlux™: A durable, highly-compressive fabric that feels like a thicker Nulux.
Our top Lululemon leggings picks
Best Lululemon leggings for everyday wear: Lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pant 28-inch
These super lightweight leggings are fan favorites because they’re universally flattering and can be used for a variety of activities. Lulu fanatics wear them for all kinds of lifestyle activities, whether running a half-marathon—or just running errands.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: Vary by season, but you can usually find classics like True Navy, Dark Olive, and Black, as well as brights like pink and green and a few colors in camo print
- Fabrics: Nulu
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch, 31-inch
- Pockets: 1 interior
- Activities: Yoga, hot yoga, pilates, HIIT, weightlifting, dancing, walking, or loungewear
- Price: $98-118
What we like:
- The high rise is coveted for smoothing the waistline and providing prenatal support.
What we don't like:
- Some complain that the waistband can roll down during high-impact workouts.
lululemon Align™ High-Rise Leggings 28"
Best Lululemon workout leggings: Lululemon Wunder Train Contour Fit High-Rise Tight 25-inch
Women who love squats and lunges have raved about the nipped-in waist of the “Contour Fit” version of the Wunder Train tights. With ample room through the hips and thighs, these are great for high-intensity workouts like HIIT and bootcamp. Elise Fletcher, a FitXR trainer and fitness professional at LifeTime Fitness said, “These take my two favorite leggings and bring them together. Great for yoga or cycling, I also love the fit tailored to a curvy body.”
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-14
- Colors: 6
- Fabrics: Everlux
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch
- Pockets: 1 interior
- Activities: Walking, HIIT, weightlifting, boxing, or cardio
- Price: $98
What we like:
- The drawstring waist ensures pants stay up through your entire workout.
What we don't like:
- Those with more straight-up-and-down figures might prefer the regular cut of Wunder Trains.
Wunder Train Contour Fit High-Rise Leggings 25"
Best Lululemon leggings for running: Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25-inch
A Lululemon legging actually designed for running? Yes! The popularity of the Fast and Free among joggers and marathoners shows. Lululemon says their run-specific collection “is about unrestricted movement and incredibly lightweight coverage that passes the squat test” and that these leggings are, “made with 100% pure running freedom.”
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 7
- Fabrics: Nulux
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch
- Pockets: 2 exterior, 5 interior
- Activities: Running
- Price: $128
What we like:
- The two exterior pockets for your phone or keys and five small pockets on the drawstring waistband are targeted for outdoor runners, but come in just as handy on the treadmill.
What we don't like:
- The offshoot of having a compressive waistband is a higher possibility of a muffin top, but most runners don’t seem to care.
Fast and Free High-Rise Tights 25"
Best Lululemon yoga leggings: Lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pant 31-inch
Lululemon calls these their “Iconic, confidence-boosting leggings that stretch beyond your imagination.” The Align is a great everyday pant, but was originally created for yogis. The soft, sweat-wicking fabric and high-rise waistband make them comfortable in inversions, side bends and standing warrior poses. Since you won’t be wearing shoes, we chose the 31-inch length so you can wear them under your heels.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 4-22, depending on length
- Fabrics: Nulu
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch, 31-inch
- Pockets: 1 interior
- Activities: Yoga, hot yoga, pilates,, HIIT, weightlifting, dancing, walking, or loungewear
- Price: $98-118
What we like:
- Hot yoga practitioners also commented how nicely the fabric skims the body in heated temperatures.
What we don't like:
- For the same body-skimming reasons, these tend to leave runners looking for more—and the length may be too long for running as well.)
lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pants 31"
Best Lululemon leggings for curvy and plus size: Lululemon Wunder Under High-Rise Tight 28-inch Full-On Luxtreme
While the Wunder Under cut has been a Lulu favorite for years, the newer Full-On Luxtreme fabric gives you support without worrying about sheerness.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 5
- Fabrics: Full-On Luxtreme
- Lengths: 25-inch, 28-inch, 31-inch
- Pockets: No
- Activities: Walking, HIIT, weightlifting, yoga, pilates, or cardio
- Price: $98-118
What we like:
- The slick and low-friction support from Full-On Luxtreme make them the perfect legging for low- and medium-impact workouts.
What we don't like:
- The only downside is these have become so popular among plus size wearers, they often sell out.
Wunder Under SmoothCover High-Rise Leggings 28"
Best Lululemon leggings for pregnancy: Lululemon Align™ High-Rise Jogger
Comfort is key with these leggings. Fans raved you get the buttery softness of the Align leggings, but with the looser fit of a jogger-style pant. Alissa Alter, a certified pilates instructor and pelvic health expert, said, “The high waist and relaxed fit of the Align High Rise Joggers keeps my growing belly feeling supported but never restricted. I am ready to move in yoga or barre class AND I can go about my day feeling cute because let’s be real, during pregnancy I don’t have the energy for a mid-day costume change.”
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 6 (Many mentioned the Mulled Wine color if you can get them)
- Fabrics: Nulu
- Lengths: Cropped (23-inch) and Full Length (28-inch)
- Pockets: 2 exterior
- Activities: Yoga, weightlifting, dancing, cardio, walking, or loungewear
- Price: $98-118
What we like:
- The high waist supports a growing bump.
What we don't like:
- The looser fit and thinner Nulu fabric on the Align Jogger means these might not be great for runners and weightlifters.
lululemon Align™ High-Rise Joggers
Best compression Lululemon leggings: Lululemon Wunder Under Train High-Rise Tight
These made-for-training tights come in three lengths, have a more compressive waistband, and flat seams that don’t pill. They’re a great medium weight tight for HIIT and other weight-training activities.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 10
- Fabrics: Everlux
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch, 31-inch
- Pockets: 1 interior
- Activities: Yoga, HIIT, weightlifting, running
- Price: $98-118
What we like:
- An internal, elasticized drawstring inside the waistband keeps these from falling down on the job.
What we don't like:
- The aforementioned benefit that keeps them up might make them less comfortable for yoga and pilates.
Wunder Train High-Rise Tights 25"
Best Lululemon leggings with pockets: Lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pant with Pockets
Everything fans love about the Align Pants, but with pockets, too!
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 14
- Fabrics: Nulu
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch, 31-inch
- Pockets: 2 side slip pockets, one drop-in pocket at the back
- Activities: Yoga, weightlifting, running, walking, orLoungewear
- Price: $98-118
What we like:
- You can keep the buttery soft Nulu fabric and high-waist comfort while also being able to carry your phone, keys or cash.
What we don't like:
- Just like the non-pocketed Aligns, these can pill at the seams.
lululemon Align™ High-Rise Pants with Pockets 28"
Best high-support Lululemon leggings: Lululemon Swift Speed High Rise Tight
The most compressive pair of Lulu leggings comes in the brand’s trademarked Luxtreme fabric. These leggings were originally designed for running, but also do well with other workouts like spin class, riding electric bikes, pickleball, CrossFit, or bootcamp. Some also say these leggings also improve the appearance of their legs and hide cellulite.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Colors: 10
- Fabrics: Luxtreme
- Lengths: 23-inch, 25-inch, 28-inch
- Pockets: 1 zipper pocket at back, 2 slip pockets on sides
- Activities: Running, HIIT, cycling, weightlifting, pilates, boxing, or walking
- Price: $128-138
What we like:
- The compressive Luxtreme fabric gives you the smoothest finish.
What we don't like:
- Of course, compression always comes with one con: it can feel constricting. Many users recommend sizing up if you want more comfort.
Swift Speed High-Rise Tights 28"
How we selected the best Lululemon leggings
We researched the most popular Lululemon leggings and selected the best for each category based on their features, design, functionality, fabric, popularity, and size availability. We select the winner for each category or activity based on first-person testing by our reporter, website reviews, and anecdotes from Lulu fans.
The best way to wash Lululemon leggings
The company suggests you machine wash in cold water and lay flat to dry to protect the life of the LYCRA® in your Lululemon gear. They also suggest you avoid using fabric softener because it coats the technical fabric and inhibits wicking capabilities. Lululemon suggests you wash like with like—bright colors should be washed with other bright colors, Nulu should be washed with other Nulu and so on, and so on. But some reviewers (including me!) just toss them in the washer and dryer and call it a day. I still get five years out of my Wunder Unders.
ALO vs. Lululemon leggings
Lululemon held the status for the best high-end leggings for years—and then ALO, an athleisure company based out of Southern California known for its strong Instagram presence came on the scene to compete. If you’re missing the matte finish of the now-retired Luon fabric, you might want to try Alo’s Airbrush Leggings. The Airlift leggings, with a shiny finish, are also popular among yoga instructors and models. We still recommend Lululemon for those needing sport-specific tech like compression tights for weightlifting or drawstring waistband leggings for runners.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which Lululemon leggings are best?
While we listed the best pair of Lululemon leggings for various sports and activities above, the overall best legging style made by Lululemon are the Align 28-inch. They are versatile and loved by numerous fitness enthusiasts.
How long do Lululemon leggings last?
Lululemon leggings are known to last a long time, despite their high price point. Several users report having Lulu leggings that are over five years old.
What is the most popular item at Lululemon?
The most popular items purchased at Lululemon athletica include High Rise Align Leggings, Scuba Hoodie, and the often-sold-out Everywhere Belt Bag.
Is it worth buying Lululemon leggings?
Lululemon leggings will not only keep you fashionable and comfortable in your next yoga class, the durability and in-store hemming make them a great value.
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