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There’s no denying the benefits of a yoga practice. Science has proven how striking and holding a pose can improve your health and release stress. As you explore your yoga practice and try different methods—from hot to vinyasa and more—you’ll need the right gear. One of the most essential is also the most obvious: Yoga pants. While your go-to fitness gear can work for your practice, yoga pants can offer specialized support and compression as you move from downward to upward dog and beyond.
Here, we tested a variety of yoga pants to help you find your next favorite pair.
What to look for in yoga pants
Shopping for yoga pants is all about determining your needs, preferences, and what works for you. Physical therapist and yogi Dr. Samantha Harte provides this guide to begin the process.
- Try a few stores/retailers: Whether through recommendations or past experiences with your favorite brand, choose two or three stores with an excellent reputation and prepare to spend time in each.
- Test out a few fits: Try on a bunch of them—high waisted, mid-rise, low-rise, shorts, three-quarter, or full-length.
- Remember the purpose: Dr. Harte says to go off of what feels the best and not what looks the best, as that will inspire you to wear them again and again. Remember the types of movements you’ll be doing in the yoga pants—and test them out. These might include squats, lunges, and so on.
- Phone a friend: Or try them on in front of someone. Dr. Harte says a friend, partner, or even a yoga instructor can help you focus on what’s most important by asking questions, like “How do you feel in those pants?”, “Will you feel comfortable going to your favorite yoga class without worrying if they’ll fall?” and so on.
Our top picks for best yoga pants
Best yoga pants with pockets: Third Love Kinetic Performance Pocket Leggings
A yoga ritual allows you to release the fatigue and tension of the day. And part of that ritual might be commuting with less fuss. If you want to hop out of your apartment to a yoga class with only a phone, key and credit card, these performance leggings from Third Love will be your new go-to. We love the stretchy, breathable material that’s not too thin to see through. The wide selection of colors makes it easy to go bold and bright or stick with neutrals if that’s more your vibe. The high waistband provides slight compression without being too restrictive.
Keep in mind the pocket is big enough for a few items but not for the entire contents of your purse. Some reviewers shared the crotch area could be expanded to be more comfortable for plus-sized women. Others suggest going slightly smaller than your typical size since the band tends to fall or roll down if it’s too big.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS- 3X
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: Lightly compressive fit
- Material/Fabric: 88% polyester/12% spandex
- Care: Handwashing is ideal, but you can use a washing machine by placing the pants in a mesh lingerie bag. Make sure to wash in cold water, on delicate wash, with no fabric softener since it can affect the fabric’s ability to wick. Air dry or tumble dry with air only.
- Durability: Built to last but be gentle with washing.
- Comfort and Fit: Elastic-free, double-layer waistband
- Ease of Movement: No pinching or slipping with the elastic-free waist and made with ‘dry feel’ performance fabric, a lightly compressive fit, and sleek, chafe-busting flatlock seams for all-workout, all-day comfort.
- Breathability: Yes
- Pockets: Yes
- Price: $74
Third Love Kinetic Performance Pocket Leggings
Most comfortable yoga pants: Municipal Womens Staple Legging
These buttery-soft, stretch-knit leggings from Municipal win our pick for the most comfortable yoga pants ever. We love how size-inclusive they are, with sizes up to 2XL, and the elastic-free waistband that doesn’t dig into your hips. If you’re worried about doing a forward fold and showing your underwear, you can be stress-free with these leggings that feature interlock knit fabric that conceals well.
Though you can wear these leggings year-round, they’re ideal for the colder months since the material is slightly thicker. A concealed key-size pocket on the right side lets you stash small goods.
Reviewers say these yoga pants run true to size, but are a little on the longer side, so keep that in mind.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS - 2XL
- Rise: Mid-rise
- Compression: No
- Material/Fabric: 77% Poly, 23% Spandex, sleek and buttery-soft 240gsm stretch knit you’ll want to live in forever.
- Care: Cold wash, no softener, tumble low.
- Durability: Durable for most wear and tear standards.
- Comfort and Fit: The yoga pants feature a waistband that’s elastic-free for an easy fit with a smooth and supportive feel that won’t bind or dig.
- Ease of Movement: Mid-weight interlock knit fabric allows for super strength and super opaque coverage, which means you can stretch and bend all you want
- Breathability: Yes, but the durable natural material is slightly thicker, so it runs warm.
- Pockets: Yes—concealed key pocket on the right side of the waistband.
- Price: $88
Municipal Womens Staple Legging
Best high-waisted yoga pants: Icebreaker Womens Merino Fastray High-Rise Tights Gridlines
Trends come and go, but when it comes to athletic pants—from CrossFit to yoga—high-waist is a top request. Not only does this fit offer additional support, it’s a way to feel less self-conscious while working out. We love this form-fitting merino wool and lycra fabric blend from Icebreaker. Known for its dedication to performance athletes and for creating high-quality clothing that lasts for years, Icebreaker tights will help you expand your practice.
In addition to the high-waist design and elasticized waistband, this yoga pant features flatlock seams and body contouring in the back for an improved fit and feel. A pocket on the right side is also big enough for a phone. When ordering, keep in mind reviews share that they run on the smaller side and are a bit warmer than other lightweight leggings. If you have a pet in the house, try to resist a hug ‘goodbye’ before heading to yoga since some reviewers shared that they can collect hair.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: Form-fitting
- Material/Fabric: 97% Merino Wool/ 3% LYCRA®
- Care: Machine wash cold on a delicate cycle, with like colors. Avoid softeners and bleach. Line dry only.
- Durability: For active performance on or off the trail.
- Comfort and Fit: High-waist, wide elasticized waistband, flatlock seams and body contouring seams at the back.
- Ease of Movement: Gusset for mobility and comfort.
- Breathability: Midweight fabric for heavier warmth in colder conditions.
- Pockets: Stash pocket on the right leg fits a phone.
- Price: $130
Icebreaker Womens Merino Fastray High-Rise Tights Gridlines
Best bootleg yoga pants: Backcountry Flare Leggings
If you’re not on Team Tight or Team Flare, you might be on Team Bootleg. With a bit of added width at the heel that provides more versatility and less restriction, this affordable pair of yoga leggings from Backcountry is super-cozy and wearable. Available in sizes XS to XL, reviewers rave about how they pass the ‘squat’ test and don’t attract pet hair. They provide a smooth appearance throughout the leg area, reducing the appearance of cellulite or unwanted lines or bulges. Also, the smaller opening at the leg means you won’t feel the pant fall down when you’re holding a yoga pose.
Consider ordering a size up, since reviewers share they run on the smaller side.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: Soft and stretchy with a slim fit.
- Material/Fabric: 76% nylon, 24% spandex
- Care: Machine wash cold and line dry. Avoid softeners and bleach.
- Durability: Made for the trail, the yoga studio or running errands around town.
- Comfort and Fit: Stretch-fit and athletic-inspired leggings.
- Ease of Movement: Wears well at work, at the studio, and while at play.
- Breathability: Stretch synthetic offers soft, breathable, wicking comfort.
- Pockets: None
- Price: $36
Backcountry Flare Legging - Women's Black, L
Best maternity yoga pants: Beyond Yoga Spacedye Love the Bump Maternity Pocket Midi-Legging
Though you may have worn compression yoga pants before pregnancy, tightness around your stomach could make you feel nauseated as your bump grows. Enter these best-selling pair maternity leggings from Beyond Yoga. We love the soft fabric and the elastic waistband that stretches with each trimester. Wear the waistband above or below your bump; it can be folded to your preference.
They feature a vast collection of colors, so you can coordinate with different tanks, t-shirts, or sweaters. Since pregnancy can cause a hot flash or extra sweat, the moisture-wicking material is especially handy.
Reviewers say they run a little large, so consider ordering a bit smaller than you typically do. The goal is to have them tight enough to offer support as your body changes.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Rise: High waistband for over or under bump
- Compression: 4-way stretch that grows with trimesters.
- Material/Fabric: 87% Polyester, 13% Elastane.
- Care: Machine wash cold and tumble dry low.
- Durability: Made to fit all through pregnancy and beyond
- Comfort and Fit: Ultra-soft maternity pocket leggings that offer an over-the-belly waistband that’s easy to fold up or down.
- Ease of Movement: Features a four-way stretch that is comfortable and dynamic.
- Breathability: Moisture-wicking material.
- Pockets: Yes, pockets on hip.
- Price: $110
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Love the Bump Maternity Pocket Midi-Legging
Most flattering yoga pant: Lululemon Align Wide Leg Pant
Your ideal Sunday morning begins with an early yoga class, a stop by the farmer’s market, brunch with a friend or a catch-up over coffee. So, when you shop for yoga pants, you want something not just ideal for the studio—but for anywhere your day takes you.
You can’t go wrong with any pick from Lululemon, including their new yoga flare pants. Made with the same buttery-soft,flexible material Lululemon is known for, you can expect to feel comfortable and stylish. They feature a front pocket with an interior card sleeve and a back drop-in pocket for other small necessities.
This yoga line tends to run a bit on the larger size, so consider ordering a size down for extra support. Also, if you’re used to the compression found in Lululemon traditional tights, be prepared for a different fit in these yoga pants. They offer comfortable stretch, but not the tightness you find in other products.
Specifications:
- Sizes: 0-20
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: No—built for comfort and stretch.
- Material/Fabric: 81% Nylon, 19% Lycra® elastane
- Care: Machine wash cold with like colors, tumble dry low.
- Durability: Made to support before, during and after your yoga class.
- Comfort and Fit: Ideal for low-impact exercises, with super-soft material and breathable fabric.
- Ease of Movement: Stays put without pulling up between poses. Flexible material that moves with you, not against you.
- Breathability: Yes
- Pockets: Front pockets with interior card sleeve; back drop-in pocket.
- Price: $128
Lululemon Align Wide Leg Pant
Best for studio classes: Vuori Clothing Studio Flare
According to Dr. Harte, there are no better yoga pants than Vuori. “From Instagram ads to celebrity clothing lines, it may be overwhelming to nail down which workout pant is best for you,” she says. “But, if you are seeking simplicity, sophistication and supreme comfort, Vuori is hands-down the best yoga pant on the market.”
She raves about the high-quality, comfortable design that delivers on its promises, giving you the time and space to focus on your practice. This pair, explicitly designed for the studio, features supportive material that doesn’t compress but smooths out your legs and torso. Though it runs on the slimmer side, even curvier figures will appreciate the smart details and cozy, durable and moisture-wicking design. You won’t find pockets in this pair of leggings, but that makes sense since hey, they’re meant for a studio practice.
Reviews share that these flare yoga pants tend to run a little larger and longer than average, so size down for the perfect fit.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: No
- Material/Fabric: 72% Polyester, 28% Elastane
- Care: Machine wash cold with like colors and tumble dry.
- Durability: Designed to perform in and out of the class with high-quality materials that move and groove with you.
- Comfort and Fit: A slim fit with soft fabric that’s also moisture-wicking.
- Ease of Movement: Stretchy while also offering a smoothing benefit.
- Breathability: Yes
- Pockets: No
- Price: $98
Vuori Studio Flare | Black | Large
Best lounge yoga pants: Athleta Elation Flare Pant
Athleisure is in a class of its own when it comes to fashion. While most professionals have a separate wardrobe for the studio and for the office, sometimes, you need yoga pants that can function for both. For a lounge look, opt for this best-selling pant from Athleta. With bright hues, smart compression, a very soft material, and an ultra high-rise waistband, you can easily go from the office to the gym to your friend’s couch for Netflix binging, all in one day.
In addition to the soft appeal, Athleta is known for its absorbent, moisture-wicking design. This gives you peace of mind if you work up a sweat during your class. Also, with a size-inclusive range up to 3X, it’s a fit that works for most bodies.
These tend to run larger and may not be the right proportions for those on the shorter side, since the flare is oversized.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XXS-3X
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: Keeps you held in and supported in all the right places.
- Material/Fabric: Nylon/Lycra; Powervita™ fabric is buttery soft with the support that feels like a gentle hug.
- Care: Machine wash and dry.
- Durability: Made for yoga or studio practice.
- Comfort and Fit: Semi-fitted, ultra high-rise waistband, flares at the knee. No side seams and dries fast.
- Ease of Movement: Made with their customer-favorite, second-skin Powervit fabric, these yoga leggings/pants are designed for your ultimate distraction-free practice.
- Breathability: Yes.
- Pockets: Back drop-in pocket holds your essentials
- Price: $99
Athleta Elation Flare Pant
Best yoga skirt: Alo Yoga High-Waist Elevation Mini Skirt
When you think about dressing for your yoga class, your first instinct might not be to pull out a skirt. But you can be convinced once you try this highly-rated Alo Yoga skirt. This brand is known for its commitment to quality yoga products that benefit your practice, providing comfort and support. Wearing this skirt — with a fitted inner short — provides a wider range of motion and no restriction that you might experience from classic pants.
If you’re taking an outdoor yoga class in the morning, the fleece lining offers a bit more warmth, while the overall lightweight fabric is moisture-wicking and cooling. Side zip pockets provide security for valuables. Reviewers warn the skirt runs on the larger size, so order down for the best fit.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XXS-L
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: Fitted inner short
- Material/Fabric: Lightweight woven with Polar fleece-lined inner short
- Care: Machine wash cold with like colors. Tumble dry low; low iron. Do not dry clean.
- Durability: Made to last indoors and outdoors.
- Comfort and Fit: This skirt features a fleece-lined inside, short for all temperatures, and hits at the mid-thigh with an elastic logo waistband.
- Ease of Movement: Elastic waist, supportive inner shorts.
- Breathability: Lightweight fabric
- Pockets: Side zip pockets
- Price: $78
Alo Yoga® | High-Waist Elevation Mini Skirt in Black, Size: XS
Best period-proof yoga pants: Adidas Techfit Period Proof Leggings
For achy cramps or a sour mood, a yoga class can do wonders for your mental and physical health while you’re on your period. With these period-proof leggings from Adidas, you can also ease worries of accidental leaks. They feature a specific technology developed by Adidas to provide a no-show additional layer of support against leaks when wearing a cup, tampon or pad. To keep your cramps calmer, low to medium compression is the just-right amount of pressure for comfort. And with a size range from XS to 4X, most people will be able to find an ideal fit. Keep in mind these are on the tighter side for a reason, so they lock in support and catch leaks if they happen. The addition of mesh panels also help you feel cooler faster, right when you need it.
Specifications:
- Sizes: XS-4X
- Rise: High-rise
- Compression: Low-to-medium compression.
- Material/Fabric: 73% recycled polyester, 27% elastane interlock. Made with a series of recycled materials and at least 60% recycled content.
- Care: Machine wash warm on a delicate cycle with like colors, tumble dry low, heat. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners.
- Durability: Absorbent layers and a leak-proof membrane for extra protection.
- Comfort and Fit: Tight fit with elastic waist and Adidas AEROREADY that manages your body's moisture to keep you dry and in the zone. These tights have a no-show multilayered protection system that protects against leakage when worn with a cup, tampon or pad.
- Ease of Movement: Snug fit and moisture-absorbing AEROREADY material.
- Breathability: Mesh panels in high-sweat zones
- Pockets: No
- Price: $58
Adidas Techfit Period Proof Leggings
How made our selections
We analyzed the materials, fit, and packaging of all of our products. By consulting with experts, fact-checking, personally testing and scouring hundreds of reviews, we selected our top picks from various retailers. Our comprehensive list covers many common goals for yoga practitioners.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the best yoga pant length?
Since you want to avoid a long tail on your yoga pants that could cause you to slip or fall out of a pose, picking the right length is crucial. According to Dr. Harte, the best way to figure out your yoga pant length is first to decide if you want a flared or tapered bottom.
“If the pants are flared, it’s best to have them no lower than a sole height, so they don’t interfere with your practice and cause an accidental fall,” she explains. “If they are tapered, though, the options are vast.”
Ultimately, she adds that the best length comes down to whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and supported so you can get out of your head and into your body.
What is the difference between yoga pants and leggings?
Yoga pants are designed specifically for the practice of yoga, which is highly versatile and dynamic, Dr. Harte says. “Yoga challenges the body in multiple planes of motion, stretches and strengthens the connective tissue, and often induces a serious sweat,” she explains.
Leggings, on the other hand, are often form-fitting pants worn out in the world, whether in the workplace or at your favorite brunch spot. “They don’t necessarily handle large ranges of motion or heavy amounts of sweat,” she said. “Because of that, they could end up irritating the skin or ripping if worn in a yoga class. If you’re investing in a yoga practice, it is best to invest in comfortable and supportive attire that matches the demands of the task.”
How do you pick the right size yoga pants?
To determine the best size yoga pant, Dr. Harte says to start by asking around and reading reviews. “Get as much information as possible from people who have taken a diverse range of yoga classes without constantly pulling the waistline up or returning them because they were see-through or made of cheap material,” she says. “If you’re on the bold side, get in a dressing room and try out some dynamic poses with the pants on and see how you feel."
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