Photo: Marcus McDonald
If there’s one thing (other than Adriene’s soothing voice) that’ll motivate me to roll out my mat in the morning, it’s a good pair of yoga pants that look cute and actually stay put when I move. Although the term “yoga pants” might mean different things to different people, here I’ve defined it to be pants made of a thick enough material to cover your butt (even when you’re in Downward Dog) and stretchy and sweat-wicking enough to get you through your class, a run around the park, or a day at your desk comfortably — regardless of silhouette. I’ve tried out the pants on this list for myself and noted how they differ, while also consulting fitness instructors, yogis, and other experts about which they recommend. Whether they’re durable tights approved by personal trainers or super-stretchy maternity leggings, you can find options at various price points below. While you’re here, I’ve also written guides to the best women’s swim goggles and hiking shoes. And if you’re looking for non-yoga tights that can be worn for other activities, see my guide to the best women’s leggings.
Updated on November 7, 2025
I added testing notes for Lululemon’s Wunder Train High Rise Tights and Baleaf’s High Waist Yoga Pants, performing a sandpaper scratch test and putting them through a high-heat dryer cycle for nine hours.
Because the whole point of wearing yoga pants is to be as comfortable as possible, my focus was on finding those offered in the widest range of sizes. I’ve noted available sizes for each pair below.
Yoga pants are typically fabricated from a blend of either nylon and spandex or polyester and spandex. Slightly more durable than polyester, nylon is also more expensive. Polyester is still a great choice and highly effective at wicking sweat away from your skin while you exercise.
Elastane (also referred to as spandex or Lycra) is what makes leggings stretchy and comfortable compared with regular pants. “The higher the percentage, the more stretch the fabric will have,” explains Shadi Adada, the co-founder of FittDesign. High-elastane leggings are also more compressive, supporting muscles and enhancing blood flow during your yoga or Pilates class. Most yoga pants these days claim to have “four-way stretch,” but this is essentially just a marketing term that refers to a high percentage of elastane.
Yoga pants vary in how high they sit on the waist as well as how thick and compressive their fabric is. These design features will affect both form and function. Compressive, high-rise leggings with a high elastane percentage (at least 18 percent elastane is ideal, according to Souad Acha, co-founder of Stateless Fashion Design and Consulting) will create a streamlined silhouette and won’t fall down when you run or do a Downward Dog.
Sky Ting Yoga co-founder Krissy Jones, who has “been living in yoga pants for the past 12 years,” compares the supportiveness of compressive yoga pants to an ankle brace: “It just gives you a little extra firmness and actually supports your muscles to activate and work tighter toward the bone, which is a good thing.” All good yoga pants will cinch your legs and waist somewhat, but if you’re a runner or wearing them for more intensive workouts, you’ll probably want to invest in a more compressive pair than you would use on the mat. As for the rise, Jones notes that if you’re doing yoga, “you want to be able to breathe through your diaphragm,” which means superhigh waists are less ideal because they can restrict belly movement.
While Jones says that pockets can get in the way when you’re on the mat — “Anything with extra seams, zippers, or buttons is distracting, because you’re rolling around on the floor a lot” — pants with pockets may be preferable for runners, gym goers, or anyone who likes to wear yoga pants as regular pants. On this list, you’ll find pants that can stash your AirPods and phone, pants with a smaller waistband pocket for your apartment key, and several completely pocket-free options for purists.
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Size range: 0 to 20 | Fabric: 77 percent nylon, 23 percent elastane| Rise and compression: High rise, high compression | Pockets: Hidden waist band pocket for cards, available with or without side pockets
I’ve been testing out a pair of Lululemon’s Wunder Train tights for more than two years now, and they look and feel as good as new even after all that time spent in my local laundromat’s industrial-strength dryer. That quality of construction is partly why Lululemon’s workout gear has been recommended to us by many, many fitness experts. Wunder Train tights are the brand’s longtime best-selling pair — and a favorite among yoga instructors. “Lululemon has nailed the yoga pant,” says Jones. “They’ve really refined it over the past 20 years, and it has gotten better and better.” Kate Posch, who teaches at Sky Ting, praises the high-waisted fit in particular: “I live for high-rise and for not having to keep pulling up my pants while practicing or teaching.”
They’re also a favorite of Erin Brockovich, who was very particular about what she likes and does not: “If I’m doing yoga, and I’m down on my knees and lifting my butt up, I don’t want to wear leggings that you can see through. At the same time, I’m like Goldilocks: I don’t like the superthin ones, but some are too thick. The Lululemon material is just right. It isn’t so heavy, but I have assurance that you can’t see my butt in them.” Ashley Rosenberg, a modelFIT instructor, calls the style “the forever classic” that’s “just unbeatable.” Katherine Gundling, a coach and programmer at ICE CrossFit NYC and Oculus CrossFit, says that they stand out among a sea of imitators: “They will last you years and stay in great condition.” To really make sure your expensive leggings last, follow the brand’s washing instructions, says Acha: “When subjected to higher water and drying temperatures, the spandex fibers within the fabric are more likely to lose their elasticity.” But for what it’s worth, I tumble-dried a pair of Wunder Unders at high heat for nine hours straight, and they lost no shape or stretchiness whatsoever.
The pockets are big enough to hold an iPhone Pro Max.
Photo: Katherine Gillespie
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Size range: XS to 3XL | Fabric: 87 percent nylon, 13 percent elastane| Rise and compression: High rise, mid-compression | Pockets: Waistband pocket for keys or cards
Baleaf’s affordable yoga pants have been a Strategist favorite for years; they’re similar quality to those from high-end brands but about a third of the price. The fabric used to construct this pair is slightly less smooth and dense than Lululemon’s but plenty stretchy without ever turning sheer. Strategist contributor Maggie Slepian says she’s worn all the expensive legging brands out there, but these are her favorites. “They are a standout in versatility that I haven’t found in other pants,” she writes. “The special sauce lies partially in the material. These are midweight leggings built with a nylon blend that includes 18 percent elastane, which puts them right between compression levels of more supportive tights (which can feel too restrictive for all-day wear) and supersoft leggings (which can sag and lose their shape).” When I used sandpaper to test their abrasion resistance, they proved much more durable than Lululemon’s Wunder Unders. In fact, I was unable to pierce a hole in my pair, no matter how hard I tried.
Stretchy but not too stretchy.
Photo: Katherine Gillespie
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Size range: XXS to 2XL | Fabric: 88 percent polyester, 12 percent spandex | Rise and compression: High rise, mid-compression | Pockets: Hidden waistband pocket
Zella is Nordstrom’s in-house athletic line, and its leggings are “incredibly popular for a reason,” says Lesley Logan, founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com. More of an investment than Baleaf or Old Navy but much more affordable than Lululemon and Alo, these leggings are known within the pilates community for being both durable and comfortable, Logan says. Their slightly lower elastic content also makes them versatile for both exercise and lounging around the house; they’re supportive but not too tight to wear while typing away on your laptop or catching up on shows.
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Size range: XXS to 6XL | Fabric: 79 percent rPET, 21 percent spandex | Rise and compression: High rise, mid-compression | Pockets: None
I’ve been testing out a pair of these tights too, and I find them to be truly comfortable. Though they’re a little less compressive than the Lululemon pair above, I’ve had no issue with them falling down when running. Made from recycled plastic bottles, they’re fabricated from soft and smooth material that feels surprisingly luxe. Jones is a fan, saying that these are by far “the most sustainable” yoga pants that are “still concerned with fit and look.” Health-care entrepreneur Hil Moss, a breast-cancer survivor who has undergone a mastectomy and rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, says that Girlfriend Collective’s leggings made the process just a bit easier: “They are insanely comfortable. I have multiple pairs in different colors — that’s how much I love them.”
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Size range: XXS to 3X | Fabric: 75 percent nylon, 25 percent polyester | Rise and compression: High rise, low compression | Pockets: Two side pockets
When we asked experts about the best plus-size workout clothes, three women pointed to Athleta’s Salutation Capri Leggings, which go up to a size 3XL, as the best yoga pants. Jessica Rahil, a yoga instructor and body-positivity advocate, says they’re hands down the best leggings she’s ever worn. “The material and waistband hug the body perfectly,” she explains, adding that the material is entirely opaque without feeling overly restrictive or thick. Fitness influencer Chasi Jernigan likes them, saying that “the stretch fabric allows you to move unrestricted.” And model Tatiana Lewis says she especially likes the high-rise waist, which offers full, comfortable coverage.
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Size range: XS to 4X | Fabric: 77 percent polyester, 23 percent elastane | Rise and compression: High rise, low compression | Pockets: None
For a pair of plus-size yoga pants at a third of the price of the Athletas above, both Lewis and Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst prefer Old Navy’s high-waisted pair. Denton-Hurst says she lives in hers ever since becoming a gym rat. “I don’t have to worry about them falling down,” she says. “These come up very high and stay up. I don’t have to constantly readjust during a workout and can walk, jog, and lift with ease.” As for the fit, she describes it as flatteringly compressive “but not restrictive.” Logan is also a fan of the PowerSoft fabric, saying that it is “surprisingly durable for the price.”
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Size range: 0 to 20 | Fabric: | 81 percent nylon, 19 percent elastane | Rise and compression: Superhigh rise, low compression | Pockets: One waistband pocket for keys or cards
For pregnant people, experts again recommend Lululemon’s yoga pants, specifically the brand’s not-too-tight, waistband-free Align style. Tori Thain Gioia, a co-founder of the prenatal- and postnatal-vitamin company Perelel, wears the superhigh-rise version of these pants, telling us they “grow with you throughout your entire pregnancy and postpartum.” Pilates instructor Anna Anderson owns multiple pairs and has worn them throughout her three pregnancies and beyond. “During pregnancy, I liked the feeling of wearing tight things with support but didn’t want them to be constricting,” she says. “These were the right balance.” Tenia Skinner, a certified personal trainer and member of Mater Mea, a community for Black moms, agrees, saying that the Align pants “feel like a second skin” and were “so comfortable all 40 weeks.” (Find more maternity-workout-gear recommendations we’ve written about here.)
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Size range: XS to XL | Fabric: 90 percent nylon, 10 percent elastane| Rise and compression: Mid-rise, mid-compression | Pockets: None
It’s rare that a pair of yoga pants can even be described as pretty, but these ones from Live the Process are “shockingly beautiful,” as Jones puts it. “If anyone wants to splurge on the nicest yoga pants out there, their shapes and colors are amazing. So is the quality of the material.” She notes that a V-shaped waist is “probably the most flattering style” for yoga pants to wear with a cropped top.
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Size range: XXS to 4XL | Fabric: 87 percent polyester, 13 percent elastane | Rise and compression: Superhigh rise, mid-compression | Pockets: No pockets
When I asked Taylor Borenstein and Millie Blumka, the co-founders of foldable-yoga-mat brand Stakt, which pants they themselves wear, both recommended this pair from Beyond Yoga. “The material is extremely soft and formfitting,” they tell me. The pants are compressive yet stretchy: “They offer support without feeling too heavy and thick.” This means that they “feel great to wear in all seasons.” I agree: even though Beyond Yoga’s Spacedye fabric is made from polyester, it has a unique matte cotton-y texture that I really like, while still being very stretchy and moisture-wicking. These pants are designed to sit at the wearer’s natural waist, which means they should fully cover your belly button — it’s a universally flattering look, and a 25-inch inseam means most people should be able to avoid any annoying ankle scrunching.
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Size range: XXS to L | Fabric: 87 percent nylon, 13 percent elastane | Rise and compression: High rise, low compression | Pockets: No pockets
Flared yoga pants are both trendy and versatile; what I especially like about Alo’s Airbrush ones is that they’re constructed from a soft and stretchy brushed fabric rather than the more traditional swishy yoga pant material. This means they really do work as (very comfortable and flattering) everyday pants if you throw a T-shirt over the top. I tried both the flared and bootcut styles, and would advise the latter if you favor a subtle ’90s look over a more billowy ’70s one.
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Size range: XXS to XXXL | Fabric: 77 percent polyester, 22 percent elastane | Rise and compression: High rise, low compression | Pockets: No pockets
I also looked for flared yoga pants for under $100, and Adanola’s were the best I found. They have a completely straight leg that is neither too swishy nor too bell-bottomed. They’re very stretchy and lightweight, being constructed from a performance fabric that, though it lacks the peach-skin feeling of Alo’s Airbrush, is very soft to the touch. The waistband sits high and holds everything in, and while these would work as everyday lounge pants, they’re definitely still compressive enough for mat workouts.
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Size range: XXS to XXL | Fabric: 85 percent recycled polyester, 15 percent elastane| Rise and compression: Mid-rise, low compression | Pockets: Two side pockets
For those who want something looser than legging-style and bootcut yoga pants, yoga sweatpants are a good alternative. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, Strategist contributor Anna Carey bought these yoga sweatpants for at-home yoga. They’re not baggy, but they have a loose fit around the hips and legs, with a long cuffed ankle. “They make me feel pulled together, in a way other loungewear doesn’t,” Carey says. The material is heavier than leggings but thinner than a typical sweatpant. “They are, needless to say, extremely comfortable,” Carey says.
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Size range: XS to 3XL | Fabric: 94 percent cotton, 6 percent elastane | Rise and compression: Mid-rise, low compression | Pockets: Two side pockets
For one-third the price of the Sweaty Betty pants above, Baleaf’s yoga sweatpants are a crowd-pleasing pick. You can wear them for yoga, but they’re just as great for lifting at the gym, lounging around at home, or running errands. Just note that they are made of cotton, which is less effective at wicking away moisture compared with polyester and will dry more slowly.
• Souad Acha, co-founder, Stateless Fashion Design and Consulting
• Shadi Adada, co-founder of FittDesign
• Anna Anderson, Pilates instructor
• Taylor Borenstein and Millie Blumka, co-founders of Stakt
• Erin Brockovich, environmental activist
• Anna Carey, Strategist contributor
• Tembe Denton-Hurst, Strategist writer
• Tori Thain Gioia, co-founder of Perelel
• Katherine Gundling, coach and programmer at ICE CrossFit NYC and Oculus CrossFit
• Chasi Jernigan, fitness influencer
• Krissy Jones, co-founder, Sky Ting Yoga
• Tatiana Lewis, Curve model
• Katch Posch, yoga instructor at Sky Ting Yoga
• Jessica Rahil, yoga instructor and body-positivity advocate
• Ashley Rosenberg, modelFIT instructor
• Tenia Skinner, personal trainer
• Maggie Slepian, writer and film wrangler
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