"Top 10 Lululemon Leggings of 2024: Expert Picks by Shape Editors and Instructors"

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It's hard to rank the best Lululemon products – since the brand's creation nearly 25 years ago, their sports bras, accessories, and leggings have been a staple in the closets, drawers, and dirty laundry hampers of gym-goers (and Shape editors) everywhere. Known for being somewhat pricey, devotees rave about their coveted leggings, and for good reason. The brand's powerhouse pants are known for supreme comfort, sweat-wicking fabrics, and tight hold (no slipping and sliding as you do relaxing stretches before bed or work through different squat variations).

But with all of these offerings, which stand out? The Shape team took it upon ourselves to test dozens of models to find the best Lululemon leggings available on the racks today. The team also reached out to fitness instructors and runners to find out what they love to wear when they're getting their sweat on.

Out of the 117 leggings available on Lululemon's site right now, the Shape team dubbed these 10 the absolute best. Read below to learn why.

These leggings got a perfect 5-star rating from Shape testers. No biggie. 'They're very stretchy, so getting them on and off is easy,' said one tester. 'I felt secure in this pair, and they stayed put while I worked out. Nothing moved — not the waistband, the legs, or the crotch.' Perhaps the best part about these workout leggings is that they provide the necessary hold and support without leaving you feeling stuck (literally) post-workout.

Have no fear, the stretch doesn't impact the pant's elasticity or the three pockets (two on the side and one above the booty). 'They are comfortable and functional and have more pockets than I knew what to do with!'

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 15 | Fabrics: Nulu, nylon, lycra | Inseam lengths: 25, 28, and 31 inches | Activities: Yoga, lounging, running errands

Of course, we have to start with the pockets. The side pockets are the perfect size to hold a phone in place (no bouncing as you move), but it's still easy to slide your cell out and go to the next song on your workout playlist. As for the back pocket, we appreciate the zipper which keeps other valuables safely stored away.

Like most Lululemon leggings, these running leggings are smooth and taut with a good kind of compression. 'You feel held in without the achy stomach feeling from super restrictive compression,' says one tester. The drawstring is what helps create that balanced hold, but you may have to adjust it mid-workout. It's not a one-and-done situation where you just tighten and forget about it.

The Shape team agrees these are the best plus-size leggings options but there's a major asterisk on that title. Lululemon only offers sizing up to 20. For a workout site, that's not even scratching the service of the bare minimum. The team noticed that of the 117 options on the site, only 39 have size 20 available — what's more, the color options are even more sparse.

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 4 | Fabrics: Luxtreme, nylon, elastane, lycra | Inseams: 25 and 28 inches | Activity: Running

The Wunder Train is extra supportive, fully opaque, and made of Lululemon's fast-drying Everlux fabric, making it the perfect addition to a trainer's wardrobe. The pair is equipped with a drawstring at the waist, meaning you can adjust the fit and don't have to yank them up mid-workout. They are true to size, but be aware that if you're new to compression, they will feel smaller than what you're used to.

'They're super comfy and flattering and very sweat-wicking,' says Rachel Stern, a SoulCycle instructor in New York City. 'I love that they never fall down and dry very quickly after class. They're extremely durable and last for years.'

Since they're on the slightly thicker side, this pair is ideal for air-conditioned workouts or chillier weather — the thicker fabric might be too hefty for the summer heat. That said, they wicked sweat really well, so you're unlikely to get overheated or feel clammy during any workouts. Our tester put them through the workout ringer (giving them a go with strength training, Pilates, and barre), as well as through the washer/dryer, saying the pair have maintained their shape, fit, and hold throughout it all. Yup, that's right, no hand-washing or line-drying with these bad boys. You may just want to wash the pair separately (at least the first time) to avoid dye transfer.

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 12 | Fabrics: Everlux, nylon, lycra, polyester, Coolmax polyester | Inseam lengths: 25, 28, and 31 inches | Activity: Training

Lululemon touts these leggings as 'buttery soft' and 'weightless,' and this isn't a marketing gimmick. Our testers are quick to agree, saying these are the softest leggings they've ever owned. Plus, the fit is true to size, with enough stretch to slide over hips, and enough compression to feel secure.

The Align line is designed for low-impact activities (think: yoga, walking, etc.) or plain old lounging, but the breathable, stretchy material makes them compatible with more intensive workouts. 'I loved how the high rise aspect came up to my belly button without squeezing too hard,' said one tester. 'It stayed in place throughout my workout class, but didn't feel uncomfortable. A lot of leggings I own will pull down around the waist if I bend my legs, but these remain secure.' Our testers gave them the walking, squatting, and yoga seals of approval. And of course, a hidden waistband pocket for stashing keys, cards, or other loose ends is always a bonus.

Even professional instructors love these. 'The Lululemon Align leggings are my favorite because they give me the perfect hug: they're not too tight but just snug enough,' says Gabby Andriello, a SoulCycle instructor in New York City. 'They make me feel so supported when teaching.'

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 22 | Fabrics: Nulu, nylon, lycra | Inseam lengths: 25, 28, and 31 inches | Activities: Yoga, lounging

The Wunder Train Contour Fit High-Rise Tight is our go-to pick for music bumping, heavy lifting, sweat flying workouts. The Everlux fabric — a breathable mix of nylon and lycra pulls sweat away from the body, keeping you cool and dry through every set. Testers with a curvier shape — rounder hips and thighs — appreciated how much space these leggings provided. The pairs were sculpting without digging into any body parts in an uncomfortable way. These are better suited for lifting than running because the fabric is super compressive. We liked that these leggings stayed put through box jumps and HIIT workouts and a continuous loop drawcord lets you pull the waistband even tighter.

We tested these through full depth squats and found zero issues with opacity, even in the lighter colors. While the material feels cool to the touch, thanks to its sweat-wicking fabric, these are a thick pair of leggings. Our main complaint is in the sizing. This style is only available up to a size 14. There seems to be inconsistency between colors too, with some testers sizing up or down, depending on the shade or their specific body shape.

Sizes: 0-14 | Colors: 8 | Fabrics: Nylon, lycra | Inseam lengths: 25 and 28 inches | Activities: Weight lifting, spin class

On the hunt for a new pair of yoga pants, or as the cool kids call them, flare leggings? Then the search is over: Lululemon’s Groove Super High-Rise Flared Pants are what you’re looking for. The shape of these is superb: the high waist goes well past your hips, hugs the body, then cuts out at the knee into a flared shape. The Nulu fabric is ultra-soft and great for low-impact activities, like yoga, lounging, or running errands. We tested these on long travel days — 12 hours spent on two different trains — and they went the distance. Remaining comfortable and cute the entire ride and it felt elevated beyond a simple tee and black leggings.

Now, if you’re looking for leggings with hold, these aren’t for you (consider Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight instead). The buttery soft fabric isn’t compressive and is skimming rather than sculpting. We prefer that for an athleisure pair and it was a selling point in our testing, too. However, we did note that this softness caused the waistband to shift a bit. It didn’t ever slide far enough to show our underwear (high-waist FTW), but some adjustment was needed.

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 13 | Fabrics: Nylon, lycra, polyester | Inseam lengths: 23 and 32 inches | Activities: Yoga, lounge

Our favorite compression Lululemon leggings got a handy upgrade: Pockets. Considering there are already two Wunder Train legging varieties on this list (Contour and High-Rise), it’s safe to say we love these leggings. We have really put this pair through their paces with a range of workout modalities and it met the bar every time. This is a fairly high level of compression to give your muscles a support squeeze as you lift heavy. We found the high waistband and inner drawcord kept our pants in place with no rolling or sliding down.

While side pockets are much more common on running leggings, gym leggings are sometimes lacking that feature. However, we love keeping our phone on us to look at our workout plan or switch to a better pump-up song, and carrying it gets annoying quickly. The two side pockets on this pair are deep enough to fully protect your phone and a hidden waistband pocket is perfect for tucking an ID or key. As is common for many light-colored leggings, these will show some sweat in the lightest tones. However, these are also the quickest drying fabric, and sweat marks weren’t a deal breaker for us.

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 9 | Fabrics: Everlux, nylon, lycra, elastane | Inseam lengths: 23, 25, and 28 inches | Activities: High intensity, weight lifting

If you're looking to try out flare leggings for workouts or everyday wear, these are a great option. Made with stretchy, buttery-feel Nulu fabric, these offer just a hint of flare that makes them fully functional for all your movements on the mat in a yoga or Pilates class. Plus, the high waistband is thick and stays in place without feeling too compressive to wear all day long. These are also available in three lengths so that you can make sure the flare hits just right without dragging or riding too high.

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 7 | Fabrics: Nulu, nylon, lycra, elastane | Inseam lengths: 28, 32, and 34 inches | Activities: Yoga, casual wear

The thought of wearing the same pants from the Pilates studio to brunch might seem laughable, but these Lululemon leggings make it easy to transition from workouts to playtime. They're styled like a classic pair of cargos — with two chunky pockets on each thigh — but come with the stretchy, exercise-ready fabric we know and love. These are the perfect leggings to wear on chill weekend mornings when you've got nothing on the agenda but going to the coffee shop.

Sizes: 0-14 | Colors: 2 | Fabrics: Nylon, lycra elastane | Inseam lengths: 32.5 inches | Activities: Yoga, Pilates, casual wear

Adding a little texture, especially during the colder months, is a fun way to switch up your typical workout class attire. With these Align leggings, you'll get the same buttery soft feel thanks to the Nulu fabric, but also a ribbed finish that adds some more personality to the look. These super comfy leggings are perfect for low-intensity workouts like yoga. If you hate when your waistband digs into your stomach, or how lining on the sides of leggings imprints your skin, you'll want to add these babies to your closet ASAP.

Sizes: 0-20 depending on length | Colors: 5 | Fabrics: Nulu | Inseam lengths: 23, 25, and 28 inches | Activities: Yoga, Pilates, low-intensity workouts, casual wear

Rebecca Rakowitz is a journalist with half a dozen years of experience writing about health, lifestyle, and working with testers to determine the best products on the market for individuals, families, and kids. We put 23 pairs of leggings through a rigorous testing process for six weeks to find the top 10. Each tester followed the same methodology to ensure the test was done fairly, accurately, and thoughtfully. We then used these insights to write up each legging and ensure you have all the information you need to consider before purchasing.

Shannon Bauer is a senior commerce editor with eight years of experience in the fashion, beauty, and wellness space. She loves running, hot yoga, and trying new workouts — plus all the clothes and gear that goes along with it. Shannon has personally tried (and loved) Lululemon Align Pants with Pockets and Swift Speed High-Rise Pants.