Shape Tests: Top 10 Flare Leggings of 2023

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The trend of flared leggings has made a comeback in a big way, and athleisure is no exception. Now more than ever, the market is flooded with a vast selection of flared bottom leggings to choose from, making it hard to believe that these pants were ever out of style. Flared leggings enhance your curves and give the appearance of longer legs, fitting snugly at the waist and hips and flaring out from there.

Finding the perfect flared legging style for your needs is easy since you can wear them on any occasion. Pair them with sneakers and a graphic tee for a cool, casual look, or dress them up with a blouse and heels for a night out. Flared leggings come in various fabrics, patterns, and styles, so much so that it can be overwhelming to pick which pair to buy. However, in this article, we've tested the top-rated flare leggings and evaluated them on quality, opacity, fit, performance, and value for you!

Firstly, we have the Lululemon flare leggings, which are made from a blend of Nylon and Lycra, ensuring both comfort and opacity. With their durable design, they come with a back pocket to stash your phone, credit card, or house key while running errands, and they provide enough support and compression, even for moderate workouts.

The budget-friendly option is also worth considering if you're searching for a pair of flared leggings that don't break the bank. These polyester-spandex leggings come with a stylish cross-waist and pockets on either side. The fabric is thin yet perfectly opaque, and they hold their shape during workouts and deep stretches, not requiring any readjusting.

The Uniqlo AIRism soft flare legging is perfect loungewear, made from a spandex-recycled polyester blend with a narrow-flared silhouette. These leggings are durable, supportive, stylish, and overall comfortable enough for a day spent lounging at home.

Finally, the OFFLINE by Aeire flared leggings are perfect for those seeking a balance between style and comfort. This pair has a crossover waistband and the right amount of compression that hugs all the right areas while sitting comfortably on all body types.

These leggings maintained their softness, flexibility, and comfort through multiple wears and washes. With its ultra-thin nylon and elastane blend, these leggings remained fully opaque. One of its standout features is the versatile crossover waistband that can be worn as a high-waisted or low-rise style, making it a versatile option for different occasions. It comes in both short and long inseam options, ensuring the perfect fit for all heights.

Sizes: XXS-XXL Inseam: Short: 30' Regular: 32' Long: 34' Materials: 88% Nylon, 12% Elastane

While flared leggings may not be ideal for intense workouts, Athleta's narrow pant flare design provides a safer option for low-impact exercises. The moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and breathable nylon/lycra blend features UPF 50+ sun protection, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor workouts. The three-layer waistband ensures that these leggings stay in place throughout your workout. They offer excellent support through compression for various workouts like Pilates, cycling, and yoga. We recommend these flares for anyone with an active lifestyle. They are equally comfortable to wear for leisure activities.

Sizes: XXS-3X Inseam : Regular/Plus: 31.5' Petite: 29.5' Tall: 34.5' Material: Nylon/Lycra

BUBBLELIME's high-waisted yoga pants strike an ideal balance between looking thick and providing full coverage while remaining lightweight for daily wear. These leggings stayed up without needing readjustment, thanks to their control top feature. They maintained their thickness and opacity through multiple washes and wears. We suggest that you wear these leggings for walks and leisure activities as the flares could be distracting during certain yoga movements. The only downside is the absence of larger pockets to carry essentials.

Sizes: X-Small-XX-Large Inseams: 29',31',33',35',37' Material: 90% Cotton, 10% Spandex

Beyond Yoga's high-waisted flares come with a five-inch waistband, which fits perfectly on various body types. Even though the waistband is wide, these flares are still comfortable to wear. They don't restrict your movement and remain secure. They are so comfortable that you might even feel like wearing them to bed. These flares stay in place without requiring any tug or readjustment. If you are new to flares, this front slit hem and narrow leg fit style could be your perfect introductory pair. They are made from a buttery soft elastane/polyester blend that provides UV protection for outdoor workouts or errands.

Sizes: XXS-XL Materials: 87% Polyester, 13% Elastane

The extra soft high-rise flared pants from Lululemon come in longer sizes, fitting perfectly on taller frames. These super high-rise flares feature added Lycra fiber to retain their shape. They stay in place without riding up or bunching, fitting you snugly over multiple wears, washes, and workouts. The silky smooth fabric is soft and provides support in all the right places. These pants get top marks for comfort. However, the tight fit may show cellulite outlines on some bodies.

Sizes: 0-20 Inseam: 32.5' Materials: Body: 81% Nylon, 19% Lycra elastane

Superfit Hero's pocket flare leggings offer a wide range of larger sizes and free returns and exchanges, making it easier to find your perfect fit. They come with full-sized pockets, which are hard to find in leggings. You can store all your necessities while wearing these leggings.

These pants come with two pockets and a high waistband that provides great support and a thick and durable fit with full opacity. In terms of material, we found these pants to be stiffer and not as comfortable as the Beyond Yoga Make The Cut pair. However, they make up for it in durability, as they hold their shape and overall quality through multiple wears and washes.

Sizes: L-7X Inseam: 30' Materials: 88% Polyester/12% Spandex

If you're an outdoor enthusiast who wants to stay warm while looking stylish, you'll love this fit from Outdoor Voices. These heavy-duty performance leggings are extremely durable and made from a special 'frostknit' material blend designed to retain heat. This pair kept us notably warmer on winter walks than the other competitors. We were happy with how well this pair stayed in place, but did find that they dragged a bit on shorter frames.

These performance flares are great for low-impact workouts done both indoors and outdoors. They offer extra compression and sweat-wicking fabric to help you get the most out of your workout. Though less comfortable to lounge in than others on the list due to the compression and extra thick material, these pants are designed to keep you warm and looking great in colder weather. Wear them on your next cold weather workout or hike.

Sizes: XXS-XXXL Inseam: 31' Materials: 36% Lycra, 34% Nylon, 30% Polyester

Before testing, we reviewed the wide variety of flare legging options available. We interviewed a seasoned customer experience manager at a top athletic wear brand to get her take on what to look for in the best flared leggings. We then put these aspects to the test to determine how these leggings would fare across certain categories. This information narrowed our list down to 23 pairs of top-rated leggings. We then asked 27 testers with different body shapes and sizes to test the leggings. Each pair was tested by two people of different sizes for comparison. Our testers wore each pair of leggings a minimum of seven times during the month-long testing period and washed them at least three times per the manufacturer's instructions to note any shrinking, discoloration, seams or threads, holes, or pilling that occurred. We asked testers to wear the leggings in various scenarios, from walking to running errands, working out, lounging around, or going to dinner, to note how each pair fits into their wardrobe. Testers also noted how the leggings fit and whether or not they required readjustment by pulling them back up or down after a period of movement.

These findings were compiled into a score out of five for each category: quality, opacity, fit, performance, and value. Only the leggings with the highest scores made the final cut. In our reviews, we considered different style preferences, body shapes, and common use cases for flared leggings. Ultimately, ten winners made the final cut for our rigorous testing criteria.

If you're new to the flared leggings trend or already love it and want to find new ways to style them, expert guidance can help make shopping easier (and more fun!). Nichelle Mesa, customer experience manager at Girlfriend Collective, shares her insights on finding your next flare.

As a rule of thumb, the bottom of flared leggings shouldn't touch the floor. If you're ordering leggings online, one way to ensure the flare is the proper length is to measure the inseam of a pair of pants you already own in a similar style. Lay the pair flat, then measure the length from the seam at the crotch to the bottom of the leg. Compare this number to pairs you find online when shopping so your new flares won't drag.

Once they arrive, Mesa recommends putting them through a series of tests to determine whether or not they're the right fit. She recommends putting them on and walking around to get a feel for how the leggings fit and sitting down to see whether or not the top of the waistband rolls down or moves around too much. 'You don't want to have to readjust it every time you move,' says Mesa. If you plan to wear leggings for lounging, this is also a good test to see if they pinch or cause discomfort while sitting.

Mesa suggests a squat and lunge test if you plan to wear flared leggings while working out. 'Get a feel for how it stretches and whether the waistband is rolling down,' says Mesa. Also, note whether or not the legging is bunching up in weird places, like at the knees or the bottom. 

Last but not least, do a deep squat in your leggings to determine opacity. 'You don't want to see the seams [or color] of your underwear,' says Mesa. While squatting, take note of whether or not the waistband stays in place. 

As noted in our review, leggings that offer compression without being too stiff or thick are the sweet spot for performance. A nylon/lycra moisture-wicking blend with medium compression won our top spot for low-impact workouts. 'For anything high-impact, I'd want something thicker that gives you more of a sucked-in feeling,' says Mesa. As for the flare, Mesa recommends a more structured flare vs. flowing for workouts. 

Aim for lighter, less compressive pairs if you're in the market for true loungewear flares. 'I recommend double-lined leggings that are opaque, but the fabric is thinner and is more flexible and lightweight,' says Mesa. For a casual daytime look, Mesa recommends flowy flares. 

Danielle Page has spent the past 12 years writing about health, fitness, and products to help you look and feel your best. She's been alive long enough to remember when flared leggings were just called 'yoga pants.' She spent her teenage years finding her perfect flare through copious amounts of trial and error—having to visit multiple stores in-person without the help of the Internet. She's thrilled to see the return of flared leggings and happy to make purchasing them easier this time.