Comparison of Vuori and Lululemon Workout Leggings: A Review

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In the activewear world, Lululemon’s Align leggings have long reigned supreme as the softest, most touchable leggings ever worn. They’re approved by real princesses and reality TV princesses, and they earn full credit for bringing the phrase “buttery soft” into the lexicon of writers and editors everywhere.

While no other leggings have been able to replicate the magic that goes into the smooth, stretchy Aligns, West Coast activewear brand Vuori has earned a reputation for comfy cozy performance wear (their Performance Joggers have gone viral multiple times). Their new BlissBlend fabric, found in the AllTheFeels leggings, boasts “a superior stretch with an airy, weightless feel,” and we knew we had to put these claims to the test. Here’s the full breakdown of Vuori vs. Lululemon leggings.

Over the official four-week testing period, we alternated between Align leggings and AllTheFeels leggings for everyday loungewear and low-impact workouts. We wore each pair at least four times for a full day, including one workout, for a total of 80 hours of testing. The leggings were also washed and hung to dry multiple times. During each wear, we took note of the following:

We first wore the AllTheFeels leggings during a full-body strength workout on a roasting hot day, and we must admit, we were pleasantly surprised at how well they performed. We normally turn to more compressive leggings for strength workouts, but the AllTheFeels pair gave our muscles just enough support without needing constant readjustment. We never once had to pull them up during the workout (although we did experience a tiny bit of waistband rolling while sitting at a desk).

We also thought we’d overheat really quickly, since the knit fabric wasn’t as cool to the touch as other leggings we’ve tried. However, the moisture-wicking fabric held up and kept us mostly dry during heavy lifts.

Comfort-wise, these leggings are easily as cozy to relax in as the Aligns. These leggings are truly a pleasure to wear, thanks to the 360-degree stretch fabric that sits snugly against your skin without squeezing. As a bonus, the Vuori AllTheFeels are made with 75 percent recycled materials for a do-good, look-good double whammy.

Plus, they stayed squat-proof. Kristen Geil, senior commerce editor, wore these while filming a workout for Shape’s Instagram, and let’s just say her back was to the camera a lot. “Watching the video back, I was thrilled (and totally relieved) that my underwear choice was left a mystery to the viewer,” she confesses.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants versatile leggings for strength training and lounging alike.

Sizes: XXS to XXL | Length: Short, Regular, Long | Colors: 5 | Material: 75% Recycled Polyamide, 25% Elastane | Recommended Activities: Low-impact workouts, strength training, everyday wear

The Align leggings feel like you’re not wearing any pants at all — and we mean that as a compliment. They’re as close to weightless as you can get. While the Aligns are designed specifically for yoga, we’ve learned firsthand that these leggings aren’t meant to fit inside one activewear box. We’ve worn them for strength training, Pilates, pickleball, and cycling, and one editor swears by them as her maternity running leggings.

Where these leggings really shine is the variety available within the standard Align line. The Aligns are a legend in the Lululemon shop, and the brand constantly pumps out new iterations of the mainstay fabric, from trendy exercise dresses and bike shorts to edgy wrap-waist tights. If storage is a must-have, the Aligns are available with deep side pockets in nearly every pants style. So if you’re truly obsessed with the buttery-soft feel (and who wouldn’t be?), you can drape your entire body in it — aspirational, really.

One last thing worth noting. If you don’t want to commit to the full price tag, you can buy gently used Aligns in Lululemon’s new Like New shop. Align leggings are also frequently featured in the We Made Too Much section of the website. Also, a standard pair of Aligns is $98, and a pair featuring pockets costs $118, so budget accordingly if you love storage options

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants to commit to one fabric but still has tons of options for styling, shades, and textures.

Sizes: 0 to 20 | Length: 23”, 25”, 28” 31 | Colors: 18 (and they constantly cycle new shades in and out) | Material: 81% Nylon, 19% Lycra® elastane | Recommended Activities: Yoga and other low-impact workouts, everyday wear

The differences between the two leggings are so minimal that we were hard-pressed to verbalize them despite our extended testing. For us, choosing between Vuori vs. Lululemon leggings comes down to two things.

First, compared to the Vuori AllTheFeels leggings, the Aligns have a higher waistband — we’re talking about a two-inch gap between the bra and the waistband. On a petite frame, that perfectly prevents any rolling, and we’ve also seen in our tests that the extra-high waistband is accommodating to stomachs of all sizes. 

And second, if you’re a pockets gal, the small waistband pocket in the AllTheFeels leggings may not be quite enough. But if Vuori comes out with an AllTheFeels version with deep side pockets, we’ll be first in line.