lululemon Leggings We Also Tested

We tested every lululemon legging style over a two-month period, but only eight made our final list of recommendations. The following legging styles have some features worth noting, but ultimately, they didn't meet our requirements for inclusion in our list.

• We really liked the light, second-skin feel and great sweat-wicking ability of the Align High-Rise Crop Leggings. However, during testing, the waistband flips down and we noted some sheerness with dark undergarments.
• We loved the soft, breathable feel of the Groove Nulu Foldover-Waist Flared Pants, but the foldover waistband was a nuisance. We found ourselves constantly adjusting it and moving it back into place, and it became a distraction during workouts.

What We've Updated

• Since publishing our initial tested roundup of the best lululemon leggings, we hands-on tested every legging style lululemon offers over a two month period.
• Based on our new testing insights, we reworked all of our product picks and superlatives, including Best Overall, Best for Running, Best for Lifting, and more.

lululemon Fabrics, Explained

• Luon: lululemon's original yoga fabric featuring four-way stretch and sweat-wicking breathability. It has a soft, lightly brushed feel and is best suited for low-impact activities like yoga, Pilates, barre, and casual wear or lounging.
• Luxtreme: A smooth, compressive fabric that feels cool to the touch and fits like a second skin. This sweat-wicking and lightweight fabric features four-way stretch with excellent shape retention. It's resistant to pilling and is perfect for high-intensity workouts like CrossFit and strength training.
• Everlux: lululemon’s fastest-drying fabric wicks sweat and feels cool inside, while the outside is comfortable and soft. This fabric is very lightweight, stretchy, and squat-proof, making it best for various workouts, from running to yoga.
• Nulu: Known for its "naked sensation," this weightless, buttery-soft fabric is breathable and fits like a glove. It's stretchy and retains shape well, but it's not compressive. It's best for lower-impact workouts and casual wear. 
• Nulux: Engineered for running, this stretchy, quick-drying fabric is smooth, weightless, and offers light compression. It combines the next-to-nothing feel of Nulu with more support for higher-intensity exercise. 
• SmoothCover: A soft, matte fabric that offers support and effortlessly contours to your body. Its four-way stretch and sweat-wicking properties keep you dry and comfortable, even during the toughest workouts. 
• SenseKnit: Meant for running, this fabric targets support right where you need it. It’s lightweight enough to keep you cool, and is sweat-wicking and quick-drying.
  

What to Look for When Shopping for lululemon Leggings

• Rise: Rise refers to how high the waistband comes up. lululemon leggings come in mid-rise, high-rise, and super-high-rise. Higher-rise leggings generally offer more support and coverage. Certified personal trainer Brandi Wynne, MS, CNS, LDN, CPT, considers a high waist essential for comfort and movement. However, you should choose the rise that reflects the style and level of support you prefer.
• Length: The inseam length refers to how long the leggings will be from the crotch to the bottom of the leg. lululemon offers a range of inseam lengths. Cropped styles range from 17- to 23-inch inseams. Ankle to full-length styles range from 25- to 31-inch inseams. Consider your height when choosing which inseam to select. 
• Compression: Many of lululemon’s leggings offer compression—that snug-fitting, held-in feeling. Leggings with high compression are a good option for sports, like running, or for high-intensity workouts, like HIIT or CrossFit. You want to come into your workouts feeling good because exercise is tough enough, and wearing uncomfortable clothing will make it worse, says certified personal trainer Jonny Slick, NASM-CPT.  
• Pockets: Plenty of lululemon leggings come with one or more pockets, so you can choose the pair that meets your needs for whatever you need to carry. Look for drop-in pockets that are deep and waistband pockets that are zippered to keep your items safe and secure.
• Colors and Patterns: Most lululemon leggings come in black and other neutral color choices like graphite grey or true navy. If you want something more bold, pick a style that comes in vibrant colors, such as lululemon's Wunder Under SmoothCover High-Rise Tights in raspberry coulis. Select styles also offer patterns, such as the lululemon Glow Up Super-High-Rise Tight in a snake-inspired option or the lululemon's Wunder Train High-Rise Crop Legging in a floral pattern. Many color options also offer matching jackets, sports bras, or tanks if you prefer a coordinated look.

How We Tested the lululemon Leggings

To find the best lululemon leggings, we tested every lululemon legging style over a two-month period. We wore each pair of leggings in The Verywell Testing Lab and at home for various workouts, including yoga, Pilates, running, strength training, and HIIT. During testing, we evaluate each pair of leggings based on the following criteria: 

• Performance: To evaluate performance, we wear the leggings for workouts such as running, yoga, strength training, and Crossfit, as well as casual, everyday wear working and running errands. Do the leggings stay in place? Do they stretch with our movements? Are they breathable and sweat-wicking?
• Quality: After we wear and wash the leggings multiple times, we note if the stitching, seams, and overall construction are still solid. We also note if the fabric pills, fades, or stretches with wear and washing. 
• Opacity: Opacity is important for feeling comfortable in your leggings. To assess the opacity of each pair, we check for sheer spots after putting them on. Then, we perform squats and other exercises that require bending to see check for sheering at the knee or glutes. Finally, a month after consistent use, we check for sheering again to ensure the quality holds up over time. 
• Fit: Leggings are supposed to feel snug in the right places—like the butt, thighs, and waist—without causing discomfort. We try on each pair and note whether they fit true to size. Do they bunch or gap anywhere? Do they squeeze or pinch anywhere?
• Value: Finally, to determine the value of each pair of lululemon leggings, we wait to check the price until after testing is complete. Then, taking into consideration the results of each of the testing categories, we determine if the leggings are worth the price. We only include leggings we would personally purchase or recommend to friends and family. 

Our Experts

During our research, testing, and reporting for this story, we consulted experts to ensure the best recommendations. They helped us determine what features to look for and how to find a pair that’ll work for your unique needs. Although we choose the products independently, we use expert input to influence our choices.

• Jonny Slick, NASM-CPT, certified personal trainer and founder of Straight Shot Training.
• Brandi Wynne, MS, CNS, LDN, CPT, certified personal trainer and clinical nutritionist at Brandi Wynne Nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are lululemon's most popular leggings? 

The Align leggings are the most popular lululemon leggings, with Wunder Train leggings quickly becoming a popular second.

Are lululemon Align or Wunder Train leggings better? 

Which style are better will depend on what you are using them for. Align leggings have low compression and are best for yoga, Pilates, or other low-impact activities, while Wunder Train leggings have enough compression for a locked-in feel and support for high intensity activities.

Do lululemon leggings run small? 

During testing, we found that most lululemon leggings run true to size. In styles with less compression, you can try one size down from your usual for a more secure, locked-in fit.

Are lululemon leggings worth it?

Lululemon leggings are generally considered to be high-quality and made of performance fabrics that are durable and functional. For regular exercisers, they're well worth the price for their performance and fit.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Jen Zeltwanger, ACSM-EP, is a Verywell Fit writer with 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry and knows how important it is to find quality products that add value to your fitness routine. She focuses on finding and recommending products for effective home workouts and wears leggings for workouts like strength training and running. For this article, Jen looked over the test results to help compile our top picks.