The 9 Greatest Operating Leggings | 2025 Picks

These tights are designed with compressive panels that mimic the kinesiology taping strategies that bodily therapists generally use to help injured runners. Though Dworecki admits that the additional stiffness doesn’t really feel comfortable for simply lounging round, she says it may well come in useful every time her physique’s feeling slightly additional beat up.

Greatest with Pockets: Brooks Spark Tights

Though these Brooks tights won’t have essentially the most pockets, they’re actually well-designed. At the back of the waistband, there is a turn-and-lock slot that’s massive and safe sufficient to stash your telephone with out it bouncing round or dragging the waist down. And on the surface of every thigh, deep pockets are large enough to carry a bunch of gels.

One other element I like: The material contained in the facet pockets is mesh, so it is extra breathable and retains me cooler when temps warmth up.

Most Breathable: Nike Professional Girls’s Mid-Rise Crop Mesh-Panel Leggings

If high-waisted, full-length leggings really feel like an excessive amount of cloth for hotter runs, go for a cooler, cropped reduce as an alternative. This capri-length Nike pair additionally has cool mesh on the backs of the calves and a large elastic waistband that hits just under your stomach button. In the meantime, light-weight, moisture-wicking cloth retains you from getting waterlogged, even when the sweat begins dripping.

Greatest with Reflective Particulars: Adidas Ultimateadidas Reflective 7/8 Leggings

Operating at nightfall or daybreak? Search for leggings with reflective particulars, like this Adidas pair. “Even when you do not assume you are going to be operating within the evenings, you might get misplaced or one thing might occur,” Dworecki says. “Even when the climate is simply actually grey and darkish, that reflective detailing is rarely going to harm.”

Most leggings solely have a small, reflective brand. Different instances, it’s pasted onto clothes in massive blocks that aren’t precisely flattering. However Ultimateadidas splits the distinction, with reflective strips alongside the back and front of the thighs and ankles. You possibly can simply be seen at midnight from any angle—however nonetheless look cute while you’re heading out in daylight.

Greatest Opaque: Spanxshape Booty Enhance 7/8 Leggings

“Booty Enhance” is actually an acceptable title for these leggings: The compressive materials provides you a raise within the again and a few additional help within the entrance. As somebody who’s self-conscious concerning the cellulite on the again of my thighs, I nearly at all times keep away from light-colored tights. However Spanx makes gentle shades with its “No Reveal Opacity” tech—there is a darker lining inside, for higher protection.

Though this doesn’t utterly block out all panty traces for me, it covers up most of them. Even higher? I see subsequent to no cellulite—which leaves me feeling much more assured on my runs.

Greatest Plus-Dimension: Peloton Attire Cadent Excessive Rise Legging

As a plus-size runner, Younger says it’s getting more durable to search out good operating leggings in her dimension. “I want there have been extra plus-size choices that actually thought-about plus-size our bodies,” she says.

However this pair from Peloton’s attire line has grow to be her tried-and-true. “These are a few of the most enduring pairs of leggings I’ve come throughout,” she says. She finds the tender materials to be tremendous snug, however notes that it nonetheless does a terrific job of wicking away sweat. “And so they are available loads of enjoyable colours,” she provides. (She additionally recommends the model’s sports activities bras and tank tops, which make an ideal matching set.)

Extra nice choices

Have not discovered the precise pair but? Do not sweat it—regardless that these leggings did not make our prime picks, we nonetheless advocate them. (Many have related options, materials, and value factors to our favorites.)

Athleta Rainier Excessive Rise Legging

Residing in Indiana, Dworecki has a number of pairs of fleece-lined leggings—however the Rainier is her favourite. “The fleece inside is simply actually tender,” she says. Whereas some pairs really feel too heavy to run in comfortably, she finds that Athleta nailed the right steadiness of cozy (however not stifling) with this pair. “They simply really feel snug,” she says.

Nikkia Younger, president of the Richmond Highway Runners Membership and operating coach with Recreation Changers, can be a fan. She says they’re tremendous sturdy (“they do very effectively for a very long time, and so they wash effectively,” she explains) and appreciates that they are out there in plus sizes.

Past Yoga Spacedye The Go Pocket Midi Legging

If you would like operating leggings which might be additionally opaque sufficient for yoga class and power coaching, plus comfortable sufficient for day-to-day lounging, this Past Yoga pair has you coated. They’re made out of the model’s UV protecting Spacedye materials that’s sweat-wicking, has four-way stretch, and feels majorly tender. It’s simply pretty much as good for curling up on the sofa as it’s for happening a run.

This pair specifically has facet pockets which might be large enough on your telephone,and a safe, high-rise waistband that will not slip down, because of an adjustable drawstring.

Sweaty Betty Energy 7/8 Exercise Leggings

These leggings are made with tremendous stretchy, however supportive—and sweat-wicking—polyamide elastane cloth that’s merely very best for operating. Additionally they have a zippered again pocket to maintain your telephone secure, plus an additional facet pocket on your gels, keys, or the rest you need to carry.

One element we love? Strategic seams throughout the thighs and bottom make for an particularly flattering design. Bonus: They arrive in tons of colours and enjoyable patterns, for a significant dopamine enhance.

Vuori Every day Pocket Legging

Vuori has a well-earned repute for making buttery tender clothes, and these leggings are not any exception. A drawstring enables you to loosen the waist while you’re simply hanging round, or tighten it as much as keep in place while you’re choosing up the tempo. (The one bummer is that it may well get in the way in which in the event you’re carrying a tighter lengthy prime.)

Additionally useful: Though there’s no again pocket, two drop-in slots on the surface of the thighs are large enough to stash your telephone.

What to search for in operating leggings

Not all leggings are good for operating. Right here’s what consultants recommend holding in thoughts when you’re searching for a pair that may maintain up for miles.

How we examined operating leggings

To search out the most effective operating leggings, I requested different runners and coaches for his or her prime recs—and took inventory of my very own go-tos after making an attempt a great deal of pairs myself over time. I quizzed the consultants on each the necessities (sweat-wicking materials) and nice-to-haves (pockets) in good operating leggings, then scoured each new releases and longtime fan favorites to search out pairs that match the invoice.

Ceaselessly requested questions on operating leggings

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