While training for my first half-marathon, I was repeatedly told to take up yoga. And while I followed that advice, yoga leggings weren’t something I readily invested in. I (wrongly) assumed that my current rotation of gym leggings would do, not realising that their added thickness and intense compression might actually be limiting my flow.
But having since refreshed my rotation of gym-wear, I’ll admit that I was naive — that the best leggings, ones tailored to low-impact workouts like yoga, barre or Pilates, actually do make a difference, sculpting without squashing to help you stretch further and bend deeper.
But in such an overcrowded market, how do you know which are worth your investment? Personally, it’s been a case of trial and error. However, to save you from investing in the wrong style, length or size, I’ve rounded up my top-rated yoga pants below — high-rise leggings that feel buttery soft, almost like a second skin and have enough versatility to be worn to brunch too.
A reminder: practising yoga just a couple of times a week can have a marked difference on your mood and mental health — as can leggings that fold or fall down, concave in places you really don’t want them to, or stretch to reveal what workout underwear you’ve got underneath.
So, before you grab your sports bra, yoga mat and yoga block, swot up on which yoga pants and flared leggings I’ve crowned the very best, as well as answers to common activewear FAQs.
How I test the best yoga leggings:
I, alongside our team of shopping editors – Sophie Cockett, Georgia Trodd, Mayola Fernandes and Shani Cohen – double as Glamour testers and so are constantly roadtesting the latest beauty, fashion and wellness releases to see which are really worth your cash. For this guide, the fitness keen were asked to test at least one pair of yoga leggings for two weeks.
When reviewing each style, we rated them against the following criteria:
For those we haven’t yet tested, we asked experts, including yoga instructors and my dedicated yogi mother, for their honest opinion, plus read countless customer reviews.
FYI, I’ve been a shopping writer for over two years — that’s 14 months at Glamour and a year elsewhere. In that time, I’ve reviewed everything, from new-in sexual wellness products to running trainers and menstrual products such as period pants, Essentially, I’ve tried thousands of products across hundreds of brands, meaning I’m more clued up on the subject of wellness than your average online shopper.
Over the last year, I’ve attended countless press days, spoken to various yoga instructors, activewear designers, women’s health experts and sex therapists, plus keep up to date on the latest wellness research. But I also attend weekly yoga classes — my 2026 goal is to match my mum’s flow — meaning I know what I want and need in a pair of leggings. So, read on for my honest reviews.