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Find Your Flow with the 10 Best Yoga Pants
Yoga pants are for more than the studio. These expert-recommended pairs can stand up to a sweaty practice and all-day wear.
For many of us, a stretchy, comfortable pair of yoga pants is for more than on-mat practice. The right yoga pants can take you from errands to lunch downtown to a local hike and then to the yoga studio. A well-fitting pair provides just the right amount of compression for support during physical activity, can be worn all day without smelling, and wicks moisture and sweat during high-exertion activity (hello hot yoga!).
What to Look For
Fit and Style
Yoga pants and leggings come in several different styles and lengths. The right one for you is a matter of personal preference and can be influenced by when and where you’ll be wearing them. Most importantly, your new pants should fit well; if they hinder your flexibility and comfort at home, they won’t feel any better in a yoga class, regardless of whether it’s a hard workout or a slow flow.
For the most part, I recommend a high-rise, next-to-skin style with a flat waistband that measures 3 to 5 inches wide. The high rise offers more security and is less likely to slide down when you move. The wide waistband is less likely to pinch or roll. Next-to-skin yoga leggings, as opposed to a flared pant, keep you from tripping on a hem coming out of Half Moon pose. The most common lengths are full-lenth, 7/8, and capri. Our recommendations below include several 7/8 options. These are a great middle ground, offering plenty of coverage that’s less likely to roll up at the knee or bunch at the ankle.
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Materials
Companies often have proprietary names for their specific fabric compositions, but most yoga pants are nylon or polyester combined with spandex or Lycra (both are forms of elastane) for added durability and stretch. General athletic tights use similar materials, but yoga-specific leggings often have a brushed finish for a softer hand feel. Keep in mind this construction is likely to pill over time.
Versatility
Most of the pants below are yoga-specific, but I’ve included some general athletic tights that I’ve found work well for yoga classes, as well as runs, hikes, and other adventures. Running tights have moisture-wicking properties and moderate compression similar to yoga pants, so they can be just as comfortable when you’re in Warrior II.
How We Evaluated
Yoga pants are part of my day-to-day wardrobe in all seasons. I wear them to the climbing gym, all day while working from my couch, at the yoga studio, and also outdoors for running and hiking. I’ve been practicing yoga for nearly 10 years and got into a regular practice over the past four years. All of the yoga leggings and pants reviewed here will hold up to high-intensity power yoga classes but are also comfortable enough for a yin class. I’ve worn the majority of them for years during a variety of activities, including power yoga, hot yoga, and Sunday morning slow flows. I backpacked 220 miles in the Janji Groundwork Tights, then wore them to a yoga class the next week. And Alo’s 7/8 High-Waist Airbrush Legging has gotten me through yoga classes for years.
I prioritized models with a high-rise waist and a wide, flat waistband that should resist sagging and rolling. I chose a variety of material compositions and compression levels for classes and preferences of all types—some are more versatile for outdoor activities, and others are best kept indoors. Any yoga pants I haven’t personally tested come highly recommended by customers and Amazon shoppers, as well as instructors at a variety of yoga studios.
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