The best running leggings don’t just provide you with the motivation to get out of bed and get your morning workout while looking chic. They enable better mobility, are more durable than regular tights, and withstand the effect of different seasons. They also absorb your hard-earned sweat and provide much-needed compression to the muscles. A good pair of athletic tights or leggings, therefore, is a wardrobe must-have, just like your sports bra and sports shoes, as they impact the efficiency of your workout.

We hope that now you know about the importance of workout leggings and what sets them apart from regular leggings. Let's move forward to the 10 best leggings for petite, tall, chubby, short, and other different body types.

• 1
  Best Overall

  THE GYM PEOPLE Women's High Waist Yoga Pants

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Fashioned with a blend of polyamide and spandex, The Gym People Women's High Waist Yoga Pants are breathable, super soft, and skin-friendly. These three-quarter leggings are available in 15 beautiful colors and prints to make your gym #OOTDs (or simply lounging around) fun and aesthetic. The four-way stretch material encourages compression as well as tummy support while offering maximum free movement. The interlock is also designed keeping in mind there are no instances of rubbing and chafing. Further, along with big side pockets, there is a hidden inner pocket in the back waistband for smaller items. Available in sizes from extra-small to 3X-large, these yoga pants are suitable for many body shapes.

2

Best Moisture Absorbent

DRAGON FIT High Waist Yoga Leggings

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Available in 18 prints and tones, Dragon Fit Yoga Leggings are comfortable high-waisted running leggings. They are made of good-quality four-way stretch fabric that creates the perfect body curve. Ideal for stretching, yoga, running, and light workouts, these leggings provide adequate tummy control and compression and maximum comfortable movement. The material is gentle on the skin and absorbs perspiration quickly without leaving behind a sweaty feeling. Additionally, the flatlock seam helps to reduce friction and chafing, making the leggings durable in the long term. These stretchable leggings are also size inclusive and available in X-small to 3X-large. They also come in a 3/4th length, so if you’re a capri lover, those would be perfect for you!

3

Best Comfort

THE GYM PEOPLE Joggers Pants Lightweight Athletic Leggings

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The Gym People Joggers Pants are ideal for those girlies who value comfort and movement as their top priority. Feathery and soft to the touch, these are one of those athleisure fits you will reach out to when you have to step out to run errands or just chill at home. Composed of high-quality polyamide and spandex, they feature a baggy fit overall with a cinched waistline and tapered end at the ankle. They also have two deep side pockets for easy access to your phone, keys, wallet, etc. As per our expertise, these jogger pants will flatter various body types. Plus, you get to choose from 15 trendy colors — that's two weeks' worth of outfits sorted!

4

Best Soft Touch

CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling Workout Leggings

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Do your squats without any worries about your leggings slipping down with this pair by CRZ Yoga . They are among the best women's leggings for HIIT workouts, strength training, cycling, yoga, etc. As the name suggests, they are so soft and sleek that it doesn’t even feel like you're wearing pants! The fabric is composed of 71% polyamide and 29% spandex, which gives your legs a gorgeous silhouette as it snugly fits every curve and bends. These are high-waisted and end right above the ankle. Both sides of these leggings have pockets for your phone, wallet, keys, etc.

5

Best Everyday Wear

NELEUS High-waisted Leggings

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Combining fashion, function, and performance, the Neleus High Waist Running Leggings could be your go-to pick for yoga, exercise, gym, running, or everyday use. It features a lightweight, quick-drying fabric which is sweat-wicking and cool to the touch. This makes it ideal for the summer months. The high-waisted pattern delivers better tummy control while lifting the butt for a better shape. They come in a multipack set with different colors and patterns. So if you just took a gym membership and are building your athleisure wardrobe, get a pack of these leggings right away. When purchasing these leggings online, you can choose your size from X-small to 3X-large.

6

Best Shape

AUROLA Seamless Scrunch Tights

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The Aurola Seamless Scrunch Tights are composed of custom-sourced yarn fibers that create an irresistibly silky, soft feel. The nylon in the fabric, along with polyester spandex, provides increased elasticity and compression in these women's running tights. Without question, the best quality of these tights is the shape retention and physique-enhancing seam work. They fit your leg like a second skin and follow every contour while being squat-proof. Gymnasts in the house — these leggings would be great for you as they offer high mobility and flexibility. In addition, these leggings are perfect for all-day wear because they are breathable and moisture-wicking.

7

Best Color Variety

ODODOS Gathered Cross Waist Yoga Leggings

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Smooth, flattering, and "thick girls favorite", as remarked by a couple of reviewers, the Ododos Gathered Cross Waist Yoga Leggings hold a strong 4.4-star rating on Amazon. These sports leggings for women come in more than 75 shades varieties, the widest color range so far. As per your comfort and liking, you can choose to purchase the full, 7/8, or calf length. The distinctive crisscross waist design, further, is not only stylish but also functional as it comfortably envelops your belly. In a nutshell, the polyamide and elastane fabric ensures the tights are absorbent and lightweight. And, of course, it is so soft to touch that you wouldn't want to get out of them.

8

Best Butt-lift

VOYJOY Tie Dye Seamless Leggings

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The Voyjoy Tie Dye Seamless Leggings are the perfect butt lift leggings. You're going to get excited looking at them if you are a Kim Kardashian fan! These leggings will take your gym attire to the next level owing to their attractive and trendy tie-dye pattern. The interlocking seam and gusseted crotch of these leggings are designed to reduce irritation and chafing. You can move, squat, and stretch comfortably in these women's running leggings as the high waist provides decent tummy control, and the scrunch pattern at the back gives a lift to the butt. They are soft, seamless, and stylish and get our nod of approval.

9

Best Affordable

HI CLASMIX High Waisted Leggings for Women

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If you practically live in tights all day, every day, the Hi Clasmix High Waisted Leggings for Women are a tried-and-true must-have. These basic leggings are available in a pack of 1, 2, and 5 in universal colors that will match every t-shirt. The 4-way stretch fabric wraps your belly and gives a lean appearance. They are perfect for jogging, jumping, or light exercising at home. Plus, these fashionable outdoor leggings are so reasonably priced that you wouldn't be able to resist getting your hands (and legs) on them! Although they have only two sizing options, small-medium, and large-extra-large, the tights are stretchable enough to accommodate a broad spectrum of body shapes.

10

Best Tummy Control

ODODOS High-rise leggings

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Made from high-quality odlex interlock fabric blend of double knits technology (which is supposed to be firmer, stable, and durable), the Ododos High Waist Yoga Pants are the last item on our list. They come in 36 color and print options, and our favorites, hands-down, are the tropical flower and leopard prints. The moisture-wicking finish of these running tights for women keeps the body cool no matter how hard you work. Also, they provide excellent flexibility and are chafe-free.. The material of these leggings is soft and breathable. This makes them comfortable for all-day wear. You can select these tights in two lengths, full and 7/8.

The above-mentioned product recommendations provide the best comfort, mobility, and shape while engaging in physical activities like running, working out, dancing, etc. Now let’s take a look at how you can choose the best running leggings for your body type and purpose.

While we pay attention to the sports shoes or the sports bra we purchase, we often don't speculate about the material and build of the athleisure we wear. Whether your workout routine includes going to the gym, running at the park, or exercising at home, the best running leggings can greatly help with your movement and flexibility, safeguarding you from injuries like muscle pulling or falling because of disbalance. It may not seem important, but as opposed to regular bottom wear, sports leggings are designed for that tummy tuck, high-rise movement, and helping you keep your muscle tight.

Throwing some light on the features to look for, our contributor Tahirah Christine, Fashion stylist and confidence coach, says, “A pair of good running leggings should provide the most support, and while this can be up to the preference of the wearer, the best pair of leggings are made of material that allow for accommodating stretch that molds and conforms to the body. I always suggest running leggings that have compression and elastic waistbands that do the best job in keeping leggings in place during physical activity. These elastic leggings often are pulled on without any need for a closure or zip, and mold to the body of the wearer. Such leggings are great because they are both smooth and flattering, providing all body types with defined shape and  toned and streamlined looks.”

Here are the most vital things you should check when purchasing a pair of activewear tights.

Material Type:

Fashion stylist Tahirah Christine shares her take, saying, “Running leggings are made for support, first and foremost! These leggings are designed to provide support to muscle and enhance circulation. Fabrics that provide the most stretch are key, but fabrics that also have moisture-wicking properties and the ability to resist abrasions during runs (especially between the thighs) add to the quality and longevity of the leggings.” 

She adds, “Compression fabrics are typically made from a blend of materials like spandex, nylon, and polyester, and they can aid in recovery and improve overall performance during physical activities due to the way they keep muscles in place during exercise. Not to mention, when using leggings for multipurpose, weather is key when taking fabric into consideration. Mesh will provide more air circulation while fabrics like Merino wool provide added warmth and insulation.”

Women's sports leggings are available in a variety of fabrics. And while generally, cotton fabrics are considered best for clothing items, in the case of workout wear, synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester are preferred. A blend of these in various proportions determines the stretchability, breathability, durability, softness, thickness, sweat-wicking power, etc. Depending on your purpose, which could range from intense workouts to lounging at home, you can decide the material of your leggings.

Note that you should opt for lighter, breathable fabrics if you live in hotter areas. Otherwise, if you live in colder regions, choose thicker leggings that come with a fleece or other type of lining.

Fit:

From loose jogger-style leggings, such as The Gym People Joggers Pants, to sleek, almost second-skin type leggings, such as Crz Yoga Naked Feeling Workout Leggings, there are different fits to choose from. Further, leggings typically come in three lengths -- capris, 7/8, and full length. What you like is completely subjective and not a matter of functionality. Most importantly, there's a waist fit that you should look at. Generally, people gravitate towards high-waist leggings as they help in keeping the core tight and tummy tucked in, which gives a lean appearance. Finally, consider the compression a pair of leggings provide, as it helps support the muscles, joints, and tendons as you carry out physical activities.

Other Factors:

While selecting the best legging, you can also look at factors like the number of pockets and the feasibility of using them. Design and color are again important factors because unless you think you look good, you won't feel good. And practically speaking, look at the care and maintenance required. Usually, machine-wash is preferred as it is easier in comparison to hand wash. Quick-drying fabrics, in this regard, are preferable as well.

At the end of the day, your comfort is everything. Athleisure is meant to help you with mobility and flexibility, whether that means performing complicated yoga poses, doing high jumps, or sitting in weird, back-breaking postures on your sofa! Hence, comfort should be your top priority when choosing leggings. Before you go, check out the following style guide to understand how you can get the most benefit from your best running leggings.

You could be asking, "Why do we need instructions on how to wear running leggings? " and we agree. That seems self-explanatory. However there are some significant details that you may overlook or be unaware of. And these could have an impact on how effective your workouts are.

• Running capris or leggings should, first and foremost, fit snugly but comfortably. They should feel like a second skin so that you receive the benefits of muscle compression while not hindering blood circulation.
• While you may think categorization of workout wear in terms of sports is a marketing gimmick, it actually is not. Leggings for weight lifting might have a different structure and inseam design compared to running leggings which may impact chafing, rubbing, and sweat-wicking power.
• Fashion and yoga leggings may be slightly sheer, but your running leggings should be opaque so as to avoid uncomfortable stares. Of course, this is a subjective choice.
• Running leggings with broader waistbands will help provide greater support and core tightness so that less effort is required from your side.
• Additional features such as reflective strips (if you run outdoors in the night or early morning) and mesh details (for faster sweat evaporation) are something you can look for.

Contributor: Tahirah Goins-Nall, Luxury Stylist and Event Curator - Clothes Petals