17 pairs of workout leggings we swear by for every activity from yoga to distance running

7/8 High-Waist Airlift Legging, $114, available in 11 colors at Alo Yoga

Best for: Yoga, weight training, static workouts

Why you should buy them: These leggings feel like a second skin, but one that's so stretchy you could bend into a pretzel and you wouldn't feel any pulling, digging, or resistance. Every time they come out of the wash, they're the first pair I put on for a workout.

They're best for anything that involves bending or stretching a lot (they were designed for doing yoga) but I've worn them running plenty of times and I honestly love them for any type of workout. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews senior editor

TechSweat 7/8 Two-Tone Leggings, $78, available at Outdoor Voices

Best for: HIIT workouts, running 

Why you should buy them: The first thing I noticed slipping these on was how soft, stretchy, and lightweight they are. I'm always a little hesitant about such lightweight leggings as many lack support, but these are equal parts supportive and breathable — a winning combination for sweaty workouts.

The high waistband keeps everything secure while you run, stretch, or bend, but it doesn't dig into your stomach like other high-waisted pants have a tendency to do. The two-toned blue color is really pretty, but also super flattering and although these are lighter colors, I haven't had any issues with sweat marks. —Remi Rosmarin, former Insider Reviews reporter 

Centered Crops, $69, available in seven colors at Patagonia

Best for: Running, classes at the gym, lounging

Why you should buy them: The hallmarks of Patagonia construction are all also present in the design of the Centered Crops. No joke, I think I've worn these leggings every day for the last two weeks. They're so comfy for just lounging around! But they're also great for working out since they're made of a thickish polyester/spandex knit fabric that offers plenty of stretch, wicks moisture, and resists odor. I usually rewear my workout clothes a few times before washing them (in an effort to conserve water where I can), and in these leggings make for less smelly gym sessions. —Ellen Hoffman, Insider Reviews Executive Editor

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings, $59, available in four colors at Nordstrom

Best for: Yoga, gym, active day

Why you should buy them: My mom was the one who introduced me to Zella leggings and I knew they would become one of my favorite pairs from the moment I tried them on. The leggings are fitted and have a decent amount of support, so they are best suited for activity versus lounging.

I like that they are tight enough to stay in one place throughout the day, but don't squeeze my waist or leave those pesky seam indents in my skin. The leggings come in tons of styles and colors, but I enjoy the plain black high-waisted pair. —Megan Foster, former Insider Reviews intern

High-waist Leggings, $68, available in 10 colors at Girlfriend Collective and for $68 at Nordstrom

Best for: Anything, particularly HIIT and hot yoga

Why you should buy them: Girlfriend Collective makes my favorite athleisure leggings by a mile, but their LITE pair is one of my all-time favorites for relatively inexpensive, barely-there HIIT leggings. They're lightweight (the sort that means you should pack seamless underwear if you don't want panty lines), quick-drying, and made from recycled fishing nets.

These are the leggings I'd take to a hot yoga class. My favorite thing about them is that they feel porous — like they're breathing, too — instead of laying on top of the skin, trapping moisture and heat. Plus, they come in five great colors, have a high high-rise, and look pretty great on. Find a full review here. —Mara Leighton, Insider Reviews senior reporter

Skins Dnamic Thermal Windproof Long Tights, from $101.25, available at Amazon

Best for: Outdoor running

Why you should buy them: Motivating yourself to go on a run can be a challenge, but adding cold weather to that is another obstacle in itself. These leggings make winter runs outside much more bearable.

A cool feature is the gradient compression — the highest compression is applied at the calf and it gradually decreases as you move up the leg. Ultimately, this will help support your legs through long runs and speed up recovery time. The best part is the soft, fleece-like interior that keeps you cozy on cold days, but is still thin enough to make sure you don't overheat when you start breaking a sweat. —Remi Rosmarin, former Insider Reviews reporter

Bullet Crop, $54.99 (originally $75), available in two colors at Saucony

Best for: Year-round running

Why you should buy them: These Saucony leggings are aptly named the Bullet Crop, which makes me feel like I'm running a lot faster than my FitBit would indicate. The cropped length also makes my legs look miles longer than my actual run, and the compression fit keeps everything feeling tight and supported. —Jada Wong, Insider Reviews senior editor

Active Printed Leggings, $76.99, available at Spanx

Best for: Running, cycling

Why you should buy them: Spanx makes my all-time favorite pairs of tights, so I had high hopes for its leggings. And my faith was not misplaced ... the Active Printed Leggings are amazing.

They're breathable, supportive but not suffocating, and surprisingly comfortable, offering more stretch than similar compressive leggings I've tried that makes them much easier to get into and out of. I'm not sure what witchcraft went into the design, but they also manage to create a smooth-all-over look I love. —Ellen Hoffman, Insider Reviews Executive Editor

Wunder Under Crop, $88, available in four colors at Lululemon

Best for: Yoga, HIIT, weight training 

Why you should buy them: If I could only wear one pair of leggings for the rest of my life, it would probably be these. They're versatile enough for workouts and leisure wear and are made of some of the softest fabric I've ever exercised in.

They're constructed with Luxtreme, Lululemon's signature fabric, which wicks sweat, is super stretchy, and is engineered not to shrink. These truly feel like a second skin, hugging your shape and making it easy to move. I was hesitant to spend almost $90 on a seemingly regular pair of leggings, but I've had these for almost three years and they've held up their shape, softness, and color. Plus, they make my workouts easier by making me feel comfortable, so I think they're a good investment. —Remi Rosmarin, former Insider Reviews reporter

Wunder Under High-Rise Tight, $98, available in seven colors at Lululemon

Best for: Yoga, athleisure

Why you should buy them:

Similar to what Remi said, this pair of Wunder Under leggings would be my one and only pair until the end of time. I have the full-length version and I wear them nearly every day. The Luxtreme material is extremely comfortable and it's still in great condition despite the constant wear. 

I love that I can throw them in the dryer and they don't shrink, but my favorite feature is the high-rise waistband that doesn't roll down. They're ideal for yoga and running around on the weekends. I prefer something a bit more compressive for jogging, but otherwise, these leggings are my go-to. —Ashley Phillips, style and beauty editor

Captain Ankle Tight, $110, available at Alala and Shopbop

Best for: Running, HIIT, weight training 

Why you should buy them: As I rotate through different workout leggings during the week, Alala's tights are always the ones I look most forward to wearing. They're stretchy, soft, and not overly compressive, with breathable mesh panels at the spots that get surprisingly sweaty, and two pockets (one in front and a zippered one in back) to stash my keys or ID. The waistband doesn't dig into my skin or roll down, so I have no distractions as I run or attend a class.

The fabric dries fairly quickly, too. Even if I've just sweated up a storm, they look and feel like they haven't been touched in the less than 10 minutes it takes to walk from my gym to my subway station. —Connie Chen, Insider Reviews senior reporter

Eleven by Venus Williams Smooth Legging, $26.23, available at Nordstrom Rack

Best for: Year-round running

Why you should buy them: This pair has the highest rise ever — I swear it goes right up to underneath my rib cage, which I love because it just kind of keeps everything tight and supported. The seamless knit feels like a second skin and doesn't require any awkward adjusting or maneuvering midway through my runs, and the compression fabric is supportive yet breathable. The dark gray side panel also makes this pair feel slightly more special than boring gray leggings, but isn't super loud.

It's worth mentioning, though, that I'm 5-foot-4, and the leggings are really long on me. I have to fold up the bottoms a few times so there's no bunching around my ankles. —Jada Wong, Insider Reviews senior editor

2XU MCS Run Compression Tights, $119.95, available in one color at Amazon

Best for: Running

Why you should buy them: The gist of these leggings is that 2XU made them specifically for the impact that running has on the leg. Internally, they have selective, anatomically mapped compression to bring more blood to key areas like quads and calves so you can perform better and recover faster without losing any upfront mobility as with all-over compression.

While that's a big perk, I love them equally as much because they feel like a thin second skin. I overheat easily during cardio, and these are the leggings I'd wear all the time if I could afford to. There have been complaints in the past that this pair is see-through (which 2XU responded to by adding denser paneling to the back) but I've never had an issue. Find a full review here. —Mara Leighton, Insider Reviews senior reporter

Beyond Yoga Midi High Waist Leggings, $97, available in seven colors at Nordstrom 

Best for: Yoga, athleisure

Why you should buy them: These are straight up the most comfy leggings you'll ever encounter. Remember those soft jersey sheets you probably had in high school or college? These have a similar feel, but with a little more heft so they're not see-through whatsoever. They're honestly so soft, snuggly, and stretchy that you'll want to spend your whole weekend curled up in them, but they hold up to actual yoga workouts exceptionally well, too, thanks to a high-rise waist that never digs in or pulls when you're bending and twisting every which way.

I will say that if you wear them casually a lot, they will pill in the thigh area from chafing, but if you reserve them for actual workouts exclusively, they should hold up for years. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews senior editor

Skechers Go Flex High Waisted Leggings, $30.50, available in four colors at Zappos

Best for: Yoga, gym, active day, lounging

Why you should buy them: Turns out Skechers makes more than just shoes. I am a huge fan of the brand's Go Flex High Waisted Leggings. They look like any other pair of black leggings, but they come with pockets, lounge-worthy comfort, and a breathable material.

The versatility is also a huge draw — they work well for a morning at the gym, a trip to the grocery store, and an evening watching my favorite shows. Though they are super soft and don't restrict my movements, they still fit my body all day long without stretching out. Plus, they're pretty cheap. —Megan Foster, former Insider Reviews intern

Under Armour Heat Gear Capris, $26.99, available in three colors at Under Armour and from $23.79 Amazon

Best for: Year-round running, yoga, pilates, barre

Why you should buy them: I have several pairs of capris from UA's Heat Gear line — that's how much I love the fabric and fit. They're all slightly different from each other style-wise (and I'm partial to the ones that have side pockets), but the fast-drying, super-stretchy Heat Gear fabric is just so comfortable and lightweight that I can wear it all year round without overheating. I also like the capri length because it makes my silhouette look sleeker and I don't need to fold the legs. —Jada Wong, Insider Reviews senior editor

Mid-Rise Elevate Compression Leggings for Women, $22, available at Old Navy

Best for: Running, classes at the gym, outdoor activities, athleisure wear

Why you should buy them: Not only are these compression workout bottoms inexpensive, but they also do the job just as well as any other expensive brand. They're breathable, provide a sculpting shape, and are made of Go-Dry technology to wick away sweat. Plus, they're incredibly durable, having lasted me a couple of years after washing them once a week. —Francesca Rea, Insider Reviews senior content producer

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