I’ve had some legging horror stories in my time; as a yogi, it comes with the territory. Seams aren’t usually sun salutation friendly.
I’ve been through stuff that would make the most liberal person blush. I’ve endured a two-hour ashtanga class, at a top studio, with tear-inducing camel toe, I’ve had pants split right down the gusset, to a crowd of audible gasps, and I’ve been the victim of many an unplanned nip slip.
After the last embarrassing incident, I promised myself no more; never again would I waste money on substandard leggings or ask my mum to sew up yet another hole. The only thing that makes the shame more bearable is the knowledge that I’m not alone; it appears low-quality garments are littering our shelves.
I’m not high-maintenance when it comes to yoga leggings. I’m happy as long as they:
- Don’t ride up or fall down
- Are made of good material (for the love of God, no mesh)
- Are reasonably priced
- Last a good amount of time
After some research, I found three brands that promise all the above. Here’s my very honest review on whether they live up to the hype.
FYI this post isn’t sponsored. I’m nowhere near Instagram famous enough for that.
HAREMPANTS.COM
Apparently, this is the number one outlet for boho yoga gear.
Their range boasts beautiful hand-crafted items, including harem pants, leggings, kimonos and cotton shirts. Alongside clothing, they sell a range of artisan accessories; the delicate anklets, adorned with elephant charms, make particularly cute gifts for loved ones. Items are colourful and vivid, drawing influences from northern Thailand (where the company is based). Browsing through their website is like jumping into a kaleidoscope; there are trance-like tribal and tie-dye prints, garish peacock patterns and mandalas strewn across metres of flowy fabric.
Because I’m basic AF, I opted for the far safer option – the Black High-Waisted Harem Pants.
Do they ride up or fall down?
No! What a revelation, yoga pants that stay on!
What I especially love is they only come in one size, accommodating waists between 24 and 38 inches. It takes the trouble out of scrolling through size guides and guessing measurements. They’re also highly elasticated which helps when you’re unsuccessfully trying to get your leg behind your head. Basically, the pants work with your body, stretching and shrinking with you.
Material
They’re made from Thai rayon fabric. I don’t know what this is and I don’t care. All I know is it’s light and breathable – perfect for people like me, who sweat their balls off during class.
Cost
In total, I forked out $22 for the pants plus $17 shipping, which is actually pretty good (working out to roughly £28). Out of all three brands, it’s the cheapest. If you’re strapped for cash, it’s worth signing up to or their newsletter. It’s a goldmine of deals.
Do they last?
Yes. I’ve had mine for a year and they’ve only just split. That like a decade in yoga legging years.
Finals words…
I love this brand. The clothes are fashionable and functional; just chuck a pair of sandals on after yoga and you’re ready to hit the town. I can’t believe how great value they are, even with the shipping fee. Since buying these, I’ve gone back and added to my collection (see exhibit kimono below).
BAMBOO CLOTHING
I found this company while researching “leggings that don’t look like a sausage skin on” (my Google search history is full of important questions like this).
Their leggings have amazing reviews so, naturally, I wanted to check them out. There’s just one issue: camel toe. Don’t be precious ladies, you know what I’m talking about. Leggings are notorious for this. Besides promising to tackle the toe, the brand is famous because everything is made from bamboo – which is pretty niche. Well done on finding your USP guys *slow claps*.
I went ahead and bought a pair of Endure Deep Waistband Leggings.
Do they ride up or fall down?
Most leggings can’t contain my bodacious form but overall these are pretty good. They sit comfortably around my waist and take minimal wiggling to get on. While they rarely fall down, they sometimes ride up. I suggest pairing them with a long top if you’re self-conscious of the crotch region.
Material
THIS MATERIAL IS THE BOMB. Seriously, it feels like Jesus is hugging my thighs. On their site, they claim “bamboo is to cotton what cashmere is to wool”. They’re not lying.
The material somehow manages to be stretchy, breathable, thick and warm? I know right. What is this witchcraft?! I am super impressed with how substantial they feel while allowing for a great range of movement in class.
Cost
I bought these leggings for £15 in a post-Christmas sale. However, they’re usually priced between £30 and £45. Not quite Lululemon lavish but still costly if you’re broke like me.
Do they last?
I’ve only had these for a month so it’s too early to tell whether they’re durable. However, after a few full-throttle classes, the stitches remain intact.
Finals words…
I love them. The material is amazing and they’re perfect for practising and lounging in. However, I couldn’t find many styles I liked. They’re a little vanilla when it comes to prints and a tad too pricey for me to shop at frequently.
VICTORIA’S SECRET
If I could wipe the VS experience from my mind, I would. But, alas, I don’t want others to make the same mistake.
We all know Victoria’s Secret – it’s a haven of boob-boosting bras and costly, crotch-hugging knickers. Alongside all this lace and padding, they also sell butt-lifting leggings and cleavage-sculpting sports bras.
Obviously, I had to check it out. After what felt like forever in the shop, being circled by commission-crazed saleswomen, I finally picked an outfit; grey leggings and a revealing (why?) sports bra.
Do they ride up or fall down?
They didn’t at first. I wore this outfit a couple of times around the house to see how it fit. Walking around was fine, yoga was another matter entirely. This outfit is not made for practical use and I spent the whole class hoisting my leggings up and popping my tits back in.
Material
Similar to most VS products, the material is clingy, thin and barely there *throws shade*. The leggings lost their shape after a few wears which meant they constantly fell down.
Cost
Basically, you won’t be able to shop here unless you take out a second mortgage. The whole outfit cost £100. It’s £100 I’ll never get back.
Do they last?
I’ve worn this outfit about five times. In that sense, it’s lasted forever.
Final words…
Never. Again. This stuff isn’t made for working out in unless you’re a model. It looks amazing but lacks functionality.
Admittedly, the bra made my boobs look great. However, the leggings were probably crafted in the fires of hell to keep big-hipped women like me away from sports.
