One might think yoga pants are all the same and the design doesn’t really matter. They just need to be stretchy, right? Actually, there are many factors to consider when it comes to the best yoga pants for women, from various compression levels and cotton vs anti-microbial or moisture-wicking fabrics, to mid- vs high-rise designs that suit different bodies and yoga types.
The best yoga pants for women support your body so you can flow through every pose.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERSWhether you’re into hot yoga or prefer a low and slow flow, there’s truly a design out there for everyone’s yogic needs. Here, we researched the best yoga pants for women to help you stay strong and confident from your first downward dog all the way to your last breath of Savasana. Namaste.
Lululemon
Sizes: 0 to 20 | Colors: 23 total including neutrals like True Navy and brights like Sonic Pink | Materials: Body: 81% nylon, 19% Lycra elastane; Lining: 90% nylon, 10% Lycra elastane | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 25 inches
Lululemon’s Align High-Rise Pant is the ultimate yoga legging that offers something for everyone. The buttery-soft, four-way stretch fabric is breathable and sweat-wicking, the high rise waist stays put for all your yoga poses, and the numbered sizing system offers a more streamlined fit. A hidden waistband pocket fits small essentials like keys or a credit card, making them perfect for everyday wear beyond yoga, too.
MOST POPULAR
Quince
Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 11 total including Navy, Heather Gray, Olive | Materials: 84% recycled polyester, 16% spandex | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 25 inches
Quince’s apparel is often high-value due to their unique direct-to-consumer production processes and these responsibly-made yoga pants follow suit. The Ultra-Soft Performance Legging fabric is quick-drying and anti-microbial with a four-way stretch, and it’s also made from recycled 2-liter water bottles, diverting landfill- and ocean-bound plastic from the waste stream. As an added bonus, Quince has free shipping and a 365-day return policy.
Girlfriend Collective
Sizes: XXS to 6XL | Colors: Black, Ivory, Midnight, Moss, Plum, Earth, Atlas | Materials: 79% recycled plastic bottles (RPET), 21% spandex | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 23.75, 28.5 inches
With more than 17,000 reviews, the Compressive High-Rise Legging from Girlfriend Collective is truly squat-proof: It’s made from a sturdy fabric that’s thick enough to not show through, and suitable for yoga and even high-impact workouts like running and HIIT. The extra high-rise fit and compression fabric leave you tucked in, while the built-in stretch allows for full movement. Like many Girlfriend Collective products, these leggings are part of a closed loop system—they’re made from recycled water bottles and are recyclable with ReGirlfriend.
Athleta
Sizes: XXS to 3X | Colors: 6 total, including Dark Sardinia Blue and Grey Heather| Materials: Nylon, Lycra | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 23, 25, 28 inches
A bestseller from Athleta, the Ultra High Rise Elation 7/8 Tight is made from Powervita, a second skin-soft fabric with a hugging support compression. The high waistband has three layers to streamline and not roll over during your vinyasa, and a clean look without side seams. Plus these leggings are breathable, wick sweat away from the body and are quick-drying. They’re also rated UPF50+ for sun protection, a feature that many yoga pants don’t offer.
Beyond Yoga
Sizes: XXS to 4X | Colors: 15 total, including Black-Charcoal and Silver Mist | Materials: 87% polyester, 13% elastane | Pockets: No | Inseam: 25 inche
With reportedly over 3 million pairs sold, Beyond Yoga’s Spacedye Caught In The Midi High Waisted Legging is praised for being one of the softest options around. The performance fabric is sustainably made in the US and has a buttery-soft touch, plus it’s moisture-wicking with added UV protection to keep you dry and comfortable on and off the mat. This pair has also been wear-tested on actual bodies and comes in an inclusive size range.
Outdoor Voices
Sizes: XXS to XXXL | Colors: 3 total, including Rosie and Black| Materials: 85% polyester, 15% spandex | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 25.5 inches
The FreeForm 7/8 Contour Legging from Outdoor Voices is designed with thoughtful details for extra comfort: Their FreeForm fabric has a peach-like softness and offers a stretchy and slightly compressive fit, making them the perfect legging for low-sweat activities like yoga and pilates. A high-rise waist hugs close to the body, while a back waistband pocket stores your essentials before and after class.
Lululemon
Sizes: 0 to 20| Colors: 13 total, including True Navy and Chambray | Materials: 81% nylon, 19% Lycra elastane| Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 32.5 inches
Lululemon’s Groove Super-High-Rise Flared Pant has an ultra high waist, hugging your body then stylishly flaring out from knee to hem. The legging is both slimming and elongating at a fuller length than most yoga pants, designed to nearly touch the ground ( if you’re short, you might need to get these hemmed). The signature Nulu fabric boasts both stretch and moisture-wicking capabilities, so you can get sweaty and active in this pair.
Prana
Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 4 total, including Carmine and Dark Iron, Black | Materials: 76% Recycled Nylon, 24% Lycra elastane | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 25 inches
PrAna took their signature Luxara recycled nylon blend stretch jersey fabric and gave it a chic twist with the Layna 7/8 legging. The high-waisted design offers full coverage, while the triangular Coolmax gusset and flatlock construction adds reinforcement and comfort for all your moves. These quick-drying leggings also have built-in UPF 50+ for protection indoors and out.
Vuori Clothing
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Colors: 6 total, including Stormy and Black | Materials: 72% polyester, 28% elastane | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 24.5 inches
Vuori’s Daily Pocket Legging is a high-functioning pant for those who like to keep their phone and other essentials handy on the go. The side pockets are smartly built into side seams on both legs and offer ample storage, and the high rise cut won’t slip. Also great: The 7/8 length allows for full movement without extra fabric getting in the way and the stretch knit fabric has a smoothing effect while being sweat-wicking and uber comfy.
Alo Yoga
Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 13 total, including Black and Anthracite | Materials: Performance jersey | Pockets: No | Inseam: 28 inches
Alo’s High-Waist Airbrush Leggings are designed to lift, sculpt and flatter while still being wearable all day. They have a light compression fit with a front-smoothing panel and no side seams, so they’re more slimming than your average yoga pant. Their four-way stretch allows you to move freely and the moisture-wicking signature Airbrush fabric keeps you comfortable before, during and after a workout.
Nordstrom
Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 4 total, including Black and Gray Forged | Materials: 77% polyester, 23% spandex with 89% polyester, 11% spandex contrast | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 27 inches
Thicker than traditional yoga pants and thinner than your typical sweats, the Zella Live In Pocket Joggers feature a lightweight, sustainable poly blend with a slim profile. There’s ample storage with two front slant pockets and a hidden front zip pocket. An elastic waist plus a drawstring allows for a tighter fit if you need it, while the ankle-skimming knit cuff and 8-inch leg opening makes these stylish for workouts, errands, and everything in between.
Amazon
Sizes: XS to 3X | Colors: More than 25 total, including Black and Space Dye Gray | Materials: 77% polyester, 23% spandex | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: Not listed
IUGA designed these leggings with an active yogi in mind. Their High Waist Yoga Pants features a high-rise waistband for tummy-tucking control, a stretchy, squat-proof fabric that offers both support and compression, and interlocking seams to minimize rubbing. Add in two generous side pockets big enough to hold your phone, and you’re all set for yoga class and the rest of your day.
Nike
Sizes: XS to 2XL| Colors: 8 total, including Black and Dynamic Berry | Materials: Body: 80% polyester, 20% spandex | Pockets: No | Inseam: Not listed
Nike’s Yoga High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings are popular for leaving you feeling supported, confident and comfortable. The stretchy Dri-FIT fabric is not only sweat-wicking, it’s also super soft against the skin with a body-hugging fit. The high-rise waist stays in place for poses and a V-shaped detail at the back waist defines your curves. As a bonus, Nike uses at least 75% recycled polyester fibers in these leggings, which offsets carbon emissions and diverts plastic from landfills and waterways.
Lululemon
Sizes: 0 to 20 | Colors: 11 total, including Blaze Black and Grey Sage | Materials: 77% nylon, 23% Lycra elastane | Pockets: Yes | Inseam: 25 inches
Lululemon’s Everlux fabric is especially designed for hot and humid workout environments with sweat-wicking, breathable, and fast-drying functionality. The Wunder Train High-Rise Tight With Pockets feels cool on the inside with a soft-brush feel on the outside. Lycra is added for four-way stretch and shape retention, plus a waistband drawcord is an extra reinforcement for keeping the leggings in place. Two handy side drop-in pockets round out the design, allowing for plenty of room to stow your workout essentials.
Not all yoga pants are created equally. As you saw above, some have high waists, some have low waists, some have pockets while others don’t, and while most are fitted leggings, some yoga pants are actually joggers.
True, many yoga pants can be used across the board. After all, if the yoga pants are comfortable and stretchy, you could use them for yin yoga, Iyengar, restorative, vinyasa, or other types of yoga and for meditation. However, if you’re going to be doing power yoga, core yoga, fitness yoga, hot yoga, or Bikram yoga, you may be more comfortable in yoga pants that are better suited to very intense movement.
For instance, you’ll probably prioritize lightweight fabrics over soft but thick pants that will be too heavy for your workout. For these more intense forms of yoga, moisture-wicking fabrics are also key to keeping you cool.
No two women share the exact same shape so there’s no single foolproof pair of yoga pants that will perfectly fit every single woman. If you have an especially long torso or legs, you may want to prioritize a style that is offered in several rises and inseam lengths.
Similarly, if you want more support in the midsection, a high-waisted yoga pant may be more comfortable, particularly during very active poses, where low- and mid-waisted yoga pants often roll down under your belly. Plus-size yogis will also appreciate how some brands, like Lululemon, offer a wide range of styles, colors and fits in inclusive size ranges.
Some of these yoga pants are on the pricier side and if you have a regular practice, it might be worth it to you to splurge on high-end yoga pants that can do it all. However, if you’re just getting into yoga, or if you only practice once or twice a month and usually wear the leggings as lounge pants (no judgement, we all do this!), then you can probably save yourself a few bucks and opt for a less-expensive pair.
Well, you’ll probably be using them for yoga, right? Of course, but you also may be wearing them for other activities. For instance, having multi-purpose pants makes dressing quick and easy so you may wear the same pants several days per week while working from home, hiking, kayaking, or just walking around town.
Super soft yoga pants might be perfect for meditation, restorative yoga, and lounging around but yoga pants designed for more active yoga might also be used for hiking or dance classes. Fitness-focused options like the Lululemon Align Yoga Pant also double as hiking tights since they are comfortable, wick away moisture to keep you cool, have pockets to stash keys and phones and they come in a high-rise variety that doesn’t roll down.
The simple answer to de-stinking your yoga pants is to wash them but there are a few things you can do to avoid the funk in the first place. First, always air out your yoga pants to get rid of all excess moisture as soon as possible since that can cause odors. If you tend to stuff your damp yoga pants in your gym bag after your workout, be sure to take them out as soon as you get home. You don’t necessarily have to wash them right away but at least take them out of the bag and hang them over a chair or doorknob so the air can dry them out.
You can also seek out yoga pants made with synthetic fabrics that help inhibit the growth of microbes (and stink). Keep in mind that even if your yoga pants are made with anti-odor technology, they will still accumulate some skin and sweat residue from normal use so you’ll want to wash them more frequently than jeans or lounge pants.
Just like any other apparel, you’ll want to check the manufacturer’s label for specific care instructions. Don’t assume your yoga pants can handle hot water and high heat in the dryer as either could cause them to stretch or shrink. In general, you can extend the life of your yoga pants (and most clothes, for that matter) by washing them in cold water with mild detergent and hanging them to air dry.
Like most items out there, you get what you pay for. When it comes to yoga pants, pricier options not only tend to be more comfortable and have more features like moisture-wicking, anti-odor technology, but they also tend to be made of stronger, more durable fabrics.
If you go with a cheaper pair of pants, you may save money in the short term but you’ll probably spend more money in the long run because the seams will wear out faster. The pants could also develop holes in areas that tend to rub a lot, such as around the thighs or butt. If you’re able to invest in higher quality pants, you’ll probably appreciate their durability, as will the environment, which doesn’t need anymore low-quality garments tossed into landfills.
Finally, the lifespan of your yoga pants will also depend on how much you wear them. A rigorous daily practice wears out pants out a lot faster than a sporadic class every few weeks. If you invest in a high-quality pair of yoga pants and wear them several times per week, they should probably last at least a year or two. If you wear them less, they’ll last longer.
As writers and researchers, the Forbes Vetted team has tested and published many women’s fitness and fashion articles on everything from the best sports bras to the best plus-sized dresses. We’re also consumers so we have high standards about how we shop and what we buy and we like to think our readers benefit from our pickiness and obsessive tendencies. To ensure broad and diverse content, we also speak with experts with decades of experience in the field.
Based on our knowledge of the fashion space, which includes testing out many trusted brands and top products, we pinpointed the best yoga pants for women, depending on a variety of different needs in terms of sizes, materials and styles. This story is regularly updated for accuracy and was last edited in June 2023.
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