Sports leggings

We tested 30 pairs of leggings to find the best ones to take you from dog walks to the gym. These are our top picks...

BEST YOGA LEGGINGS

Lululemon Align High Rise Pant 25”

£88; lululemon.co.uk 92/100

These impressed with their high-quality, seamless design. One tester said they were the comfiest leggings they’d ever owned! The luxe fabric had just the right stretch for yoga poses and could easily be worn all day long. While the waistband stayed in place for some, it didn’t for everyone, so try them on if you can. A worthwhile investment.

BEST GYM LEGGINGS

Pocket Sport Plein Air Legging

£65; pocket-sport.com 91/100

This relatively new brand scored well with our testers and the breathable material passed our sweat-wicking lab tests. They fitted well, with no gathering or gaping, and, crucially, stayed in place throughout a range of high-impact workouts. The high waist gave excellent support and compression, and they looked good, too. Our new gym staple!

BEST BUDGET LEGGINGS

Decathlon Seamless 7/8 Yoga Leggings £17.99; decathlon.co.uk 87/100

These are real do-it-all leggings: although designed for yoga, testers could wear them for a wide variety of exercises thanks to their snug and comfortable fit. The stretchy fabric felt breathable and didn’t require any adjustment mid-workout, while the thick waistband offered secure compression.

✶ HOW WE TESTED We enlisted 121 testers to do at least three different workouts in one of 30 pairs of leggings and tell us how they found their design, fit, comfort and performance. Each pair of leggings was tested by at least four people, wearing sweat-wicking styles for high-impact workouts and those designed for yoga for more gentle movement. At the GHI, we carried out tests to see if they shrunk after being washed and assessed sweat-wicking claims including drying time and moisture absorption in the lab.