Popular Leggings Review

Happy Wednesday!

In honor of hump day, I’ve decided to review 5 leggings from popular active-wear brands here in Canada. I will be rating them based on fit, quality, price, and overall satisfaction. Side note: All of these leggings have passed the “squat test” or else I wouldn’t have picked them up!

Under Armour HeatGear Compression

Fit: These full-length leggings sit just below the waistline and feature a wide, flattering panel to hide the lower tummy. They aren’t as high rise as I’d like them to be, and I find myself pulling at the waist from time to time as they slip down when I’m running or bouncing around a lot.

Quality: I’ve found this material to be extremely durable and long-lasting. I must have washed and dried these pants over 20 times and I have yet to see any loose stitching or wearing in the fabric. These UA leggings are a blend of polyester and elastane (similar to spandex). They look and feel like a high quality pant, and are super soft and slippery to the touch.

Price: I picked these up at Sport Chek for around $80 CAD. They were on sale and I don’t see them on UA’s website so it’s possible they no longer make these specific ones.

Overall Satisfaction: 3.4/5 – While I love the colour and quality of fabric, these aren’t the most flattering pants I own. These leggings are perfect for high intensity workouts because of the mesh panels and special HeatGear technology that keeps me cool. The pocket design is genius with a zippered compartment to hold your phone/ipod and a hole for your headphones. Overall, worth the $80.

Lululemon All The Right Places Pant II

Fit: The All The Right Places Pant II has a truly flattering fit. The compression and stitching in these leggings makes them worth every penny. Pair them with a nice top and you could wear them out in public without looking like you just rolled out of bed.

Quality: The “Full-On Luxtreme” fabric gives these leggings a four-way stretch and makes them highly efficient in the sweat-wicking department. I really like how cool and smooth these pants feel and haven’t experienced any pulls in the fabric so far. However, after only a couple weeks of wear I started to notice a slight stretching around my thighs and waist. I often find myself having to pull up the pants and re-adjust, especially during high intensity workouts with lots of jumping around.

Price: $138 CAD. Okay, they’re expensive. Before you say no just think about how many cheap, unflattering leggings you’ve gone through in your lifetime and how this pair could replace all those future disappointing pairs… Trust me on this one, every girl deserves a pair of Lulus in her life.

Overall Satisfaction: 4/5 – Sure, these pants are expensive, but I prefer to think of them as a great investment 😉 I love how these leggings make me look and feel, and during my university days I would wear them on the reg. Due to the stretching I’ve experienced, I prefer to use them for low intensity and everyday wear rather than running or H.I.I.T. The side pockets are nice and deep, perfect for even the larger smartphones on the market.

Garage

Fit: These capri leggings from Garage are my go-tos for a comfy, minimalist look. While they won’t draw attention to your bum like brands such as Lululemon or GymShark, Garage does a great job with their subtle detailing. The soft grey panels add a little extra to the look while keeping it classy. While browsing the activewear section on their website, it’s clear that the brand loves to play around with detailing and mesh panels to dress up their otherwise boring black and grey colour schemes. These leggings fit securely around my hips and I never have to worry about them slipping down during even the highest intensity of workouts. Unfortunately they don’t really have much to offer in the compression department…

Quality: I’ve had this pair of capris for a couple years now and they’ve never let me down when it comes to pulling and wear. They are a mix of nylon and spandex and offer a soft, thick feel.

Price: At $25 CAD you do get a great pant for a low price.

Overall Satisfaction: 4/5 – While I’m a big fan when it comes to how comfortable and durable Garage capris are, I can’t find too much in their small line of activewear that I like beyond the same old black and grey. I also prefer the feel of slippery leggings rather than thick, soft ones. Tbh without cool colours and slippery feel, they’re just meh.

Old Navy

Fit: The Old Navy capri leggings are of a lower rise then most other leggings in my collection. I’m always a bit nervous buying low rise pants in general because they’re usually uncomfortable and aren’t as flattering, but these leggings exceeded my expectations. The wide fabric panel below my waist is flattering and functional, helping to suck in any lower belly fat while providing support. The stitching around the bum is also pretty flattering, and the placement of the mesh panels somehow make my thighs look thinner.

Quality: These leggings are a mix of polyester and spandex. They have a soft, yet cool texture which makes them super comfy to lounge in. They are surprisingly thick and not see-through at all for a cheaper legging. I have yet to have any issues with pulls or seams!

Price: $20ish CAD- can you really beat that value?

Overall Satisfaction: 4.5/5 – Every time I wore these to group classes I would be asked where I bought them. They never fail to make a statement, while at the same time being practical for any kind of workout. If I were to improve on them I would add more pockets (only includes one tiny hidden pocket in the front), and add more flattering seams around the butt region similar to my Lulus.

Victoria’s Secret Pink Ultimate

Fit: Out of all my leggings, these have to be the worst fit. Maybe the 7/8th leggings just don’t suit me, but they seem really awkward-looking in pictures. If you are looking for a tight, low rise legging to lounge in these are for you. I would not recommend these for working out in, as I’m constantly tugging them back up and there is no ventilation whatsover. 

Quality: Thick, high quality fabric that is pretty durable. The tag reads 77% polyester and elastane (similar to spandex). Like my other Pink leggings, I found that the waist band slowly loses its shape over time and no longer provides compression. Other than that, these pants are well made and the stitching is still intact after many washes.

Price: $45 CAD- not really worth the high price tag in my opinion. I feel like you could find much cheaper ones at stores like Forever 21 with decent quality and better fit. I guess I was just paying for the label and the cool side panels hehe

Overall Satisfaction: 2.5/5

And the winner is…. 

Best everyday legging: Garage. These leggings are perfect for everyday wear- they’re comfy, breathable, durable, and go with just about any top. I throw them on for any type of workout or when I simply need to grab something from the store. 

Most flattering: Lululemon All The Right Places Pant II. There’s no denying it, these Lulus have stitching that will flatter almost anyone’s rear end, plus the no front seam eliminates that camel toe look. The high rise waist band and zoned compression will make you look and feel securely held in. 

Best value: Old Navy. For under $20 you get great quality leggings that are comfortable, squat proof, and whose funky patterns are sure to get you a few compliments at the gym.

Best overall: Old Navy. I own several pairs of Old Navy leggings, from pink to black to the bright purple ones you see above. While not all of the leggings they sell are alike (make sure you do a squat test in the change room!), most are extremely high quality for the price you pay. Old Navy has really stepped up its game in the active wear department, and if you aren’t one of those girls who buy clothes just for the label you should definitely check these out. While they might not be as flattering as my Lulus, I still think they make my butt look good and I really like the mesh inserts that keep my legs nice and cool. The fit is excellent and I don’t have to worry about them sliding down during my higher intensity workouts. 

**Moral of the story: low price doesn’t always mean low quality. Do your research and you’re sure to find great leggings at a decent price!!**

That’s it for now, hope everyone has a great night.

-Robyn xx