10 best leggings 2024 UK; tried and tested
WHEN it comes to hero garments, the best leggings are definitely up there.
From the gym to working from home, through to everyday wear and even the dressiest of outfits – having a great few pairs of leggings on hand is essential in every wardrobe.
Get them right and they're comfortable, supportive and ultra-flattering. However, most of us have owned a dodgy pair or two and let's be honest: see-through fabrics, waistbands that ride down and saggy knees are just not the one.
Luckily though, we're here to make your life easier, as we recently put 10 pairs to the test to see if they're worth the hype.
Read on for our honest review of the best leggings available to buy now.
Best leggings at a glance:
- Best overall leggings: Lululemon
- Best high-waisted leggings: Proskins
- Best non-see-through leggings: BAM
- Best everyday leggings: TALA
- Best yoga leggings: M&S Good Move
Marks & Spencer Good Move Go Balance High Waisted Yoga Leggings
- Marks & Spencer Good Move Go Balance High Waisted Yoga Leggings, £25 from M&S - buy here
Pros: Flattering, comfortable, shaping/slimming, stretchy, soft, cool and breathable, V waist
Cons: Limited colour range
Rating: 5/5
Most read in Product Reviews
These leggings are perfect for yoga and pretty much any other occasion, too. They're silky soft and cosy but still lightweight and breathable so that you won't overheat during a workout.
We love the flattering V-shaped waistband. Firstly, it's unique and has a nice twist on a regular pair of black leggings. But also, it makes your waist smaller and your bum look more lifted.
At the moment, it only comes in black, burgundy and a printed design, but hopefully, M&S will launch more colours soon.
Leg length: Full; Price: £25; Size range: 6-24; Colours available: 2, Fabric: Polyester and elastane
Fabletics Define PowerHold High-Waisted 7/8 Legging
- Fabletics Define PowerHold High-Waisted 7/8 Legging, £69 for non-members at Fabletics - buy here
Pros: 23 different colour options, high compression, very flattering, sweat-wicking, chafe-resistant, UPF protection, pockets
Cons: Unlike the other Fabletics leggings, these ones don't come in regular, short and tall
Rating: 5/5
White is probably one of the most unflattering colours you can choose for a pair of leggings, except for this pair from Fabletics. We love how fresh and clean we looked wearing these, and the bright white colour is great for summer. We've been wearing ours with white trainers, a crop top and a denim jacket for weeks, and we're obsessed.
They're incredibly flattering because they're designed with the highest compression fabric possible to hold you in without restricting your range of movement.
We also love the 7/8 length, because it makes it possible to wear longer socks with dad trainers for a '90s vibe.
The waist sucks in your tummy and falls exactly where we like it to — just above the smallest part of your waist but not so high or so tight that it causes an unflattering muffin top.
Don't like the white colour? Don't worry. These leggings are available in 33 different colours.
Leg length: 7/8; Price: £69; Size range: XXS to 4X; Colours available: 23 colours; Fabric: Polyester and elastane
READ MORE:
- Best high-waisted gym leggings
- Best tights
- Best running leggings
- Best running jackets
- Best waterproof running jackets
BAM Enduro Deep Waistband Bamboo Leggings
- BAM Enduro Bamboo Deep Waistband Leggings, £49 from BAM - buy here
Pros: Flattering, sustainable, range of colours available, don't fall down, thick waistband, discrete logo
Cons: Tricky to get on
Rating: 4/5
If you're looking for quality leggings that are eco-friendly to boot, BAM has an amazing range of plain and printed styles that are ideal for yoga, sports and everyday wear — plus, BAM has just announced plans to reduce all of its impacts (climate, waste, water, chemical, human and land use) by 2030. Nice one.
Made from bamboo, this neutral black pair is non-see-through, supportive and irresistibly comfortable. They're a little tricky to get in but they're the right balance of comfortable and figure-hugging once you do wiggle into them. Plus, the close fit means the waistband stays put while you're working out.
Bamboo works well as a performance fabric, too (due to its sweat-wicking absorbency).
Leg length: Full; Price: £49; Size range: 8-18; Colours available: 14 colours; Fabric: Bamboo, viscose, organic cotton and elastane
Lululemon Align High-Rise 28" Leggings
- Lululemon Align High-Rise 28" Leggings, £88 from Lululemon - buy here
Pros: Lightweight and breathable, waistband doesn't dig, but also stays put, super soft, easy to put on, comfortable, form-fitting and flattering, available in sizes UK 4 to 24, available in 18 colours
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Looking for something to easily work out and work from home in? Lululemon's activewear is luxuriously soft, sculpting and flexible enough to easily wear day-in-day-out.
Cut from the brand's signature Nulu fabric which feels buttery-soft on the skin, they're lightweight, moisture-wicking and fitted with a hidden slip pocket for storing your keys if you're off out for a run.
The leggings come in an array of muted stylish colours, including Java (this lovely brown we tried) Grey Sage, Dark Olive, Cassis, and Red Merlot.
They're on the pricier side, but a trusty fan favourite because they're so comfortable that you'll want to wear them for working out, working from home and just about everything in between. You're welcome.
Leg length: Full; Price: £88; Size range: UK 4 to 24; Colours available: 18 colours; Fabric: Nylon and lycra elastane
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
- Spanx Faux Leather Leggings, £89 from John Lewis - buy here
Pros: Easy to put on, comfortable, form-fitting and flattering, sculpting on tummy and bum, leather look
Cons: Higher price point
Rating: 5/5
The leather look never goes out of style, and these faux leather leggings from Spanx are a total hit. This kind of fabric is notoriously hit and miss, sometimes hugging you in the right place and other times being incredibly unflattering.
However, Spanx has nailed it. These leggings are a mix of shapewear and leggings and are designed to not only be stylish but to make your tummy look flatter and your bum more lifted.
These leggings slid on easily and we were surprised at how much we loved them The waistband sits at the perfect point on your waist and is contouring without being too tight and causing muffin top. We'll be wearing ours with everything from heels and a blouse to trainers and a crop top.
Leg length: Full; Price: £89; Size range: S to XL; Colours available: 1 Fabric: Nylon and Elastane with Polyurethane Coating
TALA SkinLuxe High Waisted Flared Legging
- TALA SkinLuxe High Waisted Flared Legging, £56 from TALA - buy here
Pros: Flattering flared leg, waistband doesn't fall down, super soft, easy to put on, comfortable, back pocket with zip, lightweight, sustainable (made from recycled nylon)
Cons: Only available in 4 colours
Rating: 5/5
TALA's SkinLuxe flared leggings have been one of our favourites for a while now. Flared jeans are so in right now, and so are flared leggings. Not only are they trendy, but this shape is really flattering on the waist, thighs and bum. They're great for accentuating curves without being skin-tight.
We wear this pair all the time, as they're ideal for WFH and then heading out for a walk with friends. We've also seen lots of people wear them with formal wear to the office, too.
They're also great for hardcore workouts, especially on days when you're feeling a little bloated or feel like covering up a bit more, as the high waist will not roll down.
Leg length: Full; Price: £56; Size range: XS to XL; Colours available: 4 colours; Fabric: Recycled nylon and lycra
WUKA Perform Leggings
- WUKA Perform Leggings, £49.99 - buy here
Pros: Super absorbent, sustainable fabric, inclusive sizing, comfortable
Cons: The 'no-knickers' feel isn't for everyone
Rating: 4/5
There's nothing worse than worrying that your leggings won't be leakproof when you're mid-flow and working out while on your period.
Or, bending into the downward dog position, worrying about how your bulky pad looks from behind...
With WUKA's Perform period-proof leggings, you can squat, shimmy, run and ride to your heart's content and forget about your pad not being enough when it comes to your next workout.
WUKA's leggings, made from recycled polyester, have integrated seamless period pants inside and can hold up to three tampons' worth (around 15ml) of blood - replacing period products altogether when it comes to keeping active. We tried them on day two of our period and can confirm that this really is the case. While we thought we'd be using these as an extra layer 'just in case' our tampon or pad failed us, we really will be using them as our main sanitary method when we're on our period. There's no need to double up.
The sustainable, lightweight fabric is super absorbent and has a moisture barrier, to wick away sweat and your period flow, as well as a comfy addition to your active lifestyle - plus, they're size inclusive too, going up to a 6XL.
Material: recycled polyester, Length: 32 inches, Best for: low-intensity workouts
Proskins Classic
- Proskins Classic Slim, Anti Cellulite Slimming Compression - Full-Length Leggings, £49.99 from Amazon - buy here
Pros: High compression, very flattering, ingredients that combat cellulite, moisture-wicking
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
We loved how supported we felt while wearing these high compression leggings from Proskins, and found it hard to switch back to regular high-waisted leggings after wearing them.
Having the waistline go right up to below the bra was super comfortable, and felt like a mix of shapewear and leggings.
The compression fabric is super flattering and gives the tummy a bit of extra firming. Plus, the fabric is infused with retinol, ceramides, aloe vera and Vitamin E to give the skin a youthful glow and prevent cellulite.
Leg length: Full; Price: £49.99; Size range: 4-24; Colours available: 4 colours; Fabric: Unspecified
TALA DayFlex High Waisted Legging
- TALA DayFlex High Waisted Legging, £59 from TALA - buy here
Pros: Available in 2xs to XL, available in full length and 7/8, available in six stylish muted shades, very, very easy to put on, waistband doesn't slip, supportive on tummy, comfortable, sweetheart contouring, sustainable (made from 75% recycled nylon)
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
TALA's DayFlex leggings are the perfect pair of black leggings. They are smooth, soft, easy to get on, and incredibly lightweight.
They have sculpting power too, and the V seam on the back enhances your figure, creating an 'hourglass' silhouette.
We wear ours both to the gym and out and about with trainers and sweatshirts.
If you're not into a full-length leg, these are also available in 7/8 length, which is also ideal if you're petite.
Leg length: Full or 7/8; Price: £59; Size range: 2XS to XL; Colours available: 6 colours; Fabric: Recycled nylon and lycra
Snag 7/8 Leggings
- Snag 7/8 Leggings, £25.99 - buy here
Pros: Fully opaque, great fit, pockets fit phone
Cons: Quite warm, so not suited to warm weather or intensive workouts
Rating: 4/5
We love Snag, and you can read our snag tights review here. So we we're pleased to see that the brand has now ventured into size-inclusive leggings that fit, going up to a size 36/38.
Snag's sizes are arranged by letter, rather than number, and are true to size - but it's best to check out its size guide before you commit to buying.
We tried Snag's 7/8 leggings in black in a size E (UK 16-18), but they also come in purple, and we can safely say that they are fully opaque, as well as the best pair of fitted leggings we've owned.
The tights boast a wide, high-waist band, to stop them from falling, and feel soft to the touch - they are quite thick, too, meaning you can't see your knickers when walking or bending over.
However, these leggings are pretty warm, thanks to the thickness, so they're not one to wear in warmer months and we couldn't imagine wearing them to work out. They'd be fine for a few squats and a yoga sesh but perhaps paired with a light top.
Still, we wore them with a long jumper and jacket, as well as trainers, and found they fit great for a long day out idling around the shops and commuting during the week.
The best part? They have pockets! Seriously. The pockets are big enough to fit your phone in, and your whole hand if you want to show off to your friends.
Our only qualm would be that the stitching around the pockets and seams was quite wide, meaning you couldn't wear them for a more formal occasion or a night out, say, but it's evidence of great craftmanship if anything.
We loved the ankle-length, meaning you can pair them with trainers or boots, and found them super comfortable.
Plus, Snag is a living wage employer and all of its products are made from recycled materials, including these leggings which are made from recycled polyamide, elastane and certified eco-responsible viscose.
You can read our full review of Snag's tights here.
Material: 69% Ecovero Viscose, 26% Recycle Polyamide, 5% Elastane, Length: 28 inches, Best for: gym sessions
Which is the best material for leggings?
If you want leggings to lounge around in, soft cotton leggings will be your go-to.
Cotton is a breathable material that will keep you feeling fresh, and is generally very comfortable to wear all day long.
However, it's worth mentioning that cotton doesn't hold up so well to stretching and although it's strong, over-wearing it can result in a loss of shape. Choosing a cotton blend with Lycra or Spandex is therefore a good option for adding stretch to your leggings.
If you want something longer-lasting, a pair of polyester leggings is a good idea as they're water-resistant and sweat-wicking, making them a very popular choice for activewear.
What are the most comfortable leggings?
If you want to feel cool and comfortable in the warmer months, bamboo has become an incredibly popular sustainable fabric choice for leggings, as it's highly moisture-absorbent, eco-friendly and has a similar look and feel to cotton.
For the cooler months, wool or thermal leggings could be your best option: while a little pricier, it's perfect for keeping pockets of air trapped and holding in warmth.
Where to buy leggings in the UK?
Leggings are readily available from a huge number of brands, retailers, department stores and stockists – so the choice is endless!
However, with so many options, it can of course be tricky to find the right pair. We'd first recommend reading our review above, where we've put several to the test and rated them on everything from comfort to style and fit.
If you're keen to shop now, we'd recommend the following:
How much do leggings cost?
Leggings come in an endless array of styles, patterns, fabrics and fits, so prices can vary quite a bit according to the retailer.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
We'd say it's worth veering away from anything ultra cheap to avoid the dreaded see-through leggings faux pas. However, you don't have to break the bank to find a winning pair. In our roundup, the cheapest leggings were from M&S at just £25.
Meanwhile, for something a bit 'boujier' and going-out friendly, Spanx's £89 Faux Leather Leggings are well worth a look.