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Lululemon leggings have been the gold standard for aspirational athleisure and tech-forward workout wear for more than 25 years. The Canadian-based brand has created such a cult favorite that websites like Lulu Fanatics and Lululemon A2Z were created to help fans find their favorite sizes, colors and prints in store and buy/sell/trade sites. Nowadays, you can’t hit a gym (or a shopping mall) in North America without seeing a pair of Lululemon leggings or their iconic ohm-shaped logo. If you’ve been curious to experience what the fuss was all about before purchasing a pair for yourself, here’s a quick guide to the best Lululemon leggings for your lifestyle.
These super lightweight leggings are fan favorites because they’re universally flattering and can be used for a variety of activities. Lulu fanatics wear them for all kinds of lifestyle activities, whether running a half-marathon—or just running errands.
Women who love squats and lunges have raved about the nipped-in waist of the “Contour Fit” version of the Wunder Train tights. With ample room through the hips and thighs, these are great for high-intensity workouts like HIIT and bootcamp. Elise Fletcher, a FitXR trainer and fitness professional at LifeTime Fitness said, “These take my two favorite leggings and bring them together. Great for yoga or cycling, I also love the fit tailored to a curvy body.”
A Lululemon legging actually designed for running? Yes! The popularity of the Fast and Free among joggers and marathoners shows. Lululemon says their run-specific collection “is about unrestricted movement and incredibly lightweight coverage that passes the squat test” and that these leggings are, “made with 100% pure running freedom.”
Lululemon calls these their “Iconic, confidence-boosting leggings that stretch beyond your imagination.” The Align is a great everyday pant, but was originally created for yogis. The soft, sweat-wicking fabric and high-rise waistband make them comfortable in inversions, side bends and standing warrior poses. Since you won’t be wearing shoes, we chose the 31-inch length so you can wear them under your heels.
While the Wunder Under cut has been a Lulu favorite for years, the newer Full-On Luxtreme fabric gives you support without worrying about sheerness.
Comfort is key with these leggings. Fans raved you get the buttery softness of the Align leggings, but with the looser fit of a jogger-style pant. Alissa Alter, a certified pilates instructor and pelvic health expert, said, “The high waist and relaxed fit of the Align High Rise Joggers keeps my growing belly feeling supported but never restricted. I am ready to move in yoga or barre class AND I can go about my day feeling cute because let’s be real, during pregnancy I don’t have the energy for a mid-day costume change.”
These made-for-training tights come in three lengths, have a more compressive waistband, and flat seams that don’t pill. They’re a great medium weight tight for HIIT and other weight-training activities.
Everything fans love about the Align Pants, but with pockets, too!
The most compressive pair of Lulu leggings comes in the brand’s trademarked Luxtreme fabric. These leggings were originally designed for running, but also do well with other workouts like spin class, riding electric bikes, pickleball, CrossFit, or bootcamp. Some also say these leggings improve the appearance of their legs and hide cellulite.
We researched the most popular Lululemon leggings and selected the best for each category based on their features, design, functionality, fabric, popularity, and size availability. We select the winner for each category or activity based on first-person testing by our reporter, website reviews, and anecdotes from Lulu fans.
The company suggests you machine wash in cold water and lay flat to dry to protect the life of the LYCRA® in your Lululemon gear. They also suggest you avoid using fabric softener because it coats the technical fabric and inhibits wicking capabilities. Lululemon suggests you wash like with like—bright colors should be washed with other bright colors, Nulu should be washed with other Nulu and so on, and so on. But some reviewers (including me!) just toss them in the washer and dryer and call it a day. I still get five years out of my Wunder Unders.
Lululemon held the status for the best high-end leggings for years—and then ALO, an athleisure company based out of Southern California known for its strong Instagram presence came on the scene to compete. If you’re missing the matte finish of the now-retired Luon fabric, you might want to try Alo’s Airbrush Leggings. The Airlift leggings, with a shiny finish, are also popular among yoga instructors and models. We still recommend Lululemon for those needing sport-specific tech like compression tights for weightlifting or drawstring waistband leggings for runners.
Lululemon leggings are now sold in various lengths and the four signature Lululemon fabrics. When you find your favorite pair for your favorite activity, you can choose to get them in 23-inch (capri length), 25-inch (⅞ length), 28-inch (ankle length) or 31-inch (tall length). Lululemon stores also offer free hemming so you can get any pair to the exact length that works for you.
While we listed the best pair of Lululemon leggings for various sports and activities above, the overall best legging style made by Lululemon are the Align 28-inch. They are versatile and loved by numerous fitness enthusiasts.
Lululemon leggings are known to last a long time, despite their high price point. Several users report having Lulu leggings that are over five years old.
The most popular items purchased at Lululemon athletica include High Rise Align Leggings, Scuba Hoodie, and the often-sold-out Everywhere Belt Bag.
Lululemon leggings will not only keep you fashionable and comfortable in your next yoga class, the durability and in-store hemming make them a great value.
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