Finding the best women’s leggings sounds simple enough until you’ve pulled on three different pairs in a change room, squatted, stretched and still walked out empty-handed. The waistband rolls. The fabric goes sheer. The pockets are too small for your phone. The fit is perfect in your usual size, until it isn’t.
The truth is, the technical requirements for a heavy lifting session are vastly different from what you need for a restorative Pilates class or a long-haul flight. You need fabrics that won’t pill, seams that won’t chafe, and an inclusive fit that respects every silhouette.
From industry heavyweights like Under Armour to local Australian heroes like LSKD and Lorna Jane, we’ve curated a guide to the best women’s leggings for every body, budget and activity. We’ve evaluated fabric weight, pocket depth and the ‘life-proof’ factor to help you compare and choose your next staple pair with confidence.
If we had to pick just one: UA Motion Full Length Leggings
The Under Armour Motion Full Length Leggings are the rare pair of leggings that do it all. They are squat-proof, sweat-wicking and supportive enough for the gym but comfortable enough for everyday wear. Currently on sale for $45 (down from $65), they’re also one of the best value options on our list.
Best women’s leggings for high-impact workouts
When it comes to training, the best women’s leggings need to do a bit of everything: stay put, support movement and handle sweat without going sheer mid-workout. Compression, waistband stability and squat-proof fabric are the non-negotiables here.
UA Motion Full Length Leggings$65 $45 at Under Armour
LSKD Rep Ultra High-Rise Full Length
$110 at LSKD
Best women’s leggings for yoga & Pilates
For slower, low-impact movement, comfort takes priority. The best women’s leggings in this category feel barely there, with soft stretch fabrics that move with you rather than against you.
lululemon Align High Rise Pants
$129 at lululemon
Nimble In Motion Pocket 7/8
$129 at Nimble Activewear
Best women’s leggings for everyday wear
Not every legging needs to survive a HIIT class. For everyday tasks – school drop-off, errands, coffee, working from home – the priorities shift. You want something comfortable enough to wear for hours, flattering enough to feel put-together and versatile enough to pair with both a sneaker and a loafer.
Lorna Jane Lotus Phone Pocket Ankle Biter
$100 at Lorna Jane
Gymshark Everyday Seamless Leggings
$65 at Gymshark
Best plus size women’s leggings
When a brand hasn’t actually designed for a larger body, you feel it immediately: the waistband rolls, the fabric sags in the wrong places, or the compression is so uneven it’s uncomfortable.
Inclusivity isn’t just about adding sizes; it’s about re-engineering the fit to support different body shapes with high-waisted security and zero transparency.
STAX Full Length Tights Nandex
$79.95 at STAX
Taking Shape Bamboo Breezy 7/8 Leggings$59.99 $41.99 at Taking Shape
Best Budget-friendly women’s leggings
Spending $100-plus on a pair of leggings isn’t always realistic. For low-to-moderate activity, everyday wear, or if you just want to try a style before committing to a premium version, there are solid options at a much more accessible price point.
Just keep an eye on the details: check opacity (do the squat test before you buy), see how the waistband holds up after a few washes, and pay attention to whether the fabric starts to pill with regular wear.
Cotton On Body Active High Waist Core$39.99 $27 at THE ICONIC
CRZ Yoga Secretsculpt Butterlift
$55 at Amazon
Best women’s leggings for cold weather
When you’re training or walking in the cold, you need leggings that add warmth without making you feel like you’re wearing a tracksuit.
The key is thermal or fleece-lined fabric that traps heat without sacrificing moisture-wicking – because you’ll still sweat, even in winter – and a fit that moves with you rather than restricting you.
Lorna Jane Amy Thermal Phone Pocket
$140 at Lorna Jane
KMDMerino Baselayer Leggings$129.98 $77.99 (for members) at Kathmandu
What to look for when buying women’s leggings
Finding the best women’s leggings is about more than just a flattering silhouette; it’s about finding a garment that stands up to the rigours of your daily life without losing its shape. In Australia, where we often transition from a coastal walk straight into a busy afternoon of errands, durability and comfort are non-negotiable.
By focusing on technical quality and real-world fit, you can avoid the ‘disposable’ activewear trap and invest in a pair that actually lasts.
1. The ‘stretch and recovery’ factor
A pair of leggings might look great on the rack, but their longevity is determined by how well the fabric recovers after being stretched. According to testing by CHOICE, the best-performing leggings use high-quality elastane blends that return to their original shape immediately.
- The test: When you’re in the change room, stretch the fabric width-wise. If it feels crunchy or doesn’t snap back with a firm thud, the waistband will likely start sagging within a few months.
- The detail: Look for flatlock seams and high stitch density (ideally 12-14 stitches per inch). This prevents the seams from ‘grinning’ – showing the thread when the fabric is stretched – and ensures they won’t pop during a heavy workout.
2. Measure your hips, not your dress size
One of the biggest reasons leggings roll down is that we often buy them based on our standard pants size. The fit experts at Active Truth explain that a rolling waistband is usually a mechanical signal that the compression is working too hard against a fit that is slightly too small.
- The fix: If your waistband is rolling down during a workout, it usually means the leggings are too small. If you see bunching or sagging behind the knees, they are likely too big.
- Measure right: Focus on your high-hip measurement (the widest part of your glutes) rather than your waist. This is the anchor point for your leggings; if they fit here, they’ll stay put through every lunge and stride.
3. Check the gusset and waistband support
For maximum comfort, skip leggings with a simple straight-stitch seam running through the crotch. Instead, look for a triangular or diamond-shaped gusset. This extra piece of fabric redistributes stress on the seams, allowing for a wider range of movement and preventing the fabric from becoming sheer in high-tension areas.
- The finger test: You should be able to slide one finger comfortably between the waistband and your skin. Any more, and they’ll slip; any less, and they’ll dig in.
4. The golden rule: No fabric softener
You’ve found the perfect pair – now you have to keep them that way. The fastest way to ruin high-performance leggings is by using fabric softener, so we recommend avoiding it altogether.
- The science: Softeners coat synthetic fibres in a waxy residue that clogs the fabric. This kills its ability to wick sweat and causes the material to trap odours over time.
- The care routine: Always wash in cold water (under 30°C) and air-dry flat. Tumble dryers are the enemy of elastane, as high heat breaks down the elastic fibres, causing your leggings to lose their shape permanently.
Best women’s leggings in Australia – frequently asked questions:
Opacity is the key factor – a legging that doesn’t go sheer when you bend or squat. Look for four-way or eight-way stretch fabrics, and read reviews that specifically mention the squat test before buying. Darker colours are generally safer, but reputable brands will tell you upfront if a style is fully squat-proof.
Generally, yes – up to a point. Premium leggings from brands like LSKD and lululemon tend to last significantly longer, hold their shape better and stay opaque over time compared to budget options. If you’re training regularly, the cost-per-wear calculation usually favours investing in quality. That said, for everyday casual wear, mid-range and budget options can be more than adequate.
This is almost always a sizing or fit issue rather than a product fault. Leggings that are too small often roll because the waistband is working against itself. Try sizing up, or look for brands with a wide, double-layered waistband. Brands like Under Armour and Lorna Jane have styles specifically engineered to stay put.
The terms are often used interchangeably, and in the activewear world, the line is genuinely blurry. Technically, tights tend to be thinner and more traditionally worn under clothing; leggings are opaque and designed to be worn as standalone pants. In practice, most Australian activewear brands design their tights to be fully opaque and worn on their own – so if you see a brand selling tights, don’t assume they’re sheer.
How we chose the best women’s leggings in Australia:
At The Australian Women’s Weekly, we’ve been helping Aussie women make confident lifestyle choices for over 90 years – and when it comes to something as personal as leggings, that trust really matters.
For this guide, our selections are based on a combination of hands-on wear testing, extensive research and the brands and styles that consistently come up in fitness communities, customer reviews and recommendations across Australia. Because leggings have become a genuine wardrobe staple – worn from the gym to the school run to the coffee shop – performance, comfort and longevity were all non-negotiable.
Each pair was evaluated against the following criteria:
- Fit and support: How well each legging stays in place during movement – no rolling waistbands, slipping fabric or constant adjusting mid-workout or mid-errand.
- Fabric and performance: Breathability, four-way stretch, sweat management and how the fabric feels against the skin, particularly during higher-intensity sessions or on warmer days.
- Opacity and squat-proofing: A non-negotiable. A legging that goes transparent when you bend over isn’t worth your money, full stop.
- Comfort for all-day wear: Since most of us are wearing leggings well beyond the gym, we considered how well each style transitions into everyday life without feeling restrictive, bulky or uncomfortable after a few hours.
- Durability over time: We looked at how each style holds up after repeated washes and regular wear – including whether the fabric loses its shape, fades, pills or becomes see-through over time.
- Size inclusivity: We considered whether brands offer a genuine range of sizes and whether the fit has been properly engineered across that range – not just scaled up from a smaller cut.
- Value for money: Price was weighed against quality, longevity and how often you’d actually reach for the pair – because the best leggings aren’t always the most expensive ones.
Related articles:
- I practically live in activewear – these are the only brands that meet my very high standards
- Five affordable activewear brands to get your sweat on with
- The best plus-size activewear brands for any workout
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
