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Spend 10 minutes shopping for exercise leggings, and you’ll find tons of pairs that supposedly hug, support, and hold your lower body. These aren’t just really touchy-feely bottoms—they’re the best compression leggings, not to be confused with butter-soft second-skin tights.
If you don’t have any compression leggings in your closet yet (or your go-tos are looking a little worse for wear), you’re in the right place. We spoke to experts about which key features to look for in compressive activewear and found the best options you can try. We even tested some of the biggest brands’ best-selling pairs firsthand. Shop our picks below.
What are the benefits of wearing compression leggings?
While the research is mixed on whether compression leggings can actually improve your workouts or make them more challenging, there’s something to be said about the confidence boost they provide. Experts say they may also help you warm up faster and feel more in touch with your body. Plus they’re tighter and usually feel thicker than standard yoga pants, which comes in handy during tough gym sessions where security counts (hello, squat test).
Compression leggings may help you feel better after your workouts too. They improve circulation in your legs, which helps alleviate swelling, soreness, and fatigue that can set in when you finish up at the gym, Ire Wardlaw, a NASM-certified fitness trainer for Bay Club Santa Monica in California, tells SELF. “Leggings provide additional support to the muscles during recovery and may reduce discomfort and soreness immediately after exercise,” Michael L. Ormont, MD, MS, FACS, the medical director of Nuvance Health Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Northern Dutchess Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York, adds.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Athleta Interval Stash High Rise Legging 7/8, $109
- Runner-Up: Spanx Shape Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings, $98
- Best Size Range: SuperFit Hero SuperHold Pocket 7/8 Leggings, $98
- Most Durable: Vuori Evolve Legging, $118
- Best for High Compression: Fabletics Define PowerHold High-Waisted 7/8 Legging, $70
- Best for Moderate Compression: Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 28″, $98
- Best for Hiking: Outdoor Research Ad-Vantage Leggings,
$99$40
These leggings—recommended by editors, experts, and SELF Activewear Awards testers—will give you that snug sensation you’re looking for.
Best Overall: Athleta Interval Stash High Rise Legging 7/8
Athleta
Interval Stash High Rise Legging 7/8
Associate social media manager Katie Gunderman testing the Athleta Interval Stash High Rise Legging 7/8
Dolly Faibyshev
I first tested Athleta’s top-rated Interval Stash leggings on a bizarrely hot day in my gym. They seamlessly managed my sweat during my workout and spared me from walking home with a swampy butt afterward. They felt sleek (even cool!) for my entire session.
Then there’s their actual compression level: I’m really impressed with how the Interval Stash legging’s fit seems to adapt to the type of exercise I do. It feels thick, supportive, and compressive when I lift weights, but it doesn’t hold me back when I hop on the treadmill—it allows me to move while staying snug and secure. I can’t recall having to adjust the waistband once (I didn’t even use the internal drawstring).
Sizes: XXS to 3X | Length: Petite (23 inches), regular (25 inches), and tall (28 inches) | Material: Recycled polyester, elastane
Runner-Up: Spanx Shape Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings
Spanx
Booty Boost Active 7/8 Leggings
Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis testing the Spanx Shape Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings
Dolly Faibyshev
This multi-time SELF Activewear Award winner has proved its worth during CrossFit and dance cardio classes. Back in 2022, our testers were wowed by the Booty Boost’s glove-like fit and seemingly “magical” ability to shed sweat.
Whether you opt for one of the many limited-edition colorways or one of Spanx’s staples like navy or black, these leggings look reliably great. “The pair’s sleek, slippery fabric offers so much support I feel like a Bond girl (or a seal…but, like, in a good way?) when I wear them,” one 2024 tester said.
Sizes: XS to 3X | Length: 25 inches | Material: Nylon, elastane
Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis testing the Spanx Shape Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings:
Best Size Range: SuperFit Hero SuperHold Pocket 7/8 Leggings
SuperFit Hero
SuperHold Pocket 7/8 Leggings
SELF’s love for the SuperFit Hero pocket leggings goes all the way back to 2019, when they won their first Activewear Award—and they’ve raked in many more since then. That’s due to their inclusive size range; squat-proof, moisture-wicking fabric; and snug, secure compression level (which clocks in at a comfy 8 to 15 mmHG).
Multiple testers mentioned that they never had to adjust or mess with the waistband. “They were supportive, comfortable, cute, and helped me stay dry when I was really sweaty,” one 2023 tester said. If that doesn’t check every box for a great pair of leggings, we don’t know what does.
Sizes: L to 7XL | Length: 29 inches | Material: Polyester, spandex
Most Durable: Vuori Evolve Legging
I’ve had Vuori’s Evolve Leggings since my fellow SELF staffers and I tested them in 2023, but they still feel (and look) like new. I haven’t noticed any wear and tear or loss of stretch—they’re as sleek, waist-hugging, and catsuit-like as the first time I tried them on. In my mind, that helps justify their slightly higher price point: You’re investing in a piece of activewear you’ll love for years to come.
This is also the odd pair of compression leggings that feel great for lower-impact workouts. I regularly break them out for yoga and don’t notice any restriction during my flows.
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Length: 24.5 inches | Material: Polyamide, elastane
Best for High Compression: Fabletics Define PowerHold High-Waisted 7/8 Legging
Fabletics
Define PowerHold High-Waisted 7/8 Legging
One 2024 Activewear Award tester described the compression in these Fabletics leggings as “unmatched.” “You feel locked in, with everything staying in place, but not to the point of discomfort,” they said. “I’ve tried leggings that make similar claims, but they’ve never come close to how these actually feel.”
Fabletics’s PowerHold is the brand’s most compressive line and is made specifically with challenging workouts and training in mind. If you’re already used to how compression fabric feels and want a pair with extra support, give these a try.
Sizes: XXS to 4X | Length: 7/8, regular, or tall | Material: Polyester, spandex
Best for Moderate Compression: Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight
Lululemon
Wunder Train High-Rise Tight
Here’s a great starter pair of compression leggings if you’re curious, but don’t want to feel too squeezed right off the bat. The Wunder Train tight from Lululemon has moderate compression, lightweight fabric, and four-way stretch, so it strikes a nice balance between supportive and soft.
We tested the Wunder Train during multiple Peloton classes and strength training sessions, and they felt lightweight and dry throughout our workouts. Perhaps even more impressive? Our tester said they were cute enough to wear to brunch or for a stroll around town.
Sizes: 0 to 20 | Length: 15, 23, 25, 28, or 31 inches | Material: Nylon, Lycra elastane
Outdoor Research
Ad-Vantage Leggings
Outdoor Research collaborated with professional rock climber Quinn Mason to develop its Ad-Vantage Leggings, ensuring that they stretch and resist abrasion exactly where it counts. It’s their trail-ready design that earned these tights an Activewear Award in 2023.
“I’m able to move at any angle in these and they stay in place,” said one tester. “I also feel like they’re perfect for travel because they’re durable, lightweight, and have some compression.”
Sizes: XS to XXL | Length: 25 inches | Material: Nylon, elastane
What should you look for when shopping for compression leggings?
Like any high-quality pair of tights, compression leggings should be made of stretchy materials that allow you to move (think spandex, Lycra, elastane, and other technical fabrics). Dr. Ormont adds that they should provide some amount of resistance too. Rather than feel endlessly stretchy, the fabric should retain its shape and snap back close to your body when you pull it away.
Look for pairs that are made with sweat-wicking, quick-drying materials. Leggings that don’t manage moisture well (like cotton pairs) can cause irritation and chafing, Dr. Ormont says.
Some brands will rate their leggings’ compression in millimeters of mercury (mmHG), the same unit of measurement used for blood pressure, but it’s more common to see this in compression socks. As a general rule, Dr. Ormont says items with a compression level between 15 and 20 mmHG will provide a gentle squeeze that can feel good for everyday wear and working out. Garments with a compression rating of 20 to 30 mmHG are better suited for wearing while you recover from exercise or an injury.
Compression leggings should fit you from top to bottom, so make sure you look for pairs with your preferred rise (low, mid, or high) and an inseam that suits your height. Some styles come in petite and tall sizing, which gives you more options in terms of length. And, since waistband rises can vary from brand to brand (maybe it just covers your belly button; maybe it’s encroaching on your sports bra), it can help to try a few pairs on in a store before making your purchase.
Don’t forget about your personal preferences: Are pockets a must? Do you want a drawstring for added security (and an adjustable fit)? Should your leggings be suitable for indoor and outdoor activities? Luckily, there are so many excellent compression leggings out there that you can definitely find options with all those nice-to-have features—and maybe even a few more.
Frequently asked questions
Which workouts are compression leggings best for?
Wardlaw recommends wearing compression leggings during high-impact activities (like runs and HIIT workouts) and high-intensity ones (like strength training). Not only can they potentially boost blood flow to your muscles and relieve soreness, but they can also help stabilize your movements.
“Compression leggings do run the risk of feeling a bit restrictive during activities that require a lot of stretching or deep bending, like yoga or Pilates,” Wardlaw says. “In those cases, lighter compression or a more flexible fabric would be more comfortable. It’s all about finding the right balance for the activity you’re doing!”
Should anyone avoid wearing compression leggings?
Dr. Ormont cautions against wearing compression gear if you have open wounds, joint pain, arthritis, neuropathy (which can cause weakness or less sensation in your lower body), or peripheral arterial disease (which occurs when the arteries that move blood from your heart to the rest of your body become more narrow).
Not sure whether compression leggings are right for you? We recommend talking to your doctor before picking up a pair.
Related:
- The Best Fleece-Lined Leggings for Running, Hiking, and Getting Cozy
- The Right Sports Bra Can Make Running Easier and Less Painful—Here Are the Best Ones
- 22 Pairs of Comfy Walking Shoes for Every Occasion
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