Black leggings are an absolute wardrobe must-have. Sure, they’re handy to have on hand for a yoga class or a bootcamp workout, but they’re also a staple for running weekend errands or hanging out at home.
Choosing a pair of black leggings is dependent on three things: what you’ll wear them for (working out and/or eating pizza), how they’ll wear over time (will they roll down? Pill after washing?), and whether you can see through them. (The last one might be the most important!).
But since you can’t buy, try on, wash, and squat down in every pair on the market, the PEOPLE Tested team did it for you, evaluating 23 different leggings to see how they held up after a 30-minute workout and a wash. We evaluated material, hold, durability, fit, and, yes, opaqueness.
Here are the best black leggings that PEOPLE tested.
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Held up well through working out, running, hiking, and outdoor activities
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Run true to size
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Functional side pockets
We took these leggings through it all — hiking, weight-training, stretching — and wore them to a five-hour-long baseball game. They have almost no downsides: they’re comfortable, supportive where they need to be, sweat-wicking, lightweight without being see-through, affordable, and don’t stretch or pill after multiple wears. They come in a regular, tall, and petite inseam, and our petite tester said they were some of the only ⅞ length leggings she’s ever tried that felt right on her frame.
These leggings passed the “squat test” easily (not see-through), and the lightweight fabric felt very similar to the pricier pairs we tried. Our tester also noted that the sweat-wicking technology on these is very effective. Even after a vigorous hike, she didn’t feel damp or cold from the sweat.
If we had one negative to say, it would be that during more intense workouts we had to pull the waistband up a bit, but overall, they didn’t slide too much or get looser over time, as other brands did.
Fabric: 77% polyester, 23% spandex | Fit: Fitted through hip and thigh | Sizes: XS-4X
If you’re looking for a great pair of Lululemon leggings, our tester “absolutely loved” these. They’re designed as yoga pants, and she was easily able to do a 45-minute flow in them, finding they held their structure well.
While these leggings are buttery-soft, they’re not at all sheer when squatting, which might have been a concern given how stretchy they are. They held their shape well for the jumps and squats, but if you’re between sizes, you may want to size up or they may roll down.
Though they’re meant for your yoga mat, our tester wore them on a cross-country six-hour flight and found them super comfortable for that, too. They held their shape and color well on the first wash. The only negative is that they’re pretty pricey, and they only have one back pocket (which can be hard to stash your phone in).
Fabric: 74% nylon, 26% Lycra elastane | Fit: Snug, supportive | Sizes: 0-20
We found these leggings to be really well-made, with a thick, supportive fabric that never felt suffocating but still held us where we wanted to be held. The thicker fabric also meant these passed the squat test easily. These are ⅞ length, and our 5-foot, 2-inch tester found them to hit just below her ankle, so they may be more of a full-length style on petite folks.
They were nice to lounge around in and stood up well to a sweaty yoga workout — after 30 minutes, no sweat showed through. However, more intense workouts where you’re moving quickly might be a little more than these leggings can handle; we found that in more rigorous movement, the waistband tended to sag down, so save these for lower-impact days or just as a fashion piece.
Fabric: Nylon/spandex | Fit: Snug, supportive | Sizes: XXS-XL
Supportive enough for exercise but comfortable enough to wear around the house, these are do-it-all leggings that, while on the pricier side, are actually worth the money. Not just for their versatility, though we loved that, but also for their quality (no see-through squats here!). They hold up extremely well to washing, and our tester noted that of all the leggings she tested, these were the most low-maintenance pair.
These leggings come in a wide range of sizes and three inseams, one of the most inclusive size ranges of any of the leggings we tried. The customization in sizing is a huge point in their favor, and our 5-foot, 2-inch tester found the medium to be “tailor-made” for her.
These leggings got a perfect score across the board. The fabric is not only comfortable; it’s sustainable. They’re made from recycled material, and when you no longer need or want them, you can return them to Girlfriend Collective to be recycled again.
Fabric: 79% recycled plastic bottles (RPET), 21% spandex | Fit: Compressive | Sizes: XXS-6XL
If you’re an outdoor runner, you’ll love these Set Active leggings, which our tester gave high marks to on her runs. “They were super compressive and made my legs look toned,” she says. “I did not feel restricted at all, and they were surprisingly stretchy and comfortable, yet still compressive.” The thicker material — a microfiber nylon/spandex mix — also keeps your legs warm on runs in cooler months and is 100 percent opaque when doing squats or bending over to stretch.
While this wasn’t a negative, the sizing is a little deceptive. Our tester didn’t think hers would fit when she first opened them because they looked so small. But that’s due to the compression; they were actually a great fit once she pulled them on. That said, the compressive fabric isn’t quite as soft as your lounge-around-the-house leggings, and although our tester found them comfortable, they still would be best suited for shorter wears during exercise rather than as an all-day styled item.
Fabric: 88% microfiber nylon, 12% spandex | Fit: Compressive | Sizes: XS-XL
You can work out in these, but that’s not what our tester fell in love with. It’s the unbelievably soft Spacedye fabric Beyond Yoga is known for that hooked her. “I love these leggings! They are buttery soft and extremely comfortable,” she says. “I could wear these all day and even to bed, which I have done a few times when I’m too lazy to grab my PJs!” But all that softness doesn’t sacrifice structure: “The leggings do not roll down at the waist, and I do not have to pull them up.”
If you do decide to exercise in them, though, you won’t be disappointed. “They are incredibly soft and remained so during my workout,” says our tester. “I felt dry the entire time, and there were no visible sweat stains or marks.” She hasn’t seen any pilling or stretching on multiple washes but advises you to follow the care instructions and only hang to dry.
Fabric: 87% polyester, 13% elastane | Fit: Stretchy | Sizes: XXS-4XL
Everlane calls these leggings the “Perform,” and they deliver as a performance pair. They advertise the Perform as having lightweight compression, but our tester said as soon as she put them on for the first time, she was surprised by how much they hug and how snugly they fit. “These leggings offer a ton of supportive compression,” she says. “They’re tight, but I was still able to move around comfortably during my workout.”
The recycled nylon-elastane blend also aced our squat test — there was no trace of underwear seen through the black fabric. The fabric feels soft to the touch, but our tester was impressed at the sweat-wicking tech, too.
The only downside? All that compression doesn’t make these the best pick for a day of running errands or hanging around the house — these are performance pants, not all-day leggings. That said, she still recommends them without question, adding that they are flattering, slimming, and a solid choice for a high-performance pair of black leggings.
Fabric: 52% recycled nylon 42% elastane | Fit: Compressive | Sizes: XXS-3XL
The Athleta Elation Tight is a do-it-all pair of leggings for the girls who do it all. The super-soft fabric is light but supportive, making them a great choice for nearly any activity. “When exercising, these leggings moved with my body, hugging my body the way I’d hoped,” says our tester. “When running, I wasn’t worried about the waistband of the leggings sliding or rolling down.”
That comfort means that not only can you do nearly any type of exercise in these leggings, but you can also do, well, nothing. “Because of how soft they are, I can lounge in my apartment comfortably wearing them,” says our tester. “And the fit was better than expected. It didn’t cut into my body — rather, it adjusted to its curves.”
Fabric: Nylon/Lycra blend | Fit: Fitted through hips and thighs | Sizes: XXS-3XL
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Soft and sweat-wicking
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Stay up well
Trust us when we say these are the leggings you want with you on your next trip. In fact, our tester wore them on a trip herself. “I wore these on a plane, and they were the perfect travel attire,” she says. The fabric, a nylon/elastane blend, works in different climates (although our tester does note that this fabric, while totally opaque, is on the thinner side and might not be ideal for true cold).
Our tester loved the fit but noted that, as a size 6 with a small waist, the small was a little snug there on her, though not uncomfortably so. And even with the snug fit at the waist, they stayed up better than her leggings from other brands and other pairs of Fabletics.
Fabric: 75% nylon 25% elastane | Fit: Soft, snug | Sizes: XXS-4XL
What to Know About Leggings
Material
Consider when you’ll be wearing your leggings most often: If you’re running in them, the fabric should be sweat-wicking and compressive, like the Set Sculptflex Leggings. If you’re wearing them to run errands on the weekends, you probably want buttery-soft leggings, like the Beyond Yoga pair we recommend.
Typically, you’ll see leggings made from some combo of nylon, elastane, spandex, and/or Lycra, but each brand’s proprietary blend will give them a unique feel, so take note of what you like. You also want your leggings to last through many lounging sessions and/or workouts, so look for high-quality fabric blends. Plus, take note of seams that could cause itching and chafing, too.
Fit
You’ll want leggings that hit the right place on your waist and inseam. Brands that offer tall and petite sizing might help you nail down the fit. You’ll also want the fit to be comfortable and flexible enough to move in, and a waist that feels secure but not tight.
The waistband shouldn’t dig into your body or roll down much when you’re moving around. Do a few jumps or squats in the fitting room to see if there’s rolling — it’s not as good of a test as a full workout, but it should give you a sense of how the fabric stays up on your body. And the higher-waisted the leggings are, the less likely they are to roll down.
Opacity
While black leggings go with so many outfits, they are also susceptible to underwear peek-throughs if they are not high quality. We put all of these leggings through the squat test to make sure you can’t see through the fabric. Our favorite opaque pair was the Everlane Perform pair.
Behind the Scenes
To find the best black leggings, our PEOPLE Tested team tried out 23 pairs of leggings from some of the top brands on the market, including Adidas, Nike, Gymshark, Lululemon, Sweaty Betty, New Balance, and more.
- Performance: Each tester performed at least one 30-minute workout in the leggings until they broke a sweat. After the workout, we evaluated whether the material was sweat-wicking, whether the fabric felt high-quality, if any seams or stitching caused any chafing, and how the balance of stretch and compression performed throughout the exercise.
- Fit: We then performed a series of four stretches to test the fit, including how the leggings felt to move around in, if some areas were tighter than others, how the fit compared to other leggings we’ve tried or own, how the length felt, if the cut felt proportional, and how tight the waist was. We also tested for hold or how many times the leggings rolled down and had to be pulled up during our workouts. We noted whether pulling them back up was distracting or manageable and how this compared to other leggings we’ve worn.
- Opaqueness: We found a mirror and performed a series of squats in the leggings, looking at ourselves to ensure no underwear was visible
- Durability: Lastly, we washed and dried the leggings to test their durability. We checked for pilling, holes, rips, and discoloration, and we checked to see if the leggings maintained their shape and quality after being washed.
- Value: Once our testing period was complete, we decided whether or not we thought the price of the leggings matched their quality and durability and whether we’d recommend buying them.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Sara Gaynes Levy is a freelance shopping writer for PEOPLE and a former senior editor at Glamour, where she oversaw all fitness, health, and wellness content for print and digital. She now specializes in health, fitness, food, and fashion topics and also has bylines in Vogue, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, and InStyle. For this article, Sara used our PEOPLE Tested insights to pull together this list of top-rated black leggings.
Our Expert Panel
Jenn Falik is an on-air style expert and creator of The Ultimate Edit newsletter.
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