Honest reviews from me. I live in leggings due to my job and have bought many many pairs over the years. Some I love and some are not so great and ended up in the charity shop pile quite quickly. Below you will find my reviews of which ones work for me for different activities. I am scoring them between 1-10 with 10 being the highest. Each one will have the Squat test and the Reformer Leg Circle test to see if they are see through. For reference my body size is a 10 which is mainly a medium size (occasionally 8/small depending on brand). My height is 5’5″.
ADIDAS Capri Leggings - rating 10
These leggings are old, they have served me VERY well. In fact one of my favourite pairs. Really comfortable and light material but fit well and don't fall down. Squat test and Reformer Leg Circles test is they are not see-through. Probably owned these in the region of 6-7 years and worn every week. No bobbling or thin patches. LOVE them and wish I could fine another pair.
NEXT Leggings review - rating 9
Another pair of my favourites. These are lovely quality leggings, I have two pairs one in Burgundy and one in Navy. They are high wasted and have a great little motivational quote on the inside of the waistband. Down by the ankle they have a black mesh triangle for interest. The material is ribbed and quite thick. They stay up and pass the squat and reformer Leg circles test. The rating for these is a 9 as although they are in my favourite list the knees get a few wrinkles (minor as not much but just stops it from being a 10). All my leggings and gym wear that has been bought from NEXT is a good price and been worn and lasts well. I have bought several items from them. Definitely recommended.
Tikiboo Leggings - rating 7
Christmas 2019 my lovely clients from one of my Pilates classes clubbed together and bought me these as a gift. Now although this colour wouldn't of been my first choice I really love the pattern and colour and so pleased I own them and they picked this colour as I wear them weekly. The quality is good, the hold is good on the legs, no knobbly knees. The reason for giving them a 7 is the waist band, as where the seam is it makes the muffin tops stick out rather than get hugged in. So my preference would be a higher line. The waist band is high which is good and it does have an elastic tie inside which is a good way to stop them falling down. They do stay up well and pass the squat and leg circle test for being see-through. My legs are quite short and they are a bit long on me although this is minor. Overall I love them. Good quality and despite feeling quite thin they have lasted well and washed very well. No bobbles. They also have a zip pocket on the lower back. I would definitely buy these again.
LIDL Leggings review - rating 8
For £8.99 these are my win win leggings. Teaching online I need bright clothes so my limbs can be easily seen with contrasting backgrounds. I saw these and took a gamble. They wash well, hold well, a good fit, great colour vibrancy. BUT they are see-through which is why they have been given an 8. To be honest through for the price they are a great buy and perfect for what I bought them for. As long as I wear light coloured knickers then you can't see them. LIDL stock items as and when so you never know when gym wear will be in, usually just after Christmas is a given and again around September time. Also bought several sports bras, tops and running jacket from them in the past and all been great quality at very cheap prices.
Fabletics High Waisted Seamless Mesh Leggings - rating 3
I really don't like these. They fall down, they give me a baggy bit between my legs, they don't grip the waist. Constantly pulling them up.
The material is quite rough and although it does hug it is an illusion. They also show lumps and bumps a bit too much (could be the colour). I kept them as really wanted some bright red leggings and was struggling to find any.
The mesh is a netting and there are actually runs (like you get in tights) up the leggings, although they haven't really got any worse. I keep wearing them as the colour is good for my online classes but no good for exercising in and certainly couldn't run in them.
They do pass the see-through test though.
Just Strong Leggings review - rating 6
The bold logo on these I love, but won't be to everyone's taste. Although not normally one for branding I like this message and it also just happens to be the brand.
I am usually a medium and ordering a medium of these were huge. They are VERY stretchy and although looked like they fitted I could actually stretch them to almost 1/2 in size again. Sent them back and went for a small - these are actually still a bit big to be honest. BUT the elastic is great and they are good at staying up. Not sure I would want to run in these as they would probably slip down. The fit is good, the material is good. Although has bobbled slightly on the side from where it has rubbed on my coat zip (I think), more than likely nothing to do with the leggings.
They are certainly not see-through and pass the leg circle and squat test.
I have given them a 6 as feel the sizing is very incorrect and I could still go down another size. Also the material is thick but is not very forgiving and shows lumps and bumps through it.
The colour is great and they was really well. Also have a useful slip pocket in the side for phone or gym pass card.
Would I buy these again? Probably YES but in a smaller size.
Queenieke Yoga wrap leggings - rating 10
I LOVE these leggings, they are a super lovey fit and material. They stay up, they are not see through. The ties are a really nice fun addition and I always get comments on them. Not shown on the picture but the waist band comes to a gentle crossed V at the belly button which is a really nice feature. Material is soft and hugging too. I have owned these years and washed and washed them with no fading or bobbling.
In the same brand I also own lots of sports bras, Yoga tops and 2 zip up sports tops by the same make. I love all of them and would definitely recommend the brand.
Not 100% sure if the company is still going as the link below doesn't work. All of my clothing from them came from Amazon from memory so maybe have a look there.
Sweaty Betty - rating 9
Before you read on YES they are expensive. But they are very high end strong material. Figure hugging, high wasted, includes a side pocket and most certainly not see through. They are a little long for me (but then my legs are short HA). This is a medium which is good for me at a size 10. The thing that appeals to me is the sustainability of them and that these are made from recycled plastic bottles. Each time I buy something new now my goal is to make sure it is kind to the planet. I would recommend these and the sales that SW have are very good so you can always wait for those.
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