The 90 Degree by Reflex High Waist Powerflex pant is made of 87% Nylon and 13% Spandex. It has an internal key pocket at the hip, a wide contoured waistband, and a gusseted crotch. These pants are available in XS-XL sizes, and over a dozen color options.
Performance Comparison
For a great value, we loved the way these pants flowed through our practice!
Breathability
These leggings are not the best for hot yoga classes, but as long as you don't mind the sweat stains, they will still get the job done.
If you are specifically looking for a legging for hot yoga, we would recommend the Onzie Capri or the Lululemon Train ⅞. Both of these pants wick sweat away and dry quickly, in case you need you run some errands on your way home from class. If you don't care as much about the sweat stains, or would sacrifice them for this great price point, you might want to consider purchasing these pants in a darker color. We previously tested them in a darker color and didn't see much discoloration after yoga class. This year we tested the mulberry hue and noticed several embarrassing sweat stains (if you know what I mean ladies) after a heated class.
These leggings are on the thicker side and tend to trap moisture and heat. We wouldn't recommend them for a heated class.
Ease of Movement
These leggings have great ease of movement. The material is not restricting and stretches well through any pose or bind you may take. The flat and wide waistband is not too thick, but there is a bit of extra material that can get in the way of forward bends.
One of the downsides to the whole high-waist trend is having the extra material get in the way of certain poses. On the other hand, it provides additional coverage and control of anything "extra" in your midsection, and eliminates the "muffin-top." If you want a little more control for that zone, The North Face Perfect Core High-Rise legging is an excellent option, as it has a compression mesh panel in the waist that helps keep everything in.
These pants had great ease of movement and contorted easily into any pose!
Comfort and Fit
We've tested various versions of this legging over the last couple of years and have had different results with the fit. Previously, the material was on the loose side and not incredibly compressive. This recent iteration is on the compressive side, but the fabric is not the softest.
We did like that there is minimal seaming, which means fewer pressure points or chafing against your skin (also less shaping). We also appreciate that the internal key pocket is not too bulky or annoying, but overall, these aren't the pair we'd want to spend a day on the couch in.
The material wasn't the most comfortable and felt a bit scratchy at times.
Durability
Given the lower price point, we were concerned with the durability. In our experience, when it comes to yoga pants, you get what you pay for, and a $20 pair typically pills or unravels quickly. While we didn't see any pilling or have any durability worries during our testing period, we have had some concern in previous testing periods. As such, we lowered their ranking a bit in terms of durability. Hopefully, the company has resolved the issue, or we just got a bad apple the last time, but it's hard to know for sure.
Another thing we've noticed with personal pairs of this pant in the past is that they tend to lose their shape when they start to become worn out. Since this material is on the thin side, if you are looking for a versatile pair to take on hikes or rock climbing, we'd go with something thicker, like the Patagonia Centered Tight. The material on those pants will weather an encounter with a prickly plant or rough rock better than most.
Style
We liked the simple design of these pants, but overall, they are a little on the plain side. That being said, they do have a wide variety of color choices. The Lululemon Train 7/8 , Lululemon Align II and Alo High Waisted Airbrush all have a certain sheen to their fabric that makes up for any simplicity in style, and the particular type of fabrics used add an element of shaping that is missing in the 90 Degree Reflex leggings.
Best Applications
The High Waist Powerflex pants can be worn for almost any type of yoga you practice, from the hot room to a gentle Yin class. That being said, they don't excel in any one area.
A great value pant for most types of yoga. A great addition for anyone looking to buy multiple pairs of yoga pants without breaking the bank!
Value
These pants cost around $30. The list price varies a little on Amazon but is always $30 on the 90 Degree website. They aren't the best at any one thing, but they are an incredibly decent pair for the price.
Conclusion
The 90 Degree by Reflex High Waist Powerflex is breathable and easy to move it, but the fabric is not as nice against the skin as some of the more expensive models in this review, like the Lululemon Align II, Alo High-Waisted Airbrush, or the Beyond Yoga Caught in the Midi High Waisted leggings. They also won't break the bank, so if you're tired of spending ridiculous sums of money on something you're just going to sweat in, then these are the yoga pants for you.
