Lululemon Align II Review

The Lululemon Align II is crafted from an engineered fabric Lululemon has named "Nulu". They employ a specific type of yarn with an excellent microfiber and engineered a weave that ensures these pants are extra soft. They also added Lycra fiber for the perfect amount of stretch and shape retention. You can find these pants in sizes 0-14, with a variety of colors and patterns. We tested the 28-inch full-length version, but you can also purchase them in the 21-inch and 25-inch length.

Performance Comparison

Breathability

Lululemon has made an art out of making their yoga pants breathable with the perfect amount of compression. We found that this delicate balance of breathability and support is tough for many yoga pant companies to accomplish. Because Align is the best of both worlds, this yoga pant was extremely versatile. It is perfect for hot yoga, yin yoga, HIIT, running, your favorite spin class, — literally any type of physical activity.

Sometimes, we end our workout drenched in sweat. Some models in this review, such as Beyond Yoga Caught Midi, offered excellent breathability but were too thin to provide any support or comfort. On the other hand, we found the Core 10 pant to have significant compression but found they were very thick and hot, particularly for hot yoga.

The Align Pant II manages a balance between a lightweight, supportive material that stays in place and provides coverage while offering excellent breathability for all of your hot exercise needs. The breathability is one of the highest scorers, and you'll find that they will dry incredibly fast when out and about on an errand (after class). When you combine exceptional breathability with equally (or higher) ease of movement, comfort, and style, you've got a pair of yoga pants that significantly outweigh the other options.

Post hot yoga session! Lululemon Align pants are almost completely dry!

Ease of Movement

We flowed smoothly through our practice in the Align II. Sometimes, a thick high-waisted band can feel like it is squeezing our skin, creating a mushroom effect around our waist. Align was just right, lending high-waist support that doesn't feel like it's squeezing our sides.

Other brands have tight waistbands that are uncomfortable and impedes the movement in our practice. Specifically, the ODODOS Dual Pocket dug into our waists so much they left a red mark around our belly. The feeling of the waist digging into our belly during forward folds flows or twisting poses accentuated our "belly rolls", and distracted us during practice.

Others didn't have elastic in the waistband, and sure enough, as soon as we began to move, the pants would shift and need to be adjusted. The Align II struck the perfect balance between compression and comfort, and never felt too tight.

It's easy to get into any pose with Lululemon Align, and the breathability is stellar.

Comfort and Fit

These pants are so comfortable that they almost matched the Beyond Yoga Caught in the Midi for silky fabric. As such, they're a pair that we felt inclined to leave on for the entirety of the day. Seriously though, when Lululemon states that the Nulu fabric is "buttery soft," they aren't lying. These pants are so comfortable, you may forget you even have them on!

Super stretchy in nature, if you are someone who prefers a "tighter" fit, we'd recommend purchasing a pair that are down a size from your street jean. We tested the same size as our street size and thought it was comfortable and snug without being too tight. There is also a small pocket in the waistband, which allows you to carry your credit card, a little cash, or a key with you as you are out and about in your new favorite pants.

The back v-shaped hem on the back are extremely flattering for all-day wear!

Durability

During our testing of this fabric, the seams stayed woven together, but the material did produce some mild pilling on the front of our legs and in our inner-thighs where our thighs rub together.

The fabric is lightweight and delicate. We washed them more than a dozen times with only mild pilling. However, no matter how carefully you take care of Align, they do show wear over time. Pilling becomes inevitable and they do lose a lot of their softness after a few months.

Some slight pilling on the inner thigh, but so slight it was difficult to get a good picture.

Lululemon as a company is notorious for making yoga clothes that are difficult to care for; the Align is no different. According to Lululemon, the specialized and highly engineered fabric needs special care, and they recommend machine washing cold and laying out to air dry. It is also important to wash with clothes that are similar material; avoid washing with jeans or anything with Velcro, as it wears and snags the material.

We all have experienced that moment when your mom, boyfriend or roommate thinks they are helping you out by throwing your clothes in the dryer. What happens when your Lulus end up in the dryer? Don't fret, they will not get destroyed if this happens on occasion. We would just recommend not making the dryer a habit.

Value

Lululemon prices the Align II on the higher end, making them one of the most expensive pairs in our review. If you are looking for a wonderful deal, the 90 Degree by Reflex retail for much less and offer a great bargain.

Getting into the fullest expression is no problem in Lululemon Align Pants.

Conclusion

The Lululemon Align II achieves the perfect balance of compression and breathability. They're so comfortable you won't want to take them off. Their simple patterns and a multitude of colors make them a versatile pair of leggings for all-day use and will add to any ensemble in your closet. We wore these pants to several different yoga classes, running, spinning, and hiking, as well as around the house and even to work. The only downfall is the durability and ease of care. We did notice some pilling on the front of our thigh, but all of the stitching stayed intact. This is a small price to pay for their comfort and compression.