The North Face Perfect Core High-Rise Review
Cons: Uncomfortable, constricting, limited ease of movement
Manufacturer: The North Face
Our Verdict
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The North Face Perfect Core High-Rise | |||||
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Price | $47.85 at Amazon | $98 List | $79.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $24.99 at Amazon | $65.50 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
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Pros | Great tummy control, flattering | Buttery soft, easy to move in, great color options and fit, comfortable, breathable | Compressive, shaping, stylish, and durable | Lightweight, breathable, easy to move in, inexpensive | Durable, look great on, comfortable material, breathable, capri fit |
Cons | Uncomfortable, constricting, limited ease of movement | Needs delicate care | A little tight, thick, could be more breathable | Fabric is a little stiff compared to others, durability issues in previous pairs | A little tight around the waist, not much variety in style and color |
Bottom Line | Unparalleled tummy-control, but difficult to actually exercise in them | Soft and comfortable for various athletic activities, we love their breathability, ease of movement, and color options | A compressive all-around tight that's great for most activities, but doesn't breathe well for a heated yoga class | An inexpensive pair that works well for a variety of styles | Performs well for most yoga classes and is a great addition to the closet |
Rating Categories | Perfect Core High-Rise | Lululemon Align II | Patagonia Centered Tights | High Waist Powerflex | Transform High-Waisted Capri |
Breathability (25%) | |||||
Ease Of Movement (25%) | |||||
Comfort And Fit (25%) | |||||
Durability (25%) | |||||
Specs | Perfect Core... | Lululemon Align II | Patagonia Centered... | High Waist Powerflex | Transform... |
Material | 89% Supplex nylon, 11% Lycra Black spandex | 80% nylon, 20% Lycra | 85% Recycled polyester, 15% Spandex jersey | 87% Nylon, 13% Spandex | 88% Supplex nylon, 12% Lycra |
Key Pocket | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Features | Extra compression at waist is meant to engage core | Comfortable waistband that lies flat against skin, naked sensation, hidden pocket in waistband, high waisted | Recycled material, flattering wide waistband with 1/2 inch elastic band, soft thread in seems for skin to skin comfort, key pocket | Moisture wicking, 4-way stretch fabric | Wide waistband, double layer powermesh inset panels in waist for max support, triangle gusseted crotch, high waist |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The North Face Perfect Core High-Rise are made with an 89% Supplex nylon and 11% Lycra Black spandex blend. They currently come in limited color choices (Black, Navy, and Blue), and no patterns. The current sizing options are XS to XL in short and regular inseams. We aren't the biggest fans of these tights for yoga practice, but they will do well for a day out hiking or running. If you're looking for something that is ultra-soft and comfortable, the Beyond Yoga Caught in the Midi High-Waist is an excellent choice, and we loved the Lululemon Align II for its combination of good support, breathability, comfort, and great ease of movement. If you are looking for a great option for tummy control though, the Perfect Core is where it's at.
Performance Comparison
Breathability
We scored this pair on the lower end for breathability. Normally when we think of breathability in yoga pants, we are considering the way the material breathes and vents our sweat, but this pair actually impeded our body's ability to breathe! The waist is so tight that it can be challenging to take a deep breath when wearing them.
As for the material's ability to breathe, it was just okay. The current material formulation feels thick, and we got a little sweaty in this pair. However, it was moisture-wicking and dried quickly while wearing. Since we tested the black color, you couldn't see if the leggings were wet or not. This pair currently also comes in a Navy and "Dazzling Blue" option; since we didn't test these colors, we can't confirm whether they darken considerably when wet or not.
Ease of Movement
There's virtually no stretch in the mesh waistband, and when you are twisting or bending, you can feel the pants holding you back. When you try to move through chaturanga and the pants move a little out of place, they suddenly feel like they are squeezing in all of the wrong places, and we found ourselves adjusting the waistline quite a bit throughout practice to make sure our love handles were not being squished.
The rest of the legging was not particularly stretchy either, and when trying to get into splits or lotus, we noticed a lot of resistance. This is where the Lululemon Align II excelled, allowing us to move easily into any pose we tried without holding us back.
Comfort and Fit
If you couldn't tell already, we thought this was one of the least comfortable pairs in this review. TNF states alternately that the mesh panel offers "core support" and "helps you engage your core."
Those are two different things. In our opinion, the waist offers more of the former. It keeps everything sucked in tight, but we didn't find that it made us activate our core more than any other pair. While these might do the trick for a quick workout, we certainly didn't find that they're comfortable enough for errands or lounging.
Durability
Overall, the durability of these pants was comparable to most of the others in the review. After a handful of wears and washes, we noticed some piling - but overall, the seams stayed woven together. These pants are on the thicker side, and our testers agreed they would make an excellent hiking or running pant, especially over some of the models with thinner fabric.
The care instructions for these pants is also very easy compared to the other models we tried. Machine wash with like colors and tumble dry; no need to hang these pants up to dry like Beyond Yoga Caught in the Midi or Lullulemon Align.
The Perfect Core High-Rise wasn't our favorite pair to practice yoga in. The fabric is a little on the heavy side, and the compression waist felt constricting, and they limited our ease of movement. But, they might be just what you're looking for if you're after a pair for hiking or running. Or, if you are looking for a pair of leggings to pair with a tunic, these will suck everything in and provide decent shaping.
Value
These leggings retail toward the top of the price bracket for this category. If you can't see yourself spending quite that much, the Best Buy 90 Degree by Reflex High Waist Powerflex offers decent compression at a fraction of the price.
Conclusion
The North Face Perfect Core High-Rise is not for everyone. Anyone looking for extra support in the tummy area will appreciate this pair, but you may not find them to be incredibly comfortable, nor might you want to wear them all day. They also aren't the greatest pair for practicing yoga in due to what we found to be a limited ease of movement, but they could work well for other activities like hiking, running, or climbing.
— Hannah Hall & Cam McKenzie Ring