The 6 Best Yoga Pants of 2023

Best Overall Yoga Pants

Lululemon Align High Rise

Material: 87% polyester, 13% spandex | Available Sizes: 0-14

The Lululemon Align High Rise legging takes the top spot, offering a four-way stretch that moves with the body. Stretchy pants allow graceful flow, and our testers felt free to move in any direction. The thin fabric is surprisingly supportive, and we love how the compression gently tummy tucks when we bend into pretzels. The Align is versatile, the gold standard for technical movement practices, making it a quick grab for anything from running to a flattering fit for a casual day at work (or work from home). They also make dressing up for an evening out incredibly comfortable.

We particularly love the high waist, with a simple, v-shaped elastic band that made our backside look extra good. We never felt squeezed or impeded in our yoga practice. Some pants feel like a tourniquet around the waist, but the Align gives excellent shaping, a perfect balance between support and freedom. Since yoga is breath-centered, we appreciate how the waistband did not interfere with our deep ujjayi (victorious breathing). The Align is also breathable for heated flows or sun-baked days outside. While we love most everything about these leggings, keep in mind that they are expensive and require some babying when washing and drying to ensure they last. But if you're looking for a new pair of high-waisted leggings, these will support your technical performance and take you through the rest of your day feeling delicious and looking svelte.

Read more: Lululemon Align High Rise review

Best for Bang for the Buck

ColorfulKoala High Waisted Brushed

Material: 75% polyester, 35% spandex | Available Sizes: XS-XL

We loved the ColorfulKoala High Waisted Brushed for its next-to-nothing feel and lightweight softness that was one of the most breathable we tested. We trust these pants more than almost any pair to move into the full extension of any pose. They perform with the best and will make your wallet happy at a third of the price of designer pairs. The seamless waistband feels like a soft hug for the hips; it held us in, never rolled, stayed put, and was buttery soft to fold into any pose.

Our testers enjoy these pants when they want to try their most challenging moves because of the second-skin fit, but there are better-shaping pants for casual wear and compression. The High Waisted Brushed are also lighter and not cozy for cooler weather, though they're great to have around for hot yoga, especially because — at this price — you can really stock up and wait to do laundry. If you want pants with a buttery fabric and unrestricted movement on a budget, these won't disappoint.

Read more: ColorfulKoala High Waisted Brushed review

Best for Comfort and Style

Beyond Yoga Spacedye Out Of Pocket High Waisted Midi

Material: 87% polyester, 13% spandex | Available Sizes: XXS-4X

The Beyond Yoga Spacedye Midi is so comfortable you'll want to wear them all day. One of the softest pants in this lineup, they are a go-to for travel, lounging, or challenging poses. This pant has clean lines that flatter the figure without squelching at the waist. We particularly love how the fabric hugs the curves. The high waist accentuates the natural shape of the hips, giving the ideal amount of tummy tuck. Other manufacturers incorporate an elastic band to prevent sagging, which can pinch the waist into an uncomfortable muffin top. The Spacedye Out of Pocket waistband didn't need to be constantly adjusted, allowing us to relax into our breathing and movement. They move with the body fluidly into any pose, and we found that the two hip pockets keep valuables secure even when we flip upside down, run, or climb.

The Spacedye Out of Pocket scores above average in comfort, fit, and ease of movement, but we were disappointed in the overall durability of these pants. The seams and fabric require delicate care. We noticed threading after a few wash cycles, and the material snagged more than others when hiking. However, we did appreciate that the Spacedye Out of Pocket offers UV protection. Being an excellent balance between comfort and style, they are a favorite for travel, a coffee date with friends, or yoga in the park; just plan to treat them a little bit more delicately.

Read more: Beyond Yoga Spacedye Out Of Pocket High Waisted Midi review

Most Versatile for Adventures

Prana Becksa 7/8

Material: 42% recycled polyester, 42% polyester, 16% elastane | Available Sizes: XS-XL

The Prana Becksa 7/8 is a solid choice for any activity. One of the most versatile pants we tested, we appreciate that it is also one of the most sustainable, made of recycled materials. The Becksa moves freely in yoga flows, fits fashionably for travel or daywear, and is resilient for outdoor adventures. Because of its comfortable and street-worthy fit, it would be our choice for hiking, hitting the crag, or traveling in multiple environments. We are grateful for how the ribbed fabric breathes on a hot day, especially when pushing uphill on hikes in the tropical sun. The fabric is designed to be UPF 50+ and protects your skin if you want to do yoga on the beach. This is also one of our most pet-friendly pairs. When we exposed it to paws and claws while volunteering at the animal shelter, it held up to puppy love and did not collect pet hair as much as most others. These pants are dependably comfortable and one of the best for various activities indoors and out.

The ribbed fabric is rugged on the rocks but soft on the skin. However, in yoga flows, the textured material sometimes gives too much friction on the arms in deep twists and binds, though not enough to cause chafing. The ribbed fabric is cozy and flexible but not super soft. Another key difference between the Becksa and other award winners is that the waistband is slightly less contouring in deep folds, although it did hold its shape and didn't roll. Although not the softest for slipping into binds, the friction the Becksa provides can give you a performance edge in arm balances, providing that extra grip to stick the pose.

Read more: Prana Becksa 7/8 review

Best Flare

Beyond Yoga Spacedye High-Waisted Practice Pants

Material: 87% polyester, 13% Lycra spandex | Available Sizes: XS-XL

If you love the balance of fashion and pure comfort when your body moves, you'll thank us when you try the "feels as good as it looks" Beyond Yoga Spacedye Practice Pants. These pants are an outstanding balance of jersey-soft comfort, functionality, and flattering fit. They felt great on our hips when hula dancing, were pajama cozy in restorative sound baths, and moved comfortably into all our poses. Above all, we loved their fluidity in flow. They vent moisture well and dry quickly, so we felt fresh and stylish going to our favorite coffee bistro after yoga.

When choosing the best flare, consider your intention. If you are using it for serious yoga practice, then choose more of a bootcut width with less fabric to get in the way. The Practice Pant is the tighter-legged flare in our tests and is suitable for the challenging sequences and pretzel-like binds of advanced practice or other activities like rock climbing. The Practice Pant can also run small and short, so consider sizing up. This is a great choice for both serious yoga and those that want to give their ankles some breathing room.

Read more: Beyond Yoga Spacedye High Waisted Practice Pant review

Best for Contouring and Support

Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush

Material: 87% polyester, 13% spandex | Available Sizes: XXS-XL

The Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush leggings are stretchy and move well no matter what pose is up next. We particularly love the high waist on this pair; other manufacturers rely on an elastic band to stay up, but having that around your tummy is not always comfortable. The Airbrush stays up all by itself, and we never needed to re-adjust it mid-class. We also appreciate the contouring and support; these leggings are one of the most shaping pants we tested and give a flattering fit.

The Airbrush isn't the most breathable pair in the test group. We found that they felt too hot on the skin for rigorous flows in a heated room, and we would not want to wear them for a walk on a warm day. That said, if you're looking for a new pair of high-waisted leggings with shape-hugging support, this is an excellent choice for cooler weather and slower-paced practices.

Read more: Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	92	Lululemon Align High Rise	$98
	83	ColorfulKoala High Waisted Brushed	$27
	82	Beyond Yoga Spacedye Out Of Pocket High Waisted Midi	$99
	82	Prana Becksa 7/8	$99
	81	Beyond Yoga Spacedye High-Waisted Practice Pants	$99
	73	Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush	$98
	73	Athleta Elation Flare	$99
	72	Ododos Dual Pocket High Waist	$28
	71	Vuori Clean Elevation	$98
	59	90 Degree by Reflex High Waist Powerflex	$60
	57	Yogalicious Carbonlux High Waist 7/8	$60
	48	The Gym People Thick High Waist	$30
	48	Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket	$88

Why You Should Trust Us

With nearly a decade of testing yoga pants under our belts, we test and compare the best performers on the market and then share our findings to empower you to choose a pant that fits your practice. To create each review, our team does extensive market research, considering over 60 models of yoga pants before we select the top contenders. We choose the most promising styles to test side-by-side and devise unique test protocols to compare competitors. Dedicated yoga practitioners and teachers help us assess comfort and fit and analyze ease of movement by running each pair through a crucible of challenging poses. Over months of testing, we monitor the breathability and durability of each pant.

In this update, we tested each pant for two months on yoga mats and in real-life applications. To assess comfort and fit, ease of movement, and breathability, we analyze pant performance through a rigorous, standardized flow in hot temperatures, including a set series of challenging poses. We also explore how top performers transition from yoga to activities like cuddling with the dog, climbing, hiking, dancing, and working from home. We assessed durability over two months of use in various activities and ensured each pair made it through at least five wash cycles.

We test yoga pants across four rating metrics:

• Comfort and Fit (30% of overall score weighting)

• Ease of Movement (30% weighting)

• Breathability (25% weighting)

• Durability (15% weighting)

Our yoga pants testers have decades of committed practice and have spent thousands of hours on the mat. Lead reviewer Kate Pitts has been a yogi for over fifteen years, a teacher for four, and is currently studying yoga therapy. Her outdoor career spans a decade with the National Park Service as an educator and backcountry ranger. She gave the first ranger-led yoga programs to Phantom Ranch backcountry travelers at Grand Canyon. Kate fondly remembers going to help a patient seriously injured on the trail and realizing that her body had automatically slipped into a centering yogic breath. She feels that yoga helps her to meet change with robust tranquility in challenging conditions. The healing self-study helps her awaken daily to the vibrancy of life and her wealth of experience brings a special touch to this comprehensive review.

Analysis and Test Results

Finding the right pair of yoga pants for your needs, the style you practice, and your body type can be a challenge. As testers, we have much to consider about choosing a good fit — we want to find what is comfortable, doesn't impede movement, wicks away our sweat, makes our booties look good, and is not see-through.

On top of that, a regular yoga practitioner probably needs several pairs in their closet, so we consider affordable and durable products. That's a tall order to fulfill. You might never find that perfect pair that's best for everything, as the ideal option for a heated yoga class differs from that for a gentle Yin. However, some considerations make selecting the right pair easier, from what activities you prioritize to the best fit for your body. Keep reading below to see how the different models we tested performed in our side-by-comparison tests. We aim to share practical pro tips and suggestions so you can have several options that suit your practice.

Value

Have you ever wondered if there is a difference between cheap and expensive pairs or if we're paying for the logo? The answer is yes, and also probably yes. What makes a pant worth it is rarely a straight answer, but our investigations unearthed some trends for you to consider.

We tested both cheap "no-name" brands and designer labels in yoga apparel. We assess value by looking at the overall performance score in relationship to cost. You would hope that expensive, designer pairs would perform better than the inexpensive pairs off Amazon, but not always. For example, the ColorfulKoala Brushed finished neck and neck with the gold standard Lululemon Align High Rise, but costs a third of the price. Of course, we want to put budget buys with high scores on your radar, and the High Waisted Brushed is a stellar performer for its low price tag. The Ododos Dual Pocket High Waist also has solid scores all the way around and has four hip pockets, including totally secure pockets with zippers on each side.

Comfort and Fit

This metric accounts for 30% of the overall score for each contender because, let's face it, some of us practically live in our yoga pants. You want something that feels great on your body and moves effortlessly through the activities you love. Yoga pants get worn for much more than yoga: the gym, hiking, maybe with a long sweater to work, and running errands on the weekend. So we ask: can you leave them on all day and feel comfortable through the long haul? Although yoga helps you to be resilient, no one wants a suffer fest from yoga pants that pinch, poke, itch, or chafe. Our tests rewarded for pants that perform well on the mat, but we also looked for how they transition into daily life and adventures.

A soft fabric hand and the feel of quality material on your skin can make or break a pant. We loved how the buttery softness of the Lululemon Align High Rise and ColorfulKoala High Waisted Brushed and wore the Beyond Yoga Spacedye Practice Pants all day and into the night thanks to how soft and cozy they are.

One key feature to look at in regard to comfort is the design of the waistband. While the ideal waist has a compressive material that sucks everything in and offers some lift, we aim for pure freedom of movement over anything. Some designs can create a tourniquet on the waste by squeezing too much and creating an unattractive muffin top. Overcompression can also restrict breathing — a deal breaker since yoga is a breathing practice.

Because yoga is a movement practice where it is helpful to have fabric that fits like a second skin, seams are more critical in yoga pants than in other types of clothing. The Prana Becksa 7/8 and Lululemon Align have clean and attractive lines because of flat lock seaming, which sews the raw edges of fabric together without overlap. Flatlock seams also reduce bulk and the potential for areas that can cut into the skin.

Another pant with excellent design features is the Alo High-Waist Airbrush. This pant has more shaping compression than most in our test. The design of the wide flat waistband, flattering cut, and well-designed hip seams gave it one of the best fits of our tested models. The Airbrush also has an excellent crotch gusset, a feature between the legs that prevents camel toe and allows the pants to shape to the inner groin during movement.

The Beyond Yoga Spacedye Out of Pocket Midi features a wide waistband that fits the hips during movement and doesn't need adjustment after dynamic movement. We also love the pockets on these pants, which fit inconspicuously on the hips, keeping clean lines on the side, whereas other models can bulk up on the hips. These pockets kept our belongings secure; our phone didn't jiggle when out running, and it even stayed securely in place when we went upside down in a headstand.

If you want a completely secure pocket, consider the Ododos Dual Pocket High Waist, which has four hip pockets, two on each hip, including zippable pockets. This is a great option if you want a flattering fit and extra storage capacity. However, the pocket zippers can poke in yoga practice when you go for a bind or lay on your side.

Ease of Movement

Along with comfort and fit, ease of movement is one of the top considerations for how enjoyable your yoga pant will be on the mat. A flexible and contouring pant is essential for yoga because, at some point, you will likely contort yourself into all manner of pretzel-like configurations. You never want to expand toward your full extension only to be limited by your clothing. We considered how well we could move and stretch in each pair for this category and whether specific design features impeded our movement. In many cases, an ill-fitting construction, an extra design feature, or a constrictive waistband hinders movement.

The Lululemon Align High Rise is one of our favorite pants to move in and stretch to the limits. We tested our award winners through various challenge poses, including deep hip openers, backbends, and hanumansana (the splits). Sometimes the best pairs are the ones you don't notice. The Align High Rise also has a unique h-shaped gusset that allows the pants to mold to your body throughout any motion, feeling like a second skin with this pant's buttery feel. In contrast to some pants that chafed or bit into our hips, this model never had us cursing our pants mid-class.

We loved how the ribbed fabric and wide waistband of the Prana Becksa 7/8 moved comfortably in our full range of motion and was breathable enough to opt outside for yoga on the beach. We also appreciate how the ColorfulKoala High Waisted leggings moved with us. They earned top marks in ease of movement, and we enjoyed how the soft support of the wide waistband felt during our most challenging poses.

Some pants provided ease of movement for certain types of yoga classes. For example, when choosing a flare, it is good to know that the excess fabric can get caught in binds or trip you up in arm balances.

The thinner, bootcut flare of Beyond Yoga Spacedye Practice Pants is one of our favorites for any yoga style. Off the mat, we loved them for travel, working at the coffee shop, and climbing.

The Athleta Elation Flare is a stunning fit, but the pant legs fell down our legs in arm balances and caught during binds. They became our favorite for softening into a yin pose or relaxing at a crystal sound bath, so consider what activities you will be doing when choosing your pants.

Breathability

Breathability determines how much heat a pant holds around your skin and its ability to manage sweat. We assessed breathability by the weight of the material, the fabric's ability to vent or wick moisture, and the drying time after exertion. Breathability is essential when you stoke the internal fire in a rigorous flow, hike on a warm day, or climb up a sun-baked crag. Our testers worked up a sweat with the inner-heating ujjayi breath, a relentless flow, and arm balances. We tested each pair multiple times through an hour and half sequence. We completed the field test for each pant in the same yoga studio, ensuring that the temperature in the room was consistently 90-98°F. We got a great sense of how the various pairs fared in this category by doing the same vigorous practice. We noted how hot our legs and core felt at the end of our yoga practice, how much sweat remained in the pants, and any areas of significant sweat pooling or color changes in the fabric.

The Lululemon High Rise Align earned top marks in this category. Unsurprisingly, they were also some of the lightest weight pairs in this review. They ventilated so well that we were barely wet by the end of class and hardly felt moisture accumulation because the fabric remained soft and mobile.

We tested for moisture management by pouring water droplets on the leggings and observing how they dried in the sun. Generally, thinner weight pants prevented us from getting too hot in the first place and also allowed our moisture to evaporate away. However, some light fabrics still didn't excel — a fabric that does not have functional moisture-wicking properties traps wet sweat against your skin, even if thin. The Yogalicious Carbonlux High Waist 7/8 is panty-line thin, but the material trapped moisture on our skin during the flow and left us feeling clammy and sticky for the last hour of our yoga practice.

The ColorfulKoala is also very thin, but the fabric vents and wicks moisture quickly during yoga and when off the mat. We were grateful for their ventilation and quick-dry material on a hot ridge hike in a tropical environment. The Ododos Dual Pocket also impressed us, the soft fabric moving well against the skin even when the body was sweaty. Sweat stains were also not overly visible.

We did a second round of testing with our top performers on a five to ten-mile hike in temperatures over 70°F with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. The ribbed fabric of the Prana Becksa 7/8 did exceptionally well venting heat off the legs and wicking moisture when hiking uphill in the sun. Plus, it is almost impossible to see sweat stains on the darkly colored fabric. The Vuori Clean Elevation is similarly impressive, ventilating well and remaining soft, never sticky.

Durability

You work hard, and your yoga pants do too. Hours of yoga, dance, hiking, or lounging with your pet put wear and tear on the fabric. Quality yoga pants can last you for several years, save you money, and reduce the environmental impact of replacement. Our durability metric assesses the quality of the material to be resilient to sustained use, various movements, and wash cycles. In our tests, we put each pant through hard use in the field for two months while monitoring the condition of each pant for pilling, fraying or holes, or fading of color. We also observed how each pant held its shape over sustained use and laundering.

Pilling and threading are the main culprits in the visible wear on your clothes, as pills ruin the look of a garment and are most likely the first sign of wear, appearing before seam tears or worn material. Pilling is a common problem with yoga pants; the friction caused by our legs rubbing against themselves, the mat, or whatever other surfaces you may scrape causes the formation of tiny balls or pills. These pills hang on to synthetic fabrics more than natural ones, as the fibers are more robust and less likely to break. Threading occurs when the seams unravel or break.

We noticed minimal pilling on the Lululemon Align, Athleta Elation Flare, and Prana Becksa. While the Beyond Yoga High Waisted Midi is one of our favorite pairs to practice in, the seams began to pill and thread along the sides more than other pants tested.

The resilience of the fabric also influences overall longevity. Some materials are less likely to get tiny holes in the knees or the butt, where you most frequently encounter rough surfaces. Tough pants are essential if you participate in friction-dependent activities like climbing, where your knees may scrape against rough rocks.

We also considered the opacity of each legging by running them through a squat test, where we wore bright red underwear and did a deep squat to determine if our undergarments would be a baboon butt embarrassment when going into our next goddess squat at the studio. We do this test because it indicates if the fabric is fragile and will wear out quickly.

However, just because a material is thin does not mean it is transparent. The Lululemon Align and ColorfulKoala were some of the lightest pants but were still opaque, trustworthy selections. The Gym People Thick High Waist and Vuori Clean Elevation were more sheer than we had hoped. The Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket was slightly see-through. The sheerness was not too much of an issue in the darker color, but it could be an issue if you ordered a lighter color.

Conclusion

The right yoga pants give us a lot of support. They are comfortable enough to wear day or night, flexible and supportive during movement practice, durable enough for our adventures, breathe so our legs don't feel stuck in a sauna, and hug our skin in all the right places. Choosing trustworthy pants can make all the difference, and we hope our review helps you make a mindful decision that supports your practice.