
We are in the times of comfy clothes, daily walks and working from home, so now is the perfect time to find the best black leggings on the market. I purchased 6 different black leggings, two high-end, two middle range, and 2 low price points. We will be comparing and picking each pair apart to determine the best black leggings.
The Best Black Leggings
The contenders are… (in no particular order)
1. Lululemon Align II 25″
2. 90 Degree By Reflex High Waist Power Flex Tummy Control from Amazon
3. Aerie Move High Waisted
4. Zella Live In High Waist
5. Old Navy High-Waisted Elevate Powersoft 7/8-Length Side-Pocket
6. Colorfulkoala Women’s High Waisted Yoga Pants 7/8 Length from Amazon (Disqualified – they sent me black camo in a size XL and are back-ordered until late May) – will update if I ever receive them.
The Judging Criteria:
Fabric
Fit/Length
Visible Panty Line
Comfort/Stretch
See-Through Ability
Extra Features
Price
There are a lot of components but I feel like all of these are necessary to find the ultimate pair of black leggings.
With each pair, you will also see a photo where I am pointing at my stomach this indicates where my belly button in comparison to the top of the legging.
Lululemon Align II 25″
Everyone RAVES about Lululemon and quite frankly I’ve never jumped on the bandwagon because I just didn’t understand the hype and the price, but I knew I had to include them in this showdown. This was the pair I was most skeptical about and honestly didn’t want to like the most.
Fabric
81% nylon, 19% lycra
The Lululemon website claims that they are “buttery soft” and I will admit they definitely are.
Fit/Length – Size 4
They fit very nicely and I really like the length and where the waist hits.
Visible Panty Line
There is no visible panty line or awkward indentation.
Comfort/Stretch
They are extremely comfortable and can easily transition from the leggings you grab for laying on the couch or doing a workout.
See-Through Ability
Not see-through at all (for $100 they shouldn’t be)
Extra Features
They have a nice waistband that doesn’t slip and slide or roll down but hugs you. These leggings also feature a hidden waistband pocket.
Price
These are the most expensive leggings at $98.
90 Degree By Reflex High Waist Power Flex Tummy Control from Amazon
These leggings had 4.5 stars out of 5 so I knew they would be a good contender, and for only $27.99 I knew they needed to make the lineup.
Fabric
87% Nylon 13% Spandex
They are scratchy and as you can see have a shinier type fabric.
Fit/Length – Size Small
Right off the bat, the length of these leggings were too long on me. Everywhere fit nicely, but the length just didn’t work. I do like the waist, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to slip down mid-workout.
Visible Panty Line
No visible panty line
Comfort/Stretch
These were not comfortable, they feel like your basic leggings.
See-Through Ability
They aren’t see-through, but you can see skin tone when you bend over which is not what you want.
Extra Features
They also have a hidden pocket in the waistband.
Price
Very affordable, but I don’t think it’s worth the price.
Aerie Move High Waisted
When I pulled all of the leggings out of the package I instantly thought I would like the Aerie ones the best, unfortunately, there was one big key factor that didn’t work for me.
Fabric
72% Nylon, 28% Elastane
I REALLY like the fabric of these. They feel cool to the touch and almost have a breathable scuba like feel.
Fit/Length – Size Small
These fit nicely and have a great length. They actually have a raw hem, so you could trim them at home if you wanted them to be shorter. They do have a higher waist compared to the other pairs. The biggest problem I have with these leggings is that the waistband rolls. When you move or sit it doesn’t stay in place at all. The waistband is similar to the Lululemon pair but for some reason, this one rolls so bad.
Visible Panty Line
Minimal VPL
Comfort/Stretch
They are comfortable and are easy to move in.
See-Through Ability
They are slightly see-through on a scale of 1-10, 10 being a window, I would give them like a 1.5.
Extra Features
No extra features, but I do like that it doesn’t have a logo plastered everywhere.
Price
They are normally $50, but are pretty much always on sale for at least under $30.
Zella Live In High Waist
I had high hopes for this pair because they are another high-end pair found at Nordstrom. These leggings are currently sold out because they were on major sale when I bought them.
Fabric
88% polyester, 12% spandex
This fabric makeup is interesting to me because it’s almost identical to the Amazon pair, but don’t have the shine like the Amazon ones do.
Fit/Length – Size Small
My biggest problem with these leggings is that it feels like there is just too much fabric. It’s not like they are just too long there is something off about them that makes them ill-fitting. One feature they do have that I like is the cross stitching on the waistband in the back. This keeps them in places when moving around and bending up and down.
Visible Panty Line
Strong VPL in real life
Comfort/Stretch
They are comfortable and not scratchy or itchy, but overall they are just ok.
See-Through Ability
They are slightly sheer when you squat.
Extra Features
Like most leggings, this pair features a hidden pocket in the waistband.
Price
I bought them on sale for about $50 but regularly $90+. I would say this is way overpriced for the quality and fit. For the fit and price, just be the Amazon ones because they are almost identical.
Old Navy High-Waisted Elevate Powersoft 7/8-Length Side-Pocket
I have a few pairs of Old Navy leggings, but this pair specifically came highly recommend from you guys.
Fabric
77% polyester, 23% spandex
This Old Navy pair feels like if the Lululemon and the Aerie leggings had a baby. It almost feels like a soft scuba like material.
Fit/Length – Size Small
These fit very nicely and I really like the length. They are a nice high waist and really suck you in. One negative I have is they are EXTREMELY tight to get on. They fit great once on, but maybe put these on BEFORE you get to the gym to avoid hopping around in the dressing room.
Visible Panty Line
Slight VPL – pending the underwear
Comfort/Stretch
Because these leggings suck you in and hold you snug I feel like they are great workout leggings, but wouldn’t be comfortable to wear just lounging around the house.
See-Through Ability
Not see-through at all
Extra Features
Unlike these other pairs these feature side pockets which I really like for walks or working out.
Price
These are normally $39.99 but you can almost ALWAYS find them on sale.
Honorable Mentions
There were so many requests for brands and I simply could not purchase them all.
I did want to call out I really enjoy the Outdoor Voices leggings. I have both Warm Up leggings and the TechSweat Leggings and prefer the TechSweat hands down. They are much more comfortable and have a lot more stretch. I was going to include them but they were sold out of black when I went to purchase.
My sister also called me this week saying she bought this pair off of Amazon and absolutely loved and they are VERY affordable. So if you are looking for something even cheaper this might be a good option.
Final Thoughts
There are so many different leggings, out there and each person is looking for something different. Overall, and I hate to say it…I really do, my favorite pair was the Lululemon Align. I so did not want to like these but I do and I get the hype now.
I think if you are looking for an affordable option the Old Navy pair is the way to go. I really like the Aerire ones but I just can’t get over the waistband.
UPDATE
The Colorfulkoala Women’s High Waisted Yoga Pants 7/8 Length from Amazon finally arrived in the correct color and size and I LOVE them! They are almost identical to the Lululemon Align leggings. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative I highly recommend them. You can read more about them here or shop them directly here.
The Aerie moves are my all time favorite leggings!!! They are so comfy. They don’t fall down and are the perfect fit. They are the only ones I even wear anymore!
Lululemon is my favorite too! But constantly on the search for a pair similar that’s a lot cheaper! Maybe one day we will find them! Until then – I’ll hold my 2 pair tight! Lol.
I didn’t want to hop on the trend either for the longest time, but once I tried them, there was really no going back. Thank you for this!! It’s saving me money by not having to go and try all of these myself!
I really love the detail in which you described them and compared them all. This is a lit of good jnformation.
Thank you so much for sharing this review! My absolute favs are the Aerie leggings! They are so comfy!
I love lulu, but can definitely agree that the price isn’t always in the budget, my next go to is Aerie!
I love my lulu but I’m glad there are more affordable options for just working out!
Thanks for all your unbiased opinions
Love this post because let’s face it…leggings ARE pants! If anyone says otherwise, they’re lying LOL
My favs are the Zyia Hi-Rise Light-n-Tights (and they come in different lengths. They’re comparable to Lululemon at a more affordable price point. You might check them out since you said the Lulus were your top pick!
LOVE this post- I’ve always wondered what is the best for black leggings! My fav cheaper version is the Yogalicious ones on Amazon. They’re very comfortable and not see through- the only downside is they’re a little thicker material so they’re better for winter than summer. I haven’t ever made the splurge on Lululemon but now you have me thinking I need to try!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
Thank you for this! I have a few pairs of Old Navy leggings but have totally considered splurging on Lululemon. It’s nice to see quite a few compared next to each other!
Thank you for always being honest with your reviews and making our life’s a little easier!
I totally get it, in college all I heard about was lulu lemon leggings and one year for my birthday I took the plunge and haven’t looked back since as well as having a great product their customer service is excellent! Love all your show down blog posts!
I’m always trying to find a good pair of black leggings. This is extremely helpful. I’ve always heard good things about lululemon but never wanted to pull the trigger because of how much they cost ($98 for leggings!)
I pulled the trigger on some Aligns on Poshmark because I didn’t want to pay full price yet. I totally get it. They’re so soft but also hold you in. I hate that I love them. I actually have a few pairs of Zellas and love those too, so I was disappointed they didn’t work out for you. This was super helpful. Please do more!!
Lulu are my favorite as well! I have a pair of the Chalkfula Yoga and they fit great but the waistband is not tight enough and I find myself pulling them up constantly!
I am SO happy you did this! I’ve been looking for a new brand and this was beyond helpful. THANK YOU!
This is so helpful! I’ve heard so many good reviews about the amazon leggings but just wasn’t sure if I should go for them. I love the blog, thanks for posting!
I love my align 25 too! This is such a great post! Thank you for sharing because I never know which are best! So helpful!
So helpful. Wearing a lot of these while working from home!!!
Dang it now I really want a pair. I was hoping you’d say one of the affordable pairs was awesome. 🙁 Guess you get what you pay for!
I recently started working out and have been on the hunt for quality leggings! This post was super helpful! Sounds like I have some shopping to do!
Love your review! Im the same tried not to hop on the band wagon with lulu but it’s hard not too. Another brand that you didnt mention or probably didnt know about is another luxury brand similar to lululemon is Athleta (they are owned by Gap Inc.). Athleta has very similar fabric and style as Lulu and probably same prices but they have sales every once in while like friends and family. Anyways thanks for the review on other brands i might want to check out and try on 🙂
Shoot! I may have to finally cave and get a pair of lululemons. I do have a few of the old navy ones though and I love them. Loved the review!
I love Align’s! Glad they hold true.
I’m like you were and have trouble bringing myself to buy Lulu leggings. Maybe I’ll bite the bullet for my birthday this year! Thank you for your honest review!
Lulus are legit. I didn’t want to buy into the hype either, but they worth it!
I agree about the Zella. I’m 5’4” and they are either too long or gather in my knees—not a flattering look! But I do love the 90 degree for affordability and I always get the capri length for my petite length. I’ve only ever borrowed Lulu! Maybe I need to make the splurge!
Love love love this! It would be great to get to try these different brands and fabric. I love leggings and nothing worse if spending a lot of $$on a pair and not loving it. Great idea🥰
Thank you for doing the work for us!
Getting a pair of Lulus is my motivation for losing weight! Once I hit my goal, I’m buying a pair (or 3)! I do love my old navy ones though, so much that I got rid of every other pair after I bought the old navy ones.
Getting a pair of Lulus is my motivation for losing weight! Once I hit my goal, I’m buying a pair (or 3)! I do love my old navy ones though, so much that I got rid of every other pair after getting them!
I love these looks!
Never have been able to swallow the lulu price tag but would love to try our their workout shorts! My go to leggings are by Eddie Bauer! Thick, comfy and stretchy. Don’t ride down or up. Can’t beat em!
I need to try the lululemons! I have never bought anything from there, because I have been an Athleta girl, but I will have to try them!
I’ve been waiting for this post! I recently bought leggings I thought I loved but now feel like I could find something better and for a better price. Thanks for the help!
I know lulu is pricey, but they are worth it and last for a long time! I still have leggings from lululemon that I bought at the beginning of college in 2012!! They do look a bit older than my newer pairs, but they have maintained well over the years!
Also, I think the Aligns look the best on you compared to all the other pictures. They also come in a lot of fun colors 🙂 Thanks so much for this, Angela! I hope quarantine is treating you well!
Libby
I never tried the lululemon, just can’t get over the price. Never thought to try old navy. I have the 90 degrees and I don’t really care for them either. Thanks for this!
I have been on the hunt for black leggings! I hate leggings. So, investing is difficult. But I think you have me sold on trying Lululemon! Thanks for the great info!
These are so fun to read! I love my dri-fit Nike leggings the most, but also I’m a sucker for any leggings with pockets. I love your content. It’s such a nice break from the all the craziness, especially during this pandemic.
I am a P.E. teacher and am constantly comparing brands like this for my everyday attire. I felt the same way and am not on the align lulu train! I like to keep a few pair of the more affordable options around for house work like painting. Thanks for your thoughts!
Loved this! I have tried fabletics and they’re very similar to my lululemon pair. Just so expensive. Constantly looking for a more affordable pair because I know my dog will ruin them. Have to try old navy next!
Agreed! I didn’t want to love them but I do!!😍
Love this!! Lululemon is always my favorite.
I bought some from aliexpress and they are almost exact to the lululemon ones!! i believe i paid $16 for them!
lulu lemon and Athleta leggings are my favorite ! Thanks for giving some cheaper options that are still great quality! Love your Blog!
I am constantly looking for new black leggings and have always been too scared to get lulu… maybe it’s time that changes.
I would totally get a pair of lulu lemon but they’re too expesive.
I’ve never gotten into the lulu lemon hype but I might have to try! Have you ever tried fabletics? That’s the only kind I wear probably because it’s pretty affordable.
Okay so I totally agree about the aerie leggings everyone was constantly raving about them so I tried them and the waist band would not stay up! I guess I’m going to have to jump on the band wagon and try the lululemons. Thank you so much for trying all of these out for us!
I’ve been wanting to buy quality leggings and get the best value, this was so helpful!
Oh no, I’m so sad you did not receive the correct ColorfulKoala leggings because those are my favorite!!! Thank you for doing this review! I’m always on the hunt for the best workout attire 🙂
I love the old navy leggings and size up in them, but my all time favorite leggings would be from lululemon. Yes, they are expensive, but worth the price. They are also super comfy when pregnant and I didn’t have to specially buy any for maternity
Good information! Thank you!
lululemon aligns are my FAV !! but i’m definitely going to need to try old navy ones now. i’ve heard so many people say good things about it.
Thank you for this review!! Great info. I love my aligns 🙂
My favs didn’t make the cut! Koral is up there but We Over Me is just the best athletic wear!
Definitely will check out the Old Navy ones at that price point though!
I love my few thrifted lululemon pairs but definitely always on the look out for a cheaper high quality option! Thanks for comparing these for us! Can’t wait to try the old navy ones 💕
I love old navy leggings! I’ll have to check those and the lululemon ones out. Thanks for doing the research for us on these! Especially with working from home and wearing leisure-wear and workout wear more often, I have been thinking about ordering more leggings anyways
I too fell in love with Lulu’s Aligns the first time I tried them on. I have splurged on a few pairs over the past couple years and they have held up well (outside of some minor pilling on the oldest pair I have)! As a lower cost alternative I REALLY like the CRZ Yoga naked leggings from Amazon – they are only $24 and come in a lot of colors similar to Lulu. They aren’t quite as good as Aligns but I’m not sure anything could totally compare to those.
❤️
❤️ all of these leggings!!
Did so long I didn’t understand the hype behind the Align Lululemon leggings, but since buying them, they have become the only pair I want to wear. Gap’s Sculpt Resolution are the only other pair I have found that are comparable.
Love all of these recommendations! I have the 90° flex yoga pants! You may try those because they’re not as long, have a pocket and are not shiny!
Thanks for doing this! I have 2 pair of Old Navy leggings that I really love, and I’ve been considering splurging on Lululemon.
Thanks for the honest reviews 🙂 I need to try some lulu’s but yes, pretty expensive :/
Probably the most helpful guide I’ve ever read on a blog. I have the amazon leggings and like them for the price point they are. This may make me splurge on a pair of align leggings now. I’ve always wondered if they were really worth it. Thank you!!
Thanks for the visuals and rating them! I don’t like the high price of Lululemon but there are some great sites that help you find good deals on them. Also I love the 7/8 length.
I know…I love my Lululemons but they’re so expensive 😅 I guess you pay for quality!
The most perfect post for these self-isolating times 🙌 I have been living in black leggings since working from home! I will definitely be checking out these!!!
This was such a helpful roundup as for me personally the align is what I live in but it’s awesome to know options out there! Thanks Angela!
Can’t go wrong with a great pair of lulu lemon leggings!
Lululemon Aligns are the best. I hate it because of the price, but hands down I haven’t found a better pair. I wore them through my entire pregnancy in my normal size.
My runner up would be Athleta Elation leggings in Powevita!
LOVE the lulu align leggings!!! Sooo comfortable and definitely worth the splurge! Thank you for this post!! A good pair of black leggings are such a staple for every girls closet
Love the high waisted Old Navy leggings!
This was super helpful! Thanks for giving us the inside scoop☺️
These are always so fun and helpful! I’ve never broken down and gone for Lulu but I do have a pair of Zyia that I absolutely LOVE!! Would also be curious about athleta. This has me wanting to break down for a Lulu pair though…maybe a post pregnancy present 😏.
Thank you so much for doing this! I have seriously been searching for black leggings, and I keep telling my husband, “I just need to splurge on Lululemons!” Maybe this will convince him 😘
I’ve been wanting to try Lulu forever!! My sister LOVES them!! Maybe a post MCAT test reward!
Seriously needed this in my life. THANK YOU!!!!!
Thank you SO MUCH for doing this! Black legging shopping can be a nightmare!
Thank you so much for doing this! Love the fabric breakdowns and VPL scale… from 1 to 10 a window, seriously made me LOL! I got my first Lululemon Align 25 in this week and I really didn’t want to like them either. Too expensive and too much hype. Nope, I was wrong. They are amazing and like a magical unicorn fabric. Can’t get enough of them! Good luck to anyone who tries to peel them off of me to wash! Haha!!
Love this so much!!! Black leggings are a staple in my closet and now I know what to look for !😍
Great reviews! 90 Degrees are amazing! And FYI, Marshall’s and TJ’s sell them for around $15!!
I love this post, so insightful as I literally live in leggings and am always trying to find the next great pair! I never considered gap leggings but now I’m about to go on their website and order a pair yay! Also was always interested in the Nordstrom brand so that’s helpful to know they are over priced for the quality! Thanks again 🙂
Lululemon is my favorite legging brand too, sorry to say it! In the past I’ve been able to buy them off Poshmark for relatively cheap (I think one of the pairs I bought for $30 and they’re my favorite pair). <3
I love this review! I am shopping the lily 30% sale and used your 2019 review to help with sizing. So useful. I seriously love my lululemon leggings. Got my first pair about 2 months ago and wow! I have since bought 2 more pairs! I am literally living in them all the time during quarantine. I am on kiawah island with family and literally seem to keep getting sunburnt. So the leggings feel amazing.
Oh I do agree! Lululemon is so expensive. But I must say, I’d rather have 2 pairs of really nice leggings than 5 or 6 just okay ones. Thanks for your solid reviews!
I must say, LuluLemon is definitely my fave & my go-to legging. I have a thin material legging that’s almost like a dri-fit, and i also have one that has a thicker fabric. Both are great!! Even their thicker material is super breathable! And, obv my fav part is that the high waistbands don’t roll! 😍 I will always be dedicated to Lulu!
I never understood the hype with lulus either until my sister in law bought me a pair for my birthday this year and i LOVE them
Thank you for going into such detail with these leggings! I bought the Proflex Leggings from Amazon and live the fabric and feel but I am so short and wish there was a shorter option
💕 appreciate your time in making this
Great review! I have wanted to try the Lululemon pair for a very long time, but just couldn’t take the plunge. After your review, I think I might just have to finally treat myself! Always looking for a great pair of leggings and I really enjoyed how in-depth your review was. Thank you!!
Wow! This blog post couldn’t have came at a better time!! All of the leggings that I have previously owned have become too worn and ended up ripping, etc…. so, THANK YOU! So helpful! 💛
This showdown was so helpful! I have heard about the Lululemon leggings forever but have been hesitant about the price. Good to know that they are worth it!
I ordered the Old Navy ones this weekend! Can’t wait to try them. 🙂
I also own different brands of leggings but my favorite are the lululemon 😉the best quality
I usually love the Old Navy leggings! I want to try the Aerie brand, but probably a different style since they didn’t stay up well for you. Thanks for sharing!
I love aerie leggings but agree they are usually veryyy high waisted! I have never tried lululemon but have heard amazing things!
I was so excited for this showdown and it did not disappoint! I wear the Old Navy Elevate Compression leggings because they’re definitely more affordable than Lulu, but this might have encouraged me to finally splurge!
Thank you! I will have to try the Old Navy leggings! I would have done the Aerie over those. I agree my Zella are okay but not my favorite.
The lulu lemon ones and zella look amazing. So do the old navy! Tough pick.