Best High Waisted Leggings 2023

Whether you’re planning to exercise, lounge or just run errands, leggings are a key staple in any wardrobe. High waisted leggings, in particular, offer the benefit of compression and support. This can be helpful from a shapewear perspective—for accentuating your silhouette and smoothing your midsection—as well as for comfort. The best high waisted leggings prevent jiggle during workouts, hit at your natural waist instead of the hips and are made for a variety of activities.

The best high waisted leggings balance compression with flexibility for an ultra comfortable fit.

In order to find the very best options, I considered a variety of design features, fabrics and fits. I landed on eight favorites, based on my personal experience as a runner, hiker, yogi and mom of two, as well as the opinions from experts and reviews. If you’re in the market for a new pair of high waisted leggings, here's what I highly recommend.

Girlfriend Collective

Sizes: XXS-6XL | Colors: Black, Ivory, Midnight, Moss, Plum, Earth | Materials: 79% recycled plastic bottles, 21% Spandex

Girlfriend Collective stand out for making soft, sturdy activewear that's both durable and flexible, which is no easy feat. Whether in yoga class or on a run, their top-rated High-Rise Legging offers support with a wide waistband that doesn't cut into your stomach. The leggings also wick sweat away quickly, making them cool and comfortable to wear all day.

Amazon

Sizes: XS-3XL | Colors: 20+ total, including Black and Maroon | Materials: 77% polyester, 23% spandex

With an average rating of 4.6 stars and more than 55,000 reviews on Amazon, IUGA leggings are worth the hype. They’re an under $25-option with a high-rise, wide waistband built to control your tummy, and made to be worn in everyday life, as well as in the gym or studio. Reviewers note that these fit "like a dream." They are "extremely flattering, holding you in the places you want to be held in without being so tight that you can't breathe."

Beyond Yoga

Sizes: XXS-4X | Colors: 15 total, including Black and Grey | Materials: 87% polyester, 13% elastane

I’ve owned the Beyond Yoga Spacedye Leggings for over five years, and they’re still going strong. They’re my favorite high waisted compression leggings for a few reasons: The 5-inch waistband, which rests along your stomach, is wide and made with a double-layer of fabric to compress your lower belly without rolling during high-movement activities. They’re also soft, wick sweat well and stay odor-free. The true test: I wore these leggings during my postpartum months, and they provided the support and comfort I needed.

Spanx

Sizes: XS-3X | Color: Black | Materials: 100% recycled EcoCare nylon

Spanx is known for crushing the tummy-control game, and these leggings are no exception. The seamless waistband sits high on your hips to offer core compression without rolling or requiring constant readjusting, and the design also allows for flexibility while you exercise. Reviewers specifically call out the high quality of the recycled nylon material, which manages to sculpt but stay soft.

Lululemon

Sizes: 0-20 | Colors: 23 total, including Black, and Bone | Materials: 81% nylon, 19% Lycra elastane

Arguably the most classic option, the Lululemon Align Pant is a go-to yoga pant that's been popular for as long as it's been available. The lightweight fabric wicks sweat quickly while the thick waistband holds your belly in place, streamlining your mid-section into a sleek line. The result is a stylish cut with proper support that serves you as well in the studio as it does on coffee runs.

Amazon

Sizes: XXS-6XL | Colors: 15 total, including Grey Sage and Black | Materials: 71% polyamide, 29% elastane

These popular leggings, which come in dozens of lengths and colors, are nearly identical to—and almost as good as—the popular Lululemon Align yoga pants, at one-third of the cost. They have well-placed pockets, a high waist that ends at your natural hips, and they’re incredibly durable. For the lower price, you may find that the fabric gets a bit see-through over time. But they’re affordable enough that you can buy another pair if that happens.

Sweaty Betty

Sizes: XXS-XXL | Colors: Black, Blue Cheetah, Black Fade, Blue Linear Shadow, Trek Green | Materials: 62% polyamide, 38% elastane

A long-time player in the athleisure game, Sweaty Betty makes reliable, high-quality leggings that hold you in while still giving you room to run. This quick-dry pair has a wide waistband and two side pockets, rather than the usual one, which are well placed but not bulky. Reviewers find these leggings particularly attractive for people with bigger thighs and a smaller waist; their sculpted construction "holds you in well" but the leggings are "still comfy."

Nike

Sizes: XS-2XL | Colors: 5 total, including Black and Cargo Khaki | Materials: 68% nylon, 32% Spandex

Designed to be firm and supportive for tough workouts, Nike's high waist leggings have a thick waistband and smooth hemline that doesn't dig into your hips. They also have six pockets to store essentials on long runs, and are squat-proof so you can also wear these for lifting and strength training sessions. If you workout and run often, these leggings—which breathe well and come in full and 7/8 lengths—are worth considering.

I’m a freelance journalist who's been writing product reviews, parenting content and more for over a decade. Before I started freelancing, I worked as a full-time editor at Wirecutter, where I reviewed and wrote about outdoor and travel products. Since then, I’ve worked on product-focused content for Reviewed, Slate, Wirecutter, Gear Patrol, REI and others. Most of my reviews these days are focused on health, the outdoors and parenting gear.

In addition to being a writer, I’m also incredibly active. I’m a mom to two tiny humans: a 3-year-old and an 8-month-old. I hike almost daily, practice yoga and pilates, run as often as I can, and spend a lot of time skiing and snowshoeing in the mountains. I’ve worn leggings as a staple in my wardrobe for years.

First, I created a list of 25-plus high waisted leggings that have been highly reviewed by both online reviewers and publications. I’ve worn almost all of the leggings on that list at one point or another, either for gear reviews or in my own life.

Next, I spoke with three experts: Carrie Pagliano, PT, a physical therapist who specializes in working with women on their pelvic health postpartum; Susan Sokolowski, PhD, a professor of product design at the University of Oregon; and Kim Mock, an avid plus-sized hiker and photographer from Colorado.

I eventually narrowed the list from 25 to eight, based on the following criteria: advice from our experts on fit and construction, user reviews and my experience, brand reputation, fabrics and versatility.

Most high waisted leggings typically feature a wide waistband that compresses your mid-section, offering a smoothing effect as well as added support through the lower stomach. They can be used for all kinds of activities, including running, hiking, cycling, yoga, barre, pilates and everyday life. Most pairs are made with moisture-wicking materials. Here's what else our experts told me about what matters most when it comes to finding the best high waisted leggings:

"You want leggings to feel supportive, but you also don't want them to slip down," says physical therapist Carrie Pagliano. Susan Sokolowski, a sports product researcher and inventor with patents for sports bras, shoes and athletic apparel—as well as founding director of and professor in the sports product design master's program at the University of Oregon—agrees, noting that a wider waistband is the ideal for a pair of high waisted leggings. That kind of waistband will provide more body coverage and support while also maintaining comfort.

It's important to note that wearing high waisted leggings is not medically necessary for most people. Despite what you may read, Pagliano says that compression garments are trending at the moment for postpartum parents for reasons associated with comfort, not medical necessity. "A lot of it is that there's a desire to feel like you’re containing that postpartum waterbed of a belly," she says. There are currently no randomized controlled trials about the benefits of wearing postpartum compression garments.

Furthermore, high waisted leggings shouldn't contribute to pelvic floor or lower abdominal issues either, says Pagliano. This is another common rumor you may hear, with people feeling concerned that a pair of leggings might not serve them well postpartum, especially if they have conditions like prolapse. But again, this is more about your own comfort than any medical mandate. "If you don't like how they feel, don't wear them," Pagliano says, adding that some people do feel more sensitive to the pressure of compressive garments following a birth, surgery or injury and may want to wait several months to reintroduce these items back into their wardrobes.

When you try on a new pair of high waisted leggings, make sure you can squat, lunge and do high knees without the waistline falling down. If you’re planning to practice yoga, pilates or barre in these leggings, make sure you try a few of those movements, too, as they’re the activities most prone to causing slippage.

"What I look for in a good pair of high waisted leggings is the material, first and foremost," says Kim Mock, a photographer, adventurer and plus-sized athlete, noting that the materials are key for preventing slippage.

Most high waisted leggings are made from a polyester-elastane mix, and certain brands prioritize recycled plastics to keep their creation process sustainable. Spandex –the brand name for elastane–is crucial for allowing "supple" movement, according to Sokolowski. But different fabrics may be more or less ideal depending on the activities you choose. For example, the much-loved Beyond Yoga Spacedye Leggings are made with polyester that's brushed and feels incredibly soft to the touch. This is ideal and cozy, but less breathable during a hot yoga session. By contrast, the Lululemon Align pant is made with nylon and Lycra, so it feels more flexible and breathable during twisty yoga practices. Either way, make sure the leggings you choose have some elastane so they remain flexible. Cotton is generally a no-go because it's not breathable or flexible.

"I always pick leggings with pockets," says Mock. Leggings with pockets allow you to store your phone, keys and maybe some cash or a credit card, during a workout. Some leggings have pockets along the waistband while others feature pockets along the side of the leggings. Most online reviewers preferred side pockets. Another nice-to-have feature includes ankle zippers for extra ventilation.