11 best yoga pants and leggings to support you as you stretch

Comfy, stylish and supportive, these felt like a second skin. They’re lightweight and slim-fitting, so you can move fast and free, but they offer gentle support, so you’re aware of where your lower body is and what muscles are firing up (or not). They did a brilliant job of holding in our tummy without it feeling like they were trying to squeeze out our breakfast, too.

We love the bright indigo colour, which cheered us up during early morning winter practices in the dark. Meanwhile, the material was strokably smooth, even after several washes. If we didn’t know these cost less than £40, we’d have estimated the price to be more than £100, as they performed better (in both hot and regular classes) than leggings that cost twice as much.

For the price, you’ll struggle to find a pair of leggings as good as these. They only come in black, but that’s really the only downside. They’re incredibly lightweight – so much so, we almost had to check we’d remembered to put them on. They wick away sweat and moisture brilliantly and they don’t sag, fall down or get in the way in any position.

Available in UK sizes 4 to 18, there’s a size for pretty much every yogi. Made from 95 per cent cotton, these leggings were ultra smooth to the touch, too. We were impressed by their opacity, although they’re not as compressive as some of the other pairs we tested.

If you’re looking for a pair of leggings that make you feel good about your figure as soon as you slip them on, these are the answer. Such is the support and compression offered, we felt we dropped a dress size as soon as we pulled them up over our thighs. There was also a noticeable uplift in the bottom area, as the high waist of this garment is cleverly engineered to pull everything upwards. Hidden waistband technology also flattens, making us feel more comfortable about wearing them with just a sports bra.

Sweat-wicking was a dream, making us feel super comfortable in hot classes. While we didn’t use the pockets for yoga, for fear of something slipping out during inversions, we would consider using these leggings for running. Although they’re one of the more expensive pairs we tested, the fact they’re multitasking makes up for it.

When we slipped into these and looked in the mirror, we had to take a second glance at our bottom. These leggings feature ruching just below the tailbone (in between the glutes) that accentuate the shape of our derrière and made it appear more rounded.

The leggings also felt really comfortable around the midsection, thanks to a high-ribbed waistband that offered just the right amount of support. Designed with the minimum number of seams, they were squat-proof and downward dog-proof but offered excellent freedom of movement.

These have the biggest range of sizes of any yoga leggings that we tested, with the design available from sizes 14 to 40. The waistband sits in a flattering spot, keeping everything in but without feeling too tight, and the drawstring waist is adjustable, so you can customise the fit.

On the subject of customisation, you can choose from a 26in leg or a 30in leg, making these a great option for petite people, too.

What impressed us the most about these leggings was the soft jersey fabric. These are trousers you can lounge in as well as work out in – they look good while doing both. We’re thinking of investing in two pairs – one for yoga and one for chilling.

For versatility, you can’t beat a pair of cropped leggings, as you can wear them in the summer as well as the winter (just pull up your socks slightly higher on colder days). Fully blackout and with a decent amount of stretch, these M&S leggings supported us brilliantly, from child’s pose to warrior pose and everything in between.

Made from recycled polyester, these were also one of the most eco-friendly pairs of leggings we tested, but there was no compromising on softness or comfort. They also have a wider size range compared with some other brands – going all the way up to size 24. They’re super easy to care for, too, as you can wash them up to 40C and tumble dry them.

For the ultimate in studio-to-socialising leggings, you just can’t beat Lululemon. These leggings wick sweat perfectly, so you don’t need to shower straight after class – keep these on while you grab a coffee or do brunch. The Lululemon omega logo on the top of the back waistband has become a status symbol, subtly showing you care about what you wear and are willing to pay a bit more for a flattering fit and premium fabric.

We loved that these gently caressed the tummy area, prompting us to tighten our core without digging in or feeling restrictive.

While these cost almost £90, the durable fabric washes well, so they’ll feel great for years to come. If you look at them as a long-term investment, they’re well worth the money. They come in a choice of 11 shades, so you’re guaranteed to find one to flatter your skin tone and complement other items in your sports kit collection.

Made from bamboo, these are great for both vigorous and gentle yoga sessions. The temperature-responsive fabric keeps you warm when it’s cold but cool when the heat is turned up. It’s also better than man-made fabrics when it comes to wicking sweat, and we were able to enjoy hot yoga in these without them feeling damp on our skin. We loved the way these draped around our legs, without wrinkling, as we felt they looked really flattering.

Bamboo is also an incredibly soft fabric, thanks to the smooth and round structure of its fibres. Overall, we felt the Bam yoga pants offered an exceptional level of cosiness and are the best option if you prefer loose yoga pants as opposed to tighter leggings.

In a tea rose shade of pink, these leggings earned a lot of compliments – and not just for the bright colour, as they fitted our legs perfectly without feeling too tight. In fact, there’s only 3 per cent elastane in these leggings, so they have more of a trouser-like feel.

We found them satisfyingly thick, which we enjoyed while walking to the studio during the colder months. That said, you could get away with wearing them in the summer, as the organic cotton is brilliant at wicking all moisture away from the skin. The cotton also makes these feel softer than leggings made from polyester or nylon.

The only downside is they ship directly from Italy, so allow a few days to receive them after placing your order.

These flattering yoga pants straddle being tight and restrictive and loose but baggy. They’re the yoga pants equivalent of straight-leg jeans, and are available in UK sizes 10 to 28, providing plenty of options for all shapes. You can choose from a 27in leg length aimed at petite people; a 29in short fit, or a 31in regular size. Our tester is 5ft 9in and found 31in to be the ideal length.

The elasticated waistband felt comfortable and supportive, although thinner than other options we tested. This makes them look better as an everyday pair of trousers, not just for yoga. We got away with wearing these to work with a smart top and found them so much more cosy than regular zip-fly work trousers.

We’d recommend sizing down if you’re in between sizes, as they do come up larger than expected.

Made for the great outdoors, these leggings are built to last. Got a 90-minute class? No problem – the boundless trek leggings have the magic trinity of design elements, as they’re stretchy, breathable and sweat-wicking. They’re opaque enough not to show any knicker line but they also feature a built-in gusset, so you can go underwear-free.

We tested the spice colour, which was a flattering mix of brown and berry colours and a nice alternative to a pair of plain black leggings. If you’re feeling really adventurous, the cosmic undercurrent print is a swirly mix of whites, browns and pinks to brighten up even the darkest of mornings, helping you to feel alive even before you start sun salutations. As a further bonus, we like that they’re a planet-friendlier choice, made from recycled polyester.