The Dos and Don’ts of Buying Workout Leggings

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One cannot have an efficient workout while wearing the wrong clothing. The shirt has to fit just right, the shorts can’t be too short, the leggings must be comfortable. There are so many workout brands available, and it can be hard to know which brand is right for your workout, but I’m here to inform you of the best, and worst, leggings for your workout.

For women, the question is shorts or leggings? Shorts are pleasant to wear in hotter weather, but they can cause chafing, which can ruin any workout.

Do Buy… Gymshark

A brand out of the United Kingdom has blown up in the United States among fitness Instagram accounts such as @kk_fit_. Gymshark is known for their fun patterns and two-piece matching sets. The prices of the leggings ($30 to $60) are much cheaper than other popular fitness brands such as Lululemon or Athleta.

“The fact that they’re fitted allows me to perform more movement without worrying about pulling them up. They are super flexible too,” Erika Waterhouse, a sophomore letters and sciences major, said.

Waterhouse wears her Gymshark leggings for every kind of activity but prefers them for lifting. The flexibility allows her to achieve any range of motion.

Waterhouse’s favorite Gymshark leggings are the Camo Seamless, which come in five different colors and are high-waisted. Who doesn’t love a cute pair of high-waisted leggings?

Don’t Buy… Athleta

Athleta is a company that’s part of Gap Inc. along with Old Navy, Banana Republic and Hill City. Their legging prices rival those of Lululemon, which is a fan favorite among workout women.

Waterhouse bought a pair of Athleta leggings and was not pleased with the results.

“They don’t feel bad, but I always have to pull them up during my workout. I’m constantly distracted by them sliding and falling down,” Waterhouse said.

Do Buy… Lululemon

Lululemon is a favorite for a variety of workouts. With five different collections available, there’s sure to be a pair for whichever activity you want to complete. They have the option on their website to filter the search, depending on what activity you’re looking to buy.

Caroline Guterres, the owner of the @caros_fitsta Instagram account, prefers the Lululemon Align leggings.

“They’re fitted so well and never fall down even while running sprints or doing a HIIT workout,” Guterres, a sophomore biology major, said. “I wouldn’t say they improve my performance although I don’t have to worry about them slipping down as I workout. Definitely more for looks and comfort.”

Guterres partakes in all different kinds of workouts, including running, spin, high-intensity interval training and weight training. She prefers to exercise in leggings since they “stay in place at all times, and shorts will sometimes ride up,” Guterres said.

Annie Locke, the owner of Cyclebar Middletown Station, prefers the Wunder Under leggings. The Wunder Under collection is made for lunging, riding or flowing, making them a versatile pair of leggings, according to the Lululemon website.

“Comfort improves your workout, and I call these the dream leggings because they’re so comfortable you could sleep in them,” Locke said.

Don’t Buy… Reebok

Reebok is competitively priced with Gymshark; however, Julie Gage, a sophomore environmental science and public policy double major, argued their quality is not worth the price.

Gage, a cycling instructor at Regents Drive cycling studio at the University of Maryland, needs a pair of leggings that are going to stay up during her class, not a pair that she’s going to have to fuss over the whole time.

“I have a pair by Reebok, and they are really bad, after the first time wearing them they got really stretched out in the waistband,” Gage said. “They hinder my performance because I have to keep making sure that they are staying on my body.”

Different brands of leggings will fit each woman differently; in the end, it’s all about what makes you feel confident. Don’t get the most expensive brand because you heard they’re the best; try out a few different brands before settling on an ultimate favorite.