Best yoga pants 2024: breathable, flexible and comfortable options

Find the best yoga pants in 2024, so you can move, stretch and pose in style and comfort

best yoga pants: two women doing yoga in Sweaty Betty yoga pants
(Image credit: Sweaty Betty)

Love yoga? Then you need the best yoga pants that will stay in place, keep you covered, flex with your body and be breathable enough when things get sweaty. Just to avoid any confusion, we should point out here that when we say the best yoga pants, we mean pants in the American sense; that is, leggings, trousers and shorts, and not underwear. You'll have to sort yourself out in that regard!

A great attraction of yoga is that you don't really need to invest in much to get started. Of course, you'll need one of the best yoga mats, and it helps to get some dedicated yoga clothing, because your choice of gear can make a big difference to how enjoyable and successful you find your practice. Pick the wrong clothes and your yoga session can be uncomfortable, awkward and distracted.

Whether you opt for sweatpants, leggings or harem pants you should get on well, as they all allow you a full range of movement. You might prefer short yoga pants for a cooler practice, but you'll need to be a little mindful about coverage because obviously nobody wants to accidentally flash their crotch to the class.

We've picked out a selection of the best yoga pants to help you choose with confidence, and if you're busy putting together your yoga setup, we have other guides that can help as well, including the best yoga blocks (for getting into tricky poses, and deepening stretches) and the best yoga towels (these lay on your mat, to add a sweat-absorbing, grippy layer). But for now, let's take a look at the best yoga pants you can buy today in 2024.

Best yoga pants ranking 2024

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BAM poise Bamboo Yoga pants, modelled by three womenT3 Best Buy badge

(Image credit: BAM)

1. BAM Poise Bamboo Yoga pants

The best yoga pants for most people

Specifications

Type: yoga pants
Sizes: UK8-16
Colour: black, pink, burgundy
Material: bamboo jersey

Reasons to buy

+
Loose, unrestrictive fit
+
Soft, eco-friendly fabric
+
Option of high or low waist

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the most exciting colour range
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Don't offer any support

The best yoga pants you can buy right now are the BAM Poise. This brand specialises in activewear made from bamboo, and these are made from bamboo jersey, which is a blend of bamboo viscose, organic cotton and a bit of elastane for stretch. It's soft, stretchy, and boasts some strong eco credentials to boot.

In my tests, I found them ultra-comfy and unrestrictive. There's a deep waistband that's designed to hug your waist, and which can either be worn super-high or folded down. I found it fitted slightly on the large size, which might be a blessing because the size range isn't hugely inclusive – it tops out at a UK16. A loose fit on the leg means you can stretch any way you like without having to readjust, while the ankle cuffs ensures these yoga pants aren't flapping around and also enables you to easily adjust the length by pulling them up or down. The fabric is soft and breathable, although be aware that it doesn't offer any support – if you want some gentle compression, look at some of the leggings in this list instead.

Women wearing two different colours of the Lululemon Instill High-Rise Tight 25" yoga pantsT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Lululemon)

2. Lululemon Instill High-Rise Tight 25"

The best premium yoga pants

Specifications

Type: leggings
Sizes: US0-14
Colour: black, navy, brown, violet, gold
Material: 74% Nylon, 26% Lycra

Reasons to buy

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Absurdly comfortable
+
Flex like a second skin
+
Flattering cut and matte finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Not cheap
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No drawstring

If you have a higher budget, you'll struggle to do better than the Lululemon Instill High-Rise Tight 25" – our pick for the best premium yoga pants. These spenny leggings are absurdly soft and extremely stretchy. We've been wearing them regularly for the past few months for a range of different yoga classes, and even in more active classes they move effortlessly with every pose, and require minimal readjusting. The high waist offers gentle compression and keeps everything in place well, and our tester didn't have issues with it rolling down (although this kind of thing will vary from person to person).  

The fabric behaves differently from any other pair of leggings we've worn – it feels almost like a very thick pair of tights (don't worry, they deliver Utkatasana-proof coverage). In fact, they're so comfy you can almost forget you're wearing them. The matte finish and high-waisted, curved cut is flattering, and although we're not a fan of all the colour options, there are navy and black versions in the mix, too. A card-sized pocket integrated into the waistband gives you somewhere to stash your gym pass but nothing else. While these didn't ride down during our tests, we'd also prefer if these came with a drawstring built in, so there's the option to adjust the fit it needs be. But these are minor complaints in what is an outstanding pair of yoga leggings.

Marks and Spencer Goodmove Go Balance yoga leggings, front and back viewsT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Marks and Spencer)

3. Marks & Spencer Goodmove Go Balance yoga leggings

Best budget yoga leggings

Specifications

Type: leggings
Sizes: UK6-24
Colour: black, magenta camo print
Material: 78% polyester (including recycled), 22% elastane

Reasons to buy

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Great value
+
Stretchy and squat-proof coverage
+
Made with recycled materials

Reasons to avoid

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Wrap style waistband might not suit all
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Limited colour options

If you want decent leggings for under £40, head to Marks & Spencer. This high street favourite has a range of leggings that aren't a world away from Sweaty Betty's finest, but cost half the price. Our pick for the best budget yoga pants are the Go Balance leggings from the M&S Moodmove line.

There are no bells and whistles here – they lack pockets and a drawstring, and there's only one or perhaps two colour options – but they are a great basic option with a high waist, four-way stretch, and squat-proof, matte, blackout fabric. They're also made using a percentage of recycled polyester. The one minor design flourish – a crossover waistband – has proved a little divisive, with some reviewers saying they'd prefer a regular flat waistband. However, most reviewers praise these for being soft, flexible, comfy and great value.

Man wearing Alo Yoga 7" UNITY 2-IN-1 SHORtsT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Alo)

4. Alo Yoga 7" 2-in-1 shorts

The best men's yoga pants

Specifications

Type: shorts
Sizes: S-XXL
Colour: various
Material: Lightweight woven shorts, poly spandex jersey briefs

Reasons to buy

+
Coverage in any pose
+
4-way stretch for flexibility
+
Drawstring and zip pockets

Reasons to avoid

-
May run small
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Pricey option

While they're suitable for almost any kind of workout, Alo Yoga's 2-in-1 shorts are an excellent choice for yoga. A clingy, compression under-layer combined with looser shorts over the top offer complete coverage in any pose. Those shorts are made with 4-way stretch fabric for maximum flexibility, too. A comfy elasticated waistband should ensure nothing falls down, and there's a drawstring for added peace of mind.

Invisible zip pockets in the front and back give you somewhere to securely stash your phone and keys on the way to your workout. These aren't cheap, but they do come extremely well reviewed, with customers praising the quality, comfort and fit, especially for yoga. In fact, the only real complaints are around sizing – it looks like these run small. 

Two women wearing Yogamatters Eco Yoga Shorts

(Image credit: Yogamatters)

5. Yogamatters Eco Yoga Shorts

The best yoga shorts

Specifications

Type: shorts
Sizes: UK8-16
Colour: black, blue, green, pink
Material: organic cotton, Modal fibre and Lycra

Reasons to buy

+
Loose fit allows free movement
+
Leg bands preserve dignity
+
Super comfy and unrestrictive

Reasons to avoid

-
Look a bit like a giant nappy
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Show sweat

If you find leggings restrictive, how about the Yogamatters Eco Yoga Shorts? Typically, shorts aren't that well suited for yoga, because the tighter ones tend to ride up (just us?) while the looser ones come with a very real danger of flashing your crotch to fellow yogis in certain poses. These address the problem by opting for a cut that has close-fitting, wide and stretchy cuffs on the legs and waist, while everything in between is roomy and voluminous. An unfortunate down-side of that style is that it does, at some angles, resemble nothing so much as a big nappy. 

Despite that, we're big fans of these short yoga pants. They require zero readjustment, are ultra comfy and unrestrictive, and we found the feeling of practicing in bare legs very freeing. There are two big pockets within the balloon-style legs, although we wouldn't want to put anything valuable in them, and Yogamatters has eschewed labels in favour of printed info so there's nothing scratchy to irritate your skin. We also applaud Yogamatters' eco-conscious and ethical ethos. Be aware though, the lighter colours do show sweat. 

Sweaty Betty Super Sculpt Sustainable gym leggingsT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Sweaty Betty)

6. Sweaty Betty Super Sculpt Sustainable yoga leggings

The best yoga pants from Sweaty Betty

Specifications

Type: leggings
Sizes: XXS-XXL (UK6-20)
Colour: various
Material: recycled polyester and elastane

Reasons to buy

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Bum-sculpting fit
+
Sustainable materials
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Available as cropped, 7/8 or full length

Reasons to avoid

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Too clingy for some tastes
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Not cheap

Our top pick from Sweaty Betty is the Super Sculpt yoga leggings range. This brand is a firm activewear favourite – chances are you've spotted some of its prints at your gym already – so you know you're getting a quality product for that slightly premium price tag. These particular yoga pants are 'high compression', with a particular emphasis on giving you a pert looking bum. Ideal for those who like to feel they're supported and a little sucked in during their practice, but not so good for those who want something that feels more loose and free.

The high waist helps keep them firmly in place, they're available in full, 7/8 or cropped lengths to suit your preference, and the fabric uses 17 recycled plastic bottles, so there's a nod to sustainability there too. There's a flat side pocket on the leg that can be handy for popping a phone in when you're on the go, too. These used to be available in a range of snazzy prints, but last time we checked it was plain colours only, which is a shame. 

Nike Yoga Luxe 7/8 Infinalon Leggings

(Image credit: Nike)

7. Nike Yoga Dri-FIT Luxe 7/8 Infinalon Leggings

The best multi-use yoga leggings

Specifications

Type: leggings
Sizes: XS-XL (UK4-22)
Colour: dark grey
Material: nylon, elastane and polyester

Reasons to buy

+
More inclusive size range
+
Super high waist
+
Extremely comfy

Reasons to avoid

-
Fabric can snag easily
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No drawstring or pockets

If you want a pair of general-use leggings that'll see you happily to a yoga class, the Nike Yoga Luxe pants might be a good choice. These combine an ultra high waist with a 7/8 leg, which bodes well for staying up and in place. The size range is much more inclusive that many of the yoga pants on our list, and the slightly cropped leg length means more petite yogis can wear these as full-length pants without extra fabric ruching at the bottom.

They're made from Nike's 'Infinalon', which is buttery soft, squat-proof, and designed to deliver just the right level of supportive compression. They also have a special treatment designed to wick sweat away from the body. A couple of potential flaws to be aware of: a few reviews commented that the fabric can ball up between the thighs, and a few also found they didn't stay up reliably. Before you buy, check our Nike discount codes page to make sure you're not missing a deal.

How to choose the best yoga pants: FAQs

Are yoga pants and leggings the same thing?

Yoga pants and leggings aren't exactly the same thing, but there is some overlap in how the terms are used. Yoga pants are designed specifically for practicing yoga in, and will often be used to refer to a more harem-style pant (with loose legs and crotch, ankle cuffs and a wide waistband). In contrast, leggings are those tight, stretchy pants you can wear for any gym class, or indeed outside of the gym. Colloquially, however, some people will use the term 'yoga pants' to mean 'leggings', especially when talking about them in a fashion sense. Which confuses things rather. Retailers will also sometimes use the term 'yoga pants' just to tell you that a pair of leggings is suitable for doing yoga in.

Should yoga pants be tight or loose?

It's up to you! With tight yoga pants / leggings, you don't have to deal with excess fabric, which can get in the way in some poses, and you can also wear this style of pants for any kind of workout. Some tight yoga pants are designed to deliver a slight feeling of compression, which can be reassuring as you move around. On the flip side, some people feel more comfortable in looser, harem-style yoga pants. Whichever style you go for, make sure they fit snugly around the waist, or they'll be rolling down every five minutes and disrupting your practice. 

Bethan Girdler-Maslen
Home Editor

Beth is Home Editor for T3, looking after style, living and wellness. From the comfiest mattresses to what strange things you can cook in an air fryer, Beth covers sleep, yoga, smart home, coffee machines, grooming tools, fragrances, gardening and much more. If it's something that goes in your house, chances are Beth knows about it and has the latest reviews and recommendations!


Having always been passionate about writing, she’s written for websites, newspapers and magazines on a variety of topics, from jewellery and culture, to food and telecoms. You can find her work across numerous sites, including Wedding Ideas Magazine, Health & Wellbeing, The Bristol Post, Fashion & Style Directory, TechRadar, CreativeBloq and more. In her spare time, Beth enjoys running, reading, baking and attempting craft projects that will probably end in disaster!

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