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The exact right detail can be the difference between having an excellent workout or a subpar one.
Some people might need a buttery soft material so that let go in yoga class.
Others might only feel ready to sweat once theyve donned their favorite pair of brightly colored capris.
Others need a pair ofworkout shortsthat dont ride up during their kickboxing class.
All of the winners listed here are new, released between October 2018 and September 2019.
Below are the 22 best workout leggings, capris, and shorts that truly passed our high standards.
No matter what your workout, youll find something that works for you.
And see to it you check out the rest of our 2019 Fitness Awardsright here.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors.
If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Quotes have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Our reviewers were soldseveral gave them the highest rating possible.
One reviewer says:I love that the fabric was very light, very soft, and stretchy.
Even during the summer, I didnt overheat wearing them.
The waistband stayed put the entire day and didnt dig into my gut.
I wore them for about eight or nine hours straight.
The high waistband was well constructed and stayed in place!
I hardly had to readjust during the entire day.
I will absolutely be wearing these again!
These leggings from Spanx won in all aspects of this athleisure trifecta.
In fact, several of our reviewers loved them so much that they gave them the highest possible rating.
No ripping sound as I put them on, but I did have to roll them on a bit.
And they pass the squat test on my end!
I am obsessed with these leggings, although I would consider sizing up next time.
Since theyre Spanx, they are meant to have a certain amount of compression.
One reviewer says:Fabric is quality, supersoft, comfortable, and flattering.
You could easily wear these to the gym or on a date.
Its high waisted too, so everything is covered.
Design-wise, there were also some really nice stitched seams that broke up the fabric.
These Athleta tights were a favorite of our testers for many different kinds of exercise.
They also come in sizes up to 3X.
One reviewer says:These are basically my new favorite leggings for every workout!
Ive since worn them for cycling classes and just wandering around the city.
Our reviewers loved their high-quality feel at a great price point.
), and stayed up while working out.
They feel amazing on while sweating, however the sweat did show through on the color I tested.
These leggings come in exclusively plus sizes: 1X4X.
One reviewer says:For the price, these are a great value.
These are the best $29 activewear capri pants that Ive found.
The fit is true to size.
These pants advertise that they are compression, but I didnt think they had a great deal of compression.
I would absolutely recommend these, and Ive put them back on for my own usage outside of testing!
I think these would be great for running outdoors during cooler temps, or just running errands.
Theyre very simple in designall black everythingwhich I actually think is great because it means theyre so versatile.
And of course, I love the high waistband, which stayed put throughout my workout.
Also, definitely size up.
They also come in a range of sizing, from XXS to 3XL.
One reviewer says:These are the best feeling workout pants Ive ever worn!
The material was supersoft and fit my body perfectly.
The high waistband on these pants is what made them so great for me.
I received the camo pattern, which I was happy to see.
Usually plus-size athletic wear has terrible patterns or two to three dark plain colors.
It was refreshing to see something new for the plus-size community!
The sweatier they got, the better they felt.
I would wear them again, and I wish I had more.
One reviewer says:The fabric is a compression fabric thats not too constricting and very soft.
They held up, no sweat showed, and they dried quickly as well.
The high waistband is really comfortable and doesnt feel constricting.
The zippered pockets are cool, and I like that the zippers arent very noticeable.
I would definitely wear them again.
They definitely are not see through and held up great during washing and drying!
I absolutely loved the amount of pockets and the fact that they had zippers.
These held up great through sweat, mud, and rock scrapes!
The sweat didnt show through and didnt feel overly hot even though I normally wear thinner leggings to hike.
They mentioned that these leggings run large, so if youre between sizing, we suggest sizing down.
One reviewer says:These felt so luxe!
I knew I was going to love them before I even put them on.
you’ve got the option to feel the quality as soon as you slide them on.
They are squat-proof and surprisingly stayed up without a tie in the waist band.
They are a bit more polished looking in style, which I loved!
As our testers noted, these tend to run small, so if youre between sizes, size up.
They are not see-through at all!
But LMAO: These were hard to get on!
Once on, they fit absolutely perfectly, but getting them on is half the workout.
I LOVE the super-high waistband, definitely appreciate that.
Maybe even some fall hiking!
They also come in a nice range of sizes, from XS to 5XL.
One reviewer says:The fabric is pretty nice, soft, and has some thickness.
Theres also a nice stretch, and they passed the squat test with flying colors!
The high waistband is really nice.
I also really like the idea of the side pocket (though I didnt use it, lol).
These leggings were super easy to get on and off, and Id definitely wear them again.
One reviewer says:The fabric on these is stretchy and super comfy, definitely yoga-pants level.
They slipped on easily and sit really comfortably around my waist.
Ive washed and dried them and theyve held up so far.
The waistband is high, which I love!
We liked JoyLabs 7/8 high-waisted version for a sweaty cycling class.
One reviewer says:These leggings are true to size, but maybe potentially small because of the compression.
Sweat dried quickly on these.
I would definitely wear them again!
One reviewer says:I love the fabric!
The material of the bike shorts is supersoft and comfortable and best of allno uncomfortable riding up during workouts.
Still, these will be a mainstay in my summer workout wardrobe.
One reviewer says:Every single part of these shorts felt like they were made for comfort and performance.
The waistband is a buttery soft thick material that doesnt dig into your skin.
The shorts themselves are a thinner, but still soft-to-the-touch material that breathes amazingly well.
And the ends of the shorts have a grippy material that keeps them in place without squeezing too hard!
They were honestly a joy to wear!
They have about a million pockets that could fit a phone, keys, or a wallet.
I also really love the grippy part of the shorts!
Not having to constantly pull them back down is genuinely freeing!
Overall, I loved wearing these shorts and will definitely wear them again.
Im really into the color-blocking pattern!
I also loved the lengthmy thighs were not chafing while hiking and sweatingvery important to me!
(Size tested: small)
Buy it:$65,outdoorvoices.com
Best Joggers:L.L.
One reviewer says:I cant believe how soft and cozy these joggers are!
I literally havent stopped wearing them since I first started testing them a few weeks back.
I do think these run pretty large, but honestly thats fine with me.
One reviewer says:The material is soft and light, and they seem pretty durable.
These joggers are great for hanging out around the house, and I like that they are a crop.
The waistband is pretty tall, which is part of why I think they fit a little larger.
I will def be wearing these on the regularespecially when home relaxing!
(Size tested: XL)
Sizes:XL6X
Buy it:$20,additionelle.com
