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In the year of our Lord 2025, no wardrobe is complete without a pair of black leggings.
Photos by Lara Kramer, Abbey Stone, Erica Sloan / Collage by Laneen Wells
But when it comes to options for black leggings, the limit does not exist.
Lounging leggings, meanwhile, may include cotton or wool blends.
Extra features
Do you need a pocket to keep your phone physically attached to your body at all times?
A drawstring to keep your leggings waistband tight?
Or will you be running outside and need a pair with a zippered compartment for your keys and ID?
We also considered past winners fromSELFs Activewear Awards.
Shop the best black leggings
In a sea of black leggings, these are prime catches.
These are my everything leggings!
Theyre comfortable AF, slimming, and they actually stay up during runs!
I literally have 25 pairs, and theyre the only bottoms Ill do races in, one tester said.
Theyre lighter than air, endlessly stretchy, and truly a joy to wear.
This pair is made from the brands Everlux fabric, which is a blend of sweat-wicking nylon and Lycra.
when I wear them.
These are perfection, said one tester, who wears a size 2X.
They did not move.
The leggings are high-waisted and cover my entire tummy as a plus-size woman.
Where have these leggings been all my life?
And her top tights for strength training are the Under Armour Meridian Leggings.
The material is so smooth and light; it doesnt feel constricting, she says.
That being said, These are absolutely squat-proof, she promises (a must when youre lifting).
Bonus: UA reviewers say these make their butts look great.
She adds: Theyre easy to slip on and when I sit down, they dont roll.
Can you exercise in these?
The fabric is sweat-wicking, and our tester says she was comfortable wearing them during an intense workout.
Made of 90% cotton, theyre a bit thicker and have less give than your typical workout leggings.
But Pasternak and reviewers agree that the material feels high quality, especially for the $60 price tag.
