REVIEW: Trying on Leggings for Workout at Lululemon, Alo, and Athleta

Alo Yoga is a high-end athleisure brand that was originally known for creating sleek, performance-driven activewear designed to suit yogis in the studio and in everyday life. Nowadays, the brand sells everything from leggings and athleisure to casual dresses and trousers.

I used to visit my nearby Alo store regularly just to window shop, so I figured it would be a good place to start in my search for a great pair of leggings.

Although the brand’s line of trendy clothing is impressive (I wish I could buy it all, honestly), there were only a few true athletic options in-store. Between cargo jackets, matching sweatsuits, and accessories, it was a challenge just to find a single pair of workout-appropriate leggings.

Eventually, I spotted the high-waist Airlift leggings in the limited edition “clover green” color. At first glance, I was drawn to the soft and shiny material, made from the brand’s high-compression performance fabric (82% polyester and 18% elastane).

When I tried these leggings on, I could immediately tell they were flattering and well constructed. I loved the thick waistband and the fact that there were no side seams.

However, they seemed to run a bit small. Plus, the compression element eliminated some of the stretchiness, comfort, and breathability, which are priorities for me during workouts.

If I were to buy these, I’d most likely wear them for athleisure looks during casual outings, like running errands or going on coffee dates, rather than for exercising. For that reason, I couldn’t justify the $134 price tag.

Lululemon is a premium athletic brand known for its soft fabrics and flattering designs.

I own a few pairs of Lululemon leggings that I bought at least five years ago, and I still wear them semi-regularly even after countless hot yoga classes, hikes, and gym sessions. So, I wanted to see if the quality was still up to par.

Luckily, there were tons of options available in-store, including a full wall of leggings. I grabbed a sage-green pair of the Wunder Train no-line high-rise tight leggings to try on.

When I put these on, I could tell immediately how soft the material (made from 77% nylon and 23% Lycra elastane) was.

The material was pretty thick, similar to the version from Alo, but it was still flexible. These felt more suitable for various kinds of workouts.

I loved the actual design, too, especially because there was no center seam down the middle and an extra-thick waistband. They looked flattering on me, and I would feel confident wearing these at the gym or for casual outings.

These leggings cost $108, which is definitely an investment. But considering that my other pairs have stood the test of time, I debated purchasing these as well.

Before choosing a favorite, I wanted to try one more store with a strong reputation. Even though I don’t own anything from Athleta, I’ve admired the brand for a while because of its many modern and colorful styles.

The store I visited had tons of options available and was solely dedicated to activewear and athleisure. It was well organized by style and easy to find what I was looking for.

I picked up the Elation ultra-high-rise leggings in the shadow-gray shade and brought them to the fitting room.

My first impression after putting these on was that they look and feel almost exactly like a pair of $30 leggings I own from Amazon.

That said, the material was incredibly soft and comfortable. Made from 75% nylon and 25% Lycra elastane, it was stretchy and would work well for most workouts.

However, the fit wasn’t as flattering as the other pairs I tried on. It did have a thick waistband, but there was a thin band of elastic around the top of it, which emphasized and dug into my midsection.

At $89, these were the most affordable of the three pairs I tried on. Plus, I later saw them on sale for $70 online. I’d be interested to try on some other Athleta styles, but honestly, this pair didn’t win me over.

Overall, my favorite pair was from Lululemon, and I can understand how the brand has maintained its popularity over time.

In addition to the comfortable material and flattering silhouette, I know from experience that this pair of leggings would likely hold up well over time.