I tried on similar leggings at Gap, Old Navy, and Athleta. As a Pilates instructor, there was only one pair I wanted to buy.
As a Pilates instructor, I know that having a good pair of leggings is important.
I went to three stores owned by Gap Inc. — Gap, Old Navy, and Athleta — to find a new pair.
I ended up buying the Athleta leggings, which were on sale during my trip.
As a Pilates instructor, I know finding a good pair of leggings is important. After all, there's nothing worse than the uncomfortable feeling of leggings sliding down your waist during class.
But as a pear-shaped woman, finding good pants that fit snugly on my small waist and comfortably on my wider hips and bottom is challenging.
So, I decided to check out Gap, Old Navy, and Athleta — all owned by Gap Inc. — in search of the perfect high-rise, full-length black leggings. Here's how it went.
I started my search at Gap.
I began my journey on a Saturday morning at Gap, which has more than 580 stores in the US and Asia.
The displays seemed well-organized, with an assortment of sweaters and pants, but I was disappointed by the small selection of fitness apparel.
I decided to try on the GapFit high-rise Power full-length leggings and headed to the fitting room.
I wasn't a fan of the fit or feel of the Gap leggings I tried on.
When I pulled these leggings on, I noticed they were tight on my lower leg and bunched up around my ankles.
But it was the rough, inelastic fabric (made of 79% recycled polyester and 21% spandex) that steered me away from buying this pair.
In my opinion, the poor fit and stiff-feeling fabric didn't justify the price tag at the time I shopped — a steep $60.
Next, I walked over to Old Navy.
My next stop was Old Navy, which has more than 1,200 stores around the world. The location in my mall was busy but tidy on a Saturday afternoon and had a vast selection of activewear.
After some browsing, I decided to try on a pair of black high-waisted PowerSoft leggings.
I liked the Old Navy leggings but worried about how they'd hold up over time.
Old Navy's PowerSoft leggings (made of 77% polyester and 23% spandex) felt silky and stretchy. I liked that they were high-rise and made of a slimming light compression fabric. They fit to size and stayed put at the waist as I moved around.
The leggings looked great and seemed like a steal for $24, but I decided not to purchase them because the fabric felt a bit thin.
As a Pilates instructor, I wear and wash my athletic wear frequently, and I didn't think the leggings' flimsy material would withstand the overuse.
Finally, I took a trip to Athleta.
My last stop was at Athleta, which has more than 250 stores in the US and Canada.
Athleta is one of my favorite places to shop for athletic apparel — my location is typically extremely organized, and there's always a salesperson ready to help.
The Athleta leggings were my favorite.
The Elation ultra-high-rise leggings from Athleta fit perfectly, and I loved the soft but thick material (made from a blend of nylon, Lycra, recycled polyester, and elastane). The velvety garment also had a large waistband that supported and accentuated my midsection and stayed put as I moved.
The leggings cost $89, but during my visit, they were on sale for $50. Considering the high-quality fit and feel, I thought this was a great price, and I ended up buying them.
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