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11 best Nike leggings for every type of workout: Shop now from £26
Your full guide
If you're looking for the best Nike gym leggings for your workout, then you're in the right place. The brand – that boasts athletes like Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Mo Farah in their ranks – creates workout gear that technically goes the distance, without amping up the price tag to crazy levels.
And yes, we recognise that here at WH we are perhaps more fluent in the best gym leggings than the average person but we do still know the feeling of being totally overwhelmed by choice and not knowing where to start. Are you after something in a cropped fit or full length? Are pockets essential? Is a super high rise waist better than a mid-rise? Would seamless be more your style than something with technical but seam-dependent construction? So. Many. Questions.
A quick note before we start: if you've come across this edit and you're actually looking for the best running leggings, the best leggings with pockets or the best high-waisted gym leggings, we've got you covered there, too. But, if you're a paid-up member of the Nike fan club, read on for the 11 best pairs of leggings you can shop right now.
Pros
- Non-sheer fabric
Cons
There's nothing like a silky-smooth pair of yoga leggings, and Nike's Dri-FIT Luxe dont' disappoint. Made with Infinalon sweat-wicking fabric, these have the ultimate premium feel. Plus, curved princess seams are designed to move with you while you flow through your poses. These are gently compressive, while still being strong yet lightweight.
Best for: Yoga
The Nike Dri-FIT One are some of the top best-selling leggings. And for good reason: they're lightweight and buttery-soft; never sheer; and hug you firmly with high-waisted support. Wear these anywhere, from training to HIIT to the weekend dog walk.
Best for: Training, versatile for all activities
Pros
- Waistband can be worn up for support or folded down
Cons
Nike's maternity range created quite the buzz when it launched, and these leggings remain highly-rated. One mum commented in their review, "they seem to expand with your body," which will be thanks to intentional zonal fabric across the waist. AKA, they're designed to stretch and contract with your changing body, which is pretty darn brilliant for mummas-to-be. These are soft and breathable with minimal seams, and comfy Dri-FIT fabric.
Best for: Exercise during pregnancy
Pros
- Available in sizes 1X-3X
Cons
If you're after silky-soft, lightly compressive running leggings, look no further than Nike's Epic Luxe. A mid-rise waistband offers good support in the lower abdomen area, and these have a handy zip pocket on the lower back. Lower calf perforations allow for some extra air flow, too.
Best for: Running
Pros
- Lightweight, soft fabric that's never sheer
Cons
The beautifully soft Nike One Luxe leggings are the brand's top rec for cycling. Why? This pair is made from super-smooth, lightweight fabric that won't make you overheat, while still providing full coverage that's never sheer. They're mid-rise, full-length, and even have three hidden pockets so you can bring your locker key and phone out to your bike with you. Choose from black, khaki green, or this soft pink colour.
Best for: Spin class, cycling
Pros
- Snug-fitting high rise waistband won't fall down
Cons
Nike Pro 365 leggings are ace all-rounders - they can handle squats, lunges, or your best moves at the ballet barre. There are mesh ventilation panels over the calves to keep you cool, and the high rise elasticated waistband won't let you down. PLus, these are made with partially recycled materials.
Best for: Hiit, gym sessions
Pros
- Soft knit fabric
Cons
Calling all barre and zumba lovers: these soft knit Nike Sportswear leggings are what you want. They have a tight, body-hugging feel with a high waist, plus sweat-wicking technology to keep you dry while you plié away. We're into the cosy-feeling fabric that won't go see-through, and the bold allover logo print.
Best for: Ballet barre class, dance, zumba
Pros
- Contoured waistband with v-shaped back seam
Cons
Nike One leggings are a comfy, everyday pair of leggings that can take you from yoga to errands to a gym sesh with ease. The fabric is not sheer (so it passes the squat test), and there are two hidden pockets in the waistband. Choose from three colours in cooling Dri-FIT fabric.
Best for: versatile for any workout
Pros
- 3 built-in pockets
Cons
These babies are designed with runners in mind, from the draw-string waistband to plenty of storage pockets. (There's a zip pocket on the back, a phone-sized hip pocket, and a small drop-in key pocket inside the waistband. Score.) This pair has a mid-rise waist and a 7/8 length, and is made with gloriously sweat-wicking Dri-FIT fabric. Available in green or grey printed patterns.
Best for: Running
Pros
- Non-sheer fabric
Cons
If high-rise leggings leave you too hot and sweaty around your mid-section, pick up a pair of these mid-rise capri leggings. Nike bills them as being suitable for anything from HIIT to general training. (Full disclosure: we'll also be wearing these out on our big weekend food shop.) Plus, they're crafted from at least 50% recycled materials.
Best for: HIIT, active recovery
Pros
- Flyvent Waistband includes stretch mesh for ventilation
Cons
These specialty leggings are designed with football in mind, but would suit any active sport or class. They'll move and stretch while you kick, sprint, and jump, without sagging down. Plus, there's strategic sweat-wicking fabric in the areas that heat up the most, so you'll stay cool as a cucumber. Plus, you can show off your team colours.
Best for: Football, active team sports
Maddy Alford is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK, covering fashion content online and in print. Maddy specialises in shopping galleries and first-person reviews of the best fashion buys, from jeans and jewellery to wedding dresses, gymwear, and winter coats. She also writes op-eds on on pop culture, viral fashion moments, travel journalism, fitness, and the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with style. Maddy is also a fashion stylist who has worked on over 100 photoshoots at Hearst, including those starring Raye, Niall Horan, and Lena Dunham. Previously, she has worked in fashion PR and e-commerce, including stints at ELLE US and UK, Net-a-Porter, InStyle, and Time Out New York. Maddy has ten years of experience in the fashion industry in both London and New York City, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is passionate about second-hand shopping, inclusive fashion, running on Regent's Canal, and finding London's cosiest pubs.
Abigail is WH’s former fashion assistant who joined the team after graduating with a MA in Journalism at City, University of London. She’s a journalist and activewear enthusiast who takes the quest to find the perfect pair of high-waisted gym leggings very seriously. While she's not working, she can usually be found attempting over-ambitious recipes on a weeknight and planning how she could become the next Nigella (in her dreams).
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