We are not all skinny mini’s. I wish I were honestly, because I’d rather be training now for physique than weight loss, but we all need to start somewhere. That being said, I have gone through my fair share of gym tights especially in my training journey. Obviously as I lose weight, I need to change my leggings because before long I end up having to pull them up to my ears and hook them over. This has happened often.
If you are in that transition journey like me, you’ll know that good quality gym tights cost a bucket load. $100 a pop minimum for full length tights and that’s a standard.
There are so many companies doing active wear, so many YouTubers who are spruiking their brand via clothing also that it can be difficult finding something that works for you. I’ve tested out a fair few low end and higher end labels and can safely say the gym legging struggle is real, every single day!
There are also a lot of things to consider when buying leggings: how sheer are they (because when doing squats, you don’t want your butt showing to everyone), how strong is the fabric, how high/low do they come up past the hips, how odour/sweat intensive are they, and so on.
Here are my three favourites of high, mid and low range tights available from the interwebs. (***Please note: I have not been sponsored by any company or person and these thoughts and experiences are my own***)
Running Bare $65-$110
Image Source: Running Bare Tights
Looooooooooooove this brand. Australian made and owned since the early 80’s. Their size range runs from 8-22. They have wonderful, colourful prints and different styles for different activities. I’d like the ability to search and/or filter by activity type though for the tights I am after. I bought a sale pair a couple of months back in just plain black and they’re phenomenal. True to size, high waist band, thick material but not stiff so you can’t move and no movement (as in slippage) when doing squats. They also wash really well.
When they’re on special you can pick them up from $65-$85 unless there’s a 2 for $100 deal. Sometimes you can find them a little cheaper at other online retailers (although I purchased direct from site the first time). Otherwise, at launch they’ll be RRP for $100-110.
Nike & Adidas $40-$80
Image Source: Nike Tights
I prefer Nike to Adidas personally, but I won’t pass up a pair of tights for $50 either, and if one or the other has a good deal, then I’ll likely pick it up. That being said, I’ve slotted these two into mid-range because these days you can find online retailers and even DFO outlets where you can get in season stock at reduced prices. They’re also a much larger company and mass produce these items so will generally do it a fraction cheaper anyway.
Of course, Nike does have a line where the tights are about $150-$220, but I’m not an elite enough sports person yet to need anything of that price.
Other than that, the only thing I don’t like about the Nike tights I last bought was that they were SUPER stretchy, which was great in theory, but because they had a print on them it made my thighs look like large painted logs from Narnia or the Hobbits or something. Maybe I should’ve gone a size down instead, I’m not too sure, but now they’re my bumming around tights instead of ‘wear these publicly’ tights. They also have different activity categories for their tights, activity specific fabric (keep cool, keep warm, no sweat, low odour etc) and a variety of patterns and designs.
Everlast (from Kmart) $20 & Kmart brand performance leggings
These are a good intermediary brand when you are changing tights due to weight loss. They’re good quality for the price point, come in some colourful prints and designs and wash well. It’s a bit hit and miss with the density but for the price point I’m sure you could layer a singlet underneath to cover the butt area if necessary.
Which tights are your personal fave?
That Fitology Life 
