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The Top 10 Summer Leggings That Can Stand Up to Your Sweatiest Workouts

Not a shorts fan? Not a prob.

pair of gray leggings with colorful background
Christine Giordano

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Whether you're a HIIT, yoga, or Pilates enthusiast, workout motivation can be seriously hard to muster in the thick of summer. The heat. The humidity. The beads of sweat that develop from merely crossing the street. Add in the idea of leggings and gah! But shorts aren't everyone's favorite, and if you're looking for lightweight, breathable fabrics and moisture-wicking technology, leggings might actually be your best bet. Equip your activewear drawer to handle the hottest workouts of the year with these 10 pairs of summer workout leggings, from the trainer-tested to the internet sensations.

1

Outdoor Voices Flex 7/8 Legging

Outdoor Voices Flex 7/8 Legging

For any hot workout, you'll love the moisture-wicking magic of Outdoor Voices' TeachSweat fabric. The Flex leggings, which come in three prints and colors, offer unrestricted movement and tons of flexibility. Don't get tripped up by the fabric's slightly thicker look; the cooling power is real.

2

Vuori Stride Legging

Vuori Stride Legging

Vuori's moisture-wicking, four-way stretch leggings are cool to the touch, thanks to their performance-grade nylon material. They feature an interior drawcord so they'll never slip, and a hidden zip pocket where you can stash things like your subway card or keys to keep your hands free during your workout. 

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3

Lululemon Align Pant

Lululemon Align Pant

Available in tons of fun colors and prints, these buttery soft yoga leggings also come in three different sizes, so you can tailor them to your style. The fabric is so lightweight, it's practically weightless—if you're worried about feeling constricted during your exercise class, these leggings are the way to go. 

4

FP Movement Good Karma Tie Dye Leggings

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FP Movement Good Karma Tie Dye Leggings

If your summer sweats involve Pilates or yoga, these are for you. Free People's tie-dye design involves breathable holes that line up the back of the leggings to release heat—plus, they have SPF 30 UV protection. 

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5

Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight

Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight

Designed for running with a brushed Nulux™ fabric (it's both lightweight and nonrestrictive), these simple black leggings are actually brushed on the inside for added softness. The material is moisture-wicking and quick-drying, so you can continue your morning jog ritual without breaking a sweat.  

6

Redqenting High Waist Seamless Leggings

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Redqenting High Waist Seamless Leggings

Affordable and available in six different colorways, these customer-favorite leggings are designed to dry quickly and eliminate sweat—in other words, you can absolutely wear them to grab a post-gym breakfast. This pair features mesh cutouts along the sides of the legs, making them extra breathable.  

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7

Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush Leggings

Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush Leggings

These full-length leggings have flat-locked seams (and no side seams at all!) to reduce chafing in hot weather. They're called the "airbrush" legging because, truly, that's what they do: The stretchy, sweat-proof fabric is designed to sculpt and smooth so you always feel supported and comfortable while you work out.  

8

Beyond Yoga Spacedye High-Waist Leggings

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Beyond Yoga Spacedye High-Waist Leggings

What makes these high-waisted leggings so good? The ribbed performance fabric. Breathable enough for hot temps, it offers medium compression that's perfect for low- and medium-impact activities.  

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9

ICONI Seamless High-Waisted Legging

ICONI Seamless High-Waisted Legging

If the fact that these leggings are moisture-wicking, squat-proof, and completely seamless won't sell you on this buy, perhaps the hundreds of rave reviews on Amazon will. Not only are they unrestrictive (see: seamless), but the high-rise waist stays put during your lowest squats and sweatiest endurance bursts. 

10

CRZ YOGA Naked Feeling Workout Leggings

CRZ YOGA Naked Feeling Workout Leggings

With “naked feeling” in the name and 12,000+ Amazon reviews, it’s safe to say these leggings will pique your easy-breezy interest. “These are amazing quality. Super soft material. Thick enough to where I know they won’t be see-through, but still lightweight and breathable,” writes one reviewer. Fans of these also note the mega-roomy pockets, spot-on compression, and stay-up waistband—perfect for outdoor summer activities from jogs to hikes.

Headshot of Laura Lajiness Kaupke
Laura Lajiness Kaupke is a freelance writer and editor on fashion, accessories, and lifestyle topics, including beauty, home, fitness, and travel. Can you see her work across various outlets, including VOGUE, Harper's BAZAAR, ELLE, Marie Claire, InStyle, Glamour, Esquire, Women's Health, Brides, The Zoe Report, Popsugar, Refinery 29, Coveteur, Byrdie, Well+Good, The Editorialist, among other titles and brands. Laura has worked in the fashion industry for over 11 years and held senior fashion editor positions at Popsugar and The Zoe Report, with additional experience as a copywriter and fashion publicist.
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Elly Leavitt
Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor

Elly Leavitt is a fashion and luxury commerce editor with over seven years of experience covering fashion and design. Her writing can be found in Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE, Town & Country, Esquire, ELLE Decor, and more. Previously, she was an editor at Domino magazine. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe's. You will never find her at SoulCycle.

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pair of gray leggings with colorful background
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