Most leggings are either mid- or high-waisted, and some come with a more narrow waistband (like Old Navy’s High-Waisted Leggings), whereas others have a wide waistband (like Aerie’s Offline OG Leggings).

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While we liked the style and feel of the Adidas Adicolor Classics 3-Stripe ⅞ Flare Leggings, they were fairly see-through and thinned out even more with each wear—making them difficult to include in our final list of recommendations. Vivian Yu, physical therapist, personal trainer, and co-founder of One Body Personal Training & Gym Finder The cotton and elastane blend gives these pants a flexible four-way stretch that moves with you. They stay in place and don’t require adjustments during gentle exercises like walking, yoga, or Pilates. We appreciate that these are breathable enough for both warm and cool days, but we would not recommend them for high-impact, sweaty workouts—as with most cotton leggings.

A recent Center for Environmental Health test found that some workout leggings composed of a blend of polyester and spandex may have higher than ideal levels of BPA in them. So if you want to limit your exposure, cotton leggings can be a great alternative—especially for casual wear and lounging.Fit - we had both average size (5’6) and petite (below 5’3) testers trying each pair of leggings, so we could determine whether they were long enough or short enough in the leg. “If the material feels too tight when squatting, or digs in around the waist, then they’re too small,” says Stewart. “If they feel baggy in the crotch, or at the knees, and slip down at the waist, then they are too big and this can lead to chafing.” Stretch: Some leggings are stretchier than others, so opt for a pair that's designed for the same purpose you plan on using them for. For example, a legging with a four-way stretch might be a great option for yogis who need pants that are tear-proof. Meanwhile, leggings that are just made for comfort or style might not hold up as well during your next yoga class. To find the best cotton leggings on the market, we first spoke with three experts to best understand what to look for in cotton leggings: What you need it for - we tested how each pair of workout leggings performed in high-impact and low-impact workouts, to see how they stood up workouts such as HITT and running and low-impact workouts such as walking for weight loss and yoga. Cotton leggings are usually made of cotton blended with another fabric, like nylon, spandex, polyester, and more. “These materials are added to cotton to produce a flexible, form-fitting fabric that provides comfort and flexibility," says Brown.