17" women's workout capris

July 3, 2019 6:51 AM

I'm looking for 17-inch workout capris. I like when they reach just below the knee, but not the 20-inch ones that are popular now. They reach mid-calf and feel weird. [I want something like these but in a medium- thin, base-layer type or regular legging are fine.

Do I just need to get 20-inch ones like this and hem them or get them hemmed? Would that work with this type of fabric? They don't need to come from target; I just found them there in the past.

posted by the twistinside to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (11 answers total)

I have cut off and hemmed exercise pants before, just be sure to use a zig zag stitch so it is stretchy. At least that is what I did with my super basic skills, there might be a better way than that stitch.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:40 AM on July 3, 2019

These Lululemon ones seem to fit the bill. I have found my lululemon products to be of above-average durability.
posted by hepta at 7:50 AM on July 3, 2019

Do you have an Academy Sports near you? I have several pairs of these and similar ones in the BCG brand, which I think is their house brand(?). I'm 5'5" and they hit at my upper calf, if that helps.
posted by zoetrope at 8:13 AM on July 3, 2019

Best answer: Athleta has at least two that are 16.5" in length, the Contender Mesh Crop and the Dobby Action crop.
posted by mcgsa at 8:52 AM on July 3, 2019

Amazon has a few options. These come in many colors, though it looks like they only go up to a US 16 and I'm not sure what size range you're seeking.
posted by DSime at 8:55 AM on July 3, 2019

From experience trying to find actual capris at 5'2, I've found that knee tights are a helpful search term. Target has these.
Kohls and TJMaxx frequently have the Marika/Danskin ones
posted by TravellingCari at 10:25 AM on July 3, 2019

I get ones from The Gap since they have such frequent sales, it looks like they call the shorter leggings "crop leggings" these days.
posted by lydhre at 11:43 AM on July 3, 2019

My wife is shorter than average and all of her lululemon pants have been hemmed in-house at the lululemon store free of charge.

Edited to add: https://info.lululemon.com/help/our-products/hemming
posted by sleeping bear at 2:42 PM on July 3, 2019

Response by poster: Thanks! Sorry, to clarify, I meant I need them in a size medium, in any fabric thickness [otherwise I'd buy those target ones I linked to]. Was hesitant about athleta bc of price but if they last...
posted by the twistinside at 3:12 PM on July 3, 2019

Best answer: I love Athleta....especially when it is on sale. Their items are quality and you can return for a full refund or exchange at any time, no questions asked....unless a final sale item.

Their capris are usually 16.5 to 17 inches. They have different styles / types for different activities. Lots of breathable and comfortable fabrics that don't bunch and are not see thru in the butt.
posted by SassyMcSassin at 6:33 PM on July 3, 2019

Best answer: I'm a guy who likes running tights with pockets in that length, and because men's running tights are a small, unpredictable market (this was me, previously) I've ended up buying women's tights. My favorites are the Dobby Be Free Knicker from Athleta. The fabric is a really lightweight polyester in kind of a honeycomb texture. They dry really fast, and the ruching at the knee is practical more than it is feminine. The pockets are awesome. I also now own the Velocity Stash Pocket Crop (currently on clearance in orange, if the color works for you). The fabric is a little heavier and has a smooth finish, but it still dries fast. The side pockets are slightly awkward to use because of how high the opening is. I like them but not as much as I like the Dobby Be Free. I tried on some Lululemon Fast & Free crops in the store, but they're 19" and not 17." They came to mid calf and slid up immediately, bunching up at the knees. The women who helped me said they don't recommend trying to hem them because of the free-cut hem. I have some full length Fast & Free tights and I really like the fabric, but the crops just don't work on me. Lastly, I ordered the Bullet Capri 2.0 from Saucony. If you have a small waist and large thighs they should fit you well. For me they were too small in the waist and too large in the leg, and I returned them.

If you don't need pockets you've got a couple other options people have posted above, but for running tights with pockets Athleta is totally the winner.
posted by fedward at 6:30 AM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]