What's with all the leggings at the gym?
May 17, 2019 4:57 PM Subscribe
This is maybe a silly thing to spend a question on, but it has been plaguing me for months. Nearly all the women at my gym wear leggings to work out in. Why? What happened to shorts?
I go to a boutique-y HIIT gym that has 6 or 7 classes a day. I'm a regular the 6 AM class but have been to classes at other times, so it's not just that my sample is limited to the 30 or so women in my usual class. Every last woman wears leggings to work out in except for me, my (female) partner, and one half of the other lesbian couple that works out there. In the winter, I just assumed that they preferred to not have to layer sweat pants over their workout clothes but now that spring/summer weather is here, the leggings remain, except now some of them have sheer panels.
Is this just fashion? Are shorts horribly outré or coded as butch? Is the athleisure trend making folks feel guilty about laying out $85 for a pair of leggings so they feel they need to get their money's worth?
I go to a boutique-y HIIT gym that has 6 or 7 classes a day. I'm a regular the 6 AM class but have been to classes at other times, so it's not just that my sample is limited to the 30 or so women in my usual class. Every last woman wears leggings to work out in except for me, my (female) partner, and one half of the other lesbian couple that works out there. In the winter, I just assumed that they preferred to not have to layer sweat pants over their workout clothes but now that spring/summer weather is here, the leggings remain, except now some of them have sheer panels.
Is this just fashion? Are shorts horribly outré or coded as butch? Is the athleisure trend making folks feel guilty about laying out $85 for a pair of leggings so they feel they need to get their money's worth?
It's partly fashion, partly function.
If your thighs touch and the current fashion is for shorts to be very short (as it is right now) shorts are uncomfortable to workout in (or even just walk around in) because you get friction burn on your inner thighs from the skin rubbing together. Leggings solve this problem. The mesh panels make them tolerable in warmer months.
posted by burntflowers at 5:00 PM on May 17, 2019 [41 favorites]
If your thighs touch and the current fashion is for shorts to be very short (as it is right now) shorts are uncomfortable to workout in (or even just walk around in) because you get friction burn on your inner thighs from the skin rubbing together. Leggings solve this problem. The mesh panels make them tolerable in warmer months.
posted by burntflowers at 5:00 PM on May 17, 2019 [41 favorites]
Yeah, leggings don't ride up.
posted by unknowncommand at 5:06 PM on May 17, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by unknowncommand at 5:06 PM on May 17, 2019 [4 favorites]
can confirm. Would never wear shorts to work out in because they bunch up. Has nothing to do with fashion; before gym leggings were a thing, I wore bike shorts, and they weren't anywhere near as comfortable as good gym leggings are.
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:07 PM on May 17, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:07 PM on May 17, 2019 [4 favorites]
Also, leggings reduce focus/concern re: leg-shaving (or lack thereof).
posted by unknowncommand at 5:10 PM on May 17, 2019 [66 favorites]
posted by unknowncommand at 5:10 PM on May 17, 2019 [66 favorites]
Leggings make me feel covered, and I like that feeling. The fact that they're snug to my body and they don't bunch up makes them better than sweatpants.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:10 PM on May 17, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:10 PM on May 17, 2019 [6 favorites]
Those looser, kind of nylon-y running shorts do seem to have fallen out of fashion a bit, yes. The options now are leggings or those horrible booty shorts that look good on no one but athletic young people with shiny hair. Leggings are more comfortable and "transition" out of the gym better than shorts. Like yoga pants 15 years ago. Plus, leggings don't chafe your inner thighs.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:11 PM on May 17, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:11 PM on May 17, 2019 [9 favorites]
Is the athleisure trend making folks feel guilty about laying out $85 for a pair of leggings so they feel they need to get their money's worth?
For what it's worth, I've found that Old Navy compression leggings are better than any of the more expensive brands, and they're often on sale for ~$10.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:12 PM on May 17, 2019 [12 favorites]
For what it's worth, I've found that Old Navy compression leggings are better than any of the more expensive brands, and they're often on sale for ~$10.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:12 PM on May 17, 2019 [12 favorites]
Also Amazon has their Core 10 line of great workout gear, including high-quality leggings for $25, in sizes up to 3x.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:28 PM on May 17, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:28 PM on May 17, 2019 [7 favorites]
Leggings offer vascular support, and keep body parts off of public areas. I walk at 6 AM in a very hot town in summer, French terry leggings all the way. I am much less tired because of the support. Some women are working out, working all day, picking up the kids and familying all evening. Every bit helps in the energy game.
posted by Oyéah at 5:31 PM on May 17, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 5:31 PM on May 17, 2019 [8 favorites]
I’m more comfortable being covered up. If it gets really hot I’ll wear shorts, but leggings are just more comfortable. No riding up, no cellulite making me insecure, no butt cheeks eating the fabric.
posted by katypickle at 5:33 PM on May 17, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by katypickle at 5:33 PM on May 17, 2019 [6 favorites]
Yeah it had nothing to do with the athleisure trend for me. I’m more comfortable being covered up and find shorts just kinda gross and 80s style.
posted by namemeansgazelle at 5:42 PM on May 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by namemeansgazelle at 5:42 PM on May 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
you're not wrong, leggings have been having a major fashion moment for a while now. I'm ambivalent about them, I hate the way spandex feels .. but they do provide some vascular support as someone else said before. their popularity has been paralleled by asses also having a fashion moment - there's even a particular butt accentuating pose that people strike on instagram - if you know any fitness focused millennials on instagram just ask them about it, i'm sure they can explain it better than I ..
posted by elgee at 5:45 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by elgee at 5:45 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
It's always partly fashion, but shorts ride up and I am happy not to be tugging them back down constantly. Also, I have a bit of a belly, and it's much easier to find high-waisted, well-structured leggings that cover well than it is to find shorts like that.
posted by Miko at 5:52 PM on May 17, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Miko at 5:52 PM on May 17, 2019 [6 favorites]
Katypickle nailed it—I am so much more comfortable physically (and emotionally); I also think they are a lot more flattering.
posted by lovableiago at 5:53 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by lovableiago at 5:53 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
It's pretty easy to find leggings for about $10-$20 and you can wear them with other things too. I don't think I've seen a lot of shorts for sale lately and they're hard to pair with other clothing outside workouts.
posted by divabat at 5:54 PM on May 17, 2019
posted by divabat at 5:54 PM on May 17, 2019
I switched to leggings when I started doing barre and stuck with it when I transitioned to powerlifting, because it's easier for me and my trainer to see what muscles are being activated and if I'm in proper form. Bulkier bottoms really hide that. I guess it doesn't matter if you are doing cardio, however, I do like that leggings keep my fat from jiggling around during cardio.
And yeah, agreed that leggings don't bunch up so they are a lot more comfortable when you're moving a lot.
posted by joan_holloway at 5:57 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
And yeah, agreed that leggings don't bunch up so they are a lot more comfortable when you're moving a lot.
posted by joan_holloway at 5:57 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
Shorts bunching up drives me absolutely nuts. Plus I like the high-waistband leggings that are popular now and I don’t see a shorts option for that. I’d ditch the leggings for extra long bike shorts or something like that (but then you’re almost to the length of 3/4 leggings which are more versatile year-round).
posted by sallybrown at 6:09 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 6:09 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
Maybe it depends on type of gym or geography? I live in Southeastern NC, and while we see a few folks who wear leggings year-round, including some guys, people at my gym seem to prefer shorts. It’s too damn hot and humid to wear leggings when the heat index is 95-105.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 6:14 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 6:14 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
Shorts do not prevent what I call the "chub-rub". Like many earlier responses, shorts ride up. I am no fashionista but wear leggings and capri leggings because of comfort.
posted by turtlefu at 6:19 PM on May 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by turtlefu at 6:19 PM on May 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
For what it’s worth, I’ve been seeing athletic brands offer a lot more bike short-esque shorts in the past year or so - legging fit and material, 6” inseam or longer. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see more of these in the coming months. (This has been my preferred style of running short for over a decade and they’ve been rare until recently.)
I wear shorts to run outside or to lift at home, but in an air-conditioned gym or class I’ll go with capri or full-length leggings.
posted by Metroid Baby at 6:29 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
I wear shorts to run outside or to lift at home, but in an air-conditioned gym or class I’ll go with capri or full-length leggings.
posted by Metroid Baby at 6:29 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yoga pants became the trend like ten plus years ago and have completely taken over. Used to be you could buy nylon shorts with some lining that weren't super short. Now I don't even know where you would find such a thing to buy. Personally I think it's mostly fashion driven, which is funny because they're pretty unflattering on many women (myself included).
posted by ch1x0r at 7:12 PM on May 17, 2019
posted by ch1x0r at 7:12 PM on May 17, 2019
I prefer "basketball" shorts - and I can't find them. So my options are short/running shorts (uncomfortable) or leggings.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 7:15 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Ms Vegetable at 7:15 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
Is the athleisure trend making folks feel guilty about laying out $85 for a pair of leggings so they feel they need to get their money's worth?
Mine cost $2-4 at the thrift store and I wear them for a few reasons
- they work year round at the gym which can be chilly in winter
- I don't shave my legs, my gym is in a college, this is simpler
- I feel "held together" more
For what it's worth there are a lot of young women at the gym who also wear leggings, I think it's just style. The ones I see people wearing are basically tights so I bet they're even lighter weight than most shorts, especially sport shorts.
posted by jessamyn at 7:19 PM on May 17, 2019
Mine cost $2-4 at the thrift store and I wear them for a few reasons
- they work year round at the gym which can be chilly in winter
- I don't shave my legs, my gym is in a college, this is simpler
- I feel "held together" more
For what it's worth there are a lot of young women at the gym who also wear leggings, I think it's just style. The ones I see people wearing are basically tights so I bet they're even lighter weight than most shorts, especially sport shorts.
posted by jessamyn at 7:19 PM on May 17, 2019
I have searing memories of guys (men!) contorting themselves to look up my shorts while I was engaging in physical activity.
Since men won’t pluck out their own eyeballs and the law prohibits me from doing it, leggings are what I wear when I work out. When I was doing bikram yoga I wore shorts that were essentially leggings without the length.
Having someone perv on my body hoping for a glance at undies or hair or whatthefuckever is worse for me that someone being able to discern exactly the shape of my backside.
posted by bilabial at 7:27 PM on May 17, 2019 [17 favorites]
Since men won’t pluck out their own eyeballs and the law prohibits me from doing it, leggings are what I wear when I work out. When I was doing bikram yoga I wore shorts that were essentially leggings without the length.
Having someone perv on my body hoping for a glance at undies or hair or whatthefuckever is worse for me that someone being able to discern exactly the shape of my backside.
posted by bilabial at 7:27 PM on May 17, 2019 [17 favorites]
I wear leggings to prevent thigh chafing.
posted by gaspode at 7:39 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by gaspode at 7:39 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
In yoga or Pilates classes or even stretching by myself, I will probably be upside down sometimes, and shorts are too revealing then. Full-length sweats bind. Full-length sweats with ankle elastic work, but they make me feel dowdy.
posted by clew at 7:42 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 7:42 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
I wear leggings year-round—they’re not my main form of pants, but I don’t like to wear shorts. I’m 45 and am just not confident in bare legs anymore. Plus, for me personally, I heat up from the waist up, so I’m much more focused on having sufficient cooling layers on my torso (e.g. sports bra/tank top, plus t-shirt that I can remove), whereas my legs never get hot.
I’ve never spent $85 on leggings, though. Those suckers better make my ass look like a work of art if I’m putting down that kind of cash. I get mine from Costco for $15 a pair, and in truth they are really very good quality for that price point. Both the Matty M casual leggings and the athletic ones.
posted by Autumnheart at 8:26 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
I’ve never spent $85 on leggings, though. Those suckers better make my ass look like a work of art if I’m putting down that kind of cash. I get mine from Costco for $15 a pair, and in truth they are really very good quality for that price point. Both the Matty M casual leggings and the athletic ones.
posted by Autumnheart at 8:26 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
I wear leggings with shorts over them, which allows me to get the described benefits of leggings without someone being able to see the exact shape of my rear. Shorts alone feel a bit too exposed, especially on some of the machines - I'm always worried they'll rise up and show everyone my skivvies. I wear spandex leggings from Under Armour that I buy on sale at Marshall's, along with some kind of performance-fabric shorts (also from Marshall's).
posted by sockermom at 8:48 PM on May 17, 2019
posted by sockermom at 8:48 PM on May 17, 2019
because thighs.
posted by augustimagination at 9:26 PM on May 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by augustimagination at 9:26 PM on May 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
I am the only shorts-wearing person in my dance fitness class of 30 or so women. I am seriously the only person showing knees, and at first I thought, have knees gone out of style or something??? I will tell you that it is hard to find the right shorts to work out in. I’m still wearing the same lightweight plaid ones from Columbia that I bought three of 5 years ago because they are like gold. I am not a sufferer of chafing due to being built like a stick, but am going to hold out as long as possible because how can a clothing trend really last a decade?!
posted by oxisos at 9:40 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by oxisos at 9:40 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yeah, what everyone else said. Leggings stay put, expose me to less uninvited scrutiny, are more comfortable on the drive home as I start to cool off, and can occasionally pass as normal clothes elsewhere.
Also, my ex-friend who got really into CrossFit and started doing some really-not-OK things to body-shame other women? She made a biiiiig point of wearing her shorts and gym singlet everywhere possible, so people would notice how muscular she was. Shorts remind me of her now. It’s not the shorts’ fault, but it is what it is.
Hashtag-not-all-shorts-wearers
posted by armeowda at 10:02 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
Also, my ex-friend who got really into CrossFit and started doing some really-not-OK things to body-shame other women? She made a biiiiig point of wearing her shorts and gym singlet everywhere possible, so people would notice how muscular she was. Shorts remind me of her now. It’s not the shorts’ fault, but it is what it is.
Hashtag-not-all-shorts-wearers
posted by armeowda at 10:02 PM on May 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
I wear leggings because otherwise my knees get annoyed (currently because I mostly rock climb and that means knees come into contact with rock, but in past sports it’s been an issue with various modified yoga poses and the one week I tried Pilates too). I don’t really need to skin my knees or get rug burn on them anymore.
I live in AZ, so I do have some shorts for when it is just too stupidly hot, but I often find myself back in leggings so I can use my knees again.
posted by nat at 11:24 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
I live in AZ, so I do have some shorts for when it is just too stupidly hot, but I often find myself back in leggings so I can use my knees again.
posted by nat at 11:24 PM on May 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
I do a mix of pilates and HIIT and find that leggings are comfortable and work well for both. Plus I don't really like shorts. I definitely don't spend $85 on my leggings!
posted by gingerbeer at 12:36 AM on May 18, 2019
posted by gingerbeer at 12:36 AM on May 18, 2019
43yo based in London leggings wearer. Runner. Leggings or compression tights preferred. Shorts are uncomfortable. I don’t run when it’s hot. Leggings can be used for yoga and other fitness activities. I hate buying workout clothes that only have one function.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 12:50 AM on May 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 12:50 AM on May 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oh sorry to answer your question, I see loads of women running who prefer shorts. I never read it as “fashion”, I associated it with “serious runner”. Probably because professional athletes wear shorts. If I did think of shorts in terms of fashion, such as basketball shorts, I read it as “urban, hip, cool and ... young”. Well younger than me anyway :/.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 12:58 AM on May 18, 2019
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 12:58 AM on May 18, 2019
I hate leggings because they're hot and you can always see my underwear (I want to wear underwear dammit!), but I wear leggings to the gym because apparently my only other option when shopping is short shorts, which I want to wear even less. So chalk some of it up to "literally no other acceptable options because shorts are hella short now"
You will see me in knee length shorts instead as soon as I can freaking find some (I am too small to wear men's. I have tried.)
posted by stillnocturnal at 5:33 AM on May 18, 2019
You will see me in knee length shorts instead as soon as I can freaking find some (I am too small to wear men's. I have tried.)
posted by stillnocturnal at 5:33 AM on May 18, 2019
I do a variety of activities - weightlifting, yoga, rock climbing, running, gymnastics, etc. and while five or ten years ago I probably did them comfortably with shorts, there's no going back from (capri) leggings. I never have to worry when I bend over or squat or throw a heel hook that they've slipped or are riding up or just showing too much or my thighs are getting chafed. I wear running shorts to run (although post-run stretching is pretty awkward), to walk the dog, and under short dresses in the summer, but that's about it.
posted by autolykos at 7:10 AM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by autolykos at 7:10 AM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
I wear $20 knee-length leggings from Kohl's/Meijer to the gym because I can't find gym shorts that fit. "Basketball" style shorts are loose around the lower thigh/knee, so they flap when I'm running/biking and slide up during yoga/Pilates; short shorts, just No. I didn't wear that style when I was in college in the 1980s, and I'm not gonna wear them now.
I don't wear leggings anywhere else. I started wearing leggings to the gym when I was doing aerobics in college, and my running shorts flapped around. I needed a pair of gym shorts when I was doing PT for a knee a couple of years ago, and I spent a day shopping to find a pair. They still weren't right, and I don't wear them for anything now, other than working in the yard or walking outside.
posted by jlkr at 7:24 AM on May 18, 2019
I don't wear leggings anywhere else. I started wearing leggings to the gym when I was doing aerobics in college, and my running shorts flapped around. I needed a pair of gym shorts when I was doing PT for a knee a couple of years ago, and I spent a day shopping to find a pair. They still weren't right, and I don't wear them for anything now, other than working in the yard or walking outside.
posted by jlkr at 7:24 AM on May 18, 2019
This is fascinating. I have noticed the same thing however I am the one of two or three women at my gym who do wear shorts. I get too hot in leggings most of the year. I wear mesh Nike shorts and love how well I can move in them. I do HIIT as well and sweat hard. Swampy tight sweatiness on my legs makes my skin crawl. I have no issues with bunching. Shorts for serious workouts for me! Leggings on very cold days or when I’m not working out.
posted by curtains at 7:28 AM on May 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by curtains at 7:28 AM on May 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
As someone who weifhtlifts, leggings are great because they prevent the shin scrape that comes from trying to keep your barbell close in various lifts.
posted by astapasta24 at 7:33 AM on May 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by astapasta24 at 7:33 AM on May 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
I wear leggings because I can do a variety of activities at the gym with them (bike, squats, yoga, pilates, etc) and I can walk out without changing my clothes.
However, I recently got a good deal on a 30 day pass for hot yoga and went to my first class in leggings. I was the only one there not in skimpy shorts and the teacher told me that I'd be uncomfortable with what I was wearing and advised to go buy shorts. She was right. It was soooo weird buying short shorts to wear only to this class and it made a difference but, I didn't feel comfortable walking in/out of the building in those booty shorts in addition to being a sweaty mess after the class.
posted by vivzan at 7:55 AM on May 18, 2019
However, I recently got a good deal on a 30 day pass for hot yoga and went to my first class in leggings. I was the only one there not in skimpy shorts and the teacher told me that I'd be uncomfortable with what I was wearing and advised to go buy shorts. She was right. It was soooo weird buying short shorts to wear only to this class and it made a difference but, I didn't feel comfortable walking in/out of the building in those booty shorts in addition to being a sweaty mess after the class.
posted by vivzan at 7:55 AM on May 18, 2019
Also compression leggings are a thing and are supposed to improve performance. Not saying this is why they are wearing them, but why so many athletes wear them & gym fashion follows professional athlete fashion.
posted by wwax at 10:10 AM on May 18, 2019
posted by wwax at 10:10 AM on May 18, 2019
Nthing all of the other comments that leggins are so much better at preventing chub-rub than shorts, as well as the issue of shorts riding up or gaping and showing my crotch and men being pervs.
When I used to do hot/Bikram-style yoga, I actually liked full-length leggings because I felt like they absorbed the sweat better. I hated the feeling of sweat running down my more bare legs when I tried shorts, and I had a harder time gripping bare legs when needed.
posted by TwoStride at 10:23 AM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
When I used to do hot/Bikram-style yoga, I actually liked full-length leggings because I felt like they absorbed the sweat better. I hated the feeling of sweat running down my more bare legs when I tried shorts, and I had a harder time gripping bare legs when needed.
posted by TwoStride at 10:23 AM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
Speaking as an outlier, I don't like the leggings trend and do not wear them. I feel more exposed, especially at the butt and crotch area, and not less, given every last curve and crease is revealed in any pair I try on no matter the size, and I am within the "healthy" BMI range for my height. I also do not want to wear clingy clothes to work out in as they are physically uncomfortable (itchy, hot) for me. I (heartily) resent that all other options for women's workout wear seem to have vanished. I attributed the change to people just following fashion, as the longer pants I liked disappeared and were replaced by tight... everything. I wear workout pants for men (which, btw, have pockets). I look about as fashionable as someone who never bothered with fashion does and I'm completely comfortable.
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 12:11 PM on May 18, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 12:11 PM on May 18, 2019 [8 favorites]
Oh, and speaking as a plus-size woman with major chub-rub problems, I also like leggings because the ones with a particularly high spandex/slip content last so much longer in the crotch than sweats or anything more cotton. I've got some leggings that are going strong after 5 years, while many sweats (and sometimes now even jeans, grrr!) wear out after less than a year.
posted by TwoStride at 12:20 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 12:20 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
stillnocturnal, I can't vouch for them personally, but the 9-inch Rogue Shorts get a lot of love from Title Nine Sports shoppers.
The many people who like them* say they work for swimming, exercising, hiking, and hanging out. They dry quickly, they don't show dirt, and they have roomy pockets. One woman said they were a godsend in the shelter during Hurricane Harvey (she evacuated with just the clothes she was wearing; her review includes a picture of her at the shelter).
They're not cheap -- $59 -- which is true of everything T9 sells (which is why I shop carefully when I buy from them). At the same time, I've learned that reviewers on T9's website are frank about each product's shortcomings and assets, so when I do buy from T9, I feel like I know what I'll be getting.
Good luck.
* Of varying body types, FYi.
posted by virago at 1:05 PM on May 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
The many people who like them* say they work for swimming, exercising, hiking, and hanging out. They dry quickly, they don't show dirt, and they have roomy pockets. One woman said they were a godsend in the shelter during Hurricane Harvey (she evacuated with just the clothes she was wearing; her review includes a picture of her at the shelter).
They're not cheap -- $59 -- which is true of everything T9 sells (which is why I shop carefully when I buy from them). At the same time, I've learned that reviewers on T9's website are frank about each product's shortcomings and assets, so when I do buy from T9, I feel like I know what I'll be getting.
Good luck.
* Of varying body types, FYi.
posted by virago at 1:05 PM on May 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
Varicose veins and cellulite tend to be accentuated by workout shorts, especially (as said above0 those "booty shorts" that are the only thing available these days. Also, everyone wears them so you fit in. My Silver Sneakers geezer workout class is mostly female, almost all in leggings.
posted by Peach at 2:14 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Peach at 2:14 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
I live in the deep south and can't tolerate leggings in the summer (wayyyyy too sweaty, even in the mornings). I have a few pairs of REI running shorts with an attached panty that carry me through the heat, but they are all 15 years old - I wonder what I'll do when they finally give up the ghost.
posted by catlet at 2:32 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by catlet at 2:32 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm going to nth everyone suggesting Old Navy's compression leggings. They come in a wide variety of length/rise options to suit different body types, and some of the colourblock ones look very similar to much more expensive leggings from Outdoor Voices and such. Also, unlike some other discount brands (looking at you, Joe Fresh), most styles are thick enough that they don't show off lumps and bumps.
But really, one of the biggest pluses of leggings is that unlike loose nylon basketball-style shorts, no one can see up your pants. As someone who spends most of my exercise time on climbing walls and weight benches, there are just way too many opportunities to accidentally show off my bikini area if I'm wearing baggy shorts. Also, more leg coverage means I'm less likely to scrape myself with a barbell or on the climbing wall.
The other thing is that leggings and yoga pants are really helpful for monitoring body positioning during yoga or barre-style exercises. It's challenging for you or your instructors to check your form if you're wearing baggy pants. Also, a form-fitting and wicking fabric when you're doing hot or heated yoga are better for absorbing sweat and keeping you comfortable than are sweat pants or even shorts if you're a very sweaty person.
Another thing is that men's workout shorts or pants don't always work very well on people with low waist:hip ratios, and most of the workout shorts marketed to women are fairly short-inseam running shorts that also tend not to fit all that well if you're relatively hippy or have much of a butt.
posted by blerghamot at 3:14 PM on May 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
But really, one of the biggest pluses of leggings is that unlike loose nylon basketball-style shorts, no one can see up your pants. As someone who spends most of my exercise time on climbing walls and weight benches, there are just way too many opportunities to accidentally show off my bikini area if I'm wearing baggy shorts. Also, more leg coverage means I'm less likely to scrape myself with a barbell or on the climbing wall.
The other thing is that leggings and yoga pants are really helpful for monitoring body positioning during yoga or barre-style exercises. It's challenging for you or your instructors to check your form if you're wearing baggy pants. Also, a form-fitting and wicking fabric when you're doing hot or heated yoga are better for absorbing sweat and keeping you comfortable than are sweat pants or even shorts if you're a very sweaty person.
Another thing is that men's workout shorts or pants don't always work very well on people with low waist:hip ratios, and most of the workout shorts marketed to women are fairly short-inseam running shorts that also tend not to fit all that well if you're relatively hippy or have much of a butt.
posted by blerghamot at 3:14 PM on May 18, 2019 [3 favorites]
My leggings have large pockets that zip shut. They're awesome.
posted by TwoStride at 7:32 PM on May 18, 2019
posted by TwoStride at 7:32 PM on May 18, 2019
It is interesting though, I went looking for generic bike shorts at target to wear under things, not even to work out in, and there wasn’t anything that wasn’t super short or leggings. I had to get slipshorts, which isn’t really even what I wanted. I mention it because just another observation that shorts for working out don’t seem to be in right now.
That said I got some Spaulding Capri leggings from amazon and they are awesome and a nice in between stage.
posted by cabingirl at 8:06 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
That said I got some Spaulding Capri leggings from amazon and they are awesome and a nice in between stage.
posted by cabingirl at 8:06 PM on May 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
On the part of the question about what's driving the trend, this recent New Yorker piece about the company Outdoor Voices discusses some of the cultural and economic factors driving the leggings (and athleisure) trend.
posted by Miko at 4:45 AM on May 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Miko at 4:45 AM on May 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
I’m medium chunky, thigh chafing is the total worst. Leggings prevents it.
posted by nikaspark at 8:42 AM on May 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by nikaspark at 8:42 AM on May 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
You are not alone, by the way! I've noticed this too, to the point I've asked this same question on Facebook. Most times when I go to my Y I'm the only woman whose knees are showing. (I wear a skort.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:35 AM on May 22, 2019
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:35 AM on May 22, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by acidnova at 4:59 PM on May 17, 2019 [43 favorites]