Leggings have come in and gone out style, from their neon-hued fashionable heyday in the '80s to being relegated as workout gear. But today, the best leggings have been embraced as totally acceptable alternatives to jeans and pants — especially as more and more people are working from home. Some styles even look similar to pants, which makes it easy to take your look from the couch to running errands. And unlike tights, which are meant to be worn under clothes, leggings can be worn on their own.
The best leggings should not only be comfortable but they also need to stand up to frequent wear and tear; they need to be durable, are easy to care for, and their colors and blacks don't dull after washing. According to stylist Molly Cohen, who has worked with brands such as Helmut Lang and The RealReal, performance and water resistance fabrics tend to hold up better than cotton and jersey fabrics. For more information from Cohen on care, and for tips on how to shop for leggings, continue reading toward the end of this guide.
Keeping in mind these key factors as well as pricing, we recommend these best leggings based on our research and experience in testing and wearing them.
Here are the best leggings you can buy:This guide was originally published as "The best black leggings" and was updated on 9/18/2020 by Maria Del Russo. Our recommendations have been updated, we noted what we're testing next, and we added advice on how to buy and care for leggings.