It isn’t so heavy, but I have assurance that you can’t see my butt in them.” Ashley Rosenberg, a modelFIT instructor, calls the style “the forever classic” that’s “just unbeatable.” Katherine Gundling, a coach and programmer at ICE CrossFit NYC and Oculus CrossFit, agrees that they stand out among a sea of imitators: “They will last you years and stay in great condition.” At the same time, I’m like Goldilocks: I don’t like the superthin ones, but some are too thick. “They’ve really refined it over the past 20 years, and it has gotten better and better.” Kate Posch, who teaches at Sky Ting, praises the high-waisted fit in particular: “I live for high-rise and for not having to keep pulling up my pants while practicing or teaching.” They’re also a favorite of Erin Brockovich, who was very particular about what she likes and does not: “If I’m doing yoga, and I’m down on my knees and lifting my butt up, I don’t want to wear leggings that you can see through. “Lululemon has nailed the yoga pant,” says Jones. Lululemon’s workout gear has been recommended to us by many, many fitness experts, and Wunder Train tights are the brand’s longtime best-selling pair - and a favorite among yoga instructors. Size range: 0 to 20 | Rise and compression: High-rise, mid-compression | Pockets: None As for the rise, Jones notes that if you’re doing yoga, “you want to be able to breathe through your diaphragm,” which means super-high waists are out, because they can restrict belly movement. Sky Ting Yoga co-founder Krissy Jones, who has “been living in yoga pants for the past 12 years,” compares the supportiveness of compressive yoga pants to an ankle brace: “It just gives you a little extra firmness and actually supports your muscles to activate and work tighter towards the bone, which is a good thing.” All good yoga pants will cinch your legs and waist somewhat, but if you’re a runner or wearing them for more intensive workouts, you’ll probably want to invest in a more compressive pair than you would use on the mat. Compressive, high-rise leggings will create a streamlined silhouette and won’t fall down when you run or do a Downward Dog. These design features will affect both form and function. Yoga pants vary in how high they sit on the waist as well as how thick and compressive their fabric is. Whether they’re durable tights approved by personal trainers, super-stretchy maternity leggings, or even a yoga skirt that can be worn from “studio to street,” you can find recommendations for every style and price below. The pants on this list have been praised by fitness instructors, yogis, and other experts we’ve talked to. Although the term “yoga pants” might mean different things to different people, here I’ve defined it to be pants made of a thick enough material to cover your butt (even when you’re in Downward Dog) and stretchy and sweat-wicking enough to get you through your class, a run around the park, or a day at your desk comfortably - regardless of silhouette. But wading through all the styles and brands to find a pair that fits well, stays put when you move, and actually looks nice is no easy task.

In theory, these should be the most comfortable pants you own. Whether you’re working out or working from home, yoga pants are probably somewhere in your day-to-day wardrobe rotation.

Nordstrom beyond yoga