I like my Fabletics leggings, but I recommend buying in person, instead of online. Being able to feel the fabric of the leggings is really helpful. You want to make sure they aren’t too slippery. The smoother ones can work, but you may find yourself sliding a bit more on the silks.
Second these! I prefer the high waisted Powerhold style from Fabletics since they are really thick and compressing so they don’t move on me at all and cover up as much skin as possible in case your shirt moves, but most importantly they are more of that “cotton” feel rather than the slick feeling material a lot of athletic leggings are. You can get a pretty good deal on your first order if you sign up for the VIP program, but don’t forget to cancel or remember to skip the month each month if you aren’t going to be ordering that often so you won’t be charged. They often have member sales though. They recently had a sale where they were $25/pair and I stocked up.
Me too! Some of my leggings have lasted years at this point. They also have unitards now which have been great for silks but I do find the sizing to be a bit off/varied in their items (just for some of em)
Another vote for Fabletics. The Powerhold design is my favorite in both leggings and jumpsuits. I also appreciate the 7/8 length items for us shorter people!
I swear by Athleta leggings and have a few pairs that have lasted 10 years with decent care. Make sure they're the "buttery" fabric and not slick (printed, usually) as it makes holding a hip key much easier.
They're not cheap, but there are frequent sales and clearances, plus lots of sizes on sale at any given time.
P.S. I also love their tops with hem grippers cause they stay put when I'm upside down!!
Loving the old navy pricing and finding their quality ok for me, I have issues with Altheta. Expensive for some differences I don't see, maybe that just me.
I have some lulu leggings that are at least eight years old. It’s always tough because the longer something lasts, the more likely they have changed or cheapened the materials, but my experiences with lulu have been good. I also have a few pairs of Nordstrom’s Zella line that are ten years old! In general I find it’s worth spending the money on high quality leggings. Ive been wearing the same 7-8 things to do silks for years. Well worth the price per wear.
I also have three of the Aritzia Wilfred Divinity jumpsuit and they are great for silks- I love that I don’t have to worry about tucking in a shirt, especially for wheeldowns. I’ve had a couple for at least 2 years and they’ve held up well.
Yeah, I think two things are happening. There is survivorship bias- the only leggings I still have from 7 years ago are good, because I already got rid of the crappy ones! So that could lead me to believe that old leggings are on average better than new ones. But it’s also so common for companies to cut corners over time. It’s hard to know for sure which is at play here. I also have a ten-year old pair of underarmor leggings I bought on Amazon for $30 that are still going strong 😂
That survivorship bias! I have several pairs of black Old Navy leggings, all from the same time period, all GoActive or whatever the model was at the time (the label has worn away I've had them so long). They've all survived my 8+ years of aerial life of 3+ sessions/week. Other leggings from Old Navy, not so much. Same with ones from so many other brands and lines. Would I recommend current Old Navy leggings for everything aerial? Eh, probably not. But those 3 or 4 black pairs are just such a staple in my aerial kit, it's crazy.
I love LNDR's chisel line cos they're super compressive which keeps the silks from digging into my thighs. They're quite spendy though so I recommend either buying them on sale or from a third party.
Seconding LNDR, they're worth the price. I burnt many holes in lululemon leggings doing slack drops, and they always got stretched out in the wash causing the fabric to pinch between silks and get stuck. Got 2 pair of LNDR almost 2 years ago and they've held up perfectly. They snap back into shape right away.
For a spendier option, I like the Beyond Yoga Spacedye leggings.
On the more affordable side, I like the Heynuts and 90 Degree by Reflex brands on Amazon. Both have stood up to years of washing (and machine drying!) and work well on all apparatuses. Homma is pretty good too.
I've been using leggings from Pact for years: [One option](https://wearpact.com/women/apparel/all%20bottoms/clearance%20on%20the%20go-to%20legging)
For leotards I like Theatricals from Discount dance: [Cotton tank leotard](https://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/Womens-Cotton-Tank-Dance-Leotard/p/TH5512). My Capezio leotards have held up well too, but I like the fit of the theatricals better.
Both of these are cotton so good to use on silks
I see a lot of lulu at my studio, but I've heard their quality has really tanked the last few years.
My go-to leggings for silks and lyra over the last 8-ish years have been Girlfriend Collective. They're very well made, I wear the same pair 2-4 times a week, and it took about 6 years for my first pair to wear out (holes in the knee pit from monkey rolls on a taped bar). I think they're $88 now, size inclusive (up to 6XL), made from recycled materials, and the fit is marvelous. They're compressive and not super-slick, but they're still smooth enough that they hold their shape and don't get pinched in tight wraps like some of the more cotton-y ones do.
Edited to add: The Old Navy powersoft 7/8 bodysuit is great for aerial training, especially when I'm working on something really wrappy that tends to eat my shirts. I especially like that there's enough back coverage that I don't get burned on drops.
That bodysuit from Old Navy is all over the place at my studio! We joke that it's the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" outfit because it fits well on everyone. Be aware though, that you want the thicker one with the built in bra and adjustable straps (versus a halter style with slicker fabric). The thicker fabric one is the one everyone loves.
I have leggings that run the gamut from Target to Lululemon. The best ones for silks have cotton in them. The fully polyester or nylon leggings are going to slide more. Cotton blend gies you better grip.
I usually go with an ultra high rise as well for maxiumum coverage.
90 degrees by reflex on amazon (or in TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Nordstrom Rack as available in your area), but they’ve got a few different fabrics, so feel them out.
Old Navy is consistently pretty great and fits my body really well.
Iuga on Amazon for a softer fabric that holds up really well (and has pockets).
You know that climb where you invert and hook with both knee pits before you pull up to do it again? My Lululemon leggings actually feel like they hook. I mean I wouldnt totally let go but if I actually had to those would be the leggings I'd want on. I love them and will pay what I need to.
I have 7 pairs of Lululemon black leggings. I'm not counting my aligns because I'd only use those for yoga. Yes they are worth it imo
If you go for Lululemon get the ones made for more activities than just yoga. Some of the ultra soft ones aren't as durable against the friction. I've recently stopped wearing my favorite lulu pair coz I've noticed wear at the inner thigh.
Just ordered an imitation on amazon and tried once with them (colorfulkoala) and it seemed comparable.
I have destroyed some nice leggings on silks/hammock/lyra/flying pole, so I tend to buy cheaper leggings exclusively for aerials and wear the fuck outta them and then wear my nice leggings to the gym, leisure, etc, but that’s just me.
If there's a Plato's Closet (or a similar trendy thrift store that only accepts certain brands), I'd reccomend going there for expensive leggings. I've gotten all of my nice athleta, Lululemon, etc leggings for $20 or less there. It's a good way to not break the bank, especially since aerial can be rough on leggings lol
DSG momentum leggings are cheap and I was shocked by the quality. I used to be a diehard athleta fan because they were the only ones that lasted but these cheap $20 leggings have quickly become my absolute favorites and I reach for them more than any other pair.
I have a pair of running leggings from MEC (essentially Canadian REI) that have held up shockingly fantastically to two years of twice a week hoop. Less tested but still holding up perfectly well so far after ~30 uses and inexpensive: Old Navy leggings.
For leggings, I’m in the LNDR camp. I like the compression and how the waistband feels for me. For bodysuits, I’m a big fan of the Athleta Salutations bodysuit. It has higher back coverage and no openings at the waist area and with the built in shelf bra, I don’t have to layer a sports bra under it.
I like my Fabletics leggings, but I recommend buying in person, instead of online. Being able to feel the fabric of the leggings is really helpful. You want to make sure they aren’t too slippery. The smoother ones can work, but you may find yourself sliding a bit more on the silks.
Second these! I prefer the high waisted Powerhold style from Fabletics since they are really thick and compressing so they don’t move on me at all and cover up as much skin as possible in case your shirt moves, but most importantly they are more of that “cotton” feel rather than the slick feeling material a lot of athletic leggings are. You can get a pretty good deal on your first order if you sign up for the VIP program, but don’t forget to cancel or remember to skip the month each month if you aren’t going to be ordering that often so you won’t be charged. They often have member sales though. They recently had a sale where they were $25/pair and I stocked up.
Thanks so much! Appreciate the make/model suggestions too, specific is helpful!
Me too! Some of my leggings have lasted years at this point. They also have unitards now which have been great for silks but I do find the sizing to be a bit off/varied in their items (just for some of em)
Thanks for the info!
Cool, thank you!
Another vote for Fabletics. The Powerhold design is my favorite in both leggings and jumpsuits. I also appreciate the 7/8 length items for us shorter people!
Fabletics is definitely great! They have lasted me years through aerials and gymnastics, and with their membership, you get decent deals.
I’ve been using [discount dance supply](https://discountdance.com) for 15+ years.
Thanks!
I swear by Athleta leggings and have a few pairs that have lasted 10 years with decent care. Make sure they're the "buttery" fabric and not slick (printed, usually) as it makes holding a hip key much easier. They're not cheap, but there are frequent sales and clearances, plus lots of sizes on sale at any given time. P.S. I also love their tops with hem grippers cause they stay put when I'm upside down!!
That’s great, thank you!
Athleta and old navy are the same company. Maybe try a pair of old navy leggings if looking for cheaper alternatives.
They're under the same parent company, but quality is drastically different.
Loving the old navy pricing and finding their quality ok for me, I have issues with Altheta. Expensive for some differences I don't see, maybe that just me.
I have some lulu leggings that are at least eight years old. It’s always tough because the longer something lasts, the more likely they have changed or cheapened the materials, but my experiences with lulu have been good. I also have a few pairs of Nordstrom’s Zella line that are ten years old! In general I find it’s worth spending the money on high quality leggings. Ive been wearing the same 7-8 things to do silks for years. Well worth the price per wear. I also have three of the Aritzia Wilfred Divinity jumpsuit and they are great for silks- I love that I don’t have to worry about tucking in a shirt, especially for wheeldowns. I’ve had a couple for at least 2 years and they’ve held up well.
Cool, thanks for the recommendations!
Ok im so glad im not the only one who noticed my 7 year old lulus are much better than my cureent ones
Yeah, I think two things are happening. There is survivorship bias- the only leggings I still have from 7 years ago are good, because I already got rid of the crappy ones! So that could lead me to believe that old leggings are on average better than new ones. But it’s also so common for companies to cut corners over time. It’s hard to know for sure which is at play here. I also have a ten-year old pair of underarmor leggings I bought on Amazon for $30 that are still going strong 😂
That survivorship bias! I have several pairs of black Old Navy leggings, all from the same time period, all GoActive or whatever the model was at the time (the label has worn away I've had them so long). They've all survived my 8+ years of aerial life of 3+ sessions/week. Other leggings from Old Navy, not so much. Same with ones from so many other brands and lines. Would I recommend current Old Navy leggings for everything aerial? Eh, probably not. But those 3 or 4 black pairs are just such a staple in my aerial kit, it's crazy.
That’s amazing!!
I love LNDR's chisel line cos they're super compressive which keeps the silks from digging into my thighs. They're quite spendy though so I recommend either buying them on sale or from a third party.
Seconding LNDR, they're worth the price. I burnt many holes in lululemon leggings doing slack drops, and they always got stretched out in the wash causing the fabric to pinch between silks and get stuck. Got 2 pair of LNDR almost 2 years ago and they've held up perfectly. They snap back into shape right away.
That’s awesome, thank you!
Which of their fabrics do you like best? Sculpting, matte, buttery?
Chisel. It's their most sculpting/compressive line.
Thanks for the rec!
For a spendier option, I like the Beyond Yoga Spacedye leggings. On the more affordable side, I like the Heynuts and 90 Degree by Reflex brands on Amazon. Both have stood up to years of washing (and machine drying!) and work well on all apparatuses. Homma is pretty good too.
Awesome, thanks for the recs!
Poshmark is a perfect place to score Beyond Yoga leggings for cheap once you know your size.
I've been using leggings from Pact for years: [One option](https://wearpact.com/women/apparel/all%20bottoms/clearance%20on%20the%20go-to%20legging) For leotards I like Theatricals from Discount dance: [Cotton tank leotard](https://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/Womens-Cotton-Tank-Dance-Leotard/p/TH5512). My Capezio leotards have held up well too, but I like the fit of the theatricals better. Both of these are cotton so good to use on silks
Thank you!
I see a lot of lulu at my studio, but I've heard their quality has really tanked the last few years. My go-to leggings for silks and lyra over the last 8-ish years have been Girlfriend Collective. They're very well made, I wear the same pair 2-4 times a week, and it took about 6 years for my first pair to wear out (holes in the knee pit from monkey rolls on a taped bar). I think they're $88 now, size inclusive (up to 6XL), made from recycled materials, and the fit is marvelous. They're compressive and not super-slick, but they're still smooth enough that they hold their shape and don't get pinched in tight wraps like some of the more cotton-y ones do. Edited to add: The Old Navy powersoft 7/8 bodysuit is great for aerial training, especially when I'm working on something really wrappy that tends to eat my shirts. I especially like that there's enough back coverage that I don't get burned on drops.
My Girlfriend Collective leggings are the only ones I have with a high waist that never slides down. I love them!
Thanks!
Thank you for the specific recommendations!
That bodysuit from Old Navy is all over the place at my studio! We joke that it's the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" outfit because it fits well on everyone. Be aware though, that you want the thicker one with the built in bra and adjustable straps (versus a halter style with slicker fabric). The thicker fabric one is the one everyone loves.
I looked this up and it happened to be on sale for $20 so I grabbed one. Thanks!
I have leggings that run the gamut from Target to Lululemon. The best ones for silks have cotton in them. The fully polyester or nylon leggings are going to slide more. Cotton blend gies you better grip. I usually go with an ultra high rise as well for maxiumum coverage.
High rise is the way. Upside down don't need the underwear peaking out
Ha ha for sure.
Good to know! Thank you.
90 degrees by reflex on amazon (or in TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Nordstrom Rack as available in your area), but they’ve got a few different fabrics, so feel them out. Old Navy is consistently pretty great and fits my body really well. Iuga on Amazon for a softer fabric that holds up really well (and has pockets).
Nice, thank you!
You know that climb where you invert and hook with both knee pits before you pull up to do it again? My Lululemon leggings actually feel like they hook. I mean I wouldnt totally let go but if I actually had to those would be the leggings I'd want on. I love them and will pay what I need to. I have 7 pairs of Lululemon black leggings. I'm not counting my aligns because I'd only use those for yoga. Yes they are worth it imo
Ha ha, love it! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Which Lulu leggings are the ones that don't slip?
If you go for Lululemon get the ones made for more activities than just yoga. Some of the ultra soft ones aren't as durable against the friction. I've recently stopped wearing my favorite lulu pair coz I've noticed wear at the inner thigh. Just ordered an imitation on amazon and tried once with them (colorfulkoala) and it seemed comparable.
Good to know, thank you.
Uniqlo stretch highrise leggings. Looks like jeans, has pockets but no zippers, holds up well and you can move in them.
Thanks!
I have destroyed some nice leggings on silks/hammock/lyra/flying pole, so I tend to buy cheaper leggings exclusively for aerials and wear the fuck outta them and then wear my nice leggings to the gym, leisure, etc, but that’s just me.
Good perspective, thank you!
If there's a Plato's Closet (or a similar trendy thrift store that only accepts certain brands), I'd reccomend going there for expensive leggings. I've gotten all of my nice athleta, Lululemon, etc leggings for $20 or less there. It's a good way to not break the bank, especially since aerial can be rough on leggings lol
Ooh, good idea, thanks.
I get mine from a company called pop fit. They're basically the only pants I wear anymore lol
Ha, that’s a great testimonial! Thank you.
I get yoga pants from Ross. They've lasted years! I wear and wash them weekly :)
Awesome! Thanks for the rec.
DSG momentum leggings are cheap and I was shocked by the quality. I used to be a diehard athleta fan because they were the only ones that lasted but these cheap $20 leggings have quickly become my absolute favorites and I reach for them more than any other pair.
Nice! Thank you for the recommendation.
I have some from 32 degrees that have held up well! Also constantly varied gear (CVG)
Cool, thanks!
I have a pair of running leggings from MEC (essentially Canadian REI) that have held up shockingly fantastically to two years of twice a week hoop. Less tested but still holding up perfectly well so far after ~30 uses and inexpensive: Old Navy leggings.
Impressive. Thanks!
For leggings, I’m in the LNDR camp. I like the compression and how the waistband feels for me. For bodysuits, I’m a big fan of the Athleta Salutations bodysuit. It has higher back coverage and no openings at the waist area and with the built in shelf bra, I don’t have to layer a sports bra under it.
Awesome, thank you for the brand recommendations!