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Yogini's Closet is almost one year old! I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me along this journey. At the end of the year, I would like to share my favorite, top rated yoga pants of 2017. Please note that my top picks are specific for yoga, which means they may not be the best choices for other activities like HIIT and vice versa.
YOGINI'S CLOSET - |
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Lululemon Align Crop 19" is crowned The Best Yoga Pant in 2017. Lululemon has never let me down except for those see-through pants back in 2013. Nulu fabric, part of Lululemon Naked Sensation, used on Align Crop is one of my favorite materials. It is buttery soft, four-way stretch, breathable, moisture wicking and fast dry. It covers everything I want for yoga and more.
When Lululemon advertises Next-To-Nothing feeling, they mean it. The flat, no dig high-waist style is perfect. It provides excellent support and coverage. Most importantly, it hides muffin top. A top rated legging not only has to perform well, it also needs to fit right and gives a flattering look. Lululemon Align Crop 19" hugs me well and enhances my body curvatures. It shapes and lifts all the right places of the body. Align Pant II 25" is also a top rated legging. I do not include it in the list here because it fits less than perfect compared to Crop 19" on my ankles (slight loose). If you are taller than me, you may find Align Pant II 25" a better fit. |
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Bottom Line
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Lululemon Align Crop 19" is made with one of the softest fabrics in the market, Nulu. The barely there sensation is unbeatable. It covers all the needs for yoga including performance, coverage, support and comfort.
No 2. Lululemon Wunder Under High-Rise Tight Nulux 28" ($128)
Overall Rating - 9.9 / 10
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My No. 2 pick is another Lululemon legging, Wunder Under High-Rise Tight Nulux 28". Nulux fabric is also part of Lululemon Naked Sensation in addition to Nulu. Nulux is sleek, while Nulu has cottony feel. Same as Nulu, Nulux is four-way stretch, breathable, sweat wicking and fast dry.
WU HR Tight Nulux 28" also has the flat, no dig wide waistband. It is comfortable and provides excellent coverage. Because of the sleek fabric, the waistband slides down occasionally. The legging is 100% opaque and constructed with flatlocking seams. Overall, WU HR Tight Nulux 28" gives a flattering look. Compared to HR WU Full-On Luxtreme (high compression fabric), it does not lift and shape the bum as nicely but still decent. One major complaint I have is the price. I don't understand why Nulux makes WU Tight costs $30 more. That's 30% more in price. It may be worth to mention that not all HR WU Tight Nulux 28" has a hidden pocket. For example, the pair I wear in the left picture, Entwind Ice Grey Black, does not have the pocket, while the other pair, Polychromatic, has one. |
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Bottom Line
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The soft and sleek Nulux fabric is designed to fit like a second skin. It is lightweight, quick-drying and sweat-wicking. There is no doubt on the performance of Lululemon WU HR Tight Nulux 28", but its high price makes it less than perfect.
No 3. Niyama Sol Beachcomber Crop ($84)
Overall Rating - 9.5 / 10
Note: 1) Niyama Sol Leggings run small, do order one size up. 2) The score is higher than what I previously published because of recent fabric improvements and new rating criterias.
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My third pick is Niyama Sol Beachcomber Crop. I've only known the brand for a year, but I've purchased 13 pairs from Niyama Sol (7 Crops and 6 Leggings). And more to be added. It is highly rated for the great performance, flattering fit and unique design. I appreciate Niyama Sol caring the enviornment and using RPET fabric for their leggings. Not only is RPET made out of recycled bottles, it is also soft, four-way stretch, moisture wicking and fast dry. The fabric is medium high compression, which works great for yoga and gym workouts. The tummy tucking waistband is comfortable and pinch free.
I believe Niyama Sol has made some improvements in RPET fabric lately. The fabric seems to be thicker on my recent purchased leggings. That said, few pairs (depending on patterns) still fail the "bend-over" test, which remains to be my biggest disappointment of their bottoms. Most prints come with two different lengths. I prefer Beachcomber Crop over Endless Legging because it fits better for my height and serves better for my practice. Niyama Sol's leggings run small, do order one size up. |
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Bottom Line
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Niyama Sol wins for their performance, flattering fit and unique design. They use RPET fabric that's cottony soft, four-way stretch, breathable, sweat wicking and fast dry. Although Niyama Sol makes improvements on the fabrics, not all prints pass the "bend-over" test.
No 4. Athleta High Rise Stripe Chaturanga Tight ($79)
Overall Rating - 9.5 / 10
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Next up is Athleta High Rise Stripe Chaturanga Tight. There are many different High Rise Chaturanga Tights from Athleta, such as Serpent, Shine, Floral Crush, Ripple, Jacquard, etc. The fabrics for each of them are different and I recommend Stripe Chaturanga Tight the most. Not only does it delivers the performance needed for yoga, but it also fits and looks the best (I've tried most Chaturanga Tights).
Altheta High Rise Stripe Chaturanga Tight is made with cottony soft Nylon and Lycra blend fabric. It is breathable and allows me to move freely. Although it is moisture wicking and fast dry, I feel Lululemon Naked Sensation fabrics and Niyama Sol RPET perform slightly better. The high rise style provides great support and keeps everything tucked in. It lifts the bum and creates longest and leggiest look. Besides the performance, fit and comfort I like about this legging, it is also reasonably priced, cheapest among the Top 5. Speaking of the fit, Athleta is the only brand that I know offers Petite and Tall sizes. This would address less than flattering look of the extra fabric gathering at my ankle. |
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Bottom Line
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Athleta High Rise Stripe Chaturanga Tight is most affordable legging among the Top 5. The fabric is cottony soft, similar to Lululemon Luon. It may not dry as fast as Nulu and Nulux, but it provides all the needs for yoga. It is also super flattering with great coverage and comfort.
No 5. Liquido Patterned Legging ($84)
Overall Rating - 9.3 / 10
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Liquido Patterned Legging is another top rated yoga pants in my list. It is quite popular in Ashtanga community because Kino Macgregor wears Liquido leggings a lot on her social media posts. Regardless, it's one of my favorites for yoga.
What impresses me the most is their super stretchy and soft fabric. It is light weight and low compression. It dries fast and wicks moisture. It is also breathable and very comfortable to wear. It can't be more perfect for yoga. Moreover, it's UVA and UVB protective. If you are bored with plain leggings like me, you will appreciate their limited edition prints, new prints every month. Besides the performance and comfort, it gives a flattering look too. For $84, I am disappointed by overlocking seams used on the legging with no gusset. Though it doesn't cause discomfort, overlocking seams always leave dent marks on my skin. The sign of seams being stretched out is noticeable too, but there is no impact on the performance or comfort. Liquido Patterned Legging is the only non high-waist legging in the Top 5. Surprisingly, it provides sufficient coverage and hides the muffin top. |
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Bottom Line
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The silky soft fabric used by Liquido is stretchy, moisture wicking, fast dry and UVA/UVB protective. It may not offer the best quality, such as the use of overlocking seams and no gusset, but it provides performance needed for yoga with comfort and a flattering look.
These are my 2017 top picks. All of them are still available, except some patterns I show here may have sold out. If you are ready to invest a quality legging, these would be my recommendations.
I will be traveling and taking a 2 week break.
Stay tun for upcoming Closet Unfold on Jan 13th, 2018.
Stay tun for upcoming Closet Unfold on Jan 13th, 2018.
I wish everyone Happy Holidays!
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