Buying guide for Best leggings with pockets for women
Leggings can be styled in countless ways, making them nothing short of a wardrobe staple. Comfortable and versatile, they’re easily a favorite garment for many women. And now they’ve become even more appreciated in their newest iteration: leggings with pockets.
While it might be hard to believe that a form-fitting garment like leggings can have functional pockets, it’s possible through smart design. Many of these styles employ the snug fit of leggings to better secure items like phones while wearers are active. Not only do they hold items in place, but they also streamline the body to eliminate bumps and lumps where they don’t belong.
If you’re ready to invest in leggings with pockets, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at some key features. To keep your search simple, we’ve assembled this buying guide covering popular styles, features, and other essential information as you shop for these unique designs.
Key considerations
Pockets vs. no pockets
While it seems like the main difference between regular leggings and leggings with pockets is quite obvious, there are key differences in their construction as well.
Generally speaking, the material used for leggings with pockets is often much thicker than that used for regular leggings. This is to ensure that the material has adequate tensile strength, which refers to how much stretch material can sustain without tearing. As expected, seams are usually fairly well reinforced in these styles, too.
Leggings with pockets often have more panels than regular leggings, too. Panels are the individual pieces that are sewn together to form a garment, and more panels give garments more flexibility and structural integrity. While this makes leggings stronger, some wearers feel they can create an unflattering silhouette.
Another major difference between the styles is that leggings with pockets are harder to find than regular leggings. They’re rapidly growing in popularity, but regular leggings take the lead in availability and selection simply because they’ve been on the market longer.
Quality
Like any article of clothing, leggings with pockets are hit or miss when it comes to quality. Here are a few key indicators to look for.
Stretchiness: One of the most telling signs of well-made leggings is how stretchy the pocket is. If it feels somewhat thin or stretches too much, it won’t be effective at holding onto items.
Durability: The material should be opaque and not sheer. Opaque leggings are thicker with a tighter weave, while sheer leggings are thin and revealing and usually fall apart after a few wears.
Design: Each pocket should be located in a reasonable location. If it’s too close to a joint, such as the knee or hip, there’s a good chance that items may slip out of the pocket when you bend or kneel.
If your regular phone case is too bulky to fit inside the pockets, consider investing in a low-profile case for a better fit.
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Features
Pockets
Front waistband: The most common pocket location on leggings is hidden inside the waistband. These pockets are smooth when they’re empty, and many wearers say they barely notice their presence. These tiny pockets don’t hold much more than a key or lip balm, though, so these leggings aren’t ideal if you’re looking to store larger items like a phone or media player.
Rear waistband: There are a few styles of leggings that have pockets in the rear waistband. In many designs, the pockets are large enough to hold a phone. To keep the pocket secure while you exercise, it’s common for it to have a zipper closure. However, one of the pitfalls of this is that larger phones won’t fit in these pockets, nor will a phone inside a bulky case.
Thigh: Many pockets are located on the outside of the thigh, mostly because they’re easy to access and items can lie flat inside them. They’re either positioned vertically or angled to account for natural movement. Of all the possible pocket locations on leggings, these are considered the most functional since they’re spacious enough to hold a larger phone.
DID YOU KNOW?
Always empty the pockets of your leggings before you launder them. Otherwise, you could end up with melted lip gloss or water-damaged electronics.
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Accessories
Workout top: Under Armour Women’s Tech V-Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
Pair your leggings with a comfortable workout top like this one from Under Armour. It has four-way stretch and wicks away moisture to keep you cool and comfy during the toughest workouts.
Sports bra: Champion Women’s Freedom Seamless Racerback Sports Bra
Look no further for a supportive sports bra that contours to your body for a smooth, streamlined fit. This seamless design, which is available in ten colors, has an inner bra and a wide band to minimize movement.
Seamless underwear: Fruit of the Loom Women’s Seamless Panties
Get rid of unwanted panty lines beneath your leggings with these seamless panties from a much-loved brand. They’re made with 360° stretch material and have irritation-free seams to eliminate chafing.
Leggings with pockets prices
Leggings with pockets for women cost between $18 and $140. The price depends on the quality of construction and materials.
Inexpensive: Basic leggings with pockets cost $18 to $32. More often than not, these styles only have a single pocket. Quality is hit or miss in this bracket, though the better styles feature thicker materials with a higher spandex content.
Mid-range: These leggings with pockets cost between $35 and $65. In this range, you’ll find a number of well-made styles from leading sportswear and athleisure brands. The pockets are well reinforced to secure items, and many styles have multiple pockets.
Expensive: The most expensive leggings with pockets cost $75 to $140, including styles from high-end brands. These leggings are all incredibly well made and designed to last much longer than cheaper competitors, though you could pay a premium simply because of the name.
Give your leggings with pockets a trial run at home before wearing them in the gym, studio, or outdoors. This will help you gauge exactly how secure the pockets are as you move.
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Tips
- Opt for touchless payment. To travel as light as possible, only pack your phone inside your leggings. If you switch to touchless payment options, you won’t need to carry credit cards with you.
- Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer. Small bottles of hand sanitizer fit inside leggings’ pockets. It’s a good idea to carry one with you, especially when passing through public areas or when using shared equipment in a gym or studio.
- Buy multiple pairs of the same style. Finding the perfect pair of leggings with pockets can be challenging. When you find ones that you like a lot, it’s a smart idea to invest in a few pairs, perhaps in different colors or designs.
- Avoid fabric softener. Leggings with pockets, like other leggings, are made of synthetic stretch materials. For that reason, refrain from washing them in fabric softener because the chemicals will degrade the materials.
- Don’t store keys in pockets. While the pockets are ideal for holding keys, the jagged edges may damage the material or rip open seams. If you must carry keys, stick to a single key and wrap it in a tissue to soften the edges.
FAQ
Q. Are leggings with pockets practical, or is it easier to use a fitness waist belt while I exercise?
A. Leggings with pockets are convenient if you like to travel light, especially if you’re working out and don’t want to carry excess baggage. However, some wearers find filled pockets bothersome and bulky, which is why they’re far more comfortable carrying items in other bags, like waist belts.
Q. Do the pockets have any closures?
A. The vast majority of pockets are open at the top, though there are a few premium styles that feature zipper, hook-and-loop, or snap closures. They’re convenient if you like the extra security during intense activity, though they add a bit more bulk to the leggings.
Q. Are leggings with pockets more durable than regular leggings?
A. To some extent, yes. This is mostly due to their more thoughtful construction with reinforced seams and thicker materials. However, there are plenty of regular leggings on the market that have quality just as good as — if not better than — leggings with pockets.
Q. Do leggings with pockets fit differently than regular leggings?
A. Because of the unique panel construction in leggings with pockets, some wearers feel the fit is much different from regular leggings. It’s quite common for these styles to run small or feel snug around certain seams.
