Leggings are an essential item in any active woman’s wardrobe. No matter what type of workout you prefer, seamless leggings are the comfort upgrade you didn’t realize you needed but won’t be able to live without after trying them. “Seamless leggings offer a more flattering silhouette and greater all-day comfort, making them easy to style beyond the gym,” says Elisabeth Kassab, a stylist. “I wear seamless activewear regularly for both movement and off-duty styling because of its smooth, second-skin fit and minimal, streamlined look.”
A seamless legging is simply made with fewer seams than a traditional legging, reducing the possibility of an irritating and uncomfortable camel toe or stitches that rub and pinch the side of your legs. Experts at the intersection of fitness and fashion explained what their favorite seamless leggings have in common and how to style them for the gym and beyond. From there, we discovered the best seamless leggings for a variety of activities, body types, and styles. View our top picks below.
Why We Love It: The Lululemon Align legging is a fitness industry standard, and the new seamless version is even easier to wear from the studio to the coffee shop or wherever your day takes you. These leggings, which have no front or side stitching, are so buttery smooth that you won’t notice they’re there. According to Antonia Iamartino, senior director of franchise innovations at Lululemon, the team created a completely new pattern and gusset construction to bring the Align No-Line High-Rise Pant to life. “[It] delivers the same next-to-nothing sensation and buttery-soft feel that guests love about our classic Align Pant coupled with the on-trend aesthetic they are seeking,” Iamartino tells me. “Like all Lululemon products, the secret sauce is our proprietary fabric innovations—in this case, our super-soft and stretchy Nulu fabric.”
Who It Is For: Lululemon’s Nulu fabric was created with low-impact activities in mind. However, New York City fitness instructor Gabby Andriello wears these leggings for everything from Pilates to spin classes, describing them as the “most comfortable leggings” in her closet.
Worth noting: Lululemon’s size chart runs small. If you have never purchased from the brand before, make sure to check it out before making a purchase to avoid having to return it.
Why We Love It: If you work out every day, you know how quickly your expensive workout sets can become dirty. Adding a few inexpensive options to your activewear drawer does not imply that you’re adding low-quality pairs to your rotation. This ultrasoft, lightweight option is the best seamless leggings on Amazon, with a similar feel to some of the more expensive pairs on the list. They are also available in a variety of inseam lengths, allowing you to find the perfect fit.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking to add a few pairs of leggings to your wardrobe for less than $100, these leggings are an excellent choice.
Worth noting: These leggings fit true to size, if a little large.
Why We Love It: These high-compression leggings come in a variety of inseam lengths, the shortest being 24.5 inches, which is slightly shorter than the petite length offered by other brands but makes all the difference. These leggings are made of Aerie’s most compressive fabric yet and are designed to keep you comfortable during long runs and strength sessions. The seamless bottom hem is ideal for tucking into socks on a chilly morning or before a Reformer Pilates class.
Who It’s For: Aerie’s seamless leggings hit just above the ankle, so you won’t have to worry about them bunching around your socks and shoes.
Worth Noting: If you prefer a less compressive legging but like the idea of this inseam length, size up for a more comfortable fit.
