‘So comfy’: Lorna Jane Lotus leggings review

More than 1.4 million pairs of these leggings have sold since they were launched in 2017. So how good are they?

7 min read

September 14, 2023 - 2:14PM

The news.com.au checkout team trial Lorna Jane's best-selling Lotus Leggings. Picture: news.com.au Melody Teh/Marina Tatas

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You know how everyone has an activewear brand they swear by? Well for me, it’s Lorna Jane.

I’m a big Lorna Jane fan from way, way back. It would now be over 10 years ago but I remember purchasing my first Lorna Jane pieces – a hot pink longline racerback singlet and tiny short shorts. Don’t judge, it was the height of fashion back then.

Those two pieces lasted me for years and since then I have continued to visit Lorna Jane whenever I am in need of quality activewear.

I find their clothing top-notch, able to withstand continuous wears and washes whether it be for the gym, running, yoga and pilates or general slothing about the house.

Right now, my favourites are the Amy Full Length Tech Leggings, the Amy Tech Bike Short (both have side pockets, important to me!) and the Compress & Compact Sports Bra (so comfy but very supportive).

But despite my professed Lorna Jane fandom, I have never tried the cult favourite Lotus leggings.

The Lotus leggings have been Lorna Jane’s number one bestseller since its launch in 2017. Since then, Lorna Jane has sold more than 1.4 million pairs and they currently sell one pair every minute. On the Lorna Jane website, the Lotus leggings have a rating of 4.6 out of 5, with over a thousand five star reviewers raving about them.

ON SALE

Lorna Jane Lotus Ankle Biter Leggings

I knew I had to try these fan favourite leggings and recruited two other members of the news.com.au checkout team, all with different requirements and activity levels, to see if these leggings lived up to the hype and to help you decide if they’re right for you. Here’s what we had to say.

Side note – We all tried the OG Lorna Jane Lotus Ankle Biter Leggings, but they come in four lengths: 3/4 length, 7/8 length, ankle biter length and full length.

There are also Thermal (a fleece lining for chilly days) and No Chafe (no internal leg seam for ultimate comfort) versions. Oh, they’ve also released Lotus leggings with no logo on it to make styling even easier.

TRIED AND TESTED BY MELODY TEH, DEPUTY EDITOR

The Lorna Jane Lotus Leggings are hands down the most comfortable leggings I own. Picture: news.com.au/Melody Teh

The Lorna Jane Lotus Leggings are definitely squat-proof. Picture: news.com.au/Melody Teh

First things first, finding the right size of leggings was so easy to do on the Lorna Jane website. They have a helpful tool called “Find My Size” where you choose your body shape, your standard size, and your height to get the right result. It takes the guesswork completely out of it and ensures you get the right size for you.

I have to warn you though when you first get your Lotus leggings they will look tiny. You may ask yourself as I did, “Are these child’s leggings?” But trust me, they do soften and stretch after a couple of wears, and then mould to your butt and legs in all the right places.

I’ve been wearing the Lotus leggings to absolutely everything for the past two months – to weight workouts at the gym, to yoga classes, to runs (okay more like jogs), and also during WFH days and out to brunch with my girlfriends. And I have to say, these leggings are a great all-rounder. The fabric is super soft and buttery and the waist is nice and high but not too restrictive or compressive. The leggings feel great on, almost like a second skin, making them comfortable enough to wear all day if you wanted to.

I was afraid that the leggings wouldn’t be squat-proof as the material is just so soft and stretchy, but after I asked my personal trainer to stare at my butt while I did a series of (too heavy) squats, she confirmed they were not see-through at all. Phew. I can also confirm they don’t ride up or down, one of my biggest gripes with leggings when practising yoga. They just stay put as they should.

I now understand why these leggings are Lorna Jane’s number one bestseller (although my one grumble is they don’t have a side pocket, but I have other leggings for that!). The Lotus leggings have easily slotted into my rotation of leggings and I find myself reaching for them more often than not. I’m not lying when I say they’re so comfortable you’ll live in them.

Coming in at just under $100 (plus, they’re usually on sale so keep a look out), I highly recommend snapping up a pair up – they may just be the only pair of leggings you need.

TRIED AND TESTED BY MARINA TATAS, SHOPPING WRITER

Marina out for a walk on the weekend in her Lorna Jane Lotus Leggings. Picture: news.com.au/Marina Tatas

The Lorna Jane Lotus Ankle Biter Tights are unlike any other legging I’ve tried before – and as an avid gym-goer and daily walker, I own and wear a lot of leggings (STAX and Gymshark being my top two brands).

Easily my favourite thing about these Lorna Jane leggings – and what sets them apart from other brands – is the material. They are incredibly soft, offering a unique soft matte texture that feels super comfortable all day long.

While I wouldn’t say they are the best kind of tights for a high-impact workout or intense run, they are fantastic to wear if you work from home, while you’re running errands, on a casual Sunday lunch date (as pictured above) or for low-impact activities.

If you’re wondering how they perform in the gym, the leggings are certainly squat proof and held up pretty well during my weight training workout. They sit pretty high waisted on me and I really did love the slight compression in the wide waist band as it made me feel super snatched and secure. Plus it did not budge once during my workout – win!

I will say that because of how buttery soft the material is (painful, I know), you do need to be mindful of what kind of underwear you wear as they can sometimes show more than you’re asking to show.

In terms of washing, I’ve washed my leggings a few times now – just on a normal cycle – and they have still kept their shape, looking as good as new.

TRIED AND TESTED BY HARRIET AMURAO, SHOPPING WRITER

Harriet walking her dogs in the Lorna Jane Lotus Leggings. Picture: news.com.au/Harriet Amurao

Harriet says the Lorna Jane Lotus leggings are “perfect for all-round wear”. Picture: news.com.au/Harriet Amurao

As someone who doesn’t necessarily workout, investing in good quality activewear is something I don’t think about. I usually opt for cheap pairs that may not be the most durable for working out but are good enough for a couch potato like me to lounge around in.

Even during lockdown when everyone was in their ‘fitness era’, I did YouTube workouts in my room in thick AF $10 leggings that weren’t squat proof, breathable or moisture-wicking. And it was hell.

While I don’t workout like I used to, I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I live a sedentary lifestyle. I get my dose of physical activity by walking. Whether it be my daily walks, walking to the bus stop, train station or shops, or walking my dogs – that’s really it as far as my physical activity goes.

So when I was given the opportunity to try out the famous Lotus Ankle Biter Leggings from Lorna Jane, I was stoked. I got them in a size XS and they fit like a glove – seriously. They sit high-rise on me and just like ‘ankle biter’ in the name suggests, they crop right at my ankle and I’m roughly 5’6”.

While I can’t say much about its durability and performance for workouts, I can say that these leggings are insanely comfortable, stretchy, breathable and feel like second skin.

I wear these babies while walking my dogs, running errands, lounging around, working from home and even to sleep (don’t judge me) and I seriously don’t feel hot, stuffy or uncomfortable at all – plus the waist stays up!

They’re supportive without feeling restrictive, super flattering, buttery soft and just perfect for all-round wear.

For someone who *never* invests in activewear, I think these leggings are worth it especially if you think about the cost per wear and quality.

ARE LORNA JANE LOTUS LEGGINGS SQUAT-PROOF?

Yes, they are. The Lorna Jane Nothing 2 See Here fabric that the Lotus Leggings are made of offers complete coverage. Furthermore, I and Marina tested it at the gym and can confirm they are indeed squat proof.

WHAT MATERIALS ARE LORNA JANE LOTUS LEGGINGS MADE FROM?

The Lorna Jane Lotus Leggings are made of their signature Nothing 2 See Here fabrication, comprising of 71 per cent polyester and 29 per cent elastane.

The high elastane content means the fabric moulds to your body and the brushed finish provides great coverage. The material is lightweight, soft, moisture-wicking, with a matte finish.

HOW SHOULD I CARE FOR AND WASH MY LORNA JANE LEGGINGS?

According to the Lorna Jane website, they advise you to check the individual care labels as washing instructions do vary between styles. However, the advice is to cold wash activewear in a wash bag with same colours, air or line dry in the shade and under no circumstances, to tumble dry the leggings.

All three of us found the leggings very easy to care for and did not require any special care. After a couple of months of wearing the leggings, they have maintained their shape and look brand new.

ARE LORNA JANE LOTUS LEGGINGS SUITABLE FOR ALL WORKOUTS, SOME WORKOUTS OR JUST CASUAL WEAR?

The Lorna Jane leggings are suitable for all workouts and casual wear. All three of the news.com.au checkout team wore them to workout at the gym, various gym classes, walking, running as well as out casually walking or running errands.