Lululemon Align Leggings Review: ‘Buttery soft’
They’re beloved by millions, but are they really worth the hype? From someone who lives in leggings, here’s my honest take.
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I don’t mean to reveal too much about myself, but I live in leggings.
When I am not in the office or out to dinner (yes, they’re the main two outside activities I do), I’m wearing leggings.
Working from home? In leggings. Running errands? In leggings. Grabbing a coffee or brunch with friends? In leggings. Lounging on the couch watching TV? Yeah, I’m in leggings. And of course if I’m out for a walk, working out at the gym, or attending a yoga or pilates class, I’ll be in leggings – which, you know what, I guess is what they’re intended for.
I say all this so you know that I demand a lot from my leggings. Over the years, I’ve tried many pairs from many different brands and I’m lucky that there are so many affordable options available. My go-tos at the moment are Lorna Jane’s best-selling Lotus Leggings (read the shopping team’s road test on them here) which are frequently on sale, and Rockwear’s Luxesoft Pocket Full Length Tights – both are inexpensive yet quality leggings.
But there’s one pair of leggings I’ve yet to try: lululemon’s super popular Align leggings. Yes, I’ve heard the hype. How could you not? At every yoga class I spy the activewear brand’s signature logo on at least five women. For me, I couldn’t quite justify the price tag, with the Align leggings collection ranging from $119 to $149, depending on the colour, print or style.
It’s certainly a lot for a pair of leggings when there are many, many great leggings out there.
But when not one but two of my colleagues kept raving about them to me, not to mention the thousands of five-star reviews online and the 11.6 million views on #lululemonalignleggings on TikTok, I knew I needed to get my hands on a pair of the famous lululemon Aligns to see if they were really worth the money. Here’s my honest opinion on them.
Pros
+ Buttery soft and breathable fabric
+ Very comfortable
+ Stretchy but retains shape
+ Minimal seams
+ Long lasting
+ Inclusive sizing
+ Versatile, can be worn for all low-impact activities
Cons
– Expensive
– Not suitable for high-impact workouts
THE FIT
I got a pair of the lululemon Align High-Rise Pant 25” in black and when I slipped them on for the first time, it honestly blew my mind. They fit so perfectly. No yanking and tugging up restrictively tight leggings to sit right. They were just so damn comfortable. I imagine this is how Cinderella felt when she tried on her glass slipper – it really felt like these leggings were made for me and my body.
A big game has been talked about Align’s next-to-nothing feeling Nulu fabric and I have to agree that the leggings are just so ridiculously buttery soft, light and weightless. It doesn’t chafe or rub, yet they somehow are still supportive without being restrictive? It’s magic I tell you.
Just a PSA: lululemon clothing comes in US sizing so reminder to not accidentally get the wrong size! In general, US sizing is two sizes smaller than Australian sizing. If you’re not sure what your size is, there’s a handy feature on the website “What’s my size?” which asks you several questions to determine your correct sizing.
Some reviewers have noted that the Aligns can run a little big as they’re stretchy, so size down if you prefer your leggings fitted and tight or if you’re in between sizes. I got my standard size (I’m a size 12 so got the size 8) as I don’t like my leggings too tight and they fit like a glove.
Lululemon Align leggings also come in a variety of lengths: 21 inch, 23 inch, 25 inch, 28 inch and styles: High-Rise with Pockets, Ribbed High-Rise, High-Rise Wide-Leg, Super High-Rise and V-Waist Crop. For reference, I’m 169cm and opted for the 25 inch length, which sits in the perfect spot for me just above my ankles.
Psst – did you know lululemon offer complimentary hemming on tops and pants in all their stores? So if you’re not happy with the length of your leggings, you can get them taken up.
HOW DO LULULEMON ALIGN LEGGINGS STACK UP IN ACTION?
The Align leggings are known for being designed for yoga and I can confirm they are indeed excellent for yoga classes. The breathable four-way stretch fabric means you can move easily and freely through the various yoga poses without worrying about your leggings moving. Which is exactly what you want when practising yoga.
But these leggings are so comfortable that you’ll want to wear them everywhere. I wore them to reformer pilates classes, on walks, while out and about running errands and when working whole days from home. In every single scenario, they’ve been a dream to wear. I barely had to adjust them, they did not budge and just stayed put. Nothing dug in or felt restrictive, even in the tummy area when I was sitting or bending.
These leggings are also very flattering – it’s a lovely high-rise waist that sits just right and a material that hugs you in all the right places but importantly, doesn’t cling. It honestly doesn’t feel like you’re wearing leggings at all.
These are a great everyday pair of leggings that work for pretty much every low-impact activity. I’d say that the Aligns are likely not the best for super high-impact or high-sweat exercises like strength training or running where you might want more support. Other than that though? The lululemon Align leggings have shot up the ranks to be my new favourites (sorry other leggings).
ARE LULULEMON ALIGN LEGGINGS WORTH IT?
The short answer: Yes. They really are. And although they are expensive, I am forced to admit they are worth every cent. They may even be my all-time favourite leggings now. You can really feel and see the superior quality of these leggings and the comfort is unmatched. They’ll also last you forever. My colleagues – Best Of Editor Hannah Paine and e-Commerce Editorial Coordinator Philippa Tonkin – have had their lululemon Align leggings for years now and they’ve kept their shape after many wears and washes.
Rather than constantly replacing cheap pairs that pill, lose shape or might not fit quite right, if you think of the lululemon Aligns as an investment into quality activewear, as well as the cost per wear, you’ll definitely be getting your money’s worth.
But I know it’s a lot to fork out especially in this cost of living *gestures vaguely to everything* climate we’re living in, so I’d highly recommend the affordable CRZ leggings which thousands of reviewers – including Hannah Paine – say is a “perfect dupe” for the lululemon leggings. Read our review of it here or get the CRZ leggings here.
CRZ YOGA Naked Feeling High Waist Leggings
More Best Leggings Coverage:
Best women’s leggings for walking, lifting weights and running
Best leggings with pockets for women to buy
If you love a discount, make sure you stop by news.com.au Coupons. You’ll find impressive deals across categories from homewares to tech, on brands including THE ICONIC and Myer.
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