The Best Nike High-Waisted Leggings for Every Activity

Buying Guide

These Nike leggings comfortably hug your body as you move.

Last updated: November 18, 2022
4 min read
The Best Nike High-waisted Leggings for Every Activity

Slipping into a pair of leggings that you love can help provide comfort, support and confidence for any activity. High-rise styles stay put and provide ample coverage enabling the body to freely move. Check out what to look for when shopping for a pair, and find the best Nike high-waisted leggings styles to try, too.

What to Look For in a Pair of High-waisted Leggings

  1. 1.Pant Length

    Nike high-waisted leggings come in full-length and seven-eighths length styles. While the exact fit will vary from person to person, full-length styles are designed to hit near the ankle, while seven-eighths length leggings tend to reach the middle of the calf. The right choice for you will depend on your personal fit preferences and how much leg coverage you want.

  2. 2.Fabric

    When looking for leggings made with high-quality fabrics, be sure to put them through the squat test. In other words, when you put the leggings on, practice a deep squat or touch your toes in the mirror and make sure the material doesn’t reveal any skin or underwear. Nike styles, such as the non-sheer Nike Yoga Dri-FIT Luxe Infinalon Leggings, are designed to pass the squat test — and they’re made from a blend of nylon, spandex and polyester.

    If you plan to wear leggings to work out, look for ones made from materials that wick away sweat to keep the skin cool and dry, such as Nike Dri-FIT, which helps moisture quickly evaporate. If you’ll be wearing them in cold weather, go for Nike Therma-FIT leggings, which are designed to retain heat without feeling heavy.

  3. 3.Fit

    Leggings should feel tight and lightly compressive against the skin without digging into the waist or making it uncomfortable to move or breathe. Nike leggings come in styles from size XS to 3X, in addition to maternity sizing. The Nike One (M) High-Rise Maternity Leggings are designed to be flexible and to cover and support the baby bump — plus, they’re engineered to comfortably fit throughout pregnancy.

    Shop Nike Maternity Leggings

  4. 4.Pockets

    If you want convenient storage for essentials such as a phone, keys or card, opt for a pair of high-waisted leggings with low-profile pockets.

    Shop Nike High-waisted Leggings with Pockets

The Best Nike High-waisted Leggings by Activity

Yoga

Nike’s high-waisted yoga leggings, such as those in the Nike Yoga Luxe collection, are designed to hug the body with a sculpting waistband that sits right above the belly button. The non-sheer design encourages confident bends and stretches. The Nike Infinalon fabric is thinner, lighter and even stronger than Nike’s traditional yarns. This offers a gently compressive feel while keeping the skin dry as you breathe, stretch and hold a sequence of poses. Some styles feature a stirrup design over the feet with an opening for the heel, which may add a level of comfort and support during your practice.

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Lifestyle

For everyday wear and lounging, opt for a pair of Nike lifestyle leggings, such as the Nike Sportswear Essentials High-Rise Leggings. These are made from a high-quality blend of cotton, polyester and spandex. The contoured, high-rise design sits at the hips for body-conforming comfort, and a stretchy waistband provides a snug, comfortable feel. You’ll find styles from basic, all-black leggings to bold colors, all of which often come at a lower price point than Nike’s yoga or training leggings.

Training and Gym

This broad collection of leggings includes versatile styles that are built for gym workouts such as high-intensity interval training, weightlifting or CrossFit. Many styles made for tough workouts are designed with Nike Dri-FIT fabric to wick away sweat. For example, the Nike Pro Dri-FIT Leggings are stretchy and body-hugging at the same time, and the high waistband with Nike Pro elastic comfortably keeps the core covered as you bend, reach and move. Some styles use recycled polyester fibers, which are made from plastic bottles that are cleaned, shredded into flakes, converted into pellets, and then spun into a high-quality yarn.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Should Leggings Fit?
Leggings should feel tight and lightly compressive against the skin without digging into the waist or making it uncomfortable to move or breathe. Nike leggings come in styles from size XS to 3X, in addition to maternity sizing. For more information on size and fit, see Nike’s size charts.
Why Do My High-waisted Leggings Roll Down?
Poor-fitting leggings or leggings made with low-quality, thin fabrics may tend to fall or roll down as you move. To find a pair of leggings that will stay put, be sure you’re wearing the right size. Leggings should feel tight and lightly compressive against the skin without digging into the waist or making it uncomfortable to freely move and breathe. Also, look for high-quality fabrics, such as Nike Dri-FIT, and a snug, comfortable waistband.
What Does It Mean for Leggings To Be Squat-proof?
Squat-proof leggings are leggings that don’t become see-through as they stretch. To give a pair of leggings the squat test, put them on and practice a deep squat or touch your toes in the mirror. As you move, make sure the material doesn’t stretch too thin and show skin or underwear through the fabric.

Words by: Lindsay Frankel

Originally published: May 5, 2022