It is very often that we see the terms yoga pants vs leggings used interchangeably. That explains the confusion created around the difference between these two types of clothing.
Not only are leggings and yoga pants different in materials, but they are also used for different purposes.
If you think of this as unrequired nit-picking, just try to do a full leg workout while wearing outdoor leggings. Soon you’ll notice it’s not as comfortable, as they are see-through and not as stretchy.
But – how do you know which is which? With so many different legging and yoga pants options out there, it’s hard to know which one you’re buying.
To help you with that, we will look at some of the main differences between these two pieces of clothing. Join us as we explore how to make the most of both.
Yoga Pants vs Leggings Difference
People usually think of these two garments as those with the same looks and purposes. However, the truth lies so much further than that.
When we compare yoga pants vs leggings, we will soon notice that originally both were made to be used for different purposes.
For example, leggings are not made to be worn during any exercise. Their original purpose is to act as an added covering of the legs, worn alone or beneath the pants.
That means that the leggings are supposed to protect the wearer from the cold weather. That also explains the fact that the leggings are skin-tight.
The purpose of the leggings has since developed, and now we have a plethora of fashionable choices to choose from.
Not only that, but the leggings are now a regular part of the casual-type clothing. Women wear leggings during daily activities, like grocery shopping, walking a dog, or going to the doctors’ appointments.
What makes leggings so popular is that they pair really well with other clothing items and provide a great level of comfort.
On the other hand, yoga pants are designed to wear during yoga classes or other forms of exercise. Compared to leggings, they are usually made from a quite thicker material.
The thickness of the material doesn’t restrict the flexibility of the movement. In contrast, it allows the wearer to do the yoga poses or exercise without worrying the pants will get transparent when stretched.
Yoga pants are not always skin-tight, although this version of yoga pants is the one that gained the most popularity. Flared yoga pants, or the ones that widen progressively from the waist down, allow for effortless movement during yoga.
Another point of distinction is the wide waistband that yoga pants have, but leggings don’t.
Difference Between Yoga and Exercise
Often when we talk about proper exercise clothing, we also use some general terms for all sorts and forms of “exercises”. But – what do we mean when we say that certain garment is better for daily wear other than exercise?
To clarify, we need to quickly explain the difference between yoga vs gym or other forms of exercise.
In yoga, what is required is a certain range of motion in order to do the yoga poses properly. This is why yoga pants are more comfortable to wear than casual leggings.
Yoga pants are very flexible, so they adjust better to your body movements. They are often made of thicker materials that are not see-through and can absorb sweat.
Some women have even started wearing yoga pants as casual wear due to them being so comfortable. This added to the confusion behind the difference between these two garments.
When we say “exercise”, we typically refer to all sorts of gym exercises, including weight training and cardio exercises.
Gym training also requires you to have proper clothing in order to focus better and not get injured. [1] Just imagine the difference between working out in yoga pants vs in jeans!
That being said, yoga pants are meant for both yoga and other gym exercises. In yoga, they allow a full range of motion and comfort.
In other forms of exercise, such as weight training, yoga pants won’t rip easily. They will instead absorb the sweat without staining and won’t become transparent when you do your squats!
Yoga Pants for Women
Yoga pants are the best option for any kind of athletic activity or exercise.
They are made from quality sweat-wicking fabric, which provides you with ultimate comfort during exercises. This includes both yoga and other forms of exercise, such as weight training.
The fabric of which yoga pants are made is doubled in many areas of yoga pants, especially the waist. This provides you with added support during exercise, as it prevents slipping and keeps them in place.
Yoga pants also come in different designs and lengths. You can find the skin-tight ones, as well as the flared ones, cropped, or ankle-length ones.
The mix of these advantages has made yoga pants a sort of an alternative to today’s pants. That’s why it’s very common to see people wearing yoga pants outdoors – even if they’re not practicing yoga!
A lot of companies have recognized this shift in fashion and a need for a garment both for workouts and everyday activities. This is exactly where the term Yoga leggings appeared.
Yoga leggings are also yoga pants but are skin-tight from the waist o the ankles. Otherwise, when we speak of yoga pants, we include all other designs of yoga pants.
Advantages of Yoga Pants
- More Comfortable – With thicker quality fabric, waistband, and hugging the legs all the way to the ankles, yoga pants are more comfortable than leggings.
- Not See-through – A thicker fabric of yoga pants is usually combined with different materials, which makes them denser when stretched.
- Thicker Material – The thicker material of yoga pants only makes them more flexible for workouts or yoga.
- Stays In Place – The thicker and longer waistband on yoga pants provides extra support, so they don’t move during your exercises.
- Not Restrictive – Even though yoga pants are visibly denser than leggings, they still provide a great range of movement.
- Good Wicking Properties – With yoga pants of high-quality material, you won’t have embarrassing sweat stains even after a workout.
- Last Longer – Yoga pants are designed specifically to endure wear and tear during exercises, so they last longer than leggings in general.
Disadvantages of Yoga Pants
- More Expensive – The only disadvantage of yoga pants is that they are more expensive than leggings due to their more quality material and design.
However, they do last longer, so you get your money’s worth in the long run. [2]
Yoga Pants Material & Length
Not only do yoga pants come in various styles, but they also come in different materials and lengths. Generally speaking, yoga pants are always made from thicker material compared to leggings, which are thinner.
Yoga Pants Materials: Yoga pants are made from nylon, polyester, wool, Lycra spandex, blends of cotton, and sometimes some other stretchy materials. Usually, this is a synthetic polyester that makes yoga pants sweatproof and smooth.
It’s only fair to mention that these materials are the ones to look for when buying activewear. [3]
Yoga Pants Length: Yoga pants usually cover the whole leg, no matter the style. There are more flare yoga pants and also skin-tight ones available. They also have a thicker waistband for added support.
QUICK TIP: Avoid mixing yoga with other dark clothes during washes and only wash them in cold water.
Leggings for Women
Leggins were first used in order to keep the body warm during cold weather. Even today, they can still be used for that purpose if you wear them beneath the pants during winter.
With fashion choices changing over time, different styles of leggings were made. Nowadays, women wear leggings during everyday activities, as they are very comfortable.
Leggings are widely considered a comfortable, stretchy, and thin fabric of clothing, which is what made them popular in the first place.
During cold weather, you can wear leggings underneath the pants or jeans in order to keep warm. During hot weather, you can wear leggings instead of pants or a skirt.
Leggings are usually thin enough to wear even during hot summer days. Additionally, they provide a more sleek, elegant look than jeans or other pants.
Workout Leggings vs Regular Leggings
There’s a variety of women’s leggings similar to yoga leggings. They are called Workout Leggings or sometimes Activewear Leggings.
Yoga leggings and workout leggings appeared because of a need for a garment used both in activewear and during exercise.
Yoga leggings are a type of yoga pants that are skin-tight.
On the other hand, workout leggings are a type of leggings made for performance-driven exercises. This makes them a type that is quite different from regular leggings, which are not meant for exercise at all.
Workout or active leggings are made from very durable material, which oftentimes doubles in certain places. They are meant to be worn during high-performance exercises, as they are also sweat-wicking and skin-tight.
Advantages of Leggings
- Thin – Everybody needs some thin and easy-going garments they can just throw on when doing some errands.
- Comfortable – Even though not designed for exercise, leggings are comfortable, which is exactly what made them popular in the first place.
- For Everyday Wear – The difference between yoga pants vs leggings is also that you can’t really wear yoga pants anywhere.
In contrast, you can wear leggings anywhere and also combine them really easily with other pieces of clothing. [4]
- Cheap – Leggings are considerably cheaper compared to yoga pants and even some other items of clothing.
- Warms During Winter – If you’ve ever worn leggings beneath the pants during winter, you know what this is about. There are also yoga pants with a thin layer of faux fur on the inside.
- A Plethora of Different Style Options – Leggings come in a huge variety of different styles, prints, and colors. They are very easy to fit anyone’s style.
Disadvantages of Leggings
- Don’t Last as Long – Leggings tend to not last as long as yoga pants, as they are made from regular material, not the one able to withstand tear in the long run.
- See-through – Leggings are definitely see-through when the fabric is stretched during workouts (especially when doing squats).
- Not Meant For Exercising – That being said, leggings are definitely not meant for exercising, but for casual everyday wear.
- Has a Tendency to Move/Slip – Another reason why leggings are not meant for athletic activities is that they can slip and move easily, providing discomfort.
Leggings Material & Length
Fashion leggings come in a variety of different styles and colors. Typically, they are definitely thinner than the average yoga pants.
They are not meant to be worn during exercises but during everyday activities or as loungewear.
Leggings Materials: Leggings are made from a blend of synthetic materials, such as polyester, spandex, nylon, recycled polyester, and sometimes even faux leather. [5]
The blend of these materials usually makes leggings tighter than yoga pants.
Leggings Length: Leggings are always skin-tight, with ankle-length and full-length leggings being the most popular ones.
QUICK NOTE: Turn the leggings inside-out when washing them in order to avoid any tear and color loss.
Final Thoughts
With the expansion of fast fashion, a lot of companies released their versions of leggings and yoga pants. This made a lot of women confused about which garment is appropriate for loungewear and which one is suitable for exercise.
Hopefully, the difference between yoga pants vs leggings is no longer the point of confusion!
Now you know that yoga pants are designed specifically for exercises such as weight training or yoga practice. On the other hand, different features of leggings make them only suitable for everything outside of exercise.