This Lululemon InStill High-Rise Tight 25” review is part of our 2022 SELF Certified Activewear Awards, where the leggings won Best Yoga Leggings. You can see the rest of our award winners here.
When looking for a high-functioning, reliable pair of leggings—especially with yoga in mind—Lululemon has long been a go-to brand. Though its price points tend to be on the higher-end of athleisure, SELF staffers and reviewers say by and large the investment in their apparel is generally worth it. The same holds true for the InStill High-Rise Tight: The leggings cost $118, which means they’re definitely an investment piece, but we’re here to report that, should you be looking to upgrade your activewear drawer or try a high-quality pair of leggings, these are truly sublime.
Lululemon also recently expanded the available sizing in these leggings up to a 20, which makes them more accessible for a variety of bodies. Read our SELF Certified review—and why we think these leggings are worth it—below.
How We Tested
We tested these Lululemon tights with yoga, yoga, and more yoga—specifically, yoga classes that ranged from 20- to 60-minutes and varied in intensity too. One tester also wore these leggings for a 60-minute dance-cardio class. In each scenario, our testers were tasked with comparing the leggings against our expert-informed criteria, elaborated upon in the categories below.
Waistband Fit and Comfort
These leggings have a nice, high waist, which is especially useful in an activity like yoga where you’re often bending, twisting, and inverting in ways that might cause a lower-waist pair of tights to shimmy down. Now, here’s the big question: Did the waistband on these pants roll down, as every yogi dreads? Nope! The InStill tights passed the security test for both of our testers. Neither tester reported any sagging or restrictive compression, either.
Fabric Quality
“The quality is amazing!” one tester, who wears a size 20, said. “You cannot see through them when stretching or squatting, and the fabric is supercomfortable on my skin.” Our other tester described this fabric as feeling like “heaven.” They’re a true yoga pant, so they’re certainly thicker than running tights, for example, but they still manage to have a barely-there, second-skin feel. They’re soft, oh-so-flexible, breathable, and non-constrictive.
Length
These leggings are 25 inches in length, so for many folks they’ll hit a couple of inches above the ankle, though still lower than a capri or mid-calf-length legging. The leggings hit two inches above the ankle for one of our testers, who is 5 feet 5. That being said: If you’re on the taller side, know these may hit higher up, and vice versa if you’re shorter. They’re a fairly standard length for a pair of leggings, and should land at a happy medium for most wearers.
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Ease to Put On and Take Off
They feel like butter, and they roll off like butter, too. Both of our testers said they had no issue peeling off the InStill leggings post-workout—in fact, it was plain old easy, even after sweating.
Moisture Management
“I received these leggings in an olive green color, and was expecting to notice some sweat around my lower back,” one tester wrote. “But surprisingly, there was no discoloration or wetness in my pants throughout both workouts. They had great sweat-wicking capabilities.” Our other tester received the leggings in a violet color, and while she didn’t wear them for a super sweaty workout, she had a hunch that sweat might show through in some select spots (hello, crotch sweat) were she to wear them to a hot yoga class. The material, made of nylon and Lycra, is made to be quick-drying and wicking, so they aren’t sweat-averse, per se. But at the end of the day our testers felt that these are truly made for yoga above all other workouts.
Activity-Specific Features
We hate to break it to you, but these leggings don’t have outer side pockets. That left one of our testers bummed—she said it’s what would have made the leggings truly flawless—but it didn’t bother our other tester, who noted she usually wouldn’t want to carry things on her person during a yoga flow, anyway. The InStill tights do have a small pocket at the back of the waistband if you need to store a key or a credit card (but it won’t fit your iPhone). Primarily, however, the feel of these leggings speaks for itself: They are so comfortable, supportive, soft, and yet barely there on your body—which is exactly ideal for a yoga practice.
How You Feel
These leggings truly provide a luxurious experience. Albeit at a somewhat steep price point, they make the everyday exerciser or yoga-curious adventurer feel like a seasoned pro with the wardrobe to back it up. Both of our testers said the leggings made them feel confident, comfortable, and ready to work out.
Bottom Line
Lululemon made its name as a disruptor in the yoga apparel category, and while you can now catch exercisers doing a variety of activities in the brand’s styles, the InStill High-Rise Tights are a reminder that Lululemon still fulfills its promise of quality and function for the practice where it all began—yoga. Yes, these leggings are a bit of an investment, but we have a hunch they’re a pair you’ll have (and want to wear) for a long, long time.
Available in sizes 0–20.
Source: https://www.self.com
