Lululemon's Align leggings are insanely popular and for good reason: They're lightweight, smooth and fit like second skin — in other words, they seem to magically form to almost any body type without feeling restrictive. That's why they clinched the Good Housekeeping Institute's top spot for the best maternity leggings (even though they're not designed specifically for pregnancy).
As the head of the GH Institute Textiles Lab, I've tested dozens of legging styles over the years. In fact, leggings are my go-to bottoms — but I hated wearing them when I was pregnant with my first child. They either felt too tight around my belly or they wouldn't stay in place throughout the day. When I was pregnant with my second child, I caught wind of the fact that some pregnant people swore by Lululemon's Align High-Rise Pant in lieu of maternity-specific styles. While I was hesitant to dish out nearly $100 for pregnancy leggings, I was hopeful that I would get plenty of postpartum use out of them, too.
Well, my hopes turned to reality: I practically lived in my Align leggings throughout my pregnancy — I even bought a second pair at the time. Fast forward to six years later, and I'm still wearing those exact pairs!
Pros
- Stretchy, buttery-soft fabric
- Wide range of styles and sizes
- Can be worn beyond pregnancy
Cons
- Pricey
- Material may pill over time
| Sizes | 0-20 |
|---|---|
| Lengths | 23", 25", 28", 31" |
| Colors | Over 15 options |
| Variations | Crops, shorts, leggings with pockets, flare leggings, wide-leg pants and more |
Why are Lululemon Align leggings so good?
Designed for low-intensity workouts like yoga, Pilates and barre, the Align pants have a soft yet barely-there feel, thanks to Lululemon's unique Nulu fabric. It's a nylon/spandex blend that's super stretchy and stays in place. It's also moisture-wicking, helping wearers to stay cool and dry.
The leggings come in a wide range of sizes, colors and lengths, along with style variations to suit different style preferences. The pants start at $98, but that price increases with longer inseams, styles with pockets and wide leg variations.
More Lululemon Align Pant Styles
How Lululemon Align leggings performed in our tests
In the GH Institute Textiles Lab, we've tested and evaluated the Align pants as part of our workout leggings reviews and they were top performers, especially for everyday wear and low-intensity workouts with lots of movement. Our testers unanimously said the Lululemon leggings were comfortable, fit well, stayed in place, looked flattering and had good coverage (i.e., they're not see-through, even whens squatting). One tester summarized her feedback by saying, "I love the softness of the material. It's so smooth! They aren't see-through at all and the band doesn't move throughout your workout like other brands' leggings do."
The one caveat: The fabric may show signs of wear faster than other performance leggings. We noticed slight pilling after washing and some online reviewers called out the same experience. It's not surprising given that the softest materials tend to be more delicate; however, the pilling has fortunately been fairly minimal in my experience. I've been regularly wearing Align leggings for years and they've held up surprisingly well.
What size of Align leggings are best for maternity wear?
One of the greatest aspects of Lululemon's Align Pant is that it seems to stretch and lay flat against your body, offering a near-perfect fit without feeling constricting or falling down. When I was pregnant, I purchased one size up from my regular Lululemon size, and those pairs still fit me surprisingly well even after I returned to my pre-pregnancy size. I've since purchased my regular size in these pants and alternate between the two sizes without issue.
Bottom line: Are Lululemon Align Pants worth it for pregnancy?
Yes! While the $98 price point certainly is a splurge — especially for maternity leggings — I've found that these top-performing leggings are worth it, because they'll last you throughout your pregnancy, postpartum days and the years that follow. Keep an eye on Lululemon's "Like New" and "We Made Too Much" sections, too — it's where you can sometimes spot certain Align styles on markdown.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
