The Best Leggings With Pockets
The best leggings with pockets for most people are the Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket Legging, because its two deep side pockets are sized for most phones, per the brand. If you want a soft yoga feel, the Lululemon Align with Pockets is the pick. For running, the Lululemon Fast and Free adds pockets, a drawcord and reflective details.
Pocket size is the thing to check, because "pocket" can mean very different things. A hidden waistband pocket holds a card or key. A side pocket may hold a phone, or only part of one. We sorted every legging in our data by what the pocket is likely to carry.
We have not tested these. This list comes from brand specs and what owners and reviewers keep saying. Prices are list prices and change often, so check the current price before you buy.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Brands can’t pay for placement, and it never changes our picks. How we make money.
Our picks at a glance
Our picks, in detail
Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket Legging
- Women
- Sizes XXS–6XL
- Rise: Ultra
- Inseam options: 23.75″, 28″, 31″
- Pockets: Side
- Fabric feel: Compressive
- Plus sizes · Petite · Tall
Girlfriend Collective is the clearest answer for a phone pocket. The brand says the two deep side pockets are sized for most phones, on an ultra-high rise in compressive fabric (79% recycled water bottles, 21% spandex, per the brand). It also comes in XXS to 6XL with 23.75, 28 and 31 inch inseams, which is unusual for a pocket legging.
The brand calls it squat-proof and sheer-proof, but those are manufacturer claims, so check your color.
The trade-offs are the price and the feel. It lists at about $118, it feels snug at first, and one recent review said compression felt weaker and the legging slid on a run. The page marks it final sale.
Skip it if you want a soft, light fabric or a lower price. The brand says it runs true to size and suggests sizing down for more compression. See the full review.
Lululemon Align High-Rise Pant with Pockets 25"
- Women
- Sizes 0–20
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: 25″
- Pockets: Multi
- Fabric feel: Buttery
- Plus sizes
If the Align's buttery Nulu feel (81% nylon, 19% Lycra) is the reason you buy leggings, this is the version with real pockets: two side drop-in pockets and a back drop-in pocket. Page reviewers rate the fit true to size, and sizes run 0 to 20.
The honest limits are that some owners say the pockets hold small items better than a full-size phone, and compression is light. That makes it a yoga, Pilates, travel and lounge legging, not a lifting or running one.
It is also the most expensive Align at about $128 at full price. The page showed a much lower sale price when we checked, but sale prices can end.
Skip it if you need serious compression or would rather spend less on a pocket legging. Only the 25 inch length is recorded. Our Align Pockets review has more.
Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25" (7-pocket)
- Women
- Sizes 2–14
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: 25″
- Pockets: Multi
- Fabric feel: Smooth
Runners need pockets that stay shut, and this tight is built around that. It has multiple pockets (the name says seven, though the page gives no count), a drawcord waist and reflective details, in lightweight Nulux (84% nylon, 16% Lycra) that is quick-drying.
The page showed a 4.8 rating from 19 reviews with true-to-size fit. That is a small sample, so treat it as early feedback.
The catches are size and price. Sizes only run 2 to 14, only black was listed, and it is about $128 at full price. Owners tend to say Nulux is fine in black and thinner in lighter colors.
Skip it if you need sizes above 14 or want a soft lounge legging. Compare more run-focused options on our best running leggings page, or read the Fast and Free review.
Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket Tight
- Women
- Sizes XS–L (as listed on page; page was out of stock, full range unverified)
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: Petite 25, Regular 27, Tall 30
- Pockets: Side
- Fabric feel: Buttery
- Petite · Tall
Pockets are hard to find in petite and tall lengths, and Athleta's Salutation is one of the few. It comes in Petite 25, Regular 27 and Tall 30 inch inseams, with bonded-edge stash pockets and a three-layer waistband with mesh lining. The Powervita fabric (nylon and Lycra, no percentages listed) is described as buttery and second-skin.
The page rating was 4.81 from about 5,280 ratings, and the price is about $89 at full price, with a lower sale price shown when we checked.
The trade-offs: the pockets are for small items, not a full-size phone. The page also showed sizes out of stock, so the full range is unverified, and the fabric percentages are missing.
Skip it if you want heavy compression or a phone-sized pocket. Athleta's Give-It-A-Workout guarantee lets you return it within 30 days of delivery if it does not perform. See the Salutation review.
Beyond Yoga Pacer Fleece-Backed Pocket Legging
- Women
- Sizes XXS–XL
- Rise: High
- Inseam options: Capri 25, Midi 28, Full 30
- Pockets: Side
- Fabric feel: Fleece
- Petite
This is a pocket legging for people who walk or run outside in the cold. The inside is a warm brushed fleece-backed fabric (77% recycled polyester, 23% spandex), and it adds side pockets, a drawcord and a reflective hem detail. Reviewers generally report good coverage because the fabric is thicker.
It comes in Capri 25, Midi 28 and Full 30 inch lengths, and the petite option makes it a rare warm legging for shorter legs.
The trade-offs are warmth and price. It will be too hot for summer, it lists at about $118, and sizes in our data stop at XL. The page also showed it out of stock when we checked.
Beyond Yoga lists free shipping and returns in the US, with a 30-day window and a receipt required. Skip it if you want a lightweight summer legging or a low price. Read the Pacer review.
Athleta Elation Ultra High Rise Legging
- Women
- Sizes XXS–3X
- Rise: Ultra
- Inseam options: Petite 25, Regular/Plus 27, Tall 30
- Pockets: Waistband
- Fabric feel: Buttery
- Plus sizes · Petite · Tall
Be clear about what you get here: a small back drop-in pocket, not a phone pocket. If that is enough, the Elation is the best option for a wide size run. It goes from XXS to 3X with Petite 25, Regular/Plus 27 and Tall 30 inch inseams, in soft ultra-high-rise Powervita (75% nylon, 25% Lycra).
The page rating was 4.66 from about 11,500 ratings, and it lists at about $89, with a lower sale price shown when we checked.
The trade-offs are that the back pocket is small and the compression is moderate, so it is not a training legging. Owners say to check lighter colors for coverage.
Skip it if you want big pockets or firm compression. For a phone-sized pocket in extended sizes, the Girlfriend Collective is the better fit. See the Elation review.
How to choose leggings with pockets
Decide what you need to carry. A card and key need only a waistband or back pocket. A phone needs a side or multi-pocket design that sits flat. If you run, you also want a pocket that closes or sits close to the body so it does not bounce.
Check what "pocket" means on the page. In our data, the pockets fall into groups. Hidden waistband pockets appear on the classic Lululemon Align and the Wunder Train, and they hold small items. Back drop-in pockets (Athleta Elation) are small too. Side pockets (Girlfriend Collective, Athleta Salutation, Beyond Yoga) vary in depth. Multi-pocket designs (Align with Pockets, Fast and Free) give the most room.
Match the fabric to the activity. Fabric changes how a pocket behaves under load. A buttery fabric with pockets suits yoga and travel. A compressive fabric with pockets suits lifting and gym days. A lightweight or fleece-backed fabric with pockets suits runs and walks, depending on the season.
Look at length and size. Pocket leggings often have fewer length options than plain ones. Girlfriend Collective and Athleta list three inseams. The Lululemon pocket styles in our data list one.
Know the return policy. Because pocket size is hard to judge from a photo, an easy return is worth a lot. Lululemon allows 30 days for unworn, unwashed items with tags. Girlfriend Collective allows 30 days but deducts a $7 shipping and restocking fee, and promotional purchases are final sale. Beyond Yoga lists free returns in the US.
How we picked
We have not tested any of these leggings. We screened our full legging data for any pocket, then kept only leggings where the pocket type is clear on the product page and the legging is a credible workout or everyday choice. We weighed pocket size and placement, fabric, sizes, inseams, price and owner reports, and we noted where the page or reviewers say a pocket is small. Ratings are editorial estimates.
We left out leggings with only a tiny hidden pocket unless they stood out for something else, and the Wunder Train is a good example: it has a hidden waistband pocket, but the page positions it for training, so it sits better on a training list. See the full process on our methodology page.
Here is a quick side-by-side of three pocket styles.
| Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket Legging | Lululemon Align High-Rise Pant with Pockets 25" | Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket Tight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $118 | $128 seen $74 | $89 seen $69.99 |
| For | Women | Women | Women |
| Sizes | XXS–6XL | 0–20 | XS–L (as listed on page; page was out of stock, full range unverified) |
| Fabric | 79% recycled water bottles (RPET), 21% spandex | 81% nylon, 19% Lycra elastane (Nulu) | Nylon/Lycra (Powervita); percentages not listed on the page |
| Rise | Ultra | High | High |
| Inseam options | 23.75″, 28″, 31″ | 25″ | Petite 25, Regular 27, Tall 30 |
| Pockets | Side | Multi | Side |
| Fabric feel | Compressive | Buttery | Buttery |
| Compression | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Squat-proof claim | Yes | Silent | Silent |
| Flared | No | No | No |
| Fleece-lined | No | No | No |
| Comfort (our rating) | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Performance (our rating) | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Durability (our rating) | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Value (our rating) | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Returns | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Check price | Check price | Check price |
Want leggings that match your size, length and budget? Take the quiz.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fit a phone in legging pockets?
Sometimes. Girlfriend Collective says its side pockets are sized for most phones. Owners say the Lululemon Align with Pockets holds small items better than a full-size phone, and the Athleta Salutation pockets are for small items. A phone case or a large phone can change the answer, so check the dimensions.
Do leggings with pockets lose their shape?
It depends on the fabric and what you carry. A heavy phone in a thin pocket can pull the fabric down and stretch it over time. Compressive fabrics and bonded pocket edges tend to hold better. Carrying a lighter load, like a card or key, avoids the issue.
Are leggings with pockets more expensive?
Usually, yes. The premium brands charge the most for them. In our data, the pocket styles list at about $89 to $128, while several plain leggings sit under $60. Athleta's Salutation and Elation are the lowest-priced pocket picks at about $89, and sale prices change often.
Which leggings with pockets are best for running?
The Lululemon Fast and Free is the most run-focused, with multiple pockets, a drawcord and reflective details. The Beyond Yoga Pacer adds fleece warmth for cold runs, and the Girlfriend Collective pocket legging holds a phone, though one reviewer said it slid on a run.
Are pocket leggings squat-proof?
Not automatically. Girlfriend Collective's pocket legging states squat-proof and sheer-proof as a brand claim. The Lululemon, Athleta and Beyond Yoga pages make no opacity claim, so dark colors are the safer choice. See our squat-proof leggings list for more on this.
