19 best gym leggings with pockets 2023, according to personal trainers
Gym leggings with pockets are the holy grail of gym leggings. Sure, we lean on plenty of pairs of the best leggings and super soft yoga pants as part of our everyday wardrobe, but gym leggings with pockets – i.e. the ones we actually exercise in – are a different ball game entirely.
To the untrained eye, gym leggings all look the same. Ditto for sports bras. How much difference can there really be? Well, a lot! Trust us on that one. When it comes to running or heading to the gym, leggings with pockets are GLAMOUR's absolute must-have, can't-live-without item. And even the professionals agree – everything's better with pockets.
Lucie Cowan, Master Trainer at Third Space says her favourite gym leggings with pockets are from a running brand called Pressio. “Their leggings are compression-style thermal leggings, and the material makes me feel super supported yet not restricted in any way,” she says. “Despite being called thermal, they are lightweight and breathable, and never make me sweaty even if doing intense cardio. They are thick enough to give me a streamlined aesthetic, whilst being high enough in the waist that they are comfortable when I hinge from the hip in moves such as deadlifts, and when I'm sat on a spin bike teaching a class with mirrors in front and behind me. They have a pocket on the side which is super handy and fits my phone perfectly, yet when not in use, you wouldn't know it was there.”
While Gymbox personal trainer, Martena David recommends Sweaty Betty’s Power Leggings – “they stay put and you’re able to move comfortably through all your main lifts and movement patterns” – and sustainable activewear brand TALA; “if you’re looking more mid-market, Tala has recently launched ‘Formtech’ pocket leggings, perfect for running! A brand that centres around sustainability by using quality recycled fabric. It’s a great way to do your bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.”
The best gym leggings with pockets 2023 at a glance:
- Power Gym Leggings, £80, Sweaty Betty
- Girlfriend Collective High Waisted Pocket Legging, £70, The Sports Edit
- YMO Kickstart Pocket 7/8 Legging, £58, The Sports Edit
- Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25", £108, Lululemon
- Lorna Jane Amy Phone Pocket Ankle Biter Gym Leggings, £84, John Lewis
Whether it's discreet zipped waistband pockets for fitting keys, bank cards or our running headphones, or super-slim side drop-in style pouches on the thigh for safely storing your phone, all our picks will ensure you never have to worry about all your valuables falling out next time you're in a downward dog, and leave you hands-free for your next jog.
So, take the time here to plod through our exhaustive kit list – where we've rounded up our favourite styles from Nike, Lululemon, Sweaty Betty and more. Trust us – once you've worn one pair of leggings featuring plenty of pockets, you'll never look back.
Ahead, our shopping edit of the best gym leggings with pockets.
Power Gym Leggings, £80, Sweaty Betty
Sizes: XXS-XXL.
Colours: 32 different colours – ranging from classic black to coral, grey and leopard print.
Fabric: 62% Polyamide, 38% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Spun from stretchy, moisture-wicking jersey these seriously high-waisted (and ultra-flattering) leggings from Sweaty Betty are one of their bestsellers. Why? Not only are they sweat-wicking, but they, crucially, have both side-slip pockets (big enough for an iPhone) and a zipped pocket at the back for any valuables.
Sizes: XS-6XL Plus.
Colours: Neon pink, black, multicolour dots, multicolour marble, purple.
Fabric: 74% Polyester, 26% Elastane
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: With sizes ranging from XS to 6XL Plus, there's a pair of these leggings for everyone. They also come in a range of bright colours and feature two side pockets, big enough to even fit your phone – they're the ultimate gym wear.
Girlfriend Collective High Waisted Pocket Legging, £70, The Sports Edit
Sizes: XXS-6XL.
Colours: midnight blue, moss green, garnet.
Fabric: Made from recycled water bottles, the compressive fabric contains 79% RPET and 21% spandex.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Made from recycled bottles with four-way stretch, these leggings from Girlfriend Collective feature an extra high-rise waistband to hold and support you through your favourite high-impact activities. They also have pockets on each leg to stash your keys, phone or whatever you need.
Sizes: XS-XXL.
Colours: Carbon/white, black.
Fabric: 89% Polyester, 11% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted, 7/8 length with side pocket.Why we love them: These leggings make it clear why adidas is a staple activewear brand – soft material, a flattering high waist and moisture-wicking fabric make these high-performing gym wear that keeps you dry as you work out.
YMO Kickstart Pocket 7/8 Legging, £58, The Sports Edit
Sizes: XS-XL
Colours: fig, navy, black
Fabric: 78% Recycled polyester, 22% Elastane
Style: High-waisted with pocketsWhy we love them: Made from over 70% recycled materials, these comfortable and sculpting YMO leggings (which stands for Yours. Mine. Ours) fit perfectly high up on the waist and include a clever waistband pocket for your keys and a phone pocket for your phone.
Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25", £108, Lululemon
Sizes: UK4-24.
Colours: over 6 different colours, including black, navy and red.
Fabric: Nulux fabric.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Designed for running, these incredibly lightweight leggings don’t budge, mile and mile (they’re also great for spin class and using on the treadmill). Of course, they also feature the all-important drop-in pockets on both sides, and an additional five drop-in pockets on the waistband hold small items (like house keys or gels).
Spanx Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings, £88, John Lewis
Sizes: S-XL.
Colours: black, maroon, storm blue.
Fabric: 60% nylon, 40% elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: These workout leggings from Spanx are bestsellers for a reason – mainly thanks to their performance sculpting fabric which moulds to your body, engineering the build in lift and perk Spanx are so well known for. Ok, so they’re pretty seamless and don’t actually feature a side pocket, but there is a cheeky hidden pocket in the waistband big enough for a key. They fit like a glove.
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: Black.
Fabric: 100% Polyester.
Style: High-waisted with side pocket.Why we love them: These are the activewear equivalent of business in the front, party in the back. From the front, they look like your standard pair of black high-waisted working leggings. Turn around, however, and you'll spot that the back features a fun mesh detail from the calf down, for a little added style as you work out.
Puma Training Favourite High Waisted 7/8 Legging, £35, ASOS
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: black.
Fabric: 89% Polyester, 11% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: For a cheaper pair of leggings – that still come with a drop in leg pocket – these plain black Puma leggings do just the job. Sculpted with a second-skin fit, this high-waisted style is whipped up from quick-drying stretch jersey – great for running.
Skinluxe High Waisted Side Pocket Legging, £54, TALA
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: navy, dark cherry, khaki, black.
Fabric: 76% recycled nylon and 24% Lycra.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Available in two different lengths – regular (27 inch inside leg) and 7/8 (24 inch inside leg) – these buttery smooth, second-skin workout leggings from activewear brand TALA (founded by fitness entrepreneur Grace Beverley) are some of our favourites. And they feature one drop-in side pocket on the lefthand thigh.
Nike Go Women's Firm-Support Mid-Rise Full-Length Leggings with Pockets, £89.95, Nike
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: 10 block colours, ranging from black to ‘purple smoke’.
Fabric: 68% nylon, 32% elastane.
Style: Mid-rise with pockets.Why we love them: Featuring six (yes, really) pockets, these Nike leggings are ideal for holding everything from your locker key to your phone, lip balm and more. Sitting just below the belly button, these leggings are squat proof and compressive, without feeling too tight. We want them in every colour.
Zero Gravity High-Waisted Running Leggings, £95, Sweaty Betty
Sizes: XXS-XXL.
Colours: Over 7 different whacky prints.
Fabric: 59% Polyamide, 41% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: The Zero Gravity leggings from Sweaty Betty feel slightly thinner than their Power Gym leggings, so they’re great for super sweaty HIIT sessions or running outside thanks to their lightweight material. The waist band isn’t as supportive, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re no good.These leggings still have a super high waist design and feature both a side pocket and back zip pocket.
Studio Pocket Legging, £100, Vuori
Sizes: XXS-XXL.
Colours: azure, oregano, midnight, grapefruit, violet, black.
Fabric: 72% Polyester, 28% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Bringing that cool coastal California lifestyle to the UK, Vuroi offers us a twist on traditional activewear. These studio pocket leggings are ideal for Pilates, yoga and any studio workout where you don’t want to be yanking your leggings up. Featuring a hidden interior stash pocket at the waist as well as side pockets, they’re stretchy without being slippy.
Women's UA RUSH Emboss Perf Leggings, £71, Under Armour
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: grey, black, red.
Fabric: 60% Polyester, 38% Nylon, 2% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: For sweaty gym sessions, Under Armour is great – especially these particular sweat-wicking leggings with strategically placed holes for added ventilation where you need it most (ie back of the knees). And, they also have a handy drop-in pocket on the thigh.
Lorna Jane Amy Phone Pocket Ankle Biter Gym Leggings, £84, John Lewis
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: Black.
Fabric: 71% polyester, 29% elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: From Aussie brand Lorna Jane, these gym leggings are a wardrobe staple. Breathable, sweat-wicking, shrink and fade-resistant, these leggings are squat proof so you can wear them in the gym for hard strength sessions, and have four-way stretch which makes them ideal for yoga and Pilates too. They also have two large drop-in pockets on the thighs.
Running Essentials 7/8 Leggings, £38, adidas
Sizes: 2XS-XL.
Colours: black.
Fabric: 85% recycled polyester, 15% elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Everyone knows that a decent pair of running leggings require thigh pockets, and these leggings from adidas are a total staple item. With a drawstring cord and elastic waist, these moisture-wicking adidas tights feature reflective detailing and thigh pockets.
The Sunday 8/8 Legging, £108, LDNR
Sizes: XS-XL.
Colours: forest marl, carbon marl, midnight marl.
Fabric: 82% recycled Polyester, 18% elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: LNDR was founded by three active, international women, based in London, and make “killer kit that feels as great as it looks”. These workout leggings are designed to be used in the gym studio. Think: HIIT, bodypump, strength classes and Pilates. And feature a hidden phone-sized pocket and their signature waistband technology to hold and sculpt.
Sara Sigmundsdóttir Women's High Rise Side Pocket 7/8 Leggings, £70, WIT
Sizes: XXS-L.
Colours: grey.
Fabric: 70% Polyamide, 30% Elastane.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: Anyone who’s into weightlifting will have heard of Icelandic weightlifter Sara Sigmundsdóttir – and she’s developed her own range of activewear with WIT (the cult CrossFit training brand), so you can rest assured that these leggings are fully squat proof and ideal for deadlifts, squats, lunges (the works). Yes, these 7/8 length leggings also feature a side pocket to keep your phone secure, and they’re high waisted and sweat-wicking too.
Thermal Tight, £100, Pressio
Sizes: XXS-XL.
Colours: Black.
Fabric: Thermal EcoPower CK Fabric.
Style: High-waisted with pockets.Why we love them: As PT Lucie Cowan previously mentioned these running leggings are great for doubling up in the gym, and fit like a glove. Supportive, super warm (mainly thanks to the brushed inner layer), the Pressio thermal leggings are designed to keep you warm, even when it drops to as low as -5. Of course, there’s also a thigh and internal pocket.
