Working out in synthetic activewear can look great but wreak havoc on our bodies and the planet, from chemical exposure to significant impact on the environment. If you haven’t already, it might be time to switch out of those cute Lululemons for a better alternative. This post is an organic cotton workout leggings review featuring leggings from sustainable fashion brands.
What’s the problem with synthetic activewear?
Many synthetic leggings and sports bras are treated with dyes, anti-microbial agents, and plastic-based finishes that can be absorbed through the skin, especially during workouts when pores are open and the skin is more vulnerable. These toxic workout clothes may contain endocrine disruptors and forever chemicals, such as BPA or phthalates, that can interfere with hormones and lead to long-term health concerns. For those with sensitive skin, the irritation caused by the chemicals in these toxins can range from mild breakouts and rashes to persistent inflammation.
Another growing concern with synthetic activewear is its contribution to microplastic pollution. Every time synthetic garments are washed, tiny plastic fibers are released into the water supply—fibers that cannot be filtered out and eventually end up in oceans and drinking water. When these are cheaply made and/or we overconsume them they end up in landfills and pollute our water and soil further.
From a performance standpoint, synthetic fabrics may wick moisture, but they also trap bacteria. Synthetics also hold in smell and none of smell great while working out! Natural fiber leggings made from materials like organic cotton, TENCEL, hemp, or merino wool allow the body to breathe, reduce odor retention, and feel more comfortable against the skin. While natural materials can still use harmful dyes and finishes, they don’t require as much dye to be made and manty companies making non-toxic activewear use certified non-toxic dyes.
Thankfully, more sustainable workout brands creating healthier and more environmentally friendly gym wear alternatives.
So what is the Sustainable Alternative?
This post is specifically comparing and reviewing organic cotton leggings.
There are a number of well known companies creating less toxic recycled polyester or nylon or bio-based synthetic leggings-looking at you Girlfriend Collective, Namarie, Pangaia, Aktiiv, Reprise, etc. Some of these are Oeko-Tex standard 100 certified (which I’d highly suggest if you’re going to go the synthetic route) but still have a larger environmental and chemical impact. Are they often better for performance abilities, absolutely! In fact, none of the organic cotton pairs blew me away but for me, it was not worth the trade off.
Other more natural options include TENCEL, Merino Wool, etc. The Merino and Alpaca pairs don’t personally work for my sensitive skin but I’ve heard good things from others! TENCEL pairs like Tripulse use Roica as their stretch factor (a compostable version of elastane) but these retailed for $174 which just felt too expensive. I have many pairs of leggings from Miik that I have loved and worn extensively for years. They are just starting to thin out but I am trying to rely less on bamboo (and only buy certified babmoo) as I have found it does not last as long as organic cotton.
I only considered pairs under $100 and with 10% spandex/elastane or less. None of these truly passed the squat test and all advertise that they are best for light to moderate activity, which feels accurate to me. If you are doing yoga, barre, light weight lifting, etc. these should be fine! Those of us with extra curvy bums will have more issues with squatting than others and I’d highly suggest sizing up.
Which brands did I consider?
These fit my material content, cost, and sustainable brand requirements.
You might be saying, wait a second, why not Pact? They’re affordable, organic cotton, certified, etc? Why wouldn’t they be included? Honestly, I didn’t even try them this time around. I stopped buying Pact a few years ago after watching their quality begin and then drastically continue to decline.
I have heard so many people loving Mate that I had to give them a try and PuraKai really caught my attention. The other brands are all brands I wear and support for shirts, socks, or other items so I knew I liked them.
Here is a more detailed review on each including the size I ordered. For reference, my measurements are 30 inch waist, 43 inch hips, and I’m 5 foot 5.
Ranked from best to worst:
PuraKai
What I ordered:
Ecoflex 2.0 Organic Cotton High Waist Leggings
XL / Black / Tall 27″
I also tried the Bracken in large and while they looked like they fit fine, they did not pass the squat test (see other fit notes below).
Price: $69 (use this link for 15% off or code Sensibly)
Pros: These were borderline for passing the squat test for me (which was way better than any of the others) but reviews seem to indicate they work well for those who are differently shaped. These felt the most like an “athletic” legging and had a really comfortable very high waist. While they didn’t have the amazing snatch and smoothing abilities of premium synthetic yoga pants and leggings, they felt like they had a little smoothing and were soft and flexible. I wound up ordering two more pairs! I’d highly suggest sizing up if you’re between sizes but after wearing these for a while they did slightly stretch out so I likely could have gotten away with a large in the black so I wouldn’t automatically size a full size up. They also have a pocket legging for $10 more that was out of stock when I ordered but I would consider them in the future.
Cons: Sizing felt small.
Material Content: 92% GOTS certified organic cotton, 8% spandex.
Sustainability Values: Localized supply chain, GOTS certified organic cotton, 1% For the Planet members, low Impact Dyes, Independent Testing to ensure PFAS Free.
Maggie’s Organics
What I ordered: Organic Cotton Blackout Legging size large
Price: $59
Pros: The stitching on these made them feel more like athletic leggings and I loved the pocket. The design is flattering on the bum! The material feels a bit thicker and more supportive than the options below and was more opaque/ closer to passing the squat test. Great option for the price, especially for a pocket legging.
Cons: These are not quite as high of a rise (though the smoothing waist band was helpful on a postpartum tummy). They did not pass the squat test as well as Purakai and have slightly more spandex content. The waist to hip ratio for sizing does not work super well for curves- likely why they did not pass the squat test! Sizing up would likely be way too wide in the waist though I’d go by hip sizes as the waist felt tighter to me than advertised.
Material Content: 90% GOTS certified Organic Cotton and 10% Spandex
Sustainability Values: GOTS certified, Fair Trade Certified.
Mate The Label
What I ordered: Organic Stretch Midi Legging size large, Jet Black
Price: $88
Pros: The thick waist band on these felt supportive (but do keep in mind that the elastic is thin at the top of this big waistband). Mate has a great reputation and these felt nice. I liked the high rise.
Cons: Did not pass the squat test and while they felt like they can support good movement, they did not feel quite as much like an athletic legging as the two above. They did not feel like they were providing any compression or smoothing but they did recover well after movement. These are also more expensive and don’t necessarily live up to the price tag. They do have another version with pockets and more of an athletic look but these have a lower waist and are $20 more.
Material Content: 92% GOTS certified Organic Cotton and 8% Spandex.
Sustainability Values: B Corp, GOTS Certified, Non-Toxic dyes.
Happy Earth
What I ordered: PlantTec™ Organic Leggings | Eclipse, size large
Price: $64
Pros: Thick, substantial fabric. Higher organic cotton content. Nice detailed stitching and pockets make them feel like true athletic leggings. Good certifications.
Cons: The elastic on these cracked without much stretch. I also found that although the fabric felt thick and substantial, it also did not “bounce back” and quickly wrinkled and sagged. Even though the fabric is thicker, it still thinned out when stretched and did not pass the squat test- however, this may have been better had I sized up. These were also a more mid-rise waist.
Material Content: 95% Organic Cotton, 5% Elastane
Sustainability Values: Fair Trade or WRAP Certified, Climate Neutral Certified, Vegan, 1% For The Planet Member, B Corp, Non-Toxic Dyes.
Fair Indigo
What I ordered: Women’s Organic 100% Cotton Leggings, Size medium, black
Price: $49.90
Pros: First, I want to say that I love Fair Indigo. I have many items from them, including some pants, that are wonderful. The price is good and cotton is soft. Plus, they’re the only pair that is 100% organic cotton.
Cons: These are just not athletic leggings. The design is your typical underlayer legging with a small elastic waistband and no reinforced seams. Nothing about this design is made specifically for movement or working out. They have since released a moto version and while those look more athletic, have a wider waistband, and have pockets (all big positives), they still don’t feel like an athletic legging and don’t pass the squat test. They are probably as close as you could get with 100% cotton though!
Material Content: 100% GOTS certified Organic Cotton.
Sustainability Values: GOTS certified, OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certified, REACh certified.
Thanks for stopping by! What are your favorite work out leggings? Will you make the switch to natural materials?
This post was an organic cotton workout leggings review from five non-toxic small sustainable brands.
To see more sustainable guides click Here.
Some links are affiliate links-thank you for your shopping Sensibly!
-Jessica
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