After testing a dozen plastic-free activewear brands for the last three years, I’m sharing the best non toxic leggings that are safe, breathable and squat-proof. The best leggings are made with the safest natural fibers and without harmful petroleum-based materials, PFAS, BPA, toxic dyes, or chemical treatments.

I tested across various price points and put them through all types of workouts: walking, running, yoga, pilates, HIIT, hiking and hot yoga.

Wait, My Leggings are Toxic?

All the most popular athletic wear brands Nike, Alo Yoga, Athleta, PINK, The North Face, New Balance, Adidas, Patagonia, Champion, and Fabletics are all facing legal action due to containing BPA. Lab testing by the Center for Environmental Health found BPA in every single polyester-spandex item tested with some leggings and shorts up to 40 times over California’s safety limit.

BPA is a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen and can throw off your metabolism, development, and reproductive health. It’s been linked to infertility, early puberty, metabolic issues, and cancer. Since it absorbs through skin, wearing sweat-soaked leggings or a sports bra for hours is a real exposure risk.

And it’s not just BPA. Conventional athletic wear is made with petroleum-based fibers that can contain PFAS, pesticides, phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde resins, toxic dyes, and chemical finishing agents.

Source: Center for Environmental Health, Notice of Violation (2023), Prop 65 lab testing.

Why Choose Non Toxic Activewear

• Switching to healthy workout clothes means you’re no longer sweating in harmful chemicals
• Natural fibers feel more comfortable, softer and breathable. You have to try it to understand how much better they actually feel.
• Better for the earth, air, soil and workers along the supply chain
• Voting with your dollars for quality, sustainability, transparent sourcing, and ethical production

If you want to cut to the chase, here is a quick snapshot of my pros and cons for each legging.

I tried Reprise Activewear Sage Leggings

Reprise uses a plant-based fabric called TENCEL Lyocell with a small percentage of spandex (still less than most other natural activewear brands) and organic dyes. I feel that Reprise is truly so versatile for any and all workouts, including training and lifting, and has the most satisfying texture of anything I’ve tried. The Sage leggings with pockets are so buttery soft to the touch and don’t trap heat. It isn’t easy to find natural workout clothes that actually feel like athletic gear, and I find Reprise is actually elevated and functional without being insanely overpriced. These have great compression, feel like a second skin and truly move with me. They’ve got enough strength for my hard workouts and flexibility for deep squats during lifting and reformer pilates.

Price: $125 Sage Legging
Materials: 93% TENCEL Lyocell and 7% Spandex
How it actually feels: incredibly soft and buttery.
Stretch level 3/3
Squat proof: Yes
Tummy control: Great
What to know: elevated activewear, wash on cold and in a mesh bag to keep the fibers soft
Fit: runs large so be sure to size down!
Other styles: Shorts (with pockets) 5″ and 7″, capri, flare, cropped flare
✔️ GOTS certified ✔️ OEKO-TEX certified ✔️ Fair Trade certified

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Use organicbeautylover for -10%

I tried Elastique Athletics L’Original Lymphatic Leggings

Elastique Athletics Lymphatic Leggings are the most luxurious nontoxic leggings I’ve tried hands down (even Gwyneth Paltrow approves). I like to call these my biohacking leggings because they’ve got lymphatic drainage support, gradient compression, UPF 50 protection against UV rays. They use OEKO-TEX certified fabrics, so they’re verified to be free of BPA, PFAS, lead, formaldehyde and heavy metals. These look and perform closest to conventional athletic gear but with an interesting twist of having patented MicroPerle technology. There’s a bunch of beads placed inside along the thighs and glutes to follow your lymphatic pathways and provide a massage and drainage effect. It’s pretty cool I can’t feel the beads are there, but when I take off the leggings, I can actually see all the hole indentations where the beads were. I’ve found they’re squat proof, not see through and sooo stretchy. I’m not exaggerating when I say these feel sooo breathable and flexible. They also don’t attract lint and dust like many organic cotton leggings do.

Price: $235 L’Original Lymphatic Leggings
How it actually feels: very stretchy, flexible and breathable with great compression. Stretch level 3/3
Squat proof: Yes
Tummy control: Great
Best for: all workouts, especially outdoor thanks to UPF 50
Fit: True to size
Other styles: stirrup leggings, biker shorts, jumpsuit
✔️ OEKO-TEX certified ✔️ ethically made in Portugal

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use OBL for $50 off

I tried Pact Organic On The Go-To Legging (budget!)

If you’re looking for a solid pair of affordable organic cotton leggings under 30 bucks that are NOT see through, my recommendation is Pact. They were the first organic workout clothes I switched to eons ago, and I still think they’re a really good affordable choice. Plus they’re easily available on Amazon. On The Go-To leggings are made with 90% organic cotton and 10% elastane. They wear tight and secure with a bit of stretch, and the fabric feels thick and durable. I feel like Pact is good for basics and underwear but not elevated items. There’s really not much selection, just their On The Go-To legging with a cropped version and one with pockets. They also have a snug fit. I’m usually comfortable Medium but theirs is a tad tight on me.

Price: $28
Materials: 90% Organic Cotton and 10% Elastane
How it actually feels: sits tight on my skin.
Stretch level 2/3
Squat proof: Yes
Tummy control: Great
What to know: good for basics
Fit: I find them slightly snug but mostly true to size.
Other styles: pocket legging, cropped legging
✔️ GOTS certified ✔️ Fair Trade certified

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I tried Groceries Apparel Momo Midi Legging

Groceries Apparel makes nontoxic leggings made with 92% organic cotton and vegetables right in their own LA studio. I actually find the material is super sturdy and not see through, and the waistband is very generously high waisted. They fit tight and securely with some stretch. They’re the only brand I’ve come across that owns and operates their own downtown LA clothing factory, so they have full control over quality throughout the entire process. I love that they’re dyed with upcycled vegetables and fruits (avocados, onions, coffee grounds, onion skins) from local grocers. My Momo Midi is dyed with pomegranate peels and carrot tops (so cool!). On the downside, I noticed the color of my leggings shifted from a dark gray to chocolate brown. These have a snug fit. I’m usually comfortable Medium but theirs is a tad tight on me.

Price: $98 Momo Midi Legging
Materials: 92% Organic Cotton and 8% Spandex
How it actually feels: sits tight.
Stretch level 2/3
Squat proof: Yes
Tummy control: Great
Fit: Runs a tad smaller
What to know: sturdy and thick fabric, color can change
Other styles: Biker shorts, capri legging, high waist legging, mini flared legging

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25% Sale

I tried Mate The Label Organic Stretch Full Length Leggings

I like Mate The Label’s Organic Stretch Full Length Leggings for breathability and comfort. They’re VERY high waisted, stretchy and breathable, sit tight on my skin and stay put. I wouldn’t say they’re the sturdiest pair of leggings I own though so I save these for light hikes, walks and low impact workouts. The fit is slightly snug but mostly true to size (medium feels compressive but I wouldn’t mind getting a large). I appreciate that these are NOT see through. The biker short feel even thinner than their full length leggings to me. Mate’s Move collection does offer the entire gamut of activewear – biker shorts, skorts, unitards and sports bras all made with GOTS-certified 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex. Mate is already on the expensive end, so personally, I’d pay a little more for high performance athletic gear type leggings.

Price: $98 Organic Stretch Full Length Legging
Materials: 92% Organic Cotton and 8% Spandex
How it actually feels: thin and breathable.
Stretch level 2/3
Squat proof: Yes
Tummy control: Moderate
What to know: made for low impact workouts
Fit: Slightly snug but mostly true to size
Other styles: pocket legging, midi legging, bootcut pant, biker short, unitard
✔️ GOTS certified

I tried Fair Indigo Organic Leggings (100% organic cotton)

Fair Indigo leggings are not only made of 100% natural fiber without any chemicals, they’re also SO affordable. I bought my Fair Indigo leggings from Amazon and they are the absolute softest truly 100% organic leggings I own. They use Pima cotton interlock fabric which feels sooo buttery – like a warm hug around my legs. Not all cotton is equal and organic Peruvian Pima Cotton is the top 0.05% of cotton available. Sadly, as you can probably tell from the photo, they do NOT look flattering on me at all and kinda drape over my legs. There’s no stretch or compression to them, since there’s no spandex. I’d definitely size down 1-2 sizes. But I have to admit they’re amazingly soft and comfy to lounge around in, go on a coffee run or walk my dog. Fair Indigo’s cotton, yarns, fabrics, and dyes are all GOTS certified and their clothes are fairly made in Peru.

Price: $49
Materials: 100% organic Peruvian Pima cotton
Best for: gentle movement, yoga, pilates, low impact workouts
Squat proof: Borderline
Tummy control: Minimal
Stretch level: 1/3
Fit: Runs large, so be sure to size down.
✔️ GOTS certified ✔️ fairly made in Peru

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I tried Boody Base Layer Leggings

Boody leggings are PFAS free, low-tox, and OEKO-TEX certified and truly feel like a second skin. They’re healthier than typical leggings but not the best since they’re made with 79% bamboo viscose, 15% nylon, and 6% elastane. Boody’s leggings are SO affordable, ultra flexible and squat proof and they almost feel like stockings, but just a tad thicker. These feel very cooling and moisture wicking. They fit true to size, stay put and do not slide down at all.

Price: $31
Materials: 79% bamboo viscose, 15% nylon, and 6% elastane
Squat proof: Yes
Tummy control: Moderate
Stretch level: 4/3
Best for: all workouts
Fit: True to size

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Brands I Want to Try Next

I love finding hidden gems, and I really want to try these up-and-coming brands:

• Indigo Luna (made with 90% Lenzing Plant Viscoes and 10% Spandex)
• Sports Organics (made with 91% GOTS Organic Cotton ad 9% Elastane)
• Jungmaven (made with hemp in Los Angeles)
• Fraise LA (organic cotton grip socks for pilates and yoga made with 75% combed organic cotton blended with silver ions, 20% recycled polyester, and 5% spandex)
• Q For Quinn Organic Stretch Legging (launching fall 2026 and made from 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane)