I’ve been on the hunt for the best non toxic leggings to replace my beloved Lulus and Alo for YEARS. After testing a dozen plastic-free activewear brands, I’m sharing what’s actually worth getting with my brutally honest thoughts. I’ve found that the best activewear is stylish, functional, made with the safest fabrics 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. The best leggings are Reprise, Groceries and Elastique.

Why I Switched to Nontoxic Activewear

I stopped working out in plastic and wish I had done it sooner!

1. Most activewear is literally plastic. They’re made using synthetic fabrics containing BPA, PFAS, pesticides, phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde resins, certain dyes, and chemical finishing agents.
2. Athletic wear sits directly on our skin while our body temperature and absorption are highest. When we wear and sweat in these fabrics they shed microplastics. Basically, heat + sweat + friction = higher potential exposure to toxins and endocrine disruptors.
3. I exercise multiple times a week, so my exposure is more frequent than someone who never works out. The toxic burden on my body accumulates over time.
4. I hope to get pregnant and start a family in the next few years and there are tons of studies showing how plastic in clothes affects the ability to fall pregnant. I don’t wanna mess with my fertility!

How to find the best leggings

Here are some tips to help you find the best non-toxic workout clothes for YOU.

• Look for natural fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, Tencel, Lyocell, bamboo. The safest fabrics are organic cotton and hemp while next best safer ones are Tencel, lyocell, modal and ECOVERO.
• Look for GOTS and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifications. GOTS is the best certification possible and means it’s organic and tested for harmful chemicals along the ENTIRE supply chain. OEKO-TEX means the final product has been checked for harmful substances, but it doesn’t have to be organic.
• You can also look for Lenzing and BlueSign certifications to ensure the manufacturing, dyeing and finishing process has been verified to be safe.
• PFAS Free: look for brands that explicitly state they are free from PFAS aka “forever chemicals” which are known endocrine disruptors and used for moisture-wicking and stain resistance.

I’ve included some red flags to watch out for, but If you’re overwhelmed, just remember it’s about progress over perfection!

• Look at both safer fibers AND low tox processing. Even natural fabrics can be heavily chemically processed with treatments and finishings full of silicone oils and chemicals.
• Watch out for brands that use merino wool. Merino wool may have a chemical coating called “superwash” that includes plastic.
• Watch out for bamboo activewear. Most bamboo undergoes an extreme chemical process to get it super soft. Make sure it’s made with bamboo Tencel, ecovero, lenzing or made in a “closed loop” process for healthier options.
• Avoid BRANWYN (uses superwash, which means it is coated in plastic), Vuori, and Quince

What plastic-free actually means

I found that 100% cotton legging is very rare. Most plastic-free activewear is technically almost plastic free, not completely. All the high performance leggings are actually around 90%-95% plastic-free and use between 5%-10% spandex or elastane so it doesn’t fall down. For sportswear to have that stretchiness it needs to have SOME spandex, elastane or lycra, which are plastic fibers made from petroleum and are not biodegradable. It’s what makes activewear function properly and improves the fit and shape.

Today there’s brands using biodegradable alternatives like bio based elastane, which is derived from corn. The process of making this is also chemical heavy though. I recommend going for leggings that do include some spandex if you do high impact exercise.

I tried Reprise Activewear Sage Leggings with pockets

I feel that Reprise is truly so versatile and has the most satisfying texture of anything I’ve tried. The leggings are just so soft and buttery but also moisture wicking to keep you dry. I have their Sage Leggings with pockets and it’s such a good dupe for my retired Lulus. It isn’t easy to find natural workout clothes that actually feel like athletic gear, and Reprise is elevated, functional, and comfortable without being insanely overpriced.

Reprise uses a plant-based fabric called TENCEL Lyocell (made from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees) with a small percentage of spandex (still less than most other natural activewear brands) and organic dyes. I find that they have fantastic strength, stretch and flexibility and so far they’re holding up well through my most intense high-impact workouts. I’ll update with any new observations. In my experience, most other leggings have decent stretchiness but not enough flexibility to feel very comfy when I do yoga or reformer pilates.

Reprise also offers a great variety of styles, including shorts both with and without pockets offered in different lengths, fusion leggings (synthetic-based but OEKO-TEX certified materials), capri and flare leggings. Their sizes run a little big so I recommend sizing down. I’m usually a medium and the small fits me perfectly.

Price: $125 Sage Legging
Materials: 93% TENCEL Lyocell and 7% Spandex
How it actually feels: incredibly soft and buttery. Stretch level 3/3
What to know: elevated activewear, runs large, wash on cold and in a mesh bag to keep the fibers soft
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 Pact Organic On The Go-To Legging (budget!)

If you’re looking for a solid pair of affordable organic cotton leggings, my recommendation is Pact. Pact was the first organic workout clothes I switched to yeaaars ago, and I still think they’re a really good affordable choice. They’re made with 90% organic cotton and 10% elastane. They wear tight and secure with a bit of stretch, and most importantly, they hold up well over time. Fabric is thick and not see through. I feel like Pact is good for basics 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. Pact and Groceries Apparel have a very similar feel to me. Between Quince and Pact, I prefer Pact because Quince can be very hit or miss and I feel that their supply chain is questionable.

Price: $28
Materials: 90% Organic Cotton and 10% Elastane
How it actually feels: sits tight on my skin. Stretch level 2/3
What to know: good for basics
Other styles: pocket legging, cropped legging
✔️ GOTS certified ✔️ Fair Trade certified

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I tried Groceries Apparel Momo Midi Legging

I grabbed my first pair of Groceries Apparel vegetable dyed leggings on major sale after hearing both rave reviews and disappointing ones. 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. On the downside, I noticed the color of my leggings shifted from a dark gray to chocolate brown even though I’m washing on a cold delicate cycle. Not a big deal personally, but something to know. I purchased some more of their pieces recently, including their spaghetti top, and those colors have stayed the same. Nothing was see through for me either yay! These have a snug fit. I’m usually comfortable Medium but theirs is a tad tight on me.

For reference, I’m 5’5″ and the Momo Midi Legging is a 7/8 length at 19″. Groceries and Mate are the only organic activewear brands I found making midi length leggings. I wish Groceries made one with pockets!

Price: $98 Momo Midi Legging / $58 Hemp Vee Tank
Materials: 92% Organic Cotton and 8% Spandex
How it actually feels: sits tight. Stretch level 2/3
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% off Memorial Weekend

I tried Elastique Athletics L’Original Lymphatic Leggings (luxe!)

Elastique Athletics Lymphatic Leggings are the most luxurious nontoxic leggings I’ve tried so far. I like to call these my biohacking leggings ha! They’ve got lymphatic drainage support, compression, UPF 50 protection against UV rays and OEKO-TEX certified fabrics. So the material itself isn’t natural but the finished product has been verified to be free of toxic chemicals.

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.

L’Original Lymphatic Leggings also have gradient compression (8-13 mmHg) to support circulation and help with swelling. I’m not exaggerating when I say these feel sooo breathable, stretchy and flexible. These are another one of the few leggings I’ve found that’s flexible enough I actually want to wear them during yoga and functional enough for high impact workouts. As a surprise added bonus, they seem to make my legs look thinner than they actually are.

Price: $235 L’Original Lymphatic Leggings / $150 L’Original Lymphatic Bra
How it actually feels: very stretchy, flexible and breathable with great compression. Stretch level 3/3
Best for: all workouts, especially outdoor thanks to UPF 50
Other styles: stirrup leggings, biker shorts, jumpsuit
✔️ OEKO-TEX certified ✔️ ethically made in Portugal

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I tried Fair Indigo Organic Leggings (great for lounging)

Fair Indigo are the absolute softest truly organic leggings I own. By organic, I mean actually 100% organic. 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. 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
What to know: doesn’t fit tightly or have stretch
✔️ GOTS certified ✔️ fairly made in Peru

I tried Organic Basics Leggings

I wanted to show an example of the less glamorous side of organic workout clothes to give a realistic full picture. Safe fabrics are great and all, but leggings can sometimes end up being kind of see through, not durable or not well constructed. I throw my Organic Basics leggings on for coffee runs or errands, but they’re not my preferred pair for working out. I find theirs to be on the thinner side, but that does also make them feel very breathable. The stitching on the elastic band unraveled on me pretty quickly, so I would not repurchase these. I’m sure they have other types of leggings that are made better. These have a lower amount of spandex than other brands with 95% organic cotton and 5% spandex. I feel like they’re made for tall gals because I’m 5’5 and these were sooo long. I have to scrunch up a BUNCH of extra fabric.

My thoughts on Boody

I’ve also tried Boody leggings which are 79% bamboo viscose, 15% nylon, and 6% elastane. These are really really flexible and stretchy and feel almost like stockings, but just a tad thicker. Boody does use a lower amount of natural fabric compared to other brands in this space. I find them comfy for workouts involving lots of stretching like yoga and pilates.

I’d love to know what your favorites are!

How to Care for Natural Fiber Activewear

Natural and organic fabrics are more delicate than synthetic! Take special care of them to make them last.

1. Use a mesh laundry bag when putting them in the washing machine.
2. Always wash in cold water. Heat may cause shrinking.
3. Turn them inside out to protect the outside from pilling.
4. Use a mild, natural detergent without harsh surfactants to avoid stripping the natural fibers.