Leggings with pockets are game-changing: 6 worth your ££

published 18 January 2023

By now, you'll likely have guessed that, as a Health Editor, I like working out. It makes my mind feel good and my body feel strong.

That said, working out in the wrong kit sucks. It distracts you from the task at hand, can be uncomfortable, and can knock your confidence, too. I would know - I once ran a 37 mile ultra-marathon in the wrong shoes and yep, it was brutal both physically and mentally. Ever been in a high-intensity interval training session where your leggings fall down, sag at the bum, or crinkle at the knees? Then you'll know what I'm talking about.

I bought you my guide to the best gym leggings of all time and similarly, edits of the petite gym leggings, patterned gym leggings, and high waisted gym leggings. Next up? The only gym leggings with pockets that I actually rate - because a surprising high percentage of the designs currently on offer will hold your phone / keys / bank card while you're standing but rocket-launch them into oncoming traffic the second you move.

So why is having pockets so key? Whether you're a runner or gym-goer, it's always handy having somewhere to store your essentials. If you've never tried a pair, trust me on this one - they're a game-changer.

All have been tested by me, Ally Head, Health Editor here at Marie Claire UK. I run marathons for fun and test workout kit for a living so yep, I'm pretty fussy about what kit I feature. Know that whatever leggings, sports bras or running shorts you see on this site come with my personal stamp of approval. Keep scrolling - and happy sweating.

Health Editor Ally Head trying some of the gym leggings with pockets in this round up — *Health Editor Ally Head trying some of the leggings in this round up*

Testing process

You've likely seen loads of edits of the best leggings, but likely haven't seen many where every single item has been personally tested by the in-house team.

That's where ours comes in. We make an active effort to make sure we're not recommending wellness products to you that we haven't tried ourselves. For more on how we test, read our guide.

What did I look for when testing?

What did we look for - aka, what qualifies the below to rank as the best gym leggings with pockets?

Well, the most important thing for me was a. the leggings themselves were flattering, sweat-wicking and supportive, and b. that the pockets actually worked. In other words, they were spacious enough to hold my essentials and nothing fell out when I ran or moved.

Plus, I considered the following:

Did they fit well? Aka, did they sag, crinkle, or fall down?
Did they sweat-wick and support me through my workout?
Did they wash well or smell after a few uses?
How many pockets were there and did they work at holding your items in?
Did the pockets hold one, two, three essentials, or more?
Were they good value for money and worth the price tag?

Leggings with pockets: 6 best you can buy

Go Move High Waisted Gym Leggings - £27.50 | M&S
Similar to the SB design, the Go Move leggings from M&S have a pocket on your left thigh and a zipped option at the bottom of your back, too. I've written an entire guide to the best M&S leggings (spoiler alert: it's these). The brand does some of the best budget gym kit on the market and these leggings are no different. That said, when I've tested, I've found that leggings from brands like SB or lulu retain their quality for longer (they don't sag or smell after a few washes).

Wunder Train High-Rise Tight with Pockets - £118 | lululemon
Thoughts when testing the lululemon Wunder Train tights? I get the hype. They have not one, not two, but three pockets - a hidden pocket in the waistband that holds your card and keys, and a drop-in pocket on either thigh that fit your phone. They feel like butter yet never leave you with sweat patches and are soft to the touch yet still hold your phone and keys in place. Mine still look the same three years on, too, showing they're worth the investment.

Claude Pocket Legging in Sage - £55 | Pocket Sport
I'm a big fan of Pocket Sport. They're the first legging brand I've ever found that's managed to design bright, fun colours that don't leave you with a crotch sweat patch (true story). Plus, they're comfortable, never budge thanks to the innovative waistband grip, and have a phone-sized pocket (that also holds things like cards, keys, etc) on either thigh. One thing I did notice when testing: smaller items are more likely to fly out, as the pockets don't have a zip, but if you make sure they're packed with other items (eg a card and a phone as opposed to just a card), they're less likely to move.

Why am I best qualified to test the leggings in this piece?

Good question. Well, asides from the fact I'm the Health Editor here at Marie Claire UK, I'm a keen runner (fun fact: runners love gym leggings with pockets). I've run seven marathons in my time and countless halves, running the London Marathon last year in a Boston Qualifying time of 3 hours and 26 minutes.

I started my career at Women's Health magazine and have worked with the likes of The Running Channel since. So yep, it's safe to say I enjoy working out, so really do know what to look for in a good piece of kit.

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Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Health, Sustainability, and Relationships Editor, eight-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner. Day-to-day, she works across site strategy, features, and e-commerce, reporting on the latest health updates, writing the must-read health and wellness content, and rounding up the genuinely sustainable and squat-proof gym leggings worth *adding to basket*. She regularly hosts panels and presents for things like the MC Sustainability Awards, has an Optimum Nutrition qualification, and saw nine million total impressions on the January 2023 Wellness Issue she oversaw, with health page views up 98% year on year, too. Follow Ally on Instagram for more or get in touch.