The best winter leggings in 2024, tried and tested

While there’s no shortage of runners willing to expose their legs well into winter (we all have our own cutoff for wearing shorts), a good pair of winter leggings goes a long way in any runner’s wardrobe.

Yes, any pair of tights can pass as winter leggings, depending on how hot you run. But if you get cold easily or live somewhere where snow, freezing rain, frigid winds and near-arctic temperatures are the norm from November through March, you’ll want a pair of leggings that’s designed to withstand those conditions. It’d be nice if leggings were rated for specific temperatures — e.g., these work best in 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or these work best in single-digit weather — but since every runner experiences the cold differently (see: those runners in shorts during a blizzard), the main difference in winterized leggings is usually fleece or brushed linings that help retain heat or extra layers to keep the wind or moisture from cutting through the fabric.

With Colorado winter in full swing, we put 12 pairs of winter runner leggings to the test. After countless hours battling snow, sleet, rain and even beautiful blue-sky days where the temperatures didn’t crack 25 degrees Fahrenheit, we picked the best leggings to keep your legs warm during even the coldest conditions.

Best winter leggings: On Women’s Performance Winter Tights

$130 at On

On’s Performance Winter Tights stood out from the rest because they didn’t actually feel like winter tights. They just felt like snug, warm leggings that could handle cold temperatures, all the way down into the teens.

Made from a polyester and elastane blend — which is lightly breathable, sweat-wicking and stretchy — these tights are winter-proofed with a brushed fabric on the inside for added warmth. But when we started heating up over the course of a 10-mile run (even with temperatures still in the high 20s), we didn’t feel like these tights ever got damp with sweat, which can happen with some fleece-lined ones.

These are definitely tight, but we wouldn’t size up (it would be so great if brands offered half sizes!). That snugness contributed to the warmth of the tights but didn’t actually impede our stride in any way. And though these tights didn’t budge on us, there is an infinity drawcord at the waist if you need to fine-tune the fit.

Overall, the design is super streamlined, as expected with On, with one drop-in pocket on the right leg that’s big enough for a smartphone (and compressive enough to reduce any bouncing) and a smaller zip pocket on the back for any other essentials. We also really liked the subtle reflective design across the lower legs, which functions as a heads-up to anyone you’re sharing the road with in lower-light conditions.

Best wool winter leggings: Lululemon Women’s Keep the Heat Thermal High-Rise Tights

$138 $99 at Lululemon

We were skeptical about these at first — they looked more like a base layer for skiing than running tights — but Lululemon’s Keep the Heat Thermal High-Rise Tights impressed us on a 6-mile run around a windy lake where the temperature didn’t top 30 degrees Fahrenheit in overcast conditions (and when the sun isn’t out in Colorado, it almost always feels colder than the weather app indicates).

Made from a high-performance wool and nylon blend with elastane for stretch, these tights marry warmth and breathability. Wool has natural temperature-regulating properties, meaning it helps to hold in your body heat in the cold, but it also absorbs moisture and dries quickly, keeping you cool even when you start breaking a sweat. Lululemon says it knits varying textures into the fabric for breathability and thermal comfort. We didn’t notice this, but even though we thought we’d be feeling every bite of the wind when we first put these on, our legs stayed super cozy over the course of an hour outside.

We liked how high these sat on the waist and were surprised that, even without a drawstring, we didn’t find ourselves tugging them up at any point. They’re more body-skimming than compressive, but we felt supported enough on the run and comfortable enough to keep these on for several hours afterward as we lounged around. While they’re not cheap, the versatility is appealing; these could easily double as a base layer for any other kind of winter activity.

Best fleece-lined winter leggings: Janji Women’s Aurora Fleece Tights

$118 $82 at REI

Fleece-lined leggings are a total game changer when it comes to winter running. Anyone who’s ever worn a pair knows how warm that fuzzy fabric can be, but it can also help regulate your body temperature during activity and wick sweat away from the body. The problem? Some fleece leggings can run super thick, which, in addition to being uncomfortable, may impede your stride (no one wants excess fabric creating friction between their legs).

Enter the Janji Aurora Fleece Tights. Made from recycled polyester — which is breathable and lightweight in addition to sweat-wicking and quick-drying — and spandex to provide light support, these are lined with fleece to keep out the chill. We ran with these multiple times when temperatures were in the teens, and our legs felt warmer than any other part of our body. We preferred this fleece lining to other tights because even though it was clearly powerful enough to block out seriously low temps, it didn’t feel too thick. Another nice touch: the laser-cut hems, which tucked nicely into trail shoes with a higher ankle cut and made for easy shedding post-run (even when sweaty).

These also stood out from the rest due to additional features like the stretchy drawcord that was easy to unknot (unlike some of the infinity drawcords we tried) and the two large pockets on each leg, both of which have locking zippers to keep your stuff safe on the run. The leggings also provide a secure, comfortable fit and offer reflective side seaming and reflective icons that improve visibility in low-light conditions.

Best winter leggings for seriously bad weather: Dahlie Women’s Winter Wool 2.0 Tights

$140 at Dahlie

If your first reaction is to ask why someone would want to run in bad weather, you don’t need these tights. But if you’re psyched to frolic outside in a snowstorm, single-digit temps or any other inclement conditions, then you need a pair of leggings that can stand up to the worst Mother Nature has to offer. And the Dahlie Winter Wool 2.0 Tights are that pair. We’ve run in these when the mercury has dipped into negative degrees, when the windchill could freeze your face off and in the middle of blizzards, and our legs have yet to go totally numb.

The trick is the wind shield that extends from the waistband down over the knee. It has Rudolf Bionic-Finish Eco technology on the surface that blocks frigid gusts, snow and sleet. That keeps your quads, which do the lion’s share of the work while you’re running, from stiffening up in the cold. In fact, we’ve been on runs where those muscles end up feeling like dead meat, so now we reach for these if we know the wind is whipping.

You might think that a less permeable layer would impede your movement, but strategically placed mesh panels on the side of these tights still allow for a nice open stride. Considering that the rest of the tights are made from a wool stretch material that naturally regulates body temperature and absorbs moisture while safeguarding breathability, it’s the ideal mix of warmth and breathability for anyone who’s willing to weather the worst of winter.

Warmth

Most winterized leggings include some kind of brushed fabric on the inside for added warmth. For instance, if you run colder, you might want to opt for a thicker fleece like you’d find in the Nike Women’s ACG Winter Wolf Leggings, while someone who tends to heat up quickly might prefer a more streamlined option like the Nike Go Women’s Therma-FIT Leggings. For especially inclement conditions, look for features like water-resistant fabrics, which you’ll find in the Tracksmith Turnover Tights, or built-in panels like those on the Smartwool Women’s Active Fleece Wind Tights to protect your legs against the wind.

Fabric technology

Yes, you still sweat in the winter. That means no matter what kind of fleece, wool or other warm materials are used to construct the leggings, you still want to ensure that the fabrics are breathable and moisture-wicking. If not, the leggings might actually trap sweat against your skin, which can make you even colder. Even the thickest leggings we tested have these capabilities because their goal is not just to keep you warm in cold conditions but also to help regulate your temperature as it changes throughout your run to help keep you safe.

Storage

Storage is always important in running leggings but never more so than in winter, when you might be shedding layers the farther you get into your run. Not only do you need enough pockets to hold essentials like your phone, keys and fuel, but you’ll also want somewhere to stash your gloves, headband or buff when you overheat. If you’re someone who does tend to warm up quickly, look for leggings with drop-in pockets on the sides that make it easy to stuff a few extra pieces of fabric in (and pull them back out if the temperature drops), along with at least one zippered pocket to keep anything important. (No one wants to lose their car key mid-run because they needed to pull their headband out of the same pocket.)

How we tested

First, we polled the running community, asking what tights they most prefer to run in. Then we compared selections from other review sites. Finally, we reached out to brands to find out about the latest updates. Once we had a comprehensive list, we put them to the test on the road, making sure to save these for true winter days (read: snow, cold rain or frigid temps) and logging at least an hour in each pair.

Weather

Materials

Fit

Other women’s running tights we tested

Nike Go Women’s Therma-FIT Leggings

$120 at Nike

We ranked these as one of our top pairs of regular running tights, and the winterized version is just as good. The Nike Go Therma-FIT Leggings have the same scuba-esque fit, which provides warmth and supportive compression, but the inside of Nike’s InfinaLock fabric is lined with Therma-FIT technology, a double-brushed microfiber fleece design to retain energy and heat in the coldest conditions. Even with that extra insulation, these didn’t veer into bulky territory. When we put these next to the original Nike Go leggings, we were hard-pressed to notice which pair was equipped with that extra insulation. We liked how sleek yet toasty these felt on multiple runs in which the temperature stayed below freezing.

Nike Women’s ACG Winter Wolf Leggings

$125 $107 at Nike

For those really, really cold days, Nike combined the Therma-FIT technology mentioned above with Polartec fabric, a super-soft fleece that helps hold warm air in while letting moisture escape. While these were exceptionally cozy, all that fabric tech added a lot of bulk to the tights, and they lacked the supportive second-skin fit that we loved about the Nike Go, so we wouldn’t recommend these for faster workouts. One other drawback is that there’s only one pocket on the back, and it fits just your keys or a credit card, not a phone. But if your goal is simply time on feet or if you’re partaking in other cold weather cardio activities like hiking or cross-country skiing, these are a great option for blocking out frigid temps.

Tracksmith Turnover Tights

$128 at Tracksmith

We love these tights on winter days when the sun is shining, which basically tricks your body into thinking the cold isn’t quite as bad as the thermometer reads. They’re made from a buttery-smooth mix of nylon and elastane that Tracksmith calls its Inverno Blend; it’s specially knit to handle light precipitation — say, a dusting of snow — and has a soft brushed back that provides warmth and pulls moisture away from your skin. We consider these a do-it-all pair of leggings, in that they fit so nicely that every step feels fluid and you can get away with wearing them from fall all the way into spring, although we wouldn’t mind a few more small pockets next to the back zippered one.

Tracksmith NDO Tights

$198 at Tracksmith

NDO stands for No Days Off, and Tracksmith designed these leggings to keep you consistent even when the weather isn’t cooperating. Inspired by wet suits, the high-rise NDO Tights offer a snug, supportive fit courtesy of a double-sided fabric that’s seriously warm, while a wind-blocking overlay on the front thighs keeps that bitter winter wind from cutting through the fabric. If you start to overheat, you can unzip at the ankles for a little airflow. Also, that feature is supremely helpful if you’re just struggling to get these off after a sweaty workout. The reflective sashes at the front right thigh and back left calf are a nice touch for drearier winter days, and we appreciated that Tracksmith provides multiple storage options in these tights: two large envelope back pockets, plus a zippered pocket on the back waistband.

Lululemon Women’s Fast and Free High-Rise Thermal Tights

$148 at Lululemon

Lululemon’s Fast and Free tights are always a favorite among runners, and the fleece version is no exception. These have a soft brushed interior that’s mostly made from recycled polyester with added Lycra fiber so they don’t stretch or sag; a continuous drawcord also helps keep them in place, but trying to unknot that to get the pants off can be a workout in its own right. Another perk is that there’s no inner thigh seams that rub together as you run, which reduces the risk of chafing. Two side drop-in pockets on the legs for a phone, plus three drop-in pockets on the waistband for smaller items, contribute to this style’s ongoing popularity.

Smartwool Women’s Active Fleece Wind Tights

$140 $84 at Smartwool

Similarly to the Dahlie Winter Wool 2.0 Tights, the Smartwool Active Fleece Wind Tights are equipped with windproof front panels to resist those cutting winter gusts. The combination of the stretchy knit merino wool next to the skin and a more durable outer layer helped us stay warm without feeling like our movement was constricted in any way. These have a mid-rise waist with no drawstring, so we did find ourselves pulling them up quite a bit during the run compared to tights with more of a high-rise fit. We were able to keep our phone and gels within easy reach, thanks to a drop-in pocket on one leg and a zippered pocket on the other, and our only complaint was that the ankle zips tended to make us feel colder.

Athleta Rainier Tights

$109 From $70 at Athleta

The Athleta Rainier Tights, which came highly recommended by other runners, felt a little like a dupe of the On Running Winter Performance Tights, especially with the reflective print. These didn’t feel quite as compressive, but they’re designed for medium- and high-impact workouts (read: running) and feature the brand’s sweat-wicking Plush SuperSonic material on the inside for a soft, warm fit that doesn’t add bulk. There are zip pockets on each leg to secure your essentials, plus a back drop-in pocket for your phone. If we had designed these, we would have swapped those pocket styles since there’s no easy way to get an iPhone 14 Pro Max in and out of that back pocket, even without a case.

Brooks Women’s Momentum Thermal Tights

$98 at Brooks

The fabric Brooks used in its Momentum Thermal Tights is truly buttery soft (a descriptor that’s often overused in leggings). It’s stretchy and supportive in a way that feels super comfy, although we wouldn’t have minded a little more compression. This is yet another brand we think could benefit from half sizes, as we always seem to be in between, though you can adjust the infinity drawcord at the waist for a tighter fit. All three pockets, including two drop-in pockets on the sides and one fold-over pocket at the back, are large enough to fit most smartphones without a case, although we felt a little nervous about not having a zippered option for our keys.