Size Inclusive Fleece Legging Favorites
About a month and a half ago, I began my pursuit of the perfect fleece leggings. Since we’ve been doing our morning walks everyday, I figured it was time to upgrade for the frigid temperatures. I was also extremely naive and figured “how hard could it be?” to find a pair or two so I threw a question box up on my Instagram stories for recommendations. You gals came through (per usual) with about a hundred suggestions. Feeling very confident but knowing I couldn’t try them all, I compiled your most frequent mentions and decided to try a few for myself.
Turns out, this task was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Fleece doesn’t have the same stretch / fit as other lounging or workout leggings that I’ve tried. Often times I can try something on and quickly determine if they’re going to work but not with these. I noticed that the longer I wore them, the more they “broke” in and became more comfortable (which is why this post has taken me so long). I tried to give my most honest / detailed review on each pair worn below, recognizing that they all photograph similarly (and terribly- sorry). Let’s get to it!
YOUR TOP SUGGESTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER):
BALEAF Women's Fleece Lined Winter Leggings (XS-3X)
Willit Women's Fleece Lined Leggings (XS-XXL)
Cuddl Duds ClimateRight Women's Stretch Fleece (XS-4X)
Under Armour Women's ColdGear Authentic Leggings (XS-XXL)
Old Navy’s High-Waisted CozeCore Jogger Leggings (XS-XXL, plus sizes up to 4X here)
Plush Women's Fleece Lined Stirrup Leggings (XS-L)
Athleta Rainer Tights (XS-XXL, plus sizes up to 3X here)
*EDIT the Rainer tights do NOT have fleece, the Altitude Leggings and Peak Hybrid Fleece Tight do but many sizes are out of stock
Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Sweatpants (XXS-XXL, 14-22)
WHAT I BOUGHT + TRIED:
Plush Women's Fleece Lined Stirrup Leggings, XS-L | Wearing size large
I was most excited about these (despite their lack of inclusive sizing and higher price tag) because of the stirrup strap on the ankle so that you could easily tuck them into your shoes/boots without your ankle showing. Genius, right? These went on really nicely, felt like true black leggings on the outside with a nice amount of stretch, they felt a little dressier than the other pairs I decided to purchase. I had high hopes but the pair I received had a LARGE hole in the crotch. I’m sure it was an isolated incident and could have sewn but I decided to return (without snapping a picture-sorry) and move onto the next pair…
Cuddl Duds ClimateRight Women's Stretch Fleece, XS-4X | Wearing size large
These were one of the most popular suggestions so I was excited to try, especially because of the sizing range and I’d been familiar with the brand since I’ve modeled for them in the past. I knew their sizing ran a little generous so I opted for a large. I was surprised to find out that these are one layer fleece (so you feel the same fabric on the inside and out -really hard to tell from the product image). So really, these feel like a base layer that I’d wear underneath snow pants which is not the look I was going for, especially because they weren’t very wind resistant. They were also really low on my bum in the back, I was not a fan of the fit. If you want a cozy fleece lounging legging with no compression, these could be for you but they were a no for me.
Willit Women's Fleece Lined Leggings, XS-XXL | Wearing size XL
Another reader favorite, I ordered these in navy so I wasn’t suck with all black and really liked the color and that they came with slim pockets on BOTH sides. I did really have to work / wiggle to get into these but found that as I wore them, they became easier to wear and became more comfortable. I did a quick glance at the product details and reviews. I’m glad I did because they definitely run a little small. I’m usually a large in leggings but these are an XL and I had to work to get into them. Like I mentioned above, fleece is a different beast. They’re snug at first but they definitely broke in and wore well.
BALEAF Women's Fleece Lined Winter Leggings, XS-3X | wearing size large
Although these were another top favorite, I almost didn’t order them because I’d previously ordered a pair of biker shorts from the brand and HATED the fit. They have some incredible reviews (nearly 4 1/2 out of 5 stars) and I liked that you could order up to 3X with or without pockets so I decided to go for it. After multiple wears, I think these may be my favorite pair. Like the Willit ones, I did have to wiggle into them but found they conformed to my body with wear. BK and I were crazy enough to watch a Bills game outside on our porch in 30 degree weather and these kept me warm throughout the entire evening. I am not a runner but I think these would be best for running outside.
Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Sweatpants, XXS-XXL - petite and plus 14-22 | wearing size large, regular
Okay, technically these are NOT leggings but wanted to cover all of my bases here in case you’re looking for more fleece lined loungewear/no compression. I’ve been buying the Signature Softblend collection for years and it’s probably one of my favorite loungewear pieces. It has the coziest fleece-like material on the inside that I could wear (and have worn) for days straight. I also love that it comes with a matching top (worn here, size large) and in a variety of colors.
FINAL THOUGHTS // NEXT STEPS:
If I had to choose, my favorite athletic pair would have to be the BALEAF Leggings. They definitely took a few wears to break in but ultimately, they were super warm, the Willit Women's Fleece Lined Leggings as a close second. If I was feeling motivated to try one more athletic pair, I’d definitely try the Under Armour Women's ColdGear Authentic Leggings in a large or the Athleta Rainer Tights in a large (tried ordering a few weeks ago but they were out of stock in my size).
For a dressier option, I was really hopeful about the Plush pair and saw they have faux leather looking leggings that are fleece lined. However, due to my initial experience with the quality and lack of sizing I’m going to pass on them. However, if you’re looking for a fleece lined faux leather pair I love my Commando ones, now up to 3X! As seen on my previous faux leather legging guide.
For a cozy/lounging option, the Lou & Grey Signature Softblend Sweatpants are a MUST! If you’re looking to splurge on a non-fleece jogger, these Vuori ones are my absolute favorite (I wear XL). I’ve worn them all around the world for YEARS (as seen on my previous loungewear favorites post) and I’m so pleasantly surprised to see they’ve extended up to an XXL!
If you’re looking for a maternity option, I came across these leggings (up to 3X) which look promising and high enough for the bump.
Be sure to avoid VPL’s (visible panty lines) while wearing leggings with my favorite Soma Vanishing Edge undies. More favorites are here!
WASHING / CARE:
I would not recommend putting any of the leggings mentioned in this post in the dryer. If you do, maybe on delicate and until they’re damp/not fully dry. For all high elasticity items, I would strongly encourage you to wash your athleisure with FOREVER NEW Stretch Active Wear Liquid Detergent (and no fabric softener) to help maintain the lifespan of your garments.
SWEATER (M) | LEGGINGS (L) | BOOTS (11,R) | HOOPS
I hope you enjoyed this post and perhaps learned something from it! Feel free to leave any questions or leggings that you’ve tried and loved (or didn’t) below. Thanks for reading! xx CMK