Lululemon Align High Rise Review

The buttery softness of the Lululemon Align High Rise is a signature fabric engineered by Lululemon named “Nulu.” The fabric weaves a yarn with microfiber to create a buttery, nearly nude sensation on the skin. Lycra fiber adds shape retention, giving these pants the flexibility of four-way stretch and compression. You can find these pants in sizes 0-14 in various colors and patterns. We tested the 28-inch full-length version, but you can purchase them in 21", 25", and 31" inch lengths or with a low waistband. They are also available in short, crop, flare, and mid-flare; hip pockets are an option for most styles as well.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Fit

These pants are so comfortable we forget any material distractions and can dissolve into our flow state. They feel so luxurious that we wanted to wear them nonstop, and they earned an above-average score for comfort. When Lululemon states that the Nulu fabric is “(almost) weightless” with a “ next-to-nothing sensation,” they aren't exaggerating. Our skin loved the buttery softness.

The Align High Rise is an artful design and one of the best-constructed yoga pants on the market. There is no seam on the outer leg, which gives it a clean and slimming fit. Lululemon hemmed these pants together in the inner leg-line with an h-shape gusset, which helped them remain sculpted to the inner hip during movement. An elegant v-contouring seam on the back waistband accentuates the natural curves of the glutes. No other pant makes our tush look this good.

The Align are super stretchy by design. We tested our street size and thought the fit was comfortable and not too tight. Pair these pants with a cute sweater, and they look chic going to brunch or work after yoga. A tiny pocket in the waistband lets you carry your credit card, a little cash, or a key.

Ease of Movement

Lululemon designed their performance pants to stretch. The unique h-shape gusset helps create a seamless fit to the body, making these pants feel more like a second skin than any other model we tested. We flowed smoothly through our practice in the Align High Rise and were impressed how the waistband gently twisted, arched, and folded with us in every pose.

The Align High Rise lays flat on the lower abdomen, lending high-waist support that doesn't squish or constrict. Sometimes, a thick high-waisted band restricts breathing with overcompression, creating a mushroom effect around our waist. Certain styles dig into the waist, imprinting a red mark around the belly or impeding movement in practice. Waistbands digging into the stomach during forward folds or twisting poses accentuate “belly rolls” and are uncomfortable at best and breath-restricting at worst. Other styles have the opposite problem: the waistband loses shape and is too loose, threatening to fall and moon your fellow yogis or interrupt practice while you adjust the fit. The Align High Rise perfectly balances compression and comfort and never felt too tight.

We tested all of our yoga pants in poses that explored extreme ranges of motion. The Align High Rise felt comfortable in deep hip openers like eka pada sirsana (leg behind the head) to tight binds like padmasana (lotus) to deep hip extension/flexion in hanumanasana (the splits). Hands down, they are the pants we trust when entering our most challenging poses.

Breathability

The delicate balance of breathability and support is tricky for many yoga pant companies to accomplish. Lululemon has mastered making its yoga pants lightweight and breathable while still providing compression. The breathable, body-sculpting material with four-way stretch makes the Align High Rise versatile for many movement activities — vigorous yoga flows, yin yoga, running, biking, and of course, rolling out your hard-working muscles.

Some days, we end our workout drenched in sweat. Some models in this review offered excellent breathability but were too thin to provide support or comfort. On the other hand, some models offer superior compression but are thick and heavy on the skin once the body builds heat. Pants that do not vent can quickly make the legs feel sticky, particularly in heated yoga rooms or yoga on the beach.

When we tested our models in a rigorous hour-and-a-half flow in a room heated 90 to 95°F, we hardly noticed sweat in the Align High Rise, when typically we had significant perspiration buildup after half an hour. The Align can feel weightless, but the supportive material vents your body heat and wicks your sweat. You'll find that they will dry incredibly fast after class, so you can feel fresh for what's next.

Construction Quality

We were impressed with the durability of these yoga pants. The seams stayed woven while testing, and we only noticed the faintest fuzzing on the material. Previous testers observed mild pilling on the front of the legs and inner thighs where they rub together, which we felt could be mitigated with care in the wash cycle.

Lululemon provides helpful detailed care instructions for the Align High Rise. According to Lululemon, the specialized and highly engineered fabric needs special care, and they recommend machine washing cold before setting out to air dry. However, no matter how carefully you take care of the Align, they will show wear over time — pilling is inevitable for any yoga pants. Still, we washed these leggings more than a dozen times with only mild pilling. Worst case scenario: what happens when your Lulus end up in the dryer? Don't fret; your yoga pants will not get destroyed if this happens occasionally. Some wearers use an inexpensive pill shaver to tidy up noticeable seam pilling over time. We also talked with yoga teachers who have worn the Align for longer than our testing period, who informed us that these yoga pants are resilient and can last for years with proper care.

Should You Buy the Lululemon Align High Rise?

When you combine exceptional breathability with equally impressive ease of movement, comfort, and style, you've got a pair of yoga pants worth having. Finding a pant on the market that feels more like a second skin in movement than the Lululemon Align High Rise would be a challenge. They're so comfortable you won't want to take them off. We wore these pants to yoga classes, running, spinning, hiking, around the house, and even to work. The only downfall is the durability and ease of care. We noticed some pilling, but the stitching stayed intact. We found that we could mitigate wear and tear with mindful wash cycles, and it was worth the comfort and ease of movement they offer.

What Other Yoga Pants Should You Consider?

While they are one of the best yoga pants we tested, the Align High Rise is priced higher than others. However, many people find that the price-to-quality tradeoff is worth the investment. If you are on a budget, the ColorfulKoala High Waisted Brushed and Crz Yoga NakedFeel Leggings Double Waist Seam are triple-threats with high rankings in comfort and fit, breathability, and ease of movement, but at a third of the price of top-dollar yoga pants. Another favorite in this style is the Patagonia Maipo 7/8 Tights, which have unmatched ease of movement, have been worn by thru-hikers for thousands of miles, and offer odor control in their fabric. If you prefer more body-shaping compression or need a thicker weight for cooler weather, then the Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush is thicker and more compressive.