REI Co-op Active Pursuits 7/8 Ribbed Review

The REI Active Pursuits 7/8 Ribbed are one of our lineup's most sustainable options, coming from a Climate Neutral Certified Brand. The ribbed material is a 79% Tactel nylon/21% Lycra spandex blend. While textiles are one of the most polluting industries, the material in these pants meets Bluesign standards for environmental impact and worker safety. The design features two deep hip pockets, a gusset, and a flat-seam stitched waistband. The inseam is 25 inches for an ankle-length cut and is available in size XS-3X in multiple colors.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Fit

The cotton-soft ribbed design of the Active Pursuit is as comfortable as it is flattering. The ultra-high waistband uses flat-seam stitched panels to create a smooth fit that flows with your skin when you bend at the waist. It was one of the most comfortable waistbands in our lineup during forward folds and deep twists. No muffin tops in these pants.

The ribbed pattern gives the Active Pursuits a unique and slimming look. The material has an ultra-soft, brushed cotton feel, making it one of our softest textured leggings. The waistband is double-walled, offering more sculpting in the core, but overall, this pant provides light to mid-compression. Choose pants with more sculpt-power if you want more tummy tucking. The plus side is that too many pants designed for ultra compression also constrict breathing, and these pants give you the freedom to move and breathe deeply.

If you don't like branding on your clothes, you will appreciate that the Active Pursuits do not have a logo, so you won't feel like a company billboard in class. The clean design also makes them easier to dress up than most yoga pants. With the chic ribbed texture, they can easily switch gears after your yoga class into a fashion legging. These pants “made the cut” on an international trip where we could only pack a few outfits. We used them for yoga most mornings and then coupled them with various tops and scarves to make different outfits — keeping our travel footprint ultralight. Pair these with a blazer or sweater dress, and they are an excellent fit for anywhere you go next.

Ease of Movement

The capability of four-way stretch fabric shines when paired with a good design like in the Active Pursuits. We especially appreciate the gusset in these pants, which allows them to remain form-fitting in the crotch and hips through your entire class. It is no fun in a yoga class when your pants bag and sag around your underwear, and you spend much of your energy hiking them up after each vinyasa. You don't have to worry about this with the Active Pursuits because they hug enough not to sag but never tight enough to create a muffin top.

The pants are ankle-length, and the fabric maintains a flat fit on the legs. The skintight fit is handy when entering pretzel-like shapes, as you won't have to worry about the fabric bunching up.

It is lovely to go through a class without tugging and pulling at your pants, and these are stretchy and perform higher than most at “sustainable comfort” from sun salutations to Shavasana.

Breathability

The fabric that comprises the Active Pursuits breathes incredibly well, even sweat-soaked. We wore these leggings while hiking up a mountain on a hot day, and it didn't feel like our legs were baking in the high UV. Although they never felt cloying or hot like some synthetic materials, we don't consider them moisture-wicking. They retain moisture and remain wet after hiking or a hot yoga practice. In tests where we soak pants and then monitor their time to air dry, the Active Pursuits took significantly longer than other moisture-wicking pants to dry thoroughly.

Although these don't feel warm, the moisture retention does cause sweat stains. We tested these in a light color, and sweat and raindrops changed the color of the pants—a good reminder that lighter colors show moisture.

Construction Quality

We are glad for the lightweight feel of the Active Pursuits when we sweat, but unlike many cheap and light pants on the market, they are not see-through and don't reveal the pattern of your panties when you squat. The unique quality of the cotton ribbed material is that it has a brushed look that shows pilling slower than smoother textiles. We were pleased that these showed significantly less pilling than many top-dollar brands.

We took these pants bushwhacking up a Colorado 13er, and they didn't show any wear after sitting on sharp granite. They showed only slight fuzzing after a month of field testing. The fabric feels high quality, and we were pleased not to notice any threading. We recommend air drying these yoga pants to extend their life.

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Active Pursuits 7/8 Ribbed?

The Active Pursuits are soft on your skin, easy to move with, and cute to wear after class. With a thoughtfully designed waistband, they never constrict your stretch or your breath. At a fraction of the price of designer pants, these are a good value if you want a pair of pants that are ultra comfortable for any style of yoga but can also fit into other parts of your active schedule. If the feel of good fabric brings you joy, the softness of the ribbed texture won't disappoint. These will be a good fit if you flow best in lightly supportive and unconfining pants, but some may prefer an option with more compression. Finally, for those voting with your dollars, these pants are one of our more sustainable options.

What Other Yoga Pants Should You Consider?

While the Active Pursuits are one of the most comfortable pants to move in, they do tend to hold moisture, so you might choose a pant with more moisture-wicking like the Crz Yoga NakedFeel Leggings Double Waist Seam or Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Workout Leggings if you are signing up for hot yoga. They are a light to mid compression, so if you want more support, you might enjoy the belly-flattening fit of the Alo Yoga High-Waist Airbrush or the ultra high waist of the Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation 7/8 Tight. That said, the Active Pursuits are one of our favorite pairs for all-day wear and travel, and if you have a trip coming up, they would be great to pack with some of our recommended travel gear.