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Lululemon Vs. Nike: The Legging Battle.
Lululemon and Nike leggings are widely considered to be the two of the best brands for athletic wear loves on the market. But, aside from their general quality, how do they actually stack up against each other? Let’s talk about the legging battle between Lululemon and Nike, and which legging reigns supreme.
Overview.
| Product | Appearance | Price | Utility | Comfort | Overall score | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nike Speed 7/8 Running Tights.  | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.25/5 | |
Lululemon Fast and Free 7/8 25″.  | 5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | |
Nike Luxe High Rise 7/8.  | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.25/5 | |
Lululemon In Movement Crop. | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | |
Nike All-In Tight.  | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.75/5 | |
Lululemon Align Pant.  | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
In terms of branding, Nike and Lululemon are both pretty recognizable. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who is active in the fitness scene who hasn’t at least heard of either brand. However, Nike is by far the more popular choice internationally–with Lululemon being primarily popular in N. America.
Both brands have carved out a sizable niche in the fitness and activewear community. However, Lululemon has placed a bit of a larger emphasis on the women’s wear and women’s fitness area of the niche–whereas Nike pretty much caters to everyone.
In general, it’s easy to view Lululemon and Nike in the same category. Both are high-end athletics wear companies. However, both approach the niche with different outlooks. Lululemon is more of an exclusive–and pricey–athletics wear company. By comparison, Nike is a bit more widely available to the general masses.
With all of that taken into consideration, let’s look into some actual products and compare them head to head.
– For Running.
Nike Speed 7/8 Running Tights.
The Nike Speed 7/8 running tights are perhaps the best option for 7/8 length that Nike carries in general. While the 7/8 length isn’t strictly necessary for running, the slim fit is sleek and keeps you warm in the colder seasons as well as cool in the summer seasons.
Some of the best features on the Nike Speed 7/8 running tights are the drop in pocket on the right hand side, and the foldable waistband for adjustable fit. This means that you can easily carry your phone on your run and hike the pants up higher on the leg if need be. This makes for a great utilitarian, comfortable, and versatile pair of runners leggings.
The Nike power fabric is great for overall comfort, support, and longevity. The material stretches extremely well during high intensity activity, and holds up under stress. This means that you’re going to get your money’s worth when you buy these leggings.
One drawback is the fact that the waistband can get a bit itchy for some consumers. This is a personal preference, and many don’t find this to be a problem. However, it could be for you, so bear that in mind! Aside from that, the Nike Speed 7/8 running tights are an amazing value, and provide that general Nike quality that everyone knows and expects without a hiccup.
- Appearance: 4/5
- Price: 4.5/5
- Utility: 5/5
- Comfort: 4/5
Overall score: 4.25/5
Lululemon Fast and Free 7/8 25″.
The Lululemon Fast and Free 7/8 25” running leggings are a pretty high end running yoga tight, and it definitely shows. These leggings are designed for supreme fit, comfort, support, and performance overall. The Nulux fabric by Lululemon is extremely lightweight and definitely passess the ‘squat test’ when it comes to coverage and stretchability.
One of the stars of the show with the Lululemon Fast and Free 7/8 25” is the multiple pockets. There is a side pocket for your mobile device, and a waistband pocket for any other valuables you might have on you. This is super convenient and adds a bit of an extra utility on top of what most running leggings offer. This is paired with the in-waist drawstring that allows you to tighten or loosen the leggings at your leisure.
As with almost all Lululemon products, the Fast and Free running tights come in a wide range of fun patterns and colors aside from the standard flat color options. This gives you plenty of variety to choose what fits your style the best.
One major drawback with the Fast and Free leggings is the cost. As with all Lululemon products, they are going to come at a premium. Many buyers would say that the overall quality is not enough to justify the additional price hike over a pair of comparable Nike’s. However, that is definitely up to the consumer to judge. Overall these are an excellent pair of running leggings all things considered.
- Appearance: 5/5
- Price: 3/5
- Utility: 5/5
- Comfort: 4.5/5
Overall Score: 4/5
– For Yoga.
Nike Luxe High Rise 7/8.
The Nike Luxe line-up is excellent for yoga primarily due to the simplicity of the design and the ultimate comfort of the material used. The Dri-Fit material allows for sweat to get wicked away in order to keep you dry throughout your yoga (or hot yoga), sessions. However, it’s not so dense that it will keep you too compressed when wearing them.
Another benefit of the Nike Luxe High Rise is the ultra-high waistband. This waistband comes to just above the navel, and aids in supporting the core throughout extreme stretches and poses. That can be a huge benefit for those who are looking for that tiny bit of edge when attempting more advanced yoga maneuvers.
One downside to these tights is the lack of a waistband pocket. Many consumers appreciate the inclusion of a waistband pocket as it allows for storage of small valuables such as cash, or gym membership cards, in the pants to use when they wear them outside of yoga classes/sessions. However, this isn’t a deal breaker as the minimalist design is still incredibly comfortable and goes a long way towards making these one of the best pairs of yoga leggings around.
The Nike Luxe High Rise fabric is extremely opaque, which is a huge plus for yoga practitioners. It’s not hard to imagine how stretching too-thin fabric can become an issue for those who don’t wish to show-off their unmentionables. Overall this is a very attractive and comfortable pair of yoga leggings.
- Appearance: 5/5
- Price: 4/5
- Utility: 3.5/5
- Comfort: 5/5
Overall Score: 4.25/5
Lululemon In Movement Crop.
The Lululemon In Movement crop yoga tights are great for yoga, as well as every day leisure. This makes them perhaps the most versatile pair of leggings on this list. They come with a crop capri style cut on the legs that gives them a more relaxed look, while also remaining extremely comfortable and movable for stretching and posing.
The Nulux fabric is extremely soft and stretchy, and also provides plenty of opacity for coverage and modesty when stretching. There’s very little to complain about when it comes to these yoga tights as far as fabric is concerned. They keep you cool, and move in every way you could imagine.
The In Movement pants come with a waistband pocket that is conveniently placed, and is large enough to hold a mobile phone. This is great for those who love to do light yoga with a mobile device on the go. The added utility helps boost the value of these leggings quite a bit.
The high waistband of these leggings adds the support and compression of the core that you want from yoga pants; although it does sit a bit lower than competing models. That lowered high-rise waistline is a bit of a drawback for those who prefer more coverage and support around the midriff.
Overall, these are an excellent outing for Lululemon and will make a great addition to any yoga lover’s wardrobe. With excellent comfort, utility, and plenty of pattern options; these are hard to beat!
- Appearance: 4.5/5
- Price: 3.5/5
- Utility: 5/5
- Comfort: 4/5
Overall Score: 4/5
– For All-Around Use.
Nike All-In Tight.
The Nike All-In tights are exactly what they are branded as. They are an all-in legging that is designed to be worn in virtually any situation that you choose. They are perfect for the gym, the yoga mat, the grocery store, the movie theatre, you name it! The extremely comfortable Dri-Fit fabric helps keep you cool and dry no matter where you go in these tights.
The All-In tights come with dual pockets for added functionality and utility. There is a hidden waistband pocket that is large enough to hold a phone, with a smaller front pocket that is
great for keys and loose cash. This helps make the tights more functional when wearing them out and about.
The All-In tights can be found in a wide range of colors, which makes them easier to match with your outfits no matter what you feel like wearing. They have a slight sheen to them, which makes them pop in a far more fashionable way than traditional athletic leggings.
One area of concern for many buyers is the sizing. These leggings have a tendency to run a bit on the smaller size. This means that buying a size-up from your normal might be a necessity. However, overall, these are the quintessential pair of all-around leggings for everyone.
- Appearance: 5/5
- Price: 4.5/5
- Utility: 5/5
- Comfort: 5/5
Overall Score: 4.75/5
Lululemon Align Pant.
The Lululemon Align line-up is pretty famed for its ability to fit in nearly any situation. These versatile leggings are great for general use and they look excellent while doing it! The fun patterns of the leggings are always a great compliment to those who love wearing out of the box clothing in their daily lives.
The Align Pant tights only come with a single waistband pocket. This is a step down from the dual pockets of their competition. In addition, the waistband pocket is not large enough for a mobile device–this might be an issue for some consumers. However, that is going to boil down to your personal preferences.
The full length cut of these pants means that they are a bit longer than the 7/8 lengths we have gone over above. However, the cut and design of these leggings is pretty fashionable and sleek despite this change. The high-rise waist keeps the stomach feeling secure, and the longer inseam provides a more full feel.
One other area of concern is the fact that these have a tendency to slide down a bit when running or jogging. This is due to the fact that the leggings are designed to be more versatile, instead of singular in their purpose. They are not ideal for running, but can hold up rather well regardless.
- Appearance: 4/5
- Price: 3.5/5
- Utility: 4/5
- Comfort: 4.5/5
Overall Score: 4/5
The Verdict – Lululemon Vs Nike Leggings
So, what does all of this comparing actually boil down to? Well, it seems to us that the results are pretty simple:
Overall, for price, comfort, utility, and style, Nike is the clear winner when it comes to legging purchases. However, that does not mean that Lululemon isn’t without its own merits. It’s just that the overall value of Nike is higher when you take into account the actual cost to function ratio–in which Nike is the clear winner.
While Lululemon does make excellent products that will last a lifetime, it’s hard to justify the purchase when Nike can make just as good of a product for half the cost in many cases.
Final Thoughts.
Buying a pair of leggings is always a fun experience. Trying them on for the first time as you head to the gym or the track is one surefire way to boost confidence. Activewear has come a long way over the years, and Nike and Lululemon look to remain at the forefront of that movement for many more years to come.