Hot yoga — whether Bikram, Barkan, or heated vinyasa — is a specific test for activewear. At 37–42°C, fabrics that are fine in a cool studio go transparent. Waistbands that hold at the gym roll down when you're sweating through Warriors. Cheap leggings become unwearable.
Here's what the hot yoga community in the UK actually wears.
What hot yoga does to leggings
Sheerness: Thin Lycra fabrics go transparent when wet. If a legging is borderline sheer when dry, it will be see-through when you're sweating in downward dog. Always test a legging with a mirror in natural light after a workout before buying for hot yoga.
Waistband rolling: Sweat removes friction between fabric and skin. A waistband that relies on grip rather than structure will roll down. Wide, structured waistbands hold better than narrow soft ones.
Smell retention: Synthetic fabrics vary enormously in how they retain odour. Open-cell fabrics (most Gymshark) absorb sweat and odour. Tighter-weave fabrics (Lululemon Everlux, Sweaty Betty) repel sweat rather than absorbing it and hold up better over time.
Best leggings for hot yoga
Lululemon Wunder Train — The Everlux fabric is specifically designed for sweaty activities. Moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and opaque even when soaked. The waistband holds. This is the community consensus pick for hot yoga.
Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity — Similar performance to the Wunder Train. Slightly lighter feel. The seam placement is designed to avoid pressure points in deep stretches.
Gymshark Flex — A good budget option. The fabric is thicker than the Vital Seamless and holds up in heat. Does absorb some odour over time — wash inside out in cold water.
Alo Yoga Airbrush — Popular choice. Compressive and opaque. The compression can feel intense in heat — good if you want support, less good if you already find the heat overwhelming.
What to avoid
- Lululemon Align in hot yoga: The Nulu fabric is not designed for heavy sweat. It goes soft and clingy, the compression disappears, and it can go slightly transparent.
- Gymshark Vital Seamless: Too lightweight for hot yoga. Will show everything once you're sweating.
- Cotton blends: Don't do it. Cotton absorbs sweat and stays wet.
Practical tips
Bring a fresh pair of shorts or leggings to put on immediately after class — most hot yoga studios have floors that are wet from everyone's sweat, and sitting in damp leggings after class in a cool changing room is genuinely unpleasant.
Check the Forre community for hot yoga reviews from women with similar measurements.