Why Do My Leggings Keep Falling Down? 5 Fixes
Few things are more frustrating than stepping up for a major lift only to have to adjust your leggings. Fortunately, you can prevent this with a few simple techniques.
We break down how you can pick the perfect pair of leggings and care for them to ensure they perform as they're meant to, no matter how tough the workout.
Key Takeaways
- Workout leggings are designed to support you while exercising.
- If your leggings are too big or don't fit properly, they can fall down.
- Low-quality leggings often lose their elasticity faster, which can result in sagging or falling.
- Many people find high-waisted leggings less likely to fall than mid- or low-rise alternatives.
- Proper care for leggings involves regular washes in cold water and air drying.
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All About Leggings
Carriejune, founder of Minibeast, says:
"Leggings can fall down because they're the wrong size, low quality, or have worn out over time. Picking the right pair of leggings and caring for them properly can stop them from falling."
Leggings are meant to be trustworthy. They're the bottoms that support you through the toughest workouts.
At least, that's the idea.
Unfortunately, leggings don't always live up to those expectations. Leggings fall, leggings slide down, leggings roll.
This can be a serious problem. If you're in the middle of an intense yoga flow or pushing for a one-rep max, the last thing you want is to have to adjust your leggings.
In certain situations, being distracted by your leggings can be more than annoying or distracting. It can lead to injuries.
Fortunately, you don't have to leave things up to chance. With the right approach, you can ensure your leggings live up to the hype.
In many cases, that boils down to buying high-quality, high-waisted leggings that actually fit properly. But sometimes things get a little more complicated than that.
Let us explain.
Five Ways to Keep Your Leggings From Falling Down
Leggings can betray us for a number of reasons. Sometimes, the problem is the leggings themselves. Other times, it's us, not them.
The key is to identify what, exactly, is causing your leggings to fall. That way you can address the issue and ensure it never happens again.
#1. Try High-Waisted Leggings
Not all leggings sit at the same place on your body. Some lie right on the hips, and are called low-waisted or low-rise leggings. Others lie a little higher, and are called mid-rise leggings.
Then there's high-waisted leggings. High-waisted styles sit high up on your midsection. The waistband can lie at or even above your belly button.
A high-waisted waistband carries a few potential advantages. Most importantly in the context of preventing rolling or falling, a higher waistband can often be more stable.
For one thing, the waistband sits above the wide part of your hips and lies around the naturally narrower part of your torso. That helps lock your leggings into place.
A waistband that wraps around your midsection usually has a wider and better contact with your skin. By comparison, lower waistbands might form gaps when you bend or stretch.
That's a significant structural advantage. Little wonder, then, that most workout leggings are high-waisted.
There are other benefits to high-waisted styles. The larger contact area can also help with weight distribution, preventing the elastic from digging into a single point. Some people find it helps brace their core muscles, helping them during tough exercises.
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#2. Buy High-Quality Leggings
Not all waistbands are made equal. Sometimes, a deal that sounds too good to be true really is.
Cheaper leggings often cut costs on fabric quality. Lower-grade fabrics just can't maintain their structure the same way as high-quality leggings, especially during high-intensity training.
Over time, the elasticity in the leggings breaks down. You might notice this within a few wears if your leggings are particularly low-quality. Once that happens, you'll notice your leggings feel loose, even if you bought the perfect size.
If you find yourself constantly replacing leggings, you might need to reevaluate the quality.
In comparison, high-quality leggings often contain specific blends of quality materials, like polyamide and elastane. These blends are carefully designed to help the leggings stay put, even during intense workouts.
Minibeast's Flexura Leggings, for example, are constructed with a blend of 90% polyamide and 10% elastane. Our Momentum Leggings, meanwhile, use a slightly different blend of 78% polyamide and 22% elastane. That helps them stay put and completely opaque under heavy weight and deep squats.
High-quality leggings should maintain their fit for 6-12 months. That's a lot longer than cheap ones, which can bottom out after a couple weeks of heavy use. As you can imagine, investing in quality leggings can also save you money and hassle in the long run.
The waistband is one of the most important parts of your leggings. It can make the difference between a pair that falls and one that stays locked in place, supporting you through your heaviest lifts.
But if the elastic in the waistband is worn out, it can lose its grip. That can cause the leggings to roll, fall, or slip down.
The size of the waistband matters, too. A wider waistband can provide more stability compared to narrow waistbands, which can sometimes roll down more easily.
Therefore, it's important to pay extra attention to the quality of the waistband. Some leggings, like Minibeast's Flow Pants, contain a drawstring for extra support.
There's a good trick to sense if a pair of leggings is made of quality fabric. It's called the squat test.
The squat test is simple. Put on your leggings and do the deepest squat you can (safely) manage.
Did the waistband stay in place and remain tight after stretching? Or did things shift, loosen, or turn transparent? If it's the latter, chances are you have a lower-quality pair of leggings on your hands.
#3. Check The Sizing Guide (and Your Body Type) for a Good Fit
Even the highest-quality leggings can shift if they aren't the right size.
If your leggings are too small, they might roll down because of inadequate coverage. And if they're too large, they can lack good grip and slide down.
Picking the wrong size is sometimes easier than you might think. For one thing, sizing can vary widely between brands. It can even vary within brands, between different styles of leggings.
Another thing to consider is your body type. A pair of leggings that offer a proper fit for one person might be terrible for another, even if you're the same weight.
For example, take people with particularly thick quads. A standard pair of leggings might fit well around the waist but feel way too tight around the thighs.
The right leggings should feel snug but not overly tight. They should provide proper coverage without bunching, scrunching (unless you buy scrunch leggings), shifting, or falling when you move.
One way to check if a pair of leggings will fit properly is by checking a brand's size guide. Minibeast's leggings, for example, translate each size of leggings to regular pant sizes.
If you need more help, Minibeast also offers a contact page where our experts can help you pick the perfect pair. You fill out what leggings you're looking at and your proportions, and you can even attach a photo for extra accuracy.
Of course, you can also check if a pair of leggings fit properly by trying them on. Make sure to move around while wearing them. Squat, jump, and try a light jog to make sure they fit right while you're actually moving.
#4. Consider Compression Fabrics or Compression Leggings
If you've tried everything and your leggings still won't stay in place, it might be time to consider some extra compression.
Compression materials take tightness to the next level. They're designed to fit closer than standard leggings, which naturally makes them less likely to slip or fall.
That's just one of a few potential benefits to compression leggings. Research suggests that compression fabrics can help support blood flow and even reduce soreness from exercise.
Minibeast's Momentum Leggings offer high compression. The fabric molds to your natural shape and supports it while allowing a full range of movement.
Our OG Leggings are another great choice for compression. They also have a heart-shaped seam on the rear, which can help accentuate your booty. Plus moisture-wicking fabric to help wick away sweat.
#5. Take Care of Your Leggings
Sometimes, leggings fall no matter how high-quality, no matter how perfect the fit.
Why? Because they weren't cared for properly.
Your leggings should come with care instructions. Following them is worth it. Doing so can extend the lifespan of your leggings, saving you money and a potentially embarrassing moment in the gym.
One tip is to wash your leggings in cold water. That can help them maintain elasticity for longer than if you wash them in warm or hot water.
In fact, high heat in general can be bad for the materials that keep your leggings elastic. So it might be best to avoid hot dryers, too. Consider air drying your leggings instead. (That's also better for the environment and your electricity bill!)
Another tip is to try washing your leggings after every wear. If you leave sweat and body oils on your leggings, they can break the fabric down over time.
Conclusion
Wearing leggings should make you feel confident and capable of tackling any workout. Worrying they'll fall down undermines that.
To prevent your leggings from falling, make sure you get a high-quality, high-rise pair in the correct size. For extra firmness and support, consider investing in compression fabrics.
And remember to take care of your leggings. If you do, they'll take care of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Constantly Have to Pull My Leggings Up?
Sometimes, leggings fall because they are the wrong size or shape for your body type. Other times, the elastic might have become loose, either because it was low-quality or because it had degraded over time.
How Can I Keep My Leggings from Falling Down?
Make sure to invest in quality leggings made from strong, tight fabrics that will retain their elasticity. Also ensure you pick the right size. Another tip is to pull on your leggings from the ankle up, instead of yanking from the waistband. That helps distribute the fabric properly.
Do Leggings Fall Down Because They're Too Big or Too Small?
If leggings are too big, they can fall down. Leggings that are too small can roll or fold over at the waistband.
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