1.Waistband
An easy to see difference between leggings and yoga leggings is the waistband. Our leggings at Pure Venatic are created to have the waistband sit below the belly button and have a thicker-than-most-leggings elastic band sewn inside the pant legging (this is also one feature that makes Pure Venatic leggings more comfortable over other leggings). Whereas our yoga leggings waistbands are created from the same stretchy material as the rest of the legging but cut as completely separate pieces of fabric and sewn together. The higher sitting waistband assists with athletic support and stays put with a thin clear elastic band sewn on the inside.
2. FABRIC
Traditionally, leggings were made of a non-stretchy material that was generally pretty thin. They were meant to be worn under dresses, long shirts, and put over clothing after activities, like dance, to keep your legs warm. These days, leggings are made to be much more versatile and are commonly worn casually as actual pants. They come in pretty much any fabric possible, from cotton, polyester, and even fleece for warmth.
3. THE PEOPLE WHO WEAR THEM
Yoga enthusiasts are the most common users of yoga pants since they enable free movement, bending, and changing body positions easier than any other workout pants.
Leggings are more common among dancers who wear them to help perform different dancing moves without any difficulties.
4. Stitching
Leggings have Overlock & Cover stitching which makes the seems more hidden and have a smoother finish. The less showy seams give way to a more sophisticated look than the yoga leggings and can be paired with heels or sneakers for outfit versatility.
Yoga leggings have a Double Flatlock stitching which makes the seams more noticeable and athletic. The perk of the Double Flatlock stitching is that it is more rugged and there is way less chances of seams breaking.
5. PERFORMANCE
The noticeable difference between yoga pants and leggings is in their performance. If you wore regular leggings during yoga, you’d quickly notice the waistband slipping, the lack of flexibility during poses like Warrior and Dancer, and how quickly they became damp from sweat. Yoga pants are designed to move with your body without hindering your movement, we call this 4-way stretch. Yoga pants are also lightweight, quick-drying, and more comfortable. The fabric should never become transparent in folds and deep stretches, be affected by sweat, or tear easily. They also give you plenty of breathing room for you to bend, twist, and flex. Many yoga pants will also have a gusseted crotch.
6. THEIR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Soft and elastic leggings come in various qualities, and depending on the fabric they’re made from – they can be thin (slightly thicker than tights), or 100% cotton, and sometimes even fleece which are warmer and softer than the previous two.
Those who want to make sure that their pants will never fall down while in a downward dog or any other position prefer the yoga pants over leggings, even as a casual wear. This is because the thickness and stretchable waistbands that are characteristic for yoga pants hold body parts in place while practicing yoga or performing any other activity.
7. What in the heck is a Gusseted Crotch?
All yoga leggings should have a gusseted crotch for optimal movement. In essence a gusseted crotch is an extra triangular piece of fabric sewn where the seams of the crotch comes together. This allows for extra movement and stretching. It also helps with keeping leggings in place and not riding up to show um…extra lips. It is quite amazing how a little piece of cloth and stitching can make such a big difference.
8. USES
The true difference between yoga pants and leggings is how you use them; leggings are worn as pants for everyday use and can be pretty stylish with different patterns, hues, and cuts, while yoga pants are generally used for yoga and other sports, errands, and for laying around the house. However, yoga pants are becoming more and more stylish thanks to the athleisure trend (which isn’t going anywhere anytime soon), so it’s not unusual to wear activewear as regular clothing.
9. SHAPE AND COLOR OF YOGA PANTS AND LEGGINGS
Yoga pants can be easily differentiated from leggings for having a bell-bottomed shape which helps them remain tight around the thigh while also being open at the bottom. They can both cover the entire legs down to the ankle, but it is more common for the leggings.
When yoga pants appeared for the first time they were available in the traditionally known black color, but the recent trends have shown that different cuts and designs are possible bearing unique prints, and beautiful designs in different colors.
10. TRANSPARENCY OF LEGGINGS AND YOGA PANTS
Leggings are more on the transparent side compared to yoga pants which can be worn without using other clothes for cover as they are not see-through or whatsoever.
If you’r looking for workout clothes check out our shapewear and yoga leggings page.
Sources:www.purevenatic.com,www.schimiggy.com,www.gearbunch.com
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