I am a big lululemon fan. Having been a fitness-class queen for as long as I can remember, I have tried my fair share of lululemon leggings and learned along the way what differentiates each style and why.
I also know first hand walking into one of the stores or shopping online can be a bit confusing – but at the end of the day leggings are leggings, right?!
Wrong!
lululemon leggings & fabrics are designed with a very specific purpose and intention in mind. If you’re a runner, there is a specific style and fabric designed just for you. Likewise, if you’re more of a pilates girl, there is a different style and fabric intended for you. So when your significant other asks if you could possibly need another pair of black leggings, you can tell them yes, yes in fact you do.
You may also think they are all just black leggings, but I am here to tell you they are not.
Here I break down the 5 core lululemon leggings fabrics, what they are best used for and if you can count on them to give you that famous lululemon “suck in” feeling.
You may also like Your Most Common lululemon Leggings Questions Answered.
1. Luon
Luon is lululemon’s signature fabric. It was designed in 1998 by founder, Chip Wilson. At the time, Chip had set out to solve an issue. The issue was that many women were practicing yoga in oversized cotton tees and he wanted to find a more comfortable, breathable fabric that made their yoga practice better. Through design iterations and product feedback, Luon was born. Although the company – and Luon – started out just being designed for women, lululemon has a vast range of men’s gear as well these days.
Luon Fabric Properties
- 4-way Stretch
- Meaning the fabric can be stretched and pulled from all directions, making it extremely movable and stretchy. (A good fabric comparison to think of here is denim. Try stretching denim in all directions – you can’t!).
- Sweat-wicking
- Once moisture, such as sweat, touches the fabric, the moisture is expelled over a larger area, allowing the moisture to dry quickly and leave you feeling more comfortable.
- Breathable
- The fabric does not trap in heat so your skin feels like it can breathe, essential during any activity.
- Cottony Soft
- Although a synthetic fabric, Luon feels like cotton to touch.
Best for:
Low sweat (or low impact) activities: yoga, pilates, barre, meditation
Other Variations of Luon:
- Full-On Luon
- This version of Luon is woven tighter together to ensure full coverage and opaqueness. It is predominantly found in leggings & pants because of how the fabric is constructed. All fabric properties are the same as listed above.
- Luon Light
- Predominately found in tops and long sleeves, Luon Light, is a lighter-weight version of Luon that has all the same fabric properties listed above.
Main Legging Styles in Luon:
Wunder Under High-Rise Crop 21″
Wunder Under High-Rise 25″
Wunder Under High-Rise 28″
On the above product listings, the number refers to the inseam length.
21″ is crop length, hitting below the knee.
25″ is ankle length.
28″ is full length.
Does Luon suck you in?
That famous lululemon question – does it suck you in? Yes. Luon does suck you in. It is a fitted fabric that has mid-level compression which feels tight throughout the legs, bum & waist.
Best Alternative Fabric:
If you think this fabric is a little thick (especially for warmer climates and months) but are looking for a good fabric for low sweat activities, Nulu would be your first best option, followed by Luxtreme or Everlux.
2. Luxtreme
Luxtreme is lululemon’s original fabric for super sweaty activities.
Luxtreme Fabric Properties
- Sweat-wicking
- When sweat touches the fabric it is dispersed over a larger area, allowing the fabric to dry quickly.
- Quick Drying
- Because of the sweat-wicking properties, this fabric dries quickly.
- Smooth
- To touch, the fabric has a smooth touch.
- Lightweight
- A lighter weight fabric, designed for maximum breathability during high sweat activities.
- 4-way Stretch
- Meaning the fabric can be stretched and pulled from all directions, making it extremely movable and stretchy. (A good fabric comparison to think of here is denim. Try stretching denim in all directions – you can’t!)
Best for:
High sweat (or high impact) activities: running, cardio, fitness classes, spin classes, hot yoga
Other Variations of Luxtreme:
- Full-On Luxtreme
- Similar to Full-On Luon, Full-On Luxtreme is predominantly found in leggings & pants. The fabric is woven tighter to ensure full coverage during those squats and stretches.
Main Legging Styles in Luxtreme:
Pace Rival Crop 22″
All the Right Places Crop 23″
Wunder Under High-Rise Crop 21″
Wunder Under High-Rise 25”
Wunder Under High-Rise 28”
On the above product listings, the number refers to the inseam length.
21″-23″ is crop length, hitting below the knee mid calf.
25″ is ankle length.
28″ is full length.
Does Luxtreme suck you in?
Yes. Luxtreme leggings are considered to have a mid to high level amount of compression, which will feel tight around your legs, thighs & waist.
Best Alternative Fabric:
If you are looking for a different variation of a fabric that is good for getting sweaty in, Nulux would be my first recommendation followed by Everlux. Nulux is a lighter-weight version of Luxtreme.
3. Nulu
Short for Naked Luon, this is the fabric that genuinely feels like you are wearing nothing. It is an absolute game-changer and a best-seller for lululemon leggings. But worth noting – if you are looking for that suctioned-in, tight lululemon fabric, this is not it (see alternatives below if you’re looking for something tighter fitting).
Nulu Fabric Properties
- Buttery Soft
- The fabric has a super soft hand touch and buttery feel when it’s on.
- Weightless
- The fabric literally feels like you are naked.
- 4-way stretch
- Meaning the fabric can be stretched and pulled from all directions, making it extremely movable and stretchy, unlike denim.
- Breathable
- The fabric does not trap in heat so your skin feels like it can breathe, essential during any activity.
Best for:
Low sweat (or low impact) activities: yoga, pilates, barre, meditation
Everyday wear: Nulu is the most comfortable fabric to wear for everyday purposes. It is important to note that these aren’t designed for this purpose, so if you find yourself rubbing up against lots of other fabrics (such as couches, sweatshirts and blankets), the fabric may wear and pill quicker than what you are expecting.
Hidden purpose: these are the best maternity pants on the market! They can take you from day 1 until the very end (as long as you size up one!)
Main Legging Styles in Nulu:
Align Crop 21″
Align Pant 25″
Align Pant 28″
Align Joggers
On the above product listings, the numbers indicate inseam length.
21″ is crop length, hitting below the knee.
25″ is ankle length.
28″ is full length.
Does Nulu suck you in?
No! The naked, buttery design fabric feels just like that when you’re wearing them. Nulu does not have any compression to suck you in, they offer pure comfort.
Best Alternative Fabric:
There is no firmness to Nulu. If you are looking for something that sucks you in more around the thighs and legs, but still comfortable around your waist with a cottony soft feel, Luon is the best option.
4. Nulux Fabric
Nulux, short for Naked Luxtreme, is Luxtreme’s lighter weight friend.
Nulux Fabric Properties
- Smooth & Cool to Touch
- Nulux is a slick, thin fabric that has a smooth feel and feels cool to touch by hand and when it is on your skin
- Lightweight
- A lighter weight fabric, designed for maximum breathability during high sweat activities
- Sweat-wicking
- When sweat touches the fabric, it is dispersed over a larger area, allowing the fabric to dry quickly and leave you feeling comfortable.
- 4-way stretch
- The fabric can be stretched and pulled from all directions, making it extremely movable and stretchy.
- Breathable
- The fabric does not trap in heat so your skin feels like it can breathe, essential during any activity.
Best for:
High sweat activities: running, fitness classes, cardio, spin class
Main Legging Styles in Nulux:
Fast & Free High-Rise Crop 19″ Reflective**
Fast and Free Tight 25″ Non-Reflective**
Fast and Free Tight 28″
Wunder Under High-Rise Tight 25″
Wunder Under High Rise Tight 28″
On the above product listings, the numbers indicate inseam length.
19″ is crop length, hitting just below the knee.
25″ is ankle length.
28″ is full length.
** Reflective Fast and Free Tights have reflective dots down the right leg, whereas the non-reflective options have no added reflectivity.
Does Nulux suck you in?
To an extent. Nulux is on the lower side when it comes to the compression scale. The fabric feels tight to wear, but it does not have much compression built in through the thighs & legs – although it does have some. Because it is a high sweat design, most waistbands are tight and suck you in (there more on waistband construction below).
Best Alternative Fabric:
Similar to Nulu, if you are looking for a more compressed option, Nulux isn’t your best option. Luxtreme is your best bet for this purpose. If you’re looking for another alternative that has a similar purpose but does have the smooth & cool feel, Everlux is a good option.
5. Everlux Fabric
This is where Luon married Luxtreme. The cottony soft, light feel but with sweat-wicking properties is what Everlux is all about.
Everlux Fabric Properties
- Fastest drying lululemon fabric
- While all lululemon fabrics are quick-drying, the properties of Everlux make it one of the quickest drying fabrics.
- Cool to touch on the inside, buttery soft on the outside
- Designed to feel cool and smooth on the inside and against your skin, while the outside has a super soft hand touch, similar to Nulu.
- Sweat-wicking
- When sweat touches the fabric, it is dispersed over a larger area, allowing the fabric to dry quickly and leave you feeling comfortable.
- 4-way stretch
- The fabric can be stretched and pulled from all directions, making it extremely movable and stretchy.
- Breathable
- The fabric does not trap in heat so your skin feels like it can breathe, essential during any activity.
Best for:
High sweat activities: training & fitness classes
Main Legging Styles in Everlux:
Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 25″
Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 28″
InvigorateHigh-Rise Crop 23″
InvigorateHigh-Rise Tight 25″
On the above product listings, the numbers indicate inseam length.
23″ is crop length, hitting mid calf.
25″ is ankle length.
28″ is full length.
Does Everlux suck you in?
To an extent. Everlux is not as compressive as Luxtreme, but more compressive than Nulux. Everlux will suck your legs & thighs in to an extent.
Best Alternative Fabric:
If you are looking for a more compressive option, Luxtreme would be your best option. If you are looking for a buttery soft feel for lower impact activities and don’t mind about compression level, Nulu is your best bet.
Who knew black leggings could be so intricate?!
lululemon makes some really amazing, quality products but selecting the right lululemon leggings for the right purpose can be a bit of challenge if you don’t quite understand what all the different fabric options are and what all the different fabric properties mean.
Use this guide to help you select the best option for all of your sweaty and non-sweaty adventures.
Have a favourite pair? Let me know which one!
Have questions still?
Check out this post where I answer Your Most Common lululemon Leggings Questions
