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Lex Goodman Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Forbes Vetted
The Old Navy Maternity Full Panel PowerSoft 7/8-Length Leggings were the best value option tested in my tested best maternity leggings review. Here, learn more about this affordable pair and why I love it so much.
When you’re building a maternity wardrobe, things can get expensive fairly quickly. At first glance it can appear that in order to find cute clothes that don’t feel matronly, you’ll have to really spend. Thankfully, that’s not always the case—especially when it comes to finding a budget-friendly maternity leggings option, which I found in the Old Navy Maternity Full Panel PowerSoft 7/8-Length Leggings.
At just $40 (and sometimes as little as half this price on sale), these moisture-wicking compression leggings flatter like options double their price and outperform them too, whether you’re sweating it out in a workout class, heading out on a pleasant walk, perusing the farmers market or chasing a toddler. Plus, they pack features like pockets and anti-chafing seams, so you can enjoy your pregnancy instead of feeling (even more) uncomfortable. If you’re looking for an affordable pair of maternity leggings to carry you through all trimesters, these are certainly worth a look.
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Materials: 77% polyester, 23% spandex | Sizes: XS to XXL | Panel style: Full panel | Colors: Black Jack, In The Navy, Blue Overall, Nebula | Features: Pockets, anti-chafing seams, moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, light compression
Best for:
- Those looking for affordable, flattering options
- Exercising or to wear throughout your day
- Parents who appreciate pockets
Skip if:
- You want top-notch quality that won’t show wear after years of use
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Features That Set Them Apart
Interestingly, there are many pricey maternity leggings options that don’t bring much to the table aside from comfort. The Old Navy Maternity Full-Panel PowerSoft 7/8 Leggings don’t fall into that category. In other words, they’re not just a pretty face—they also include thoughtful features like pockets, flatlock seams to prevent chafing, light compression and a cotton-lined gusset. The pockets were large enough to carry my phone, AirPods and full-size wallet. Plus, what parent doesn’t love being hands-free?
The anti-chafing seams are ideal for long walks ahead of labor and mean that your thighs won’t rub together and chafe, even if you’re experiencing edema. The compression, both in the full panel and the lower body, helps pregnant women feel supported and confident, as it also has a smoothing quality. The cotton-lined gusset provides extra coverage, so you can rest assured that whether you’re experiencing increased discharge or some light incontinence, you’ll have an extra barrier. Plus the cotton fabric helps to keep that area of your body aerated and dry.
Speaking of dryness, I found the moisture-wicking fabric exceptionally useful when working out. I took a difficult Pilates class, and although I did sweat a good deal, the leggings dried quickly, allowing me to continue on to preschool pickup without feeling awkward. Honestly, they could be a bit more breathable and lightweight, but I didn’t find this to be a hindrance.
Incredible Value
At their full-price, these leggings were the second least expensive option I tested (the other budget-friendly option were the $30 Quince Ultra-Form Performance Maternity and Postpartum Leggings). And the quality was way better than I was expecting. The seams were well constructed and remained flat during wear. They weren’t see-through and didn’t have any strange fit issues. In short, I could throw them on without a second thought. I was curious to see how the fabric and seams would fare in testing and was pleased to see the damage incurred from my taking a nail file to the inseam at the inner thigh was moderate and similar to other competitors tested.
After washing them 10 times, I did notice a small amount of pilling and snagging at the seat and thighs, and there was some visible damage from the file. This was about on par with what I expected from a more budget-friendly option, but frankly it’s not something that’s noticeable unless you’re conducting in-depth research. I imagine that these may not be an optimal investment if you’re hoping to wear them through multiple pregnancies.
Comfort And Style That’s Versatile
In addition to being comfortable enough to wear all day, no matter what you’re doing, these leggings actually look sleek. I’d compare them in style to a more expensive option from Alo Yoga or something of the like. The fabric is sleek and a bit shiny in design and makes for a flattering silhouette. Thanks to the compression, I felt comfortable enough wearing them with just a sports bra when working out or a t-shirt throughout the day. They also looked great with a crisp white button-down, boots and a coat for a more elevated look.
From a comfort standpoint, the light compression helped my bump and shifting body to feel supported and comfortable moving. The panel rose about 4 inches above my bellybutton and stayed put throughout the day with little intervention from me. I didn’t need to pull them up or adjust them, which allowed me to be more present and at ease. They didn’t stretch out a noticeable amount throughout the day—only 2 inches overall, according to my stretch test. This shows they’re a wonderful option for all-day wear, no matter which trimester you’re in.
How Do They Compare To The Competition?
The Old Navy maternity leggings were a pretty easy pick for the best value option throughout my testing. While the Quince leggings, another contender for the best affordable maternity leggings, is also a strong product, I found the fit, comfort and aesthetic of the Old Navy leggings to be better. They also stretched out less throughout the day and experienced less wear and tear on the seams with repeated washes. In relation to my pick for the best maternity leggings overall, the Beyond Yoga Spacedye Love the Bump Midi Maternity Legging, the Old Navy leggings may not be the same quality, but they are much cheaper. In fact, they’re less expensive than all of my other picks and yet, perform better in some cases. For example, they’re better suited to exercise and performance than my pick for the best everyday maternity leggings, the Storq Signature Leggings, which cost $74, and they’re also less expensive than my choice for the most workout-friendly option, the Girlfriend Collective Seamless Maternity Legging. They’re certainly not as size-inclusive as Girlfriend Collective, however, and Old Navy also lacks the same sustainability credentials.
How I Tested The Best Maternity Leggings
When the day came to test the Old Navy Maternity Full Panel PowerSoft 7/8-Length Leggings, I dragged myself out of bed (thanks, never-ending morning sickness) and pulled them on. Looking in the mirror, I did 10 squats to see how they moved and did a quick check to ensure they weren’t see-through. Realizing I was all good on that front, I assessed how flattering they looked and noted the strong suits of the leggings in regards to features, aesthetic and comfort. I realized immediately that I really liked them and appreciated the compression they offered. From there, I completed my morning marathon of prepping my 3-year-old son for school, dropping him off, doing work and errands and then taking a difficult reformer Pilates class.
Throughout my class, I paid attention to whether the leggings slid down or dug into my bump (neither happened). I did, ultimately, get quite sweaty, so I paid special attention to if they took a long time to dry. While I felt they could have been a bit more breathable, which likely would have reduced my sweating, I was pleased to find that they dried by the time I went to pick my son up at school. It’s about a 5- to 10-minute drive, depending on traffic, so the moisture-wicking fabric clearly worked well.
As the rest of my day continued, playing with my son, walking our dog, making dinner and surviving the rather long bedtime routine, I noted that the leggings were still in place and hadn’t stretched out much. Once I put my son down, I measured the leggings at the waist, hip, thigh and knee, left them out overnight and then conducted the same measurements in the morning to find they had stretched only 2 inches while I was wearing them (0.5 inch at each anchor point). I then filed the inseam in the inner thigh with a nail file for 12 seconds, washed them 10 times (with the other leggings I tested), laid them out to dry then surveyed the light to medium damage they had incurred.
My Expertise
Professionally speaking, I’ve been writing fashion, shopping and lifestyle content for six years. Most recently, I tested and reviewed the best diaper bags for Forbes Vetted, as well as the best travel strollers.
Prior to having my first son, I was an editor at a lifestyle website, but once I welcomed him into our family three years ago, I went freelance. Now most of my work is in the parenting, maternity and baby space. Personally speaking, I conducted testing for this story while pregnant with my second child and learned firsthand that your bump really is much larger in subsequent pregnancies than in your first. That said, I’ve made much use out of maternity clothing and leggings, specifically, since in addition to sprinting after my toddler on the regular, I also aim for daily movement. My personal and professional experience have made me aware of the pain points you might experience with maternity leggings, so I’ve taken extra care to make this as thorough as possible.
For this story, I also interviewed the following experts to inform my testing and selection: Deborah Beard, fabric expert, author of The Complete Book of Technical Design for Technical and Fashion Designers and associate chair of technical design and patternmaking at the Fashion Institute of Technology); Dr. Tasha Darden, a doula and pelvic floor physical therapist; Jennifer Wollmann, a prenatal Pilates instructor; Dr. Monica Grover, a double-board-certified gynecologist and chief medical officer at Vspot; Dr. Faina Gelman-Nisanov, a double-board-certified OB-GYN at North Jersey Gynecology; and birth doula Stacey Blackwell.
Care.com
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