Comfort in motion — Meet Nike’s do-it-all legging collection

I’m always on the lookout for that perfect pair of leggings I can feel secure in at the gym, covered enough running errands out in public, and, most of all, comfortable wearing for hours on end. And while there are a lot of names that have become synonymous with athleisure, Nike’s leggings are some of the most versatile — and well-crafted — investments you can make to your workout wardrobe.

I recently tested three pairs, the Nike Zenvy, Universa, and Go leggings, over a few weeks of working out, grabbing coffee, and hanging around the house. I found that while each offers a different level of compression, all use high-quality, highly-breathable, and soft-to-the-touch fabric, making them all incredibly versatile to blend the line between fashion and function.

I tested Nike’s Zenvy, Universa, and Go leggings.

Zenvy leggings

My favorite kind of leggings are the ones you forget you’re even wearing. And if you like the feel of a barely-there legging, too, you’ll love the Nike Zenvy.

Made from proprietary InfinaSoft fabric (that’s at least 50% recycled nylon fibers), these pants are buttery soft and gently hug your body, moving with you for every bend and stretch. The material is soft to the touch but still breathable and moisture-wicking during hot workouts. And despite being weightless, the Zenvy are still squat-proof, I can confirm.

The 4.5-inch waistband of the high-waisted option is the perfect level of compression to keep everything feeling secure but not overly tight (there’s also a mid-rise if you prefer, but it only comes in black). Most of all, it stays in place during high-movement workouts such as yoga or deadlifts and doesn’t roll down. I also appreciated the minimal and strategically-placed seams, which are flattering for pretty much every body type.

The Zenvy leggings are ridiculously comfortable and well-made for everything from pilates and yoga to road trips and errands

During testing, I found the lightweight, soft-to-touch fabric and second-skin design made the Zenvy a dream to wear during workouts and running errands. In fact, I’ve been washing these near every day because I keep wanting to wear them.

They have no side pockets to help keep the aesthetic streamlined, but thankfully Nike still included a hidden drop-in pocket at the center back, still large enough for an iPhone.

Personally, I like a higher-compression legging for heavy lifting or extra sweaty workouts, but the Zenvy are ridiculously comfortable and well-made for everything from pilates and yoga to road trips and errands around town. Plus, at $100, they’re more affordable than competitors of a similar design.

Universa leggings

The aptly-named Universa leggings provide a balanced fit between compression and comfort, making them the perfect wear on long runs or long days out.

These leggings have an extra-wide engineered waistband that’s flattering across the stomach and keeps everything in place even as you move around. The Universa are made from midweight InfinaSmooth fabric that lifts and smooths every inch of your lower body. I love how the fabric stretches as you move, and that it feels cool and sleek to the touch, adding an air of luxe to these leggings.

The Universa leggings are made from InfinaSmooth fabric that lifts and smooths every inch of your lower body.

One of the other main features I noticed about these leggings is how durably constructed they are. The material is thicker than the Zenvy, though still very breathable, and feels like it’ll hold up against dozens and dozens of washes. The stitching across every seam is incredibly secure, particularly high-tear areas like the thigh phone pouch and side seams.

While these leggings may be slightly too thick for a hot and sweaty summer workout, the dense-but-breathable fabric is the ideal weight and compression for cool morning runs or for adventuring around town without feeling like your assets are on display.

Go leggings

For those times when you want firm support, like seriously intense workouts or a long day of to-dos, the Nike Go leggings will keep you locked in without feeling constricted. Thick enough to be squat-proof, lightweight enough to move with you, and fortified in all the right places, the Gos are the type of leggings that make you feel faster even while standing still.

They’re crafted from a midweight InfinaLock fabric that feels (and looks) polished, offering a solid lift in all the places you want. The fabric manages to stay light and breathable and is fortified with four-way stretch. I found this combination delivered maximum flexibility and comfort while running and lifting, and lifted away my buckets of sweat.

The Go leggings are thick enough to be squat-proof, lightweight enough to move with you.

The Go leggings also feature Nike’s ultra-high waistband (near 5 inches) which, combined with the medium compression of this fabric, helped make these leggings fuss-free during my testing. I love that these also feature an adjustable drawcord at the top to ensure the waistband won’t slip or roll down. I also really appreciated that these leggings not only have a phone pocket on each thigh, but also a drop-in pocket at the center back and a small zippered pocket for my ID and credit card on long runs.

With their firm support and ample storage, the Go leggings are truly designed to keep you moving all day.

All-day confidence with Nike

Nike’s leggings — Zenvy, Universa, and Go — provide all-day comfort and security. The three leggings provide a different level of compression and slight design variations, but each is designed to be thick enough to keep you covered in and out of the gym, breathable enough for heavy sweat sessions, and flexible enough to move with your body on the go.

Most of all, the fabric Nike uses for each legging feels and looks luxe — a huge bonus if you’re looking for a do-it-all legging. Whether you’re heading to a pilates class, into the weight room at your gym, or off for a Saturday full of to-dos, any of these well-designed leggings will keep you stylish and secure.