Lululemon Align Pants versus Amazon Leggings
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I was first introduced to the amazing legging known as the align pant by my friend Paige about 4 or 5 years ago. She was / is a LuluLemon ambassador and knew the best kept secrets. The align leggings aren’t really a secret anymore; however, if you haven’t heard of them or wanted to know if there is a similar legging where you don’t have to shell out $98, then post is for you.
Keep reading to learn the similarities and differences some key Amazon styles that deem themselves as Lululemon dupes.
Lululemon Align Leggings | Prana Sports Bra (old, similar here and here)
What makes the Align Leggings that great?
To be honest, it is hard to explain. They are the softest, most comfortable leggings ever. They are thin, but not too thin and have an ultra-high waistband that makes you feel secure, but doesn’t squeeze you like compression. While thy aren’t the most expensive Lululemon leggings, they aren’t cheap and most can’t just shell over $98 + tax for a pair of jeans, much less a pair of leggings. Hence why I’ve sought out to find a dupe!
They are not really made for HIIT or really intense workout. I will sometimes wear them for yoga or a walk, but most recommend lounging in them. They aren’t compression, but still kind of hold you in thanks to the wasitband and are so comfortable. I’ve worn them for hot yoga and they work well, but are sweat drenched so fast / don’t dry quickly. You CAN sweat in them, but I prefer other leggings to my aligns for intense workouts and reserve aligns for cozy times / hanging around.
The cons of align leggings (besides the price) is that they collect pet hair quite nicely (I have 2 cats and a dog) and they pill after a lot of wear. If you don’t use these to do hard workouts, they will pill much slower and last longer pill-free.
Regarding fit…
I like the 28” align pant length as I enjoy puling them over my heels in yoga, but most prefer the 25” length… unless you have really long legs. I opt for size 6 in Lululemon, which they say translates to a size Small. I’m around 5’7.5” and around 130 pounds.
Comparison of Lululemon Align Pants and Amazon Leggings:
Lululemon Align Leggings
$98
Comes in 21”, 23”, 25”, 28”, 31” lengths and joggers, plus tops and shorts ( I love the 28” leggings and 6” shorts!)
Made in Cambodia
81% Nylon // 19% Lycra Elastane
Machine wash cold with like colors, can tumble dry on low but I always hang to dry
Waistband Front: 5”
Waistband Back: 6”
Amazon Naked Feeling Leggings
$26
Comes in 25” length
Made in China
71% Polyamide // 29% Elastane
Hand wash and hang to dry
Waistband Front: 4.5”
Waistband Back: 5.5”
Compared to Align Leggings: These were the first “dupes” I purchased / tested out. They have almost 20k reviews and have an average of 4.5+ stars. I actually really like these leggings, but I don’t think they are an Align dupe. They are lightweight like the Aligns, but are silkier / not as cozy soft. They are also a bit more compressiony, though not 100% compression / stretchy in that way. In my opinion these are more like dupes for Lululemon Fast and Free leggings sans pocket. I did notice that the fabric was more easily pulled / snagged (by my dog) than my Lulu’s but they are also under $30, so what do you expect? Note that the care instructions say to HAND WASH ONLY. I am going to assume no one actually hand washes these, but machine washes them, meaning they won’t last as long. I don’t blame you though, because who wants to hand wash $26 leggings?! I reserve that kind of treatment for my silks. Hah! If you choose to get these, I would recommend getting a darker color, so they are more apt to pass the squat test. The light green I got are semi-see through. I have seen worse, but it’s not 100% squat proof. I ordered a size S in these.
Amazon Seamless Leggings
$25.99 - $28.99
Comes in 25” length
Made in China
75% Polyester / 25% Spandex
Machine wash cold with like colors, hang to dry, DON’T tumble dry
Waistband Front: 4.5”
Waistband Back: 5.5”
Compared to Align Leggings: I ordered these leggings when I didn’t think the above leggings were very “align-like”. They have over 6k reviews and an average of 4.5+ stars. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I did not like these leggings. They are fine in general, but are not a good Align dupe, despite what their reviews say. The fabric is soft but a lot thicker than the Aligns. The waistband is also 1/2 “ shorter than the Aligns. This stood out to me because the high waistband is one of my favorite parts of the Lulu leggings! These are the same height as the other Amazon leggings, but for some reason this factor stood out to me more on these. Maybe because the fabric is thicker? Not sure. I will say that these don’t collect pet hair, so that is nice! These are thick and passed the squat test with flying colors. I ordered a size S in these.
In Conclusion:
I haven’t found a pair of leggings that rival Lululemon Align leggings.
If I was going to look try to cut costs and find something similar to a Lululemon legging, I would buy the Amazon Naked Feeling Leggings. They are like a crossover between Fast & Free and Align. I would recommend a darker color so you can pass the squat test though!
Moving forward I think the main thing I need to look for in a dupe is a pair of leggings that are made with 81% nylon. Nylon is known for its silk-like texture and and drapey quality, which is often what I enjoy about Lululemon products. The issue? Nylon is more expensive to produce than polyester. The Naked feeling leggings use polyamide which is the scientific name for nylon, but it’s only 71%, not 81%. The seamless leggings don’t have any nylon at all - they use polyester. So, it kind of makes sense that these Amazon “dupes” don’t really compare to Lulu’s fabrics. The use of 81% nylon contributes to the cost of Lulu’s product and the feel. Note that Lycra (the other fabric Lululemon uses besides nylon in these leggings) is a brand name for elastane fibers. It was named by Dupont when it came out with their version of the fabric - think like Kleenex vs facial tissue. Spandex is the generic term for elastane. My point is that the main difference in the Lululemon leggings in this case is amount of nylon! I just ordered these to see how they compare! They are 88% nylon and have rave reviews. I worry they won’t be squat proof, but they have almost 2k reviews and the average is 4.5 stars. Will keep you updated on those!
I really wanted to bring you a similar style to cut cost, but I couldn’t honestly do that. I want to share and wear pieces that I keep reaching for. I grab my Align leggings ALL THE TIME and in my opinion it isn’t worth it to buy a cheaper pair that doesn’t feel as good. I’ll keep reaching for my Lulu’s over the other pair, meaning I just wasted money on the cheaper pair. In my opinion its better to save up and get what you want versus trying to supplement with something that will end up just sitting in your drawer. I’m all about cost per wear!! I always grab my Align legging when I want to feel comfy, cozy, and comforted. These Amazon leggings are fine, but I won’t be reaching for them when I want that ultimate softness.
I spent a lot of time in the early Lululemon years trying to convince myself that it was ridiculous to pay that much for a pair of leggings; however, now I know that the comfort and quality they give are truly worth it. I’m happy to continue seeking dupes for them though! Let me know if you have a favorite pair of Amazon leggings that I need to try out. Always looking for great styles and to save money!
Want to see more? Here’s a YouTube video going over everything I spoke above and more!
P.S. If you like the Align pants, you’ll probably love the 6” Align shorts like me! I also have the Align Joggers and recommend those as well. I size up in the joggers for a loose, more relaxed look. I’ve also heard great things about the Align Tank, though I haven’t tried it yet.
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