This Offline by Aerie Real Me Xtra Crossover Pocket Legging review is part of our 2022 SELF Certified Activewear Awards, where the leggings won for The Leggings You'll Want to Wear Every Day. You can see the rest of our award winners here.
If you're like me, you spend the majority of your life in leggings. We used to talk about “transitional” clothing, as in clothing you wear between seasons, but these days my biggest transitions are between bed and desk and desk and living room for virtual yoga. I am living a low-impact lifestyle, which means I spend almost all of my time in leggings. Consequently, I have become incredibly picky about my leggings, and as you probably know, there are a lot of lackluster leggings on the market. Luckily, I've found a new favorite pair that fit in perfectly with my lounge-and-occasional-lunge life: Offline by Aerie's Real Me Xtra Crossover Pocket Leggings.
How I Tested
I tested these leggings for our 2022 SELF Certified Activewear Awards. As part of the awards process, we developed a set of expert-informed criteria to help determine exactly how to find a good pair of leggings, and what a good pair of leggings should entail. The best leggings should be attractive, easy to pull on, and so comfy you don't want to take them off. They stay snug around your waist (so that if you stretch and squat, nothing slips out), wick moisture (so that you don't get too gross during a workout), and are made of high-quality fabric so that they don't wear out after washes.
I wore the Real Me leggings during several low-impact activities such as yoga classes and Pilates. I also wore them during the workday, to the supermarket, to hang out with friends, on the couch, and even to sleep. I kept in mind how the pants fit, felt, and breathed, and left them on after each yoga session to see how they dried.
Waistband Fit and Comfort
The waistband on this pair doesn't dig in, rub, or roll down like other pairs I've tried. I really dislike the sensation of constraint around my waist, which makes me feel like I can't comfortably breathe or eat a lot. But these are supportive and just soft enough for both daily wear and light workouts. As for fit, I wear a medium normally in bottoms, and these fit true to size.
Fabric Quality
The material of these leggings is a blend of nylon and elastane, meaning it's very stretchy, soft, and has a tiny bit of sheen. If you're looking for a pair of leggings with thick, substantial fabric that's good for higher-impact activities, these are probably not your pair, as the fabric is on the thinner side. It's the thinness that lends them their comfiness, however, and they're not so thin that I feel self-conscious to wear them out and about. When I squat in these leggings, my business stays my business, if you know what I mean—and that matters to me. They're great for lounging and light yoga, if that's your day-to-day.
Length
The leggings have a high-waist cut with a unique crossover waistband. Right off the bat, I found them flattering. I prefer high-waist pants and leggings in general because I don't have to worry about them tugging too low (and a higher waist is a plus, per our fitness experts). I'm 5-foot-4 and they hit me right around my ankle. They're full-length, not cropped, which I like on chilly days.
Ease to Put On and Take Off
Taking off these leggings feels a bit like peeling a banana in the best way possible—not a green banana, a ripe banana that easily pulls apart. When putting them on, I don't have to perform magic tricks so that my legs are sucked into the pant legs in one genie-into-a-bottle motion, nor do I have to fight to pull them off after my workout, either. They also barely require any adjusting around my ankles once on.
Moisture Management
Sweat doesn't seem to show in these. Granted, I have a black pair, and I don't sweat as much doing lower-impact activities like yoga, so they may not be your go-to pair if you're an intense runner or lifter. But by and large, they're great and breathable enough. Plus, they dry quickly.
Activity-Specific Features
Thankfully, Aerie got the memo on pockets and included two. They're so subtle and streamlined to the body that I almost missed them, but they can fit cards, keys, my phone, and an ID—just what I need when running errands or walking in the park.
How You Feel
It's tough to find the right pair of leggings for hanging out at home and doing light exercise—many are either too thin for leaving the house or too bulky and restrictive. These are so soft that I almost forget I'm wearing them until I glance myself in the mirror and check out my butt. I enjoy how the leggings hug to my body and that they come in a bell-bottom style too. I feel both comfortable and cute in them, and appreciate the slight V of the waistband—a flattering detail that sets them apart from other leggings.
Bottom Line
I love the Offline by Aerie Real Me Xtra Crossover Pocket Leggings (and so did our other tester, who also gave them a 9 out of 10 score). They're lightweight, buttery soft, and yet deceptively sturdy. I do wish Aerie carried them in even more extended sizes, but overall, if you're looking for a stylish, sweat-wicking pair of leggings that you can easily wear all day, these are an excellent option.
Available in sizes XXS–XXL.
