Best Leggings With Pockets

There Are Two Kinds Of Pocket, And Listings Blur Them

A hidden waistband pocket is a slot sewn into the inner band; a side pocket is a proper compartment on the thigh. Both get described as "with pockets" in the title, and the difference is the entire purchasing decision.

That last row is the rule worth remembering. A phone pocket is a selling point. Brands that have one advertise it in the title.

The Ones That Actually Take A Phone

ODODOS — the full-length answer

ODODOS lists two deep side pockets that fit a phone, plus an inner waist pocket, on a gusseted high-rise legging. That is the complete configuration, and it is the only full-length legging in our reviews that offers it. The ODLEX line runs 72% polyamide / 28% elastane; the ODLIFT line runs 68/32 with higher compression if you want more hold. Both are described as squat-proof and non-see-through, and the sandwich-layer waistband is built to stay put.

The honest caveat is physics rather than construction: a phone in a thigh pocket moves when you run. For walking, lifting, errands, and travel it is excellent. For a 10k it will annoy you regardless of brand.

Read the full ODODOS breakdown · compare against CRZ Yoga vs ODODOS

Baleaf Biker Shorts — the short-length answer

Baleaf lists deep side pockets that fit a phone plus a waistband pocket, across 3", 5", 8" and 10" inseams. Medium-firm compression, gusseted, with no-front-seam construction on many styles, and reported squat-proof. If you want pockets in warm weather, this is the direct equivalent of the ODODOS recommendation.

The inseam range is the underrated part. A 10" biker short with real pockets is close to a cropped legging in coverage, which makes it a genuine year-round option rather than a summer-only one.

Read the full Baleaf Biker Shorts breakdown · compare against CRZ Yoga vs Baleaf

The Waistband-Pocket Group

These all have a hidden waistband pocket and are excellent leggings that will not carry your phone. If a key and a card is genuinely all you need, this group is where the softest fabrics live.

• CRZ Yoga Butterluxe — seamless waistband with hidden pocket, gusseted, 81/19 nylon-Lycra, light to medium compression. Some side-pocket styles exist in the range. Roughly a third of an Align.
• HeyNuts Essential — wide seamless waistband with hidden pocket, gusseted, no-front-seam options, ~75/25 nylon-spandex. Inseams to 31" for taller frames.
• Colorfulkoala Dreamlux — wide waistband with hidden pocket, gusseted, brushed nylon-spandex, gentle compression.
• 90 Degree by Reflex Power Flex — wide waistband with hidden pocket, medium-firm compression, a thicker and more substantial fabric than the buttery dupes. Often sold in two-packs.
• CRZ Yoga Butterluxe Biker Shorts — hidden waistband pocket, with some side-pocket styles in the range. 4", 6" and 8" inseams.

If softness is the priority and the pocket is a bonus, start with CRZ or HeyNuts. If you want a heavier compression fabric, 90 Degree by Reflex is the denser knit in this group — relevant if opacity is a concern, as our squat-proof explainer covers.

The One Without Any

Spanx Seamless has no pockets at all, and that is deliberate. It is a shaping legging built for a smooth uninterrupted line under clothing, and a pocket would defeat the purpose. Worth stating plainly so nobody buys it expecting one. Our Spanx vs CRZ Yoga comparison covers where that trade makes sense.

How To Read A Listing Before You Buy

• "Side pockets" or "fits phone" in the title. That is a real pocket. Brands advertise it.
• "Hidden pocket" or "waistband pocket." Key and card only.
• "Pocket" with no qualifier. Assume waistband slot.
• Check the photos for thigh seams. A side pocket has visible seam lines. No seams, no pocket.
• Check buyer photos for phone size. "Fits a phone" was often written when phones were smaller.

FAQ

Which leggings have pockets that fit a phone?

In our reviews, ODODOS is the full-length legging that lists two deep side pockets sized for a phone, plus an inner waist pocket. Baleaf biker shorts list deep side pockets plus a waistband pocket across 3, 5, 8 and 10 inch inseams. Most other leggings marketed with pockets have a waistband slot that holds only a key or card.

What is the difference between a waistband pocket and a side pocket?

A hidden waistband pocket is a small slot sewn into the inner band, sized for a key, card, or cash. A side pocket is a proper compartment on the thigh that can take a phone. Listings describe both simply as pockets, so the distinction is the most important thing to check before buying.

Do leggings with side pockets look bulky?

They add visible seam lines on the thigh, which is the main cosmetic trade-off, and a loaded pocket changes the silhouette. Under normal wear the effect is modest. The bigger practical issue is movement: a phone in a thigh pocket swings during running, which is a limitation of the format rather than any particular brand.

Do Spanx leggings have pockets?

No. The Spanx Seamless has no pockets, which is intentional for a shaping legging designed to give a smooth uninterrupted line under clothing. If you want pockets in that price range you are looking at a different category of garment.

Are pocket leggings good for running?

For short runs and walking, yes. For sustained running, a phone in a thigh pocket moves with each stride and most people find it distracting regardless of how deep the pocket is. A waistband pocket for a key plus a separate armband or belt for a phone is generally the more comfortable arrangement.

Do CRZ Yoga leggings have pockets?

The standard Butterluxe has a hidden waistband pocket in its seamless band, sized for a key or card rather than a phone. Some styles in the wider CRZ Yoga range do include side pockets, so check the specific listing rather than assuming it applies across the line.