Best Gym Leggings with Pockets: Secure Phone Storage

Anyone who’s been through a leg day with a phone digging into their hip knows the feeling: it’s either hold it, lose it, or wedge it somewhere precarious. Gym leggings with pockets promise a better way, but pocket depth, placement, and security vary widely between brands — this guide cuts through the marketing to find which pairs actually keep your phone secure through every squat, lunge, and sprint.

Activewear pocket adoption rate: 68% of women prioritize leggings with pockets for phone storage (NPD Group, 2023) ·
Average price range: $50–$120 for major brands (Gymshark, Sweaty Betty, Nike) ·
Top fabric compositions: Nylon/spandex blends (77% of search results) ·
Most common pocket type: Side seam pocket (present in 90% of top-selling models) ·
Plus-size availability: 45% of pocket leggings lines extend to 3XL+ (as of 2024)

The table below shows the key specs that distinguish usable pocket leggings from the rest.

What Are the Best Gym Leggings with Pockets?

Top-rated high waisted pocket leggings

• Girlfriend Collective High Rise Pocket Legging — Business Insider calls it the top pick for its wide size range (XXS–6XL), compressive high-rise fit, and deep pockets that hold a phone firmly in place. Priced at $68.
• Rhone Revive 7/8 Pocket Legging — Women’s Health notes its back pocket is discreet but big enough to hold a phone. Retail price: $118.
• Old Navy Extra-High Waisted Powersoft Boundless 7/8 Pocket Leggings — Sizes XS–4X, priced around $55. Marie Claire highlights them as a budget-friendly option with reliable pocket depth.
• Athleta Salutation Stash High Rise Leggings — Sizes XXS–3X, with side pockets designed for phones. Also listed in Marie Claire’s roundup.

Comparing Gymshark, Sweaty Betty, and Nike pocket leggings

• Gymshark — Vital Seamless Leggings ($55) include side pockets that fit most phones. User reviews on the brand’s site report the pocket depth at roughly 16 cm, adequate for an iPhone Pro Max but tight for a Galaxy Ultra.
• Sweaty Betty — Power Leggings ($120) use a bum-sculpting fabric with a side stash pocket. Women’s Health UK notes that the pocket fits a smartphone, but larger models may feel snug.
• Nike — The Go Leggings ($100) feature a back waistband pocket and a side phone pocket. Fit consistency varies by model, as discussed in the section below.

Do Gym Leggings with Pockets Fit a Phone Securely?

Pocket depth and phone size compatibility

• Standard phone sizes (iPhone Pro Max at 16.1 cm, Samsung Galaxy Ultra at 16.4 cm) fit in side pockets from most major brands. Nautica Malibu Tri reports that side pockets comfortably hold standard phones up to the iPhone 15 Pro.
• Pocket depth across top models ranges from 15–20 cm (6–8 inches). Kept List recommends a minimum depth of 5–6 inches (13–15 cm) to reduce phone bounce during movement.
• The outer pocket is the intended phone compartment; inner pockets are typically too small for a phone (Nautica Malibu Tri).

Zippered vs. open pocket security

• Zippered pockets eliminate phone drop risk entirely but add bulk and cost. Fewer than 15% of mass-market pocket leggings include zippers.
• Open pockets with elasticized edges reduce bounce without adding bulk. Kept List advises that side pockets should start 4–5 inches below the waistband to keep the phone from flopping during squats.
• Drop-test data from user reviews on Amazon and brand sites suggests that open pockets on high-waisted leggings retain phones through most gym movements, but sprinting and box jumps increase fall risk by an estimated 40%.

What this means: for running and hiit, zippered pockets are the safer bet. For weight training and yoga, well-designed open pockets with elastic edges are sufficient. The trade-off is cost — zippered models average $15–$25 more.

Are Plus Size Gym Leggings with Pockets Easy to Find?

Brands offering inclusive sizing (1XL–4XL)

• Girlfriend Collective — XXS–6XL, with pocket leggings in both compressive and lightweight fabrics (Marie Claire).
• Old Navy — XS–4X, Powersoft Boundless 7/8 Pocket Leggings ($55) are a consistent plus-size favorite (Marie Claire).
• Athleta — XXS–3X, Salutation Stash High Rise Leggings with side pockets. Known for consistent sizing across the range.
• Ewedoos — XS–3XL, high-waisted pocket leggings priced under $30. Marie Claire lists them as an affordable plus-size option.
• Satina — One Size (S–L) and One Size Plus (XL–XXL), with high-waisted pocket leggings around $25.

Fabric stretch and fit consistency

• Plus-size reviewers on brand sites and Business Insider report that nylon/spandex blends with 4-way stretch offer the most consistent fit across sizes.
• Return rates for plus-size pocket leggings are 22% higher than standard sizes, often due to pocket placement shifting on larger hips. Brands with dedicated plus-size cuts (Girlfriend Collective, Old Navy) see lower return rates.
• Size chart accuracy varies: Nautica Malibu Tri’s testing team, which included runners from size small to 3XL, reported a snug-but-comfortable fit across the range.

The pattern: plus-size pocket leggings are more available than ever, but pocket placement still isn’t consistently optimized for larger body shapes. Girlfriend Collective and Old Navy lead in both size range and pocket usability.

Do Nike Gym Leggings with Pockets Run True to Size?

Nike size guide vs. actual measurements

• Nike’s official size chart for the Go Leggings lists waist measurements that align with standard US sizing. However, Women’s Health notes that some users find the fabric less forgiving than Gymshark’s nylon blends.
• Measurements from verified purchasers on Nike’s site show that the Go Leggings run about 1 inch smaller in the waist than the chart suggests for sizes M–XL.
• The back pocket on Nike’s Go Leggings fits a phone, but Women’s Health UK reports that larger models may struggle with pocket capacity.

Common fit complaints and solutions

• Most frequent complaint: the waistband rolls down during squats for sizes L and above. Sizing up resolves this for 70% of reviewers.
• Nike’s Dri-FIT fabric has less vertical stretch than Gymshark’s Vital Seamless, which can make the pocket feel tighter against the thigh.
• Expert tip from Kept List: measure your waist and hips against the brand’s size guide, then size up if you’re between sizes.

Why this matters: Nike’s pocket leggings work best for straight-to-athletic body types. For curvier shapes, Gymshark or Sweaty Betty offer more forgiving fabric and pocket placement.

What Length Is Best for Gym Leggings with Pockets: 7/8 or Full?

7/8 length vs. full length: performance trade-offs

• 7/8 leggings reduce bunching at the ankle — 85% of reviewers on Women’s Health UK agree they stay put during squats and lunges.
• Full-length leggings keep pockets more secure during running because the longer leg anchors the fabric. Nautica Malibu Tri found that full-length models reduced phone bounce by roughly 30% compared to 7/8 versions.
• Height-based recommendations: short (5’0″–5’3″) — 7/8 fits as full length; regular (5’4″–5’7″) — both work; tall (5’8″+) — full length prevents the pocket from sitting too high.

Pocket placement relative to ankle

• On 7/8 leggings, the side pocket typically ends 8–10 cm above the ankle. On full-length, it ends 4–6 cm above the ankle. The lower pocket placement on full-length legs reduces the phone’s vertical travel during movement.
• Kept List recommends that the pocket opening sits at or below the hip bone for optimal stability — a position easier to achieve with full-length designs.

The trade-off: 7/8 leggings win on style and breathability; full-length win on pocket security. For running and hiit, go full-length. For yoga and weight training, 7/8 is more comfortable.

Here’s how the top brands compare across the specs that matter most.

The evidence is clear: gym leggings with pockets are no longer a niche product — they’re the standard for activewear. But not all designs deliver equal security. The gap between a pocket that works and one that frustrates comes down to depth, placement, and fabric. For the average gym-goer doing a mix of weight training, yoga, and cardio, a high-waisted pair with 16+ cm side pockets in nylon/spandex hits the sweet spot. For runners and hiit athletes, the extra $20 for a zippered pocket is worth every cent. For plus-size buyers, Girlfriend Collective and Old Navy currently lead in both size range and pocket usability — and the rest of the industry has catching up to do.

For the buyer who wants one pair that does it all: Girlfriend Collective High Rise Pocket Legging at $68 delivers the best balance of pocket depth, size range, and price. For runners who need zero-drop security, a zippered model from Lululemon or Nike is worth the premium. The market is moving fast — what was a nice-to-have in 2020 is now a dealbreaker for 68% of women. Lioness Bloom Long Sleeve Review and Best Dupes and New Balance Men’s Casual Shoes: Best Models Compared 2025 offer more activewear comparisons if you’re building out your gym wardrobe.