Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Workout Leggings Review: thin but comfy all-round gym tights

I’ve seen Sweaty Betty leggings pushed everywhere, so I grabbed these Power 7/8 in black, size M, to see what the fuss is about. I used them mainly for gym sessions (weights, rowing machine, a bit of treadmill) and a couple of outdoor runs. I’m not sponsored, I paid out of pocket, so I’m not trying to justify a freebie here. My expectations were mid-to-high because of the brand reputation and the price tag.

First impression out of the bag: they look small and the fabric feels on the thinner side. Not see-through like cheap leggings, but definitely not thick, winter-type compression either. If you’re used to very firm, almost stiff compression tights, these will feel softer and lighter. I was honestly worried they’d be see-through on squats or that they’d slide down on runs.

After a few workouts, I’d sum them up like this: comfortable, flattering enough, but not the most premium-feeling leggings for the money. They do the job for mixed workouts, and the pockets are genuinely useful. But the hype around quality had me expecting something that felt more solid and durable in hand. They’re more “nice gym tights” than “wow, these are on another level”.

If you catch them on sale, I’d say they’re a decent buy for people who like light, stretchy leggings with pockets. At full price, I think you’re partially paying for the logo. They’re not terrible at all, but they’re also not the miracle leggings some people make them out to be. Good, but with a few things that could be better.

Let’s talk money. Sweaty Betty is not a budget brand, and these Power 7/8 leggings are priced like a premium product. For that price, I expect either rock-solid durability, clear performance benefits, or a really premium feel. What you actually get is: very comfortable, decent-looking leggings with nice pockets and good stretch, but a fabric that feels thinner and less robust than I’d like at this price point.

If you manage to grab them on discount, the value makes more sense. In that case, you’re paying mid-range money for a pair of leggings that are easy to wear, work well for multiple sports, and have genuinely useful pockets. In that price bracket, I’d call them good but not mind-blowing. They do the job and feel nicer than cheap supermarket leggings, but they don’t crush the competition on quality or performance.

At full price, though, they’re harder to justify. You can get similar or better compression and a more solid-feeling fabric from brands like Nike, Under Armour, or even some lesser-known activewear brands for less. Add in the fact that Amazon reviews mention quality issues like seams coming apart and items arriving in rough shape, and the value story gets weaker. You’re clearly paying a bit for the Sweaty Betty name and styling.

So, value verdict: if you see them heavily discounted, they’re worth considering as a comfy, versatile pair of gym leggings. If they’re at full RRP and you’re not specifically loyal to Sweaty Betty, I’d shop around. There’s nothing terrible about them, but for that kind of money, I expect either tougher fabric or more reliable construction.

The overall design is pretty straightforward: skinny ankle-length leggings with a slightly lower rise than most trendy high-waisted ones. On me, the waistband hits just under my belly button. If you’re used to very high-waisted leggings that really lock in your stomach, these will feel a bit lower and less “secure” around the midsection. It’s not horrible, but I did notice I adjusted them a couple of times during deep squats and deadlifts.

The best design feature is the pockets. There’s a side pocket that can easily take a phone (I tried with a decent-sized smartphone and it stayed put on treadmill runs), and a zip back pocket that’s perfect for a key, card, or locker token. For actual use, that back pocket is great because you don’t have your keys banging around in the side of your thigh. The zipper is small and didn’t dig into my back while lying on a bench, which is usually my main complaint with back pockets.

The seaming is clearly thought out to shape the legs and bum. You get curved seams around the glutes and some angled panels along the thighs that visually slim the leg. I wouldn’t say it magically sculpts anything, but it does avoid that “plain sausage” look some leggings give. On the flip side, more seams mean more potential weak points. Considering some Amazon reviews mention seams coming apart at the crotch, that’s something to keep in mind if you’re hard on your gear or between sizes.

One thing I wasn’t fully sold on is the thinness of the fabric in relation to the design claims. They market them as sculpting and supportive, but the material thickness doesn’t really match that promise. They look good, but if you’re expecting heavy compression and serious shaping, the design oversells it a bit. For everyday gym use, though, the design is practical and looks decent.

Comfort-wise, these leggings are pleasant to wear. The fabric is smooth against the skin, no itching, no weird rubbing from the seams for me. I wore them for full 1–1.5 hour sessions with a mix of cardio and weights, and I didn’t feel the need to peel them off halfway through. The high stretch really helps: getting them on the first time feels like you’re pulling on something too small, but once they’re up, they relax and mold to your legs quite well.

The compression level is on the lighter side. There’s some gentle hug around the thighs and calves, but it’s not that tight, locked-in feeling you get from serious compression gear. Personally, I liked that for general gym days and walking; my legs didn’t feel squeezed. But if you’re specifically chasing strong compression for long runs or to reduce jiggle, these are more “supportive leggings” than proper compression tights.

The only comfort downside for me is the waistband and rise. They sit a bit lower than the current high-waist trend, and the hold around the waist is okay but not great. During dynamic stuff like burpees and deep squats, I did a couple of small adjustments – nothing dramatic, but noticeable. Some buyers mention a drawstring on other colorways; mine didn’t have a very obvious one, so either it’s subtle or varies by model. If you rely on a super firm waistband to feel secure, this could bug you.

In daily life – walking, errands, stretching at home – they’re genuinely comfy. No digging in at the ankles, no weird tight spots behind the knees. If you mainly want soft, light leggings that you forget you’re wearing, these tick that box. Just don’t expect a corset-like waistband or medical-grade compression. They’re more “easygoing comfort” than “locked in for performance”.

These leggings use a 62% polyamide / 38% elastane blend, which is pretty standard for performance tights. In practice, that means they’re very stretchy and move easily in all directions. I never felt restricted when doing lunges, squats, or getting on and off machines. You can yank them quite a bit and they spring back well. That part is solid. They’re also properly synthetic – there’s no cotton softness here – so they stay light even when you sweat.

Where the material is a bit of a mixed bag is thickness and feel in the hand. When you first touch them, they don’t feel especially premium. They’re smooth and fine, but also kind of thin. Not see-through on me, but thin enough that you’re aware of it when you bend over. I did a few squat and deadlift tests under bright indoor lighting and didn’t notice obvious transparency, but I still wouldn’t wear super bright underwear under these just in case. They’re more on the “light and slick” side than the “thick and compressive” side.

Breathability is good. I did a sweaty cardio session and they didn’t feel swampy. The fabric really is quick-drying: after washing on a gentle cycle and hanging them up, they were dry by the next morning with no problem. That’s a plus if you train often and rotate a small set of leggings. The downside of this lighter fabric is that it doesn’t give that solid, durable impression you get from some other brands at similar prices, like thicker Nike or Under Armour compression tights.

Looking at some user reviews, there are complaints about seams coming apart and the material feeling cheap for the price. I didn’t have any rips in my short test, but I can see why people say that: the fabric doesn’t scream heavy-duty. For casual gym use, it’s fine. If you want leggings that feel tough and structured, these might feel a bit underwhelming for what Sweaty Betty usually charges.

In my own short test (a couple of weeks, several washes), the leggings held up fine. No obvious pilling, no rips, and the fabric didn’t loosen noticeably. I washed them cold, inside out, on a gentle cycle and air-dried them. The color stayed solid black, and the seams didn’t show any immediate damage. So if you treat them reasonably well, they survive normal use out of the gate.

That said, I wouldn’t call them tanks. The fabric is on the thinner side, and you can feel that when you pull on them. It’s smooth but doesn’t feel super tough. I can’t see these being the kind of leggings you beat up for years and years without some wear showing. The stitching is neat but there are quite a few seams, especially around the crotch and bum, and more seams usually means more risk of something giving way over time.

The Amazon reviews back this up a bit. You’ve got at least one verified buyer complaining about seams coming apart in the crotch straight out of the package and the leggings arriving dusty with no tags. That sounds more like a quality control or seller issue than a universal problem, but it doesn’t inspire huge confidence either, especially considering the brand’s pricing and reputation. If you’re spending this kind of money, you don’t want to be worrying about dodgy stitching.

My take: short-term durability is fine, but long-term, I’d baby them a bit – no hot washes, no dryer, avoid rough surfaces. If you want leggings that feel bombproof, these aren’t it. If you’re okay with decent but not bulletproof durability and you mainly use them indoors, they’ll probably last a fair while, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the fabric or seams start to show their age faster than some cheaper, thicker options.

I tested these leggings in a few scenarios: treadmill running, moderate outdoor jogs, weight training, and a sweaty rower session. For general performance, they do pretty solid. They don’t twist around the legs, and the fabric stretches easily in lunges, squats, and step-ups. I never felt like the material was fighting my movements, which is the bare minimum for gym tights, but you’d be surprised how many fail at that.

On runs, they held up decently. The side pocket is actually usable: my phone stayed stable without bouncing out, and I barely noticed it after a few minutes. The back zip pocket kept my key completely secure – no jangling, no fear of it slipping out. That’s a big plus if you run outside and hate carrying stuff in your hands. The sweat-wicking claim is fair: I finished a 30–40 minute treadmill session sweaty, and the leggings felt damp but not heavy or soaked.

Where they’re just okay is in support and stability. Because the fabric is thinner and the compression is light, you don’t get that strong, held-in feeling. If you’re used to more compressive brands, you’ll notice the difference. The waistband, again, is the weak point. It stayed up overall, but on deeper bends and higher-intensity moves, I definitely did a couple of small pulls upward. Not a disaster, but not perfect either.

If you’re doing everyday fitness – gym sessions, classes like Pilates or strength training, light to moderate runs – these work well. If you’re doing long-distance running, intense HIIT with lots of jumping, or you really want firm compression for performance reasons, I’d look at something more structured. These are versatile, but they feel more like comfortable training leggings than specialized performance gear.

On paper, these Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 leggings are meant to be multi-sport tights: running, gym, classes, whatever. They’re ankle length on most people (24" / 60 cm inseam), with two pockets – one side pocket big enough for a phone and one small zip pocket at the back for keys or a card. The pair I tried is black, size M, low-to-mid rise (they sit below or around the navel depending on your torso length).

The fabric is 62% polyamide and 38% elastane, so high stretch and meant to be sweat-wicking and quick-drying. On the body, they feel like proper sports leggings, not cotton lounge pants. The seams are placed to “sculpt the bum” and visually slim the legs, which basically means lots of curved and angled stitching around the thighs and glutes. Style-wise, they’re pretty standard: solid black, skinny fit, no loud logos all over the place.

They’re sold as machine-washable, and that matches my use: cold wash, air dry, no drama. They’re not fuzzy or brushed on the inside like winter leggings, so they’re more suited to spring/summer or indoor workouts rather than freezing outdoor runs. The rise is described as low, but on me they felt more like a regular mid-rise: not super high-waisted, but not 2000s hip-huggers either.

Overall, the presentation is: functional, sporty, fairly simple. You’re not getting some super technical, ultra-structured compression garment; you’re getting light, stretchy, everyday workout leggings with a couple of useful pockets. That’s the level you should expect, and that’s basically what you get once you put them on.