If you know me personally, you’d know it’s very fitting for me to pitch a story that literally involves sleeping on the job. I take my sleep very seriously and love staying in bed until at least 11 a.m. on weekends. I won’t go anywhere without my sleeping mask. If I’m staying at my parents’ house, I ask them to not make any noise until I’m awake—and yes, I enforce this. I sound like a real barrel of laughs, right?
Anyway, the point is that I don’t take sleep lightly. So when I set out to sleep-test the best bike shorts and leggings to wear to bed, I tried to find the most comfortable pairs to help you catch maximum zzzs. Scroll down for my reviews on the best leggings and bike shorts to sleep in.
The first things that attracted me to these shorts were the price and the fact that they’re eligible for Amazon Prime one-day delivery. As for my sleep test, these shorts passed with flying colors. They were super soft and easy to wear all night, but I do think they are a tad tighter and more supportive than I need for sleeping. These shorts are fantastic if you want them to be multi-purpose for workouts and sleeping, but not my first pick if you only want to wear them to bed and not necessarily out of the house. Softness: 8/10Stretchiness: 7.5/10
I love that these don’t try to be compression leggings that promise to suck you in because that’s not my goal for sleep leggings. Instead, these are billed as super-soft, ultra-stretchy, and just plain comfortable—and I’m happy to admit that they are, indeed, all three of the above. That said, I would absolutely still wear them for light activities like yoga. Softness: 9/10Stretchiness: 9/10
If you regularly shop on Nordstrom’s website, you’ve probably come across the iconic Zella Live In High Waist Leggings ($59), which boast an impressive 7,000 glowing reviews and counting. Those leggings are fantastic for moisture-wicking and sculpting, but the Zella ones pictured here are optimal for lounging and sleeping because they’re made for comfort in mind instead of performance. The ankle cuffs ensure that the leggings won’t roll up in your sleep, and they’re overall just extremely pleasant to wear for hours on end. Softness: 10/10Strechiness: 9/10
These are amazing if you want a hybrid legging/pajama pant. Not everyone wants to wear somewhat-confining leggings to bed, but the alternative is often pajama bottoms that tend to sag in the rear. These H&M versions totally solve that problem because they have the snug feeling of leggings around the waist and bum, but the ease of pajamas on the bottom. The perfect combo if you ask me. Softness: 9/10Stretchiness: 9/10
Ugg getting into the leggings game is a dream come true for me. These are lined with a double-knit fleece that makes them the coziest leggings for fall/winter that I’ve ever tried on. I absolutely expect to be sleeping in these when the weather cools down—and probably working from home in them too. Yes, they’re slightly thicker than workout leggings, but they’re absolutely perfect for winter. Softness: 9/10Stretchiness: 8/10
These stand out to me because they don’t have side seams, which is perfect for side-sleepers like me. They are absolutely comfortable to sleep in and they are so weightless that I truly forgot I was even wearing them—the mark of a true winner. They are also more lightweight than shorts designed for heavier exercises, which is great for my purposes. Softness: 9/10Stretchiness: 9/10
These are one of my favorite pairs of the bunch. These shorts are incredibly creamy-soft and are snug without ever being restricting whatsoever. This style, in particular, has a super high waist, which feels like a cozy hug while sleeping. I’ve washed them a few times and the shorts have maintained their shape excellently. Comfiness: 10/10Strechiness: 10/10
This minty color is so fresh.
The Align Pants are top sellers at Lululemon.
These could easily pass as skinny jeans.
Love the sporty stripe down the side.
Do the math: That’s only $6 a pair.
This bootcut style is such a great hybrid between jeans and leggings.
These leggings promise to be one of the softest pairs you own.
Lululemon never lets me down.
Yes, tie-dye is still going strong post-summer.
You can never really go wrong with Nike.
What comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.
Give your black leggings a break every once in a while.
Capris—or as my mom would call them, pedal-pushers—are back in style.
You had me at “fleece-lined.”
Perfect for wearing under dresses or on their own.
