Compression Athlete
7 min
Dropping temperatures don’t have to mean an end to your favorite outdoor activities and workouts.
With the right layering choices, most athletes find that they not only manage the cold just fine but can actually get out there and enjoy it.
A great pair of warm leggings comes in handy for a variety of cold weather activities.
Whether you’re going for a walk, working out, or enjoying snow sports like skiing, sledding, and so on, a toasty pair of leggings is the perfect mix of comfort, mobility, and warmth.
Cold weather leggings and compression tights have very similar designs to regular leggings and tights but also include certain cold weather specific features, such as fleece lining, thermal lining, or a brushed interior.
Here, we’ve collected the best warm leggings for cold weather. These picks feature extra warmth without the bulk to keep you active through the frigid winter months.
Note: Featured products are independently selected and reviewed by Compression Athlete. If you purchase through our links, we may earn commission.
The Lululemon Keep the Heat Thermal Tights are insulated and sweat-wicking, so you’ll stay toasty through the bitterest of cold. These tights have ribbed texture mapped over your muscles for an extra supportive feel.
Shop at Lululemon: Lululemon Keep the Heat Thermal Tights
Lululemon’s Keep the Heat Thermal Tights sport a high rise fit and a wool-blend fabric. These tights utilize breathable and quick-drying SenseKnit technology helps to regulate your body temperature, so that you don’t overheat.
The Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Fleece Tights feature a water-repellent tech fleece fabric that’s brushed on the inside for warmth. These tights have a full-length design that sits at the ankle and four-way stretch for a full range of motion.
Shop at Lululemon: Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Fleece Tights
Lululemon’s Fast and Free High-Rise Fleece Tights utilize a snug waistband with a continuous drawcord to eliminate constant adjustments. These tights have two side drop-in pockets and three drop-in pockets on the waistband for smaller items.
The Nike Therma-FIT One Leggings are an extra warm and versatile option great for workouts or everyday wear. The soft and stretchy Therma-FIT technology manages your body’s natural heat for warmth and wicks sweat to keep you dry.
Shop at Nike: Nike Therma-FIT One Leggings
Nike’s Therma-FIT One Leggings have a full-length design with non-sheer fabric for confident coverage. These leggings have seamless sides and a slight contoured v-shaped waistband with 2 hidden pockets.
The Nike GO Therma-FIT Leggings feature the perfect balance of comfort, support, and warmth with Therma-FIT technology that manages your body’s natural heat to keep you warm in cold weather conditions.
Shop at Nike: Nike GO Therma-FIT Leggings
Nike’s GO Therma-FIT Leggings utilize an extra-wide waistband and sleek InfinaLock fabric that’s supportive and compressive in the right places. These leggings sport a 6-pocket design with 2 angled side pockets, 3 drop-in back waist pockets, and a zip thigh pocket.
The Under Armour ColdGear Authentics Leggings feature an extra warm dual-layer fabric with a brushed interior and smooth exterior. These leggings provide non-bulky warmth with 4-way stretch and a distraction free fit.
Shop at Under Armour: UA ColdGear Authentics Leggings
Under Armour’s ColdGear Authentics Leggings utilize sweat-wicking material that dries very quickly, as well as an encased elastic waistband that stays put and sits comfortably on the hips.
The Under Armour ColdGear Twist Leggings feature dual-layer ColdGear fabric that pairs a smooth and quick-drying exterior with a warm and brushed interior.
Shop at Under Armour: UA ColdGear Twist Leggings
Under Armour’s ColdGear Twist Leggings utilize a non-bulky fit with sweat-wicking material and an exposed elastic waistband for the perfect performance baselayer that stays put and keeps you warm.
The 2XU Ignition Shield Compression Tights feature advanced waterproof stretch panels to withstand rain and flexible thermal fabric to protect against chilly conditions. These tights utilize graduated compression to improve blood flow and overall performance and recovery.
Shop at 2XU: 2XU Ignition Shield Compression Tights
2XU’s Ignition Shield Compression Tights feature a soft brushed interior for warmth, flatlock seams to reduce chafing, and reflective logos for visibility in low-light conditions. These tights have a drawstring waistband and a rear zip pocket for secure storage.
The WOLACO Fulton Leggings feature a cold weather performance design in a comfortable moderate compression fit. These leggings have two sweat-proof compression pockets with breathable mesh backing and a secure elastic security band.
Shop at WOLACO: WOLACO Fulton Leggings
WOLACO’s Fulton Leggings sport a stay-put ergonomic fit with premium moisture-wicking, anti-pilling fabric. These leggings have a comfortable elastic waistband, reflective stripes for low light visibility, and are available in several stylish colors.
The Baleaf Laureate Thermal Leggings feature a water-resistant performance outside with soft brushed fleece lining for an extra warm and cozy feel. These leggings have a non-see-through design and a gusseted crotch to eliminate camel toe.
Shop at Baleaf: Baleaf Laureate Thermal Leggings
Shop at Baleaf: Baleaf Laureate Thermal Leggings (Zipper Pocket)
Baleaf’s Laureate Thermal Leggings feature flattering body-contouring flatlock seams to eliminate chafing and maximize comfort. These leggings have a wide waistband for superior coverage and are available in a zipper pocket design.
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The Baleaf Laureate High Rise Thermal Leggings feature a stretchy, water-resistant, non-pilling fabric with soft fleece lining to keep you warm and cozy. These leggings utilize flatlock seams for a chafe-free fit and contouring lines that streamline and enhance.
Shop at Baleaf: Baleaf Laureate High Rise Thermal Leggings
Baleaf’s Laureate High Rise Thermal Leggings pass the squat test with non-see-through fabric and a high-rise design for maximum coverage. These leggings have 2 side pockets and a hidden waistband pocket for convenient storage.
For 10% Off Use Discount Code: CompressionAthlete
The New Balance Impact Run Heat Tights are constructed using NB HEAT fabric technology to wick sweat and keep you toasty. These tights sport a warm polyknit construction with a brushed interior fabric.
Shop at New Balance: New Balance Impact Run Heat Tights
Shop at New Balance: New Balance Impact Run Heat Tights (Reflective)
New Balance’s Impact Run Heat Tights have easy-access drop-in pockets and a back zipper pocket, as well as a drawstring waistband. These tights provide a full range of motion in a form-fitting design.
The Saucony Solstice Tights are a high-performance option with a brushed inside for a warm and cozy fit. These tights have versatile style and function, making them great for warming-up, running, and post-run recovery.
Shop at Saucony: Saucony Solstice Tights
Saucony’s Solstice Tights utilize a recycled polyester and spandex fabric blend that features reflective logos and ankle stripes for increased visibility. These tights have a classic mid-rise waistband with an internal drawcord.
The Athleta Altitude Tights feature Polartec Power Stretch fabric with thermal insulation for extra warmth against the cold. These tights pair a sleek outside with a soft and cozy inside.
Shop at Athleta: Athleta Altitude Tights
Athleta’s Altitude Tights have a comfortable wide waistband with an adjustable internal drawcord. These tights utilize sweat-wicking fabric, side stash pockets, and a back zip pocket for secure storage.
Cold weather can create a tough predicament for athletes.
On the one hand, you want to fight off the cold, which means layering up. But on the other hand, you want to maintain full mobility so that you can perform at a high level, which usually means minimizing layers.
The key here is body temperature regulation. Compression garments create a breathable shell that helps to trap body heat without overheating.
Without the breathability that compression allows, you might be surprised at how quickly your body can overheat during activity—even in cold conditions!
Another helpful factor is the compressive pressure applied to your muscles, which stabilizes and reduces excess vibration and shivering.
This otherwise lost energy can be used to keep your body warm and lengthen your endurance.
Additionally, many compression garments designed to combat cold weather will have a brushed or thermal interior.
This provides a toasty interior in both performance and feel, which is a great way to keep you going in damp and chilly conditions.
Everyone knows that stiff and rigid feeling you get in your muscles when the cold takes over. And if you’re an athlete, this feeling can greatly hamper your overall performance.
For many, the natural inclination to combat this is by adding multiple insulating layers, but this often results in sacrificing mobility for warmth.
Compression garments offer a perfect solution by providing both warmth and mobility in a stretchy and snug baselayer.
The compressive pressure of these garments also improves blood flow to keep your muscles warm and provides muscle stability for energy conservation.
One of the most overlooked factors of athletic performance in cold weather conditions is the prospect of overheating. This might even sound absurd at first: overheating in cold weather?
But the truth is that when we layer up to fight off the cold, many athletes don’t take into account their body’s natural heat production.
So, as you start to move, increase your heart rate, and emit body heat, suddenly you can find yourself breathing heavy and drenched in sweat.
Fabrics and materials that keep you warm but lack breathability create a shell that blocks in all of the heat your body emits.
Compression fabric, on the other hand, provides a great combination of breathability and warmth that won’t bog you down.
Additionally, the sweat-wicking capability of compression gear is a well-known benefit.
While many people associate this benefit as strictly an important one in warmer conditions, it’s actually just as important in cooler conditions.
In cold weather, wicking sweat away from your body helps you maintain comfortable warmth by removing moisture to keep you dry, light, and mobile.
Be sure to also check out our top picks for the Best Cold Weather Running Tights for 2024.
And for more on picking out a great pair of compression tights, check out our Comprehensive Guide to Compression Tights. We cover all the most common questions surrounding wear, fit, and use.