I’m no stranger to a cheeky Adanola buy. Tracksuits are my favourite thing to wear when I’m off-duty and cult label Adanola ticks all of my boxes since its styles are minimal, neutral, affordable and super comfortable.
But while its sweatshirts and joggers are as fashionable, IMHO, as they are practical, there’s no ‘function’ element that I need to put through its paces – although I’d say that keeping up with daily Love Island on the sofa in a comfy sweatset should be considered an extreme sport.
When it comes to its activewear however, it needs a little more consideration. I’ve lost count of the number of chic sports bras or cycling shorts I’ve tried that just aren’t fit for purpose.
But part of my job (one of the best parts), is to bring you an unfiltered review and honest opinion about the pieces that are truly worth parting with the cash for and why. So, as part of my fashion editor services, I (happily) ordered a new Adanola haul with a pair of each of its three hero leggings styles. Ok, and maybe there were socks and a cap in there too…
The ultimate leggings
I’ve had a forest green and cocoa bean brown pair of these for around nine months now and swear by them. I’ve had compliments at barre classes and at the gym which was lovely, and the minimal style, clean lines and luxe colours really make these feel closer to my everyday aesthetic than gymwear typically does.
My key takeaways? The waistband is thicker and less stretchy than the rest of the leggings in the best possible way as it means they are squat-proof, I only pulled them up once in a yoga class, and they sit at the smallest part of my waist, which I love.
They’re only one mark off a 10/10 purely because I rated another pair that I was introduced to in this haul a little higher…
Best for: Pilates, yoga
Colour options: a whopping 14 – 9 core shades, and 5 new seasonal shades
Rating: 9/10
The ultimate pocket leggings
Best for: long walks, hikes, spinning, cycling
Colour options: 4 core shades
Rating: 7/10
This pair does exactly what it says on the tin: it offers all the great benefits of the ultimate leggings above, but with the added pro of a pocket. This makes them ideal for any sort of cardio where a bag might feel jarring as you can easily stash keys or essentials.
It might seem odd then that I’ve given them a lower final rating than the ultimate leggings, when technically speaking, they have more to offer. But, bear with me. They’re currently only available in four colourways and they only offer a right-side pocket, which could be tricky if you’re left-handed.
The ultimate wrap-over leggings
This haul was my first time trying this style but I’d spotted them on a girl on the tube and had had them in my basket a while. Reader, they are everything. They come up a little higher on the waist than the ultimate leggings, but have a slight dip at the front that elongates your waist and stops you looking squat if you’re thicker around the middle, which I really like.
Typically, leggings that come up this high are likely to leave you with a camel toe, but not this pair. I didn’t need to ‘break’ them in as I sometimes feel I need to when wearing compression styles for the first time, as the stretch is fantastic.
Best for: HIIT, weightlifting, running
Colour options: 6 core shades
Rating: 10/10