Sweaty Betty, Power 7/8's

Like a kid staring longingly at cotton candy, I salivate over most things Sweaty Betty (SB). So I satiated my sweet spot and bought my first pair of SB tights, the Power 7/8’s. 

I was curious to see how these beauties held up in comparison to the lululemon NuLux Fast and Free and the Athleta Be Free’s, which I previously reviewed.   

I must first high-five the SB customer service team. I was overwhelmed with the amount of legging choices, so I emailed them and shared my quandary. I wanted an ankle-length tight, with a pocket large enough for the iPhone 7, that could transition from running and boxing to picking up my FitCritters from school. I know, a tall order, but blame it on Starbucks, They’ve spoiled us with options. My online spiritual gear-guide quickly replied and suggested the Power 7/8 Leggings ($115), which check off all the aforementioned boxes. 

Although my everyday wardrobe is averse to color, I like a leg party and picked the electric blue and black zigzag pattern. I still subscribe to my inner 5-year-old philosophy that new, fun sneakers, tights, tanks etc. definitely make me faster and stronger! After purchasing them online, I got my confirmation and the waiting game began. But as it turned out, not quite. In an article by Psychology Today “The True Cost of Multi-Tasking,” they say “You make more errors when you switch than if you do one task at a time.” I was a textbook task-switching lab rat. I accidently checked the box to have them shipped to a store in Manhattan, though I live in Philadelphia. Once again, I contacted my online gear guru and he/she informed me it was too late to intercept the order and redirect the shipping, but that they’d be sure to contact the store and have them forwarded to me upon receipt. Well you know I trusted that happening like a four-year-old with fire. But bless your biceps; a week later they arrived on my doorstep, inside a cute little Sweaty Betty reusable bag, which I now use to store my hand wraps and boxing gloves. Thanks SB for the two-for-one!

Now on to the leggings. The fabric is a little thicker than lulu's NuLux but not too constricting. The pattern is fun, but not too loud. (Though as noted, when it comes to leggings, there’s no such thing in my book). I’ve washed them multiple times and they haven't faded or pilled. They’ve accompanied me through running, boxing, HIIT and Solidcore. But there is this thing with the thighs. They now feel a little droopy after a few wears. Most legging aficionados know this is a common occurrence with tights in general. It happens with so many brands (both my Athleta Be Free’s and my lulu Fast and Free’s now have similar issues). Elon Musk is colonizing Mars but no one on Earth can figure out a sag-free, stay-in-place exercise tight? 

Also, I prefer a side pocket rather than one on the back of the waistband and here’s why. For me, music during a workout is as essential as avocado toast. But when I want to do some muscle multi-tasking, like jumping rope to abs, it’s problematic.  I can’t lay on my back for fear of damaging my lifeline, aka my phone. It also weighs down the waistband, which doesn’t help with the droopage factor. 

In summary, the Power 7/8’s aren’t perfect, but which leggings are? (And if you have the answer, comment below, please, please, pretty please)!!  To quote fellow runner Forrest Gump, leggings are “like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.”