Constantly Varied Gear Legging Review

Bottom Line

Constantly Varied Gear Leggings are the ultimate conversation starter, featuring bold, eye-catching designs at a wallet-friendly price. Perfect for those who love to stand out, these leggings are fun, affordable, and great for switching up your look with every season or adventure.

The patterns are so unique that they distract from panty lines and garner compliments every time you wear them. However, they may not be the best fit for everyone.

Curvy hikers, particularly those with a fuller waist, might find themselves constantly adjusting. The waistband tends to roll and slip down, creating a frustrating muffin top effect. While these leggings are stretchier than most, they may not provide the support some require.

Despite the care instructions printed on the fabric (which warns against rough surfaces), we didn’t notice any snags or pilling during our testing. If you’re hiking wide trails, don’t have issues with a tight waistband rolling down, and prefer a stretchy fit, these leggings could be a great choice.

If the CVG Leggings don’t seem like a match for you, we have nine other impressive options outlined in our favorite hiking leggings for women gear guide.

How We Tested

We wore these leggings on flat trails in a meadow while walking and playing with dogs, and on undulating trails through the forest, moving at a quicker pace. Due to the fit challenges we encountered and the hypothesis that they might be better suited for running, we also jogged in them.

Additionally, we wore them to the gym to further assess their fit and breathability. These leggings were tested at 6,200 feet in South Lake Tahoe, California.

Comfort

These leggings are quite flexible. However, we wouldn’t want to wear them for multiple days in a row. They felt comfortable if you stayed still. The fabric is stretchy, and there is a nice wide waistband; however, the fit (see below) caused discomfort.

Honestly, we wanted to rip them off after the first test. They didn’t seem to stretch out or improve in comfort after several wears.

Fit

On the website, it states these leggings are “squat approved,” and we noticed this printed on the tag inside the fabric. Although we can squat in them, the waistband rolls down if we have any belly. The main problem with these leggings is the waistband. We wore them to the gym, and the waist kept rolling down, necessitating constant adjustments and pulling them back up. When they rolled down (which happened frequently), we dealt with a muffin top.

We would suggest trying to size up, but even then, the leggings might still slip down. We’ve had a similar pair made from the same type of fabric, and they were so uncomfortable that we ended up selling them. After some research, we found an alternative style from CVG that features a drawstring. It only comes in a limited selection of colors and patterns, and we could only find it through a direct search. Although it is pricier, reviews suggest it is worth it for those who might struggle with the waist rolling down.

Features

The best feature of these leggings is undoubtedly the variety of colors and patterns available. We did not notice any fading in the colors or patterns after washing, but we observed that their appearance could change depending on which part of the body they were worn on and the size of that body part.

For instance, on our thighs, the pattern stretched and the colors appeared lighter, revealing more of the underlying fabric color (which is tan). For individuals with light skin, this created a slightly see-through effect. However, this stretching was not noticeable on the rear end.

The pockets are fairly standard—two open side pockets. We tested our phone in one of the pockets while playing with the dog and jogging, and it remained secure. However, because the fit caused the leggings to slide down, we opted to keep our phone in a different location to avoid further sliding.

Breathability & Warmth

These leggings are definitely more suitable for warm weather and high activity levels where there is significant sweating. When we wore them in colder temperatures, they actually performed well at keeping our legs from feeling numb.

Durability

The care instructions on the tag specifically state, “Avoid rough and sharp surfaces.” This warning isn’t mentioned on the product description page, so we were surprised when we read it.

However, after some thorough searching, which we could only find through a Google search, we found this information under the care instructions on the website.

We didn’t notice any wear while testing the product, but we felt hesitant and were a bit more cautious. For example, we were concerned about putting our knees on the turf at the gym, fearing it could lead to pilling or damage to the fabric.

Should You Buy the Constantly Varied Gear Leggings?

If you’ve never had issues with leggings slipping or rolling down, these could be a great choice. For those looking for bright, fun, unique leggings, perhaps for shorter walks where you don’t expect to take breaks to sit and don’t need them for the gym or other activities, these would work well.

We wouldn’t recommend them for anyone who has experienced similar fit issues in the past or for anyone seeking more technical features and durable fabric.

What Other Hiking Leggings Should You Consider?

If you’re excited about some aspects of the CVG Leggings but feel they may not be the best fit for you, check out our top-performing alternatives from our best hiking leggings for women gear guide.

IUGA FlexTight High Waist Tummy Control Leggings With Pockets Review: These leggings also come in a wide variety of bright colors (though not all the different patterns like the CVG). They performed significantly better in terms of fit and comfort, and are similarly priced or even less expensive. They feature the same type and size of pockets. The IUGA leggings are slightly thicker.

Mammut Aenergy Light Tights Review: These leggings look quite similar before you try them on. Both appear to be quite tight and as if they won’t fit, but they both have excellent stretch. The Mammut offers a significantly higher level of fit and comfort, is made from more advanced fabric, and includes more specialized features (such as zippered pockets). Considering all these extras, these leggings also come at a higher price point than the CVG.

Patagonia Pack Out Tights Review: These leggings are alike in that they offer a more traditional and simplified style, as well as a lower rise. We encountered similar fit challenges with each pair, so for those that fit well, they should both fit similarly. The Patagonia leggings have one zippered pocket and two drop-in pockets, similar to the CVG. We found the Patagonia product to be more comfortable and durable, so the higher price point comes with benefits. These leggings are only available in a few color options.