Deep winter’s frost may be thawing, but leaving the house in anything less than four layers is a risk we’re not willing to take just yet.
Right now, the UK is caught in a meteorological flux; we’re not really sure what the weather will serve up from one day to another. Storms, hail, sunshine, maybe even snow. It’s all on the table.
Aside from making us yearn more than ever for BST, it makes dressing a right faff.
Woolly tights may become uncomfortable under the glare of sudden afternoon sun, and jeans may not be insulated enough to shield your limbs from a bitter chill. Fashion cycles throw up some bewildering trends now and again, but trust us, legs blue from the cold have never, ever been en vogue.
A good pair of leggings can help this specific sartorial cause. But not just any leggings; leggings with a secret warming lining that will have you laughing in the face of bad weather.
Base layers lined with fleece are the winter wardrobe essential few can be without when the mercury starts to head south. The soft fibres not only feel lovely against the skin, but create tiny pockets of air which will help to trap warmth in. Being leggings, they’re also comfortable enough to slip on under jeans when you need an extra layer, and you can cosy up in them indoors.
If you’re on the hunt for new ones or replacement pairs for the ones you’ve worn out, we’ve done the legwork for you. Scroll on to find the warmest pair of leggings to grace your wardrobe.
While they’re handy for wintry weather now, these things have longevity. Keep them in your festival bag for nightwear come the summer.
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M&S Collection Heatgen™ Medium Fleece Thermal Leggings
Serving customers up to a size 22, M&S’s thermal leggings are what to reach for in times of plummeting temperatures. The lightweight designs make an ideal base layer for cold days, although they’ll fare well for exercising and gardening outdoors too.
Available in black, blue and grey.
Buy now £16.00, M&S
Sweaty Betty Therma Boost 2.0 Reflective Leggings
A steep price for a pair of leggings, but ones that will be worth their weight in gold for serious runners. These fitness-focused leggings are ideal for pounding the pavements in spring with slim pockets to hold essentials and reflective stripes to make you more visible on the road.
Buy now £100.00, M&S
Mountain Warehouse Womens Fluffy Fleece Lined Thermal Leggings
Available in small, medium and large, and with blue as an option as well as black, these stretchy leggings have full opacity to protect your modesty. The extra warm fleece keeps pins nice and warm and makes them perfect for travel as well as cold days.
Buy now £14.99, Mountain Warehouse
Gymshark Fleece Lined Pocket Leggings
Offering a welcome departure from black, Gymshark’s raspberry-hued leggings offer some colour to athleisure apparel. It comes with two side pockets and a zipped one in the waistband so you can keep essentials to hand without the clunkiness of a bag. Made from a mix of recycled polyester and elastane for form-fitting stretch, the fleece lining makes them a must-wear all winter long.
Buy now £35.00, Gymshark
Pieces Tall fleece lined leather look leggings in black
There are plenty of fitness options around in the world of fleece-lined leggings, but if you're hoping for a set you can wear out without detection, Pieces has you covered. Presenting like coated jeans, no one will be able to guess that your legs are actually encased in lovely, fleecey warmth.
Buy now £26.00, ASOS
New Look fleece leggings in grey
High-waisted with a stretchy fit and fleece-lined to boot? New Look, just take our money.
Also available in black, the plain design means it's destined to be the wardrobe staple you can’t live without when the weather turns on you.
Buy now £11.99, ASOS
JOYSPELS Thermal Leggings Women with Pockets
Available in a variety of colours and in sizes up to a UK18, these thermal leggings promise to shield everything below the waistline in cosy warmth. Made for winter workouts, Spandex in the fit offers the right level of stretch while slim pockets keep essentials like card holders, keys and phones in your orbit.
Buy now £25.99, Amazon
STYPOP Fleece Lined Tights for Women
For occasions where you don't want to look like you're wearing a thick pair of leggings, these skin-effect ones promise to save your bacon.
When rolled on, the pair give the illusion of translucent tights on bare legs, but in reality, you'll be snug in a set of fleece-lined footless leggings that you can pair with knitted socks.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
