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I'm torn on whether to keep these. They could be great, but have some pretty significant flaws that really affect performance. My complaints, from most significant to least: For some reason, the opening for the internal drawstring is about an inch lower than the top of the waistband. I'm pretty sure I need the drawstring to keep these in place (can't just cut it and remove it), but because it's not at the very top of the waistband in front, the waist rolls down and folds over the internal string. I have considered cutting the opening slots for it so it can go all the way to the top, but I'm not sure I could hand-sew the edges of the slits sufficiently to keep them from tearing/fraying. I have many high end leggings with internal drawstrings and have never had this problem before. I know these go up to XXXL, but I question whether these were ever tested on a body that size. Seems like they just scaled the pattern from smaller sizes. I wear straight (not plus) sizes, but am thickest in the middle. I think anyone who carries weight in the belly area and wants to wear these actually high up towards the natural waist will find the waist rolling/folding over the drawstring. It's very annoying. I also wish they were higher waisted. They really only come up to about my belly button (and I'm extremely short through the torso with long legs for my height), but I've found I really prefer my workout leggings a couple inches above. Everything just feels more secure that way, and it's also a cue to not bend at your belly-button/waist, because that's not how we should be moving! We should be hinging at the hip much more, but waistbands at the belly-button tends to make us feel that the pivot point is in our lumbar spine. I can pull them up a little higher, but then weird things start happening at the crotch - not uncomfortable, but not flattering. Again, I'm not sure the larger sizes were actually tested on larger bodies. I'm kind of in between sizes according to the chart, so ordered a large in these and an XL in the pocket legging, but the rise is exactly the same (measured from the crotch gusset to the top) - the rise should get higher as size increases, especially at the larger end of the spectrum, as there's generally a belly to accommodate. I also wish there was a large phone pocket in the back of the waistband. It's definitely wide enough for it, and the fabric substantial enough to hold a phone securely back there. It's the most comfortable place to stow a phone in your leggings by far. (Who wants to work out, especially walk/run, with a big phone on their thigh?!) The fabric is extremely luxe. It's smooth and soft and a little lustrous. It's also quite thick. I live in Los Angeles, so I think these will be too heavy for a workout most of the time. They'd be reserved for casual wear and travel. That's not really a flaw, just my circumstance, but something to consider. The luxe fabric makes them a great option for casual wear and travel because they look very nice and the seams are finished beautifully. I'm really torn, as this is definitely the nicest non-synthetic/plastic (can't stand it) fabric I've ever seen (other Tencel leggings have no compression whatsoever), and performs so much better than cotton (hello, wetness), but the waist rolls down, the rise isn't quite high enough, and there's nowhere to put my phone. Cutting out the drawstring might help, or then they might not stay up. Cutting the drawstring slits higher would most likely help, but then might start unraveling. Either adjustment I wouldn't be able to return them.
Hi Caroline, thanks so much for your very detailed feedback. Very sorry to hear that you're having a few challenges with these leggings. Regarding the placement of the inner adjustable drawstring - the primary function of it is to give you the possibility to adjust the size of the waist area, especially in case the waistband fits a bit too loosely and to ensure that the leggings don't slide down. Having said that, we had a customer who found the drawstring too tight and who then simply cut it and pulled it out. It then worked much better for her and the leggings still didn't slide down (since there is also a second, "in-built", drawstring in the waistband). Perhaps this is something you could try out as well? Regarding the height of the waistband - where exactly it'll be on the body is indeed subjective as we are all differently built. Regarding the pockets for the phone - this leggings is not supposed to have pockets for a phone, but instead two smaller hidden pockets in the front of the waistband (as you can also read in the product description). We interviewed many fitness enthusiasts and athletes prior to designing the leggings and found that some prefer leggings without any phone pockets, especially for yoga and pilates usage. We always recommend our other leggings with SIDE pockets to people who like to carry their phones on them. Lastly, we're very happy that you like the feel of the fabric and hope you'll find some good use for them nonetheless. Thank you once more for your feedback!