Lululemon vs Uniqlo yoga pants? Hong Kong watchdog test reveals no link between cost and quality
- Some expensive yoga pants show noticeable reduction in stretchiness and slow moisture evaporation rate, consumer watchdog says after testing 20 brands
- Council finds HK$249 H&M leggings had same score as HK$980 pair from upmarket brand Sweaty Betty
Women’s yoga pants up to six times more expensive than cheaper ones are not necessarily better, Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has found after it tested 20 brands of leggings costing between HK$149 (US$19) and HK$980.
The Consumer Council, which revealed its findings on Tuesday, said there was a noticeable reduction in the stretchiness of some of the yoga pants from expensive brands it had tested, adding that they also had a slow moisture evaporation rate.
Yoga pants priced between HK$149 and HK$980 were examined by the watchdog for their stretch and recovery performance, comfort, durability, accuracy of fibre composition labelling and chemical safety.
The Consumer Council concluded there was not necessarily a correlation between product quality and the price of the pants.
Professor Nora Tam Fung-yee, the council’s research and testing committee chairwoman, said consumers should take into account their intended purpose for the pants, such as yoga, exercise or casual wear when buying a pair.
“If people find marks on their skin after wearing them, that means the size is too small, which could hinder blood circulation,” she said.
Gilly Wong Fung-han, chief executive of the council, said: “One must not focus purely on brands and the look of the yoga pants, but should try them on, especially in poses one might do such as squats to test their stretchiness and comfort levels.”
Other cheaper pants tested included those from Japanese brand GU, costing HK$149, which were rated four and a half, while those from French brand Decathlon, which cost HK$299, were given a four.
A spokesman for Sweaty Betty told the watchdog the tests did not reflect its leggings’ sweat-wicking function, adding that it would submit reports to the council to show that its products met the requirements of the relevant standards.
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The council also said that there was “considerable variance” in the stretch and recovery performance of the yoga pants, but said most pairs were deemed to be satisfactory after they were pulled with a force of 20 newtons back and forth five times in a test.
The report also revealed a fourfold difference in moisture evaporation rates of different yoga pants. The council said those with a low rate could lead to sweat retention and the wearer might experience rashes and allergies.
The watchdog said the performance of all 20 leggings when it came to breathability was satisfactory, but some showed signs of discolouration such as stains from other fibres, fading prints, piling and inaccuracy in the labelling of the fibre composition.
All models complied with the relevant standards for chemical safety, but two models were detected with a small amount of free formaldehyde, a substance regulated by the European Union.
The council received nine complaints related to yoga pants between 2020 and July this year.
