Patagonia Maipo Stash 7/8 Tights Review

The Maipo Tights have range. Our testing left us loving them for yoga, casual wear, travel, and hiking. They have one of the best balances between yoga-level stretch and practical outdoor durability. With two pockets and simple, stylish lines, they're easy to wear casually and not worry about having to change as your day changes.

Comfort & Fit

The Maipo deserve their score as one of the most comfortable leggings, and they are hands down the most versatile out of our comfy options. We tested these leggings on multi-day backpacking trips and, as is the habit of backpackers, there were a couple of days when they didn't come off. In just one day, they served us for morning yoga, all-day hiking, casual wear as camp Mama, and then as our pajamas at the end of the day. We loved them the entire trip and can see ourselves buying these leggings over and over.

We really enjoy the Maipo for trail running and exercise in most climates because they are lightweight and breathable. The two side pockets are incredibly handy, and the pocket seam has a flattering crescent curve down the thigh. We like them for daily wear and travel - it was super convenient to be able to stash our wallet and phone as we went through the airport. The material is silky soft on the inside and out.

The waistband has two offset seams on the front, and a single seam on the back with an extra band of elasticity. This tightens the waistband from the back, offering a slight “hug” and keeping the front waist panel flush against our stomach. The band hits about our navel and stays aligned with our skin through our full range of motion. It is one of the most comfortable and well-designed waistbands that we have ever worn. They run true to size and as stretchy as our favorite yoga leggings.

One detail that makes the Maipo such a good fit is its H-shaped gusset. After testing dozens of leggings, we have found this to be the best gusset for a close fit around the groin. This one is especially broad in the crotch, so our testers experienced zilch camel toe. The Maipo stayed tight against our legs during straddle handstands, and conformed to our thighs in Pigeon Pose and Happy Baby. What stands out about these leggings is that the H-shaped gusset extends down the entire length of the inner thigh and tapers to the knee. We appreciate how this, along with the material's solid four-way stretch, accommodates deep stretching. The overall fit is simple, clean, and hugs our curves. These leggings are easy to style. Our testers love wearing them around a campfire or topping them with a microgrid fleece and heading out to get kombucha on tap after work.

Notice how the gusset extends down the inner thigh, tapering at the knee. This gives a streamlined fit that gives these leggings one of the best fits for multiple body types.   Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Maipo Stash can handle our full range of motion comfortably and still maintain its shape thanks to the stretchy material and well-designed gusset.   Credit: Kate Pitts

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Compression & Support

After testing dozens of casual, performance, and yoga-focused leggings, we realized that the most comfortable leggings to wear all day and for the widest range of activities usually have mid-range compression; enough to feel supported but not restricted. Part of the reason we find the Maipo so versatile is that it has one of the best balances of support, comfort, and elasticity. Definitely a gentle hugger rather than a squeezer. These are solidly comfortable middle-compression leggings.

The Maipo fabric feels snug against our legs and recovers well. It doesn't get baggy after an hour of yoga stretches or twenty-mile day hikes. They feel secure, but definitely aren't the type of leggings you have to grunt and wriggle to put on. They have too much comfortable stretch for that. Compared to high-compression leggings, our tummy isn't tucked, and our legs don't feel squeezed; if you're looking for a sucked-in feeling, you won't get it from the Maipo. We like snuggling in these leggings rather than rushing to peel them off after the gym.

We test all of our waistbands for compression and security. This one does not suck you in, but it does hold comfortably. For an initial test, we did side bends at the waist, backbends, and a ragdoll forward fold. We also wore the leggings to dozens of vigorous vinyasa yoga classes and never had to stop mid pose to hike up the waistband. The waistband stayed in place through our full range of motion, never squeezing in the front or gapping in the back. That understated compression feels supportive for yoga, hiking, or casual use. We appreciate its non-distracting support and trust it to stay true to form over the day. The only area where we noticed the Maipo tights lose some compression is around the ankles, which can open up a little over time. Patagonia could improve this legging by adding a little more compression through the lower calf.

Breathability

The fabric of the Maipo is lightweight, quick-drying, and air-permeable (meaning it lets a breeze through), which makes it a tester favorite for warmer days, sweaty workouts, or hot yoga flows. The recycled nylon spreads moisture evenly and remains incredibly soft when wet. We loved the leggings for backpacking, long day hikes, and bike rides because they handle temperature fluctuations, and we never felt stuffy while wearing them.

The Maipo tights feel light and airy on our legs at the gym and outdoors. Our lead tester wore these leggings in a hot yoga class, and they were nearly dry by the time she wiped down her mat and walked out the door. Later that week, she hiked the switchbacks up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. The day brought full desert sun, the kind of day with a hazy shimmer, and she found these leggings incredibly breathable and didn't feel the need to change into the swim shorts she had stashed in her pack for the creek later.

We tested all our leggings for air permeability with a peak flow meter, measuring how much air passed through the fabric, and the Maipo scored in the upper range of our lineup. We really appreciated that ventilation on hot, long, and uphill days. The fabric is soft even when our legs are sweaty, and we experienced no chafing or heat rash. Our lead tester loved this combo of comfort and breathability so much that she decided to keep testing them and use them as her trail leggings for the Northern Colorado Trail next year.

Durability & Recovery

The Maipo is a fairly resilient legging. Our lead tester wore them on six multi-day backpacking trips in the Rocky Mountains over a turn-and-burn summer guiding excursions back-to-back. They held up well to hipbelt abrasion, bushwhacking, and scrambling on both slickrock and granite. To see if they could handle our wild side, we did not go easy on the Maipo. We bushwhacked to filter water, scrambled up boulders for the view, and plumped our tired bums on the logs and rock chairs of our camp kitchen. At the end of the summer, our tester claimed she would be thru-hiking in these leggings next year.

They are not as durable as some sleek performance fabrics. After over twenty wash-and-dry cycles, we noticed light fraying at the seams, and the material started to pill in heavy-use areas like the inner thighs. We avoid putting them in the dryer because that hastens the pilling. That being said, they gave us a lot of life considering we went into tough mountain-mamma mode with these leggings for a full season outdoors. They aren't the most durable, yet they are the best nexus of ruggedness and comfort for long days on the trail. Plus, we love that Patagonia backs them with its Worn Wear program repair-and-reuse program, which includes DIY repair tutorials or sending eligible products in to Patagonia for repairable damage. It also lets you trade gear in for resale credit, depending on its condition. Our testers have used this program to send other Patagonia products in for repair and were impressed with the company's responsiveness, the repair team's helpfulness, and the workmanship.

The Maipo is a legging Patagonia designed within a deeper ethos of durability, which to us, feels like the opposite of disposable activewear and fast fashion. The Maipo is made from Patagonia's 81% NetPlus nylon, which Patagonia sources from recycled fishing nets. Our lead tester is a scuba diver and participates in coral reef cleanups on Maui. Imagine sinking with your dive group below the surface chop to remove trash from the coral reef. Some of the most common debris she sees is fishing line strung through the coral like underwater booby traps and, sometimes, big nets that damage or smother coral. Patagonia says that the material blend is intended “to help reduce ocean plastic pollution.”

Versatility

The Maipo are one of the most versatile leggings in our lineup, not only because they handle so many activities, but also because we genuinely love how they feel on our bodies across different uses. They are not the most compressive for HIIT workouts. What they offer instead is studio softness with the breathable ruggedness you want for around town, the trail, or travel. If we had to choose one pair of leggings to cover most scenarios, we'd pack the Maipo in our carry-on.

They are highly versatile for outdoor use. They are lightweight and breathable, and feel great for running or hiking in most seasons (though you might still want shorts for full summer heat). They never punctured or ripped, even though we basically lived in the woods in them all summer. The Maipo has a simple, clean style that works for yoga, the gym, or everyday wear, and we appreciate the two useful hip pockets. We did a headstand in the Maipo to test the pockets' security, and our phone stayed secure when we flipped upside down. Though the pockets are secure, our phone did bounce a bit when running, but it never bounced out of the pocket.

Should You Buy The Patagonia Maipo Stash 7/8 Tights?

If you want a truly comfortable and versatile legging, then it is hard to beat the Maipo. It is our favorite that can switch between yoga, hiking, casual wear, moderate workouts, running, and travel. It stretches like a dedicated yoga legging, but is still rugged enough to be a staple of your layering system for a backpacking trip. It is silky soft and stylish, and our testers love it as a wardrobe staple even when we're not working out. The Maipo doesn't have high compression, so you may want to look at more suck-ya-in options for HIIT or a sculpting fit.

What Other Leggings Should You Consider?

If you want more compression for gym days, HIIT classes, or track workouts, we find it hard to find a more sculpting and comfortable option than the Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Workout Leggings. They handle high-intensity workouts like a champ, though we find them a little squeezy for lounging. On the other end of the spectrum, the Beyond Yoga Spacedye Out Of Pocket High Waisted Midi Legging is the most comfortable legging for relaxing and has delectably soft material we love for yoga or snuggles on the couch.