How stretchy are the leggings?

The Expanse leggings are made from a performance fabric that is 25% recycled spandex. They are very stretchy and maintain their fit with wear. Many of our fit testers were able to fit two, sometimes even three sizes without the leggings appearing very obviously too big or too small. The sizes that they settled on ultimately came down to their personal compression preferences.

Can you give me more information about what you mean by “compression”?

Because we're not talking medical-grade compression, which is regulated by the FDA in the United States where Expanse is based, there's really no standard test or agreed upon scale we can cite to help you understand exactly how the leggings will feel compression-wise. The Expanse leggings were designed with the intent that they would provide a “medium” level of compression because the wicking capability of the fabric performs best with a degree of stretch on it. The leggings are meant to provide some support, but the hope is that you won't feel uncomfortably squished.

Of our fit testers whose normal size doesn’t reflect an adjustment to accommodate compression preferences that fall more towards the ends of the spectrum (i.e., they either want maximum or minimal compression), the leggings have been described as anywhere from a 3 to a 5 for compression on a scale of 1 to 10, the 1 being equivalent to naked and 10 being the tightest shapewear you can barely shimmy into.

How do the Expanse leggings compare to other brands?

Based on the fit testing we have conducted to this point, we believe the sizing of the Expanse leggings falls in line with many major plus-size activewear retailers. These brands include Athleta (the Elation/Salutation fabric), Beyond Yoga, Maurices, Lane Bryant, Old Navy, POP Fit, and Torrid.

What if I’m between sizes?

Unless you are someone who prefers less/no compression, we recommend choosing the smaller of the two sizes you fall between.

I’m still unsure!

We’ve fit tested all of our sizes on a range of body types and have learned a lot in the process. Reach out to us at hello@expanseactive.com and we’ll do our best to help!