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November 17, 2008
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The Rockin’ Capri (Courtesy of Stonewear Designs)
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What is the best pair of yoga pants?
— The Editors
Santa Fe, New Mexico
 Considering most women shop, travel, hike, run errands, pick up their kids from school, and lounge in their yoga pants, it's essential to have a few pair. Companies like LuluLemon and Exhale Spa make pants that are both exceptionally flattering and extremely functional (and flexible).
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Do you have a question of your
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But if I'm doing an Ashtanga series or strenuous poses—as opposed to just wearing my pants for a light workout and then going to the post office and picking up a latte afterward—my go-to pair are Stonewear Designs' Rockin' Capri ($70). Unlike lots of companies, which simply sew two pieces of cotton-polyester blend together and call it a yoga pant, Stonewear Designs, which was founded in Boulder in 1996, specializes in yoga clothing.
The Rockin' Capri is made out of quick-dry supplex, nylon, and lycra. And while those three fabrics don't immediately scream "comfort" like cotton does, Stonewear figured out a way to make this pant feel like a second skin. Plus, there’s no elastic at the waist to bunch up and make your belly feel bigger than it already is. On the left leg, there’s an unobtrusive pocket that's just big enough for a driver's license, credit card, and a few bills in case you have to fill up your car on the way home after class. I love the just-below-the-knee Capri length, but if that's not your style, try the Rockin' Short ($49) or the Rockin' Pant ($70). My only complaint: The center seam, which rises from the groin to the belly button, looks a little bit like a zipper.
Since every good yoga pant comes with a matching tank, also consider Stonewear's Tulip Top ($42). With princess seams, a built-in Coolmax bra, and dual criss-cross straps in the back, this tank can handle the most extreme stretches. My favorite color, in honor of Halloween, is Persimmon/Brownie—to match my Brownie Capris, of course.
Stephanie Pearson: The Gear Girl
When it comes to gear, contributing editor Stephanie Pearson lives by one rule: What you own, owns you. That's why the skier, hiker, biker, runner, canoe paddler, and sometimes yogini is on an eternal quest to find gear and clothing that will enhance her life rather than make her a slave to dysfunctional stuff. During her seven-year stint as a travel editor at Outside, Pearson received three honorable mentions in The Best American Travel Writing series for stories on Guatemala, New Zealand, and Bhutan. Now that she's no longer in the office at Outside HQ in Santa Fe, Pearson hopes to be on the road more and is always in search of functional and aesthetically pleasing gear that's easy to use or clothing that's elegant to wear. Pearson is based in northern Minnesota and Santa Fe. Her latest adventure was on the fringe of the Amazon Basin in Brazil.
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