Hey everyone, today we’re getting right into a Lululemon Dance Studio Jogger fit vs. On the Fly Jogger fit review. In this head-to-head review, we’ll take a look at:
- Fabric
- Fit
- Feel and comfort
- Best use: what this item was made for
These two not-so-cheap athletic pants are both excellent closet options, but which should you invest in first? Hopefully, this post will provide all the details you need to decide whether the Dance Studio Jogger or the On The Fly Jogger is best for you.
My Experience with Lululemon
Let me start by saying that I own almost too many items from the Dance Studio Lululemon line. The Dance Studio pants and joggers have 100% been my go-to bottoms for dance practice and dance events for years now.
Most of my collection comes from resale shops like Poshmark or eBay and I have never regretted a purchase. The fabric is durable and stretchy enough to allow movement and expression in dance without losing form and fit after an all-weekend wear. I consider them worth the $40 – $50 resale price.
As for the On the Fly style Lululemon joggers, I only won one pair at the moment. While I have some complaints, the overall fit gives off a posh appearance and the fabric is truly an easy wrinkle-free wear. I can see myself picking up another couple of pairs in the future because these pants aren’t as athletic looking and have proven to be slightly more comfortable to wear vs. the Dance Studio Jogger.
Lululemon Dance Studio Jogger Fit Review
First up, the Lululemon Dance Studio Jogger.
- Aesthetic: athletic
- Rise: High
- Leg: fitted with slight ruching along multiple vertical seams
- Hip and Butt: fitted with a very flattering cut
- Jogger: inch and a half elastic
These joggers are designed to fit close to the leg for a tailored look. Don’t get it twisted though, the pants have a decidedly athletic vibe
I appreciate the close fit. Mainly because the pants were designed with dance in mind. Lululemon not only designed these pants to accentuate leg lines, but also created a fabric that offers movement, breathability, and shape retention.
The Dance Studio Joggers fit with a very high rise, hitting right over the belly button. The waistband is equipped with an adjustable tie and a thick, yet comfortable, elastic band that is about 2 – 2.5 inches in height.
The hip involves a mesh panel that hits right at the small of the back and above the bum area. This mesh panel creates an arching seam that makes for a very flattering fit.
And finally, the pockets are deep and so very useful. I can easily fit my iPhone in there and the safety zipper pocket is a good option for securing smaller things like rings or earplugs.
Lululemon Dance Studio Jogger Fabric and Function
As we’ve already discussed, the Dance Studio Joggers were created with dance and being active in mind. The body fabric is made of 94% Nylon and 6% Elastane and the waistband is 88% Nylon and 12% Lycra® elastane.
Essentially this means the pants have a very durable fabric that holds form during activities with a little bit of stretch offered from the elastane. Lycra® is a material specific to Lululemon products.
Complaints: Lululemon Dance Studio Jogger Fit
Too Fitted in The Leg
The leg is so fitted in the Lululemon Dance Studio Joggers that it makes bending the knee a little difficult. Now, you can still do a squat if needed, but it isn’t the most comfortable motion. Neither is sitting cross-legged for long periods of time, if at all.
These pants are designed with dance in mind, so the fitted leg is good for accentuating leg lines. It’s just not the best pair of pants for a HIIT workout or a CrossFit workout. I’d opt for wearing leggings for those types of activities.
Dance Studio Joggers are Not the Comfiest
The second complaint, the Dance Studio Joggers are comfortable enough. However, they are indeed a fitted style of pants overall, which as someone who prefers oversized fits, means they are not the most comfortable.
I’ll put it to you this way, when I first wake up in the morning and I can’t just be in my baggy sweatpants, I will not reach for my dance studio joggers. Additionally, I find that wearing underwear is a tough order with the Dance Studio
Joggers because of how fitted they are in the bum area. Not to mention, the fabric is on the thinner side.
Lululemon On the Fly Joggers Fit Review
Now for the Lululemon On the Fly Joggers fit review.
- Aesthetic: professional athleisure
- Rise: High
- Leg: loosely fitted with clean lines
- Hip and Butt: loosely fitted with a very flattering cut
- Jogger: One inch elastic at the ankle
These joggers are aesthetically athletic with a professional look that can work for a hike and a conference room. Lululemon emphasizes the wrinkle-free fabric that is ready to throw on right out of your suitcase. I could definitely see myself wearing my On The Fly Joggers to work for a little t-shirt and blazer moment.
The On The Fly Jogger rise is high, though perhaps not as high as the Dance Studio Jogger. The waistband is about an inch rise and can be adjusted with the waist tie.
The overall fit is relaxed in the leg and hip and falls quite nicely around for a tailored look. The bum area fits well and then falls off a bit into a looser-fitting thigh area.
The On The Fly pockets are deep enough to fit essentials but have this odd feature where they meet in the middle. Almost like a hoodie pouch.
On The Fly Jogger Fabric and Function
The On The Fly Joggers were designed for everyday wear. As the name suggests, you can wear them on a plane and enjoy a comfortable and aesthetic look that is ready for a multitude of activities.
My biggest complaint with the On The Fly Jogger is the fabric. Lululemon nailed the style and fit, but they did not nail the fabric. So much so that the On The Fly Joggers are unfortunately no longer in production.
A bummer because the replacement joggers, the Stretch High-Rise Joggers, are not a good design. The rise is too high and the quintessential Lulu butt seam is completely removed, making the butt area look baggy and not cute.
I digress.
Complaint: On The Fly Jogger Travel Woven vs. Travel Luxtreme
The On The Fly Joggers were initially created with a new fabric, the Luxtreme fabric. This fabric is cloud-like. It is extremely soft and feels and looks very lux. The issue is it has a MAJOR pilling problem (pilling is when clothing starts to break down and has tiny fabric balls all over it). Luxtreme would start pilling within months of wear and is not acceptable for pants that retail at $118.
Lululemon’s answer was to roll out the Woven material for their line of On The Fly Joggers. I own a pair of Woven On The Fly Joggers and let me say that I believe they fixed the piling issue with this one, but I will also say the fabric is a bit scratchy and barely stretchy enough for me to pull my On The Fly Joggers over my hips… Yeah. I can make it happen, but it’s not the best fabric by any stretch.
Dance Studio Jogger vs. On The Fly Jogger Fit Review
The Dance Studio Jogger is made for dance and being active. The On The Fly Jogger is made for comfort and travel-ready workwear that also works as an active-wear piece.
Both pants are tailored in their own way. The Dance Studio Joggers are a slimmer fit compared to the On The Fly Joggers, which have a looser easy-going fit.
The Dance Studio Jogger has a thinner, more breathable fabric that makes wearing underwear a bit of a challenge (thongs or no-shows are a must). The On The Fly Joggers have a slightly thicker fabric (with both the Luxtreme and woven fabrics) and fit a little less close to the body, so you aren’t as tied down when it comes to choosing your undergarments for the day.
The Dance Studio Joggers are clearly active-wear pants. The On The Fly Jogger, on the other hand, has a clean and simple aesthetic that you can style in a variety of ways (casual workwear, active-wear, etc.)
The Dance Studio Jogger fabric is extremely durable but only a little stretchy, which can hinder bending the knee. The On The Fly Joggers (Woven) don’t allow much stretch. This makes the waistband rather difficult to get over the biggest point of the hips. The On The Fly Luxtreme joggers are the softest, comfiest things with the best look, but you better not wear them ever or you’ll get fabric pilling like no other.
Lululemon Dance Studio Jogger Fit vs. On The Fly Jogger Fit – Closing Thoughts
So who wins? It’s a tough toss-up, but from where I stand, the Dance Studio Jogger has a bit more function to offer, while the On The Fly Jogger has a bit more style and comfort to offer.
Both pants fulfill different needs and provide different levels of comfort and function. I would say the On The Fly Jogger would fit someone who is not looking to dance or be extremely active, and the On The Fly Joggers would fit someone who is looking for more all-purpose pants.
