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The Revelation is No Longer Available as of December, 2016
REASONS TO BUY
Breathable
Nice shaping and design
REASONS TO AVOID
Flared leg gets in the way of some poses
Fabric is shiny
The Athleta Revelation is a stylish and breathable pair of yoga pants that performed well in our tests overall. While we preferred the Prana Audrey over this pant, we liked many of the features and performance ability of this model. The material is breathable and the dark colors don't show moisture. We usually prefer a straight cut or tight legged pant for yoga, as a flared leg gets in the way of some poses. However, the style of this pant does make it suitable for running errands in after class, and the extra seaming details are a nice touch. While not an award winner, these are a good pair to have in your closet for "yoga pants" days. They also have the most extensive sizing choices of any pair that we tested, from XXS Petite to 2X Tall, helping you find a perfect fit.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Athleta Revelation pant are made with their "Power Pilayo" fabric, a proprietary blend of Supplex nylon and Lycra spandex so secret that they would not reveal the percentages of each fabric to us. This fabric is rated to UPF 50+. The crotch gusset is a CoolMax fabric insert for better breathability. There is an internal key pocket and the color options are Navy, Black and Black Heather. These pants are available in a range of sizes from XXS-2X, as well as Petite (30.5"), Regular (32.5") and Tall (35.5") inseam lengths.
Performance Comparison
These pants are breathable and easy to move in, though some testers found the flare in the leg a little too wide.
Credit: Leici Hendrix
Breathability
The material on this pant breathed well and we didn't find ourselves too sweaty or uncomfortable even during a vigorous class. The crotch gusset is made of CoolMax fabric for extra breathability, and while we can't say that this made a huge difference over the models that use the pant's main nylon material in the gusset, the wicking ability of the "Power Pilayo" fabric was superior to that of the Lole Lively pant and Lole Salutation Legging. In addition, the navy blue color that we tested did not show sweat stains as readily as those pants. However, this material is heavier than the Onzie Long Legging, our Top Pick for Hot Yoga, and the 90 Degree by Reflex Power Flex pant. That, coupled with the flared leg, make this pant too stuffy and uncomfortable for a heated yoga class.
The dark blue color that we tested did a good job of blending in moisture. We didn't sweat too much in these pants, and when we did it wasn't too noticeable.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring
Ease of Movement
The material on this model stretched and moved with us with ease. While the fabric is compressive, it's never constricting like the Lululemon Wunder Under. The one issue we had with regards to ease of movement was the flared leg. The extra material at the ankle flaps around when stepping into lunges and gets in the way of more advanced poses like Astavakrasana (Eight-Angled Pose). While the flared legs make this pant more versatile for use out of the studio, we prefer a legging or straight-legged pant when working on difficult poses or for strenuous Vinyasa style classes.
The extra material in the flared leg is annoying when working on difficult arm balances like Astavakrasana (Eight-Angled Pose).
Credit: Leici Hendrix
Comfort & Fit
The waistband on this pant is wide, providing full coverage and helping to mitigate the dreaded "muffin top." It still sits below the navel though, which is preferred as too much fabric and/or too high a waist impedes your forward bend progress. While we like the compressive fabric for its ability to suck everything in, it does make them slightly less comfortable to wear all day long. We did notice some seaming marks on our legs after a day of lounging in this pair. What we really appreciated was the variety of sizes available — one of our petite testers has trouble finding yoga pants that don't drag on the ground, but the Petite inseam length fit her perfectly. Conversely, taller or larger ladies often have trouble finding pants that fit, but the range of sizes available here fit all manner of proportions. The Soybu Allegro also comes in Plus sizes, but they only use a "regular" 32" inseam for all of their sizes.
The Petite inseam length fits Leici perfectly. If you fall outside of the "Regular" inseam length or standard sizing, this manufacturer offers the widest array of sizing options we've ever seen in a yoga pant.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring
Durability
We gave this pant a fairly high score for durability — even after months of wear we noticed no pilling or stretching of the material. We don't have an older version of this pant in our closet to compare this one too, so we'll have to wait and see how it holds up in the long term. Some pants, like the Lole Lively, began to pill after only a few washes, so we have high hopes for the longevity of this pair.
Even after several months of use, the fabric is still smooth with no pilling. The seaming, on on the other hand, left marks on our skin and felt annoying after a full day in this pant.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring
Style
We liked the look of this pant — the seaming adds attractive details and shaping to the legs and behind. The flared leg is flattering on many body types and makes this pant more versatile for wearing outside of a studio. We weren't too thrilled with the slight sheen of the material, though. Apparently the black version of this pant is made with a special "Black Lycra" spandex for a no-shine effect, but the navy blue color that we tested was not. If you prefer a matte look then make sure to order these in black, or also look at the Lucy Hatha or Soybu Allegro models.
These pants have a nice cut and look to them, minus the shine.
Credit: Leici Hendrix
Best Applications
This pant is best suited to regular, non-heated yoga classes, as well as for general wear, such as around the house, running errands, walking or gym use.
If you live in yoga pants no matter what your activity for the day, this pair is a good choice. The flared leg is more versatile than a legging for hiking, playing outdoors or even lounging around the house.
Credit: Leici Hendrix
Value
At $80, these pants are about what we'd expect to pay for a well performing and durable pair. If you'd like to spend a little less, our Best Buy winner, the Soybu Allegro, are around $20 cheaper but still a well-made pair of pants.
Conclusion
While not our favorite pant overall, we still liked this pair thanks to its breathability, ease of movement, and stylish design. It's also not too expensive, and the material held up well during our testing period. If you're looking for a flared-leg pant with attractive seaming details then this may be the model for you.
