Product Review: Marika Magic Slimming Capri Leggings

FTC Disclosure:  I received a complementary pair of Marika Magic Capri Leggings in exchange for a product review.  All opinions expressed are my own honest opinion. 

Who doesn’t want to be comfortable during their workouts?  I know I do and because of the frequency of my workouts, I always seem to run out of bottoms mid-week!  So imagine how happy I was when I was asked if I wanted to review a pair of Marika Magic Slimming Capri Leggings.  These aren’t your ordinary pair of capris, these are the Marika Magic Slimming Capri Leggings with the following features:

• Inner power mesh lining along thigh area
• Contour seaming for slim look

Marika offers an online store with a fairly decent selection of fitness apparel from tops, bottoms, jackets, sports bras and the list goes on and on for men, women (including plus size) and girls.

Specifics:

• 19″ Inseam
• Fitted
• 4″ Flat waistband
• Power mesh lining on thighs
• Contour seaming for a slenderized look
• Coolmax gusset

Fabric:

• Body: 89% Cotton, 11% Spandex
• Power Mesh: 86% Nylon, 14% Spandex
• Gusset Lining: 47% Coolmax Polyester, 47% Polyester, 6% Spandex

Sizing:

• From extra small to extra large

Where To Buy:

This apparel can be purchased directly from their site at http://www.marika.com or in select Department and Sporting Good stores as well as specialty retailers.

Price Point:

• These particular pair of capris sell at a retail price of $55

Wear and Tear:

I wore these capris on three separate occasions.  I wore them during an early morning run on the pavement and twice in boot camp which is sheltered in an athletic center which tends to be a bit “warm” inside which means I am definitely going to be sweating.

We are also up and down on the floor with push up drills and ab work.  We also do sprints and speed rope so I was able to get a full experience in these capris.

The Fit:

I received size Medium for my size 8 frame and the fit was very comfortable.  Not too tight and not too loose.  They fit my frame just right and I have a booty as well as hips.  They did not fall down nor ride up.   I liked the fit.

Color Choices:

This style of capris does not come in an assortment of colors that I could tell from their website.  I only saw one color advertised – basic black.

What Could Have Been Better:

While the wear was comfortable I found that after 30 minutes of sprints, jump rope, etc. the capris began to get wet from sweat and begin to “stick” to me.  I can’t quite explain it but there wasn’t any sweat wicking functionality of the bottoms.  Once they got weight, they held on to moisture like cotton which made me feel a little icky after I really started sweating up a storm from the workout.

Also, I found they fit like any other pair of capris, nothing especially slimming about them in my opinion.  I do not know I would really need anything “slimming” when it comes to workout clothes – I just want something comfortable that allows me to move easily and isn’t binding.  I want the clothing to hold me together and not have me flop all over the place.  I felt the term “slimming” was unnecessary.

Lastly, I washed these capris two times and after only two washes they started creating the little knit balls in the inner thigh area where I am sure most of the friction occurs for me (LOL).  Since I wash my workout clothes weekly it is imperative they hold up better in the wash.  While it wasn’t a deal breaker, I would expect the fabric to be able to handle a few more washes before developing signs of slight wear.

Rating:

I give these pair of capris a 6 out of 10 stars.  I know that may seem like a slightly harsh rating but I believe that for the price point, these pair of capris should hold up better after two washes, have better sweat wicking capabilities, and come in an assortment of colors so individuals have a variety of choices.