A side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus. We analyzed the sources to figure out which one actually belongs in your cart.
Old Navy wins on fabric quality, durability, and fit for active kids — the PowerSoft material is genuinely a cut above what you'd expect at this price point, and the inclusive sizing is a real differentiator for tall or fast-growing kids. But Gerber's 3-pack at under $10 is hard to argue with for babies and toddlers who'll outgrow them in two months anyway. The community backs Old Navy for active wear, while Gerber remains the go-to bulk buy for parents who treat leggings as a consumable.
At around $9 for a 3-pack, Gerber delivers reliable everyday leggings that parents have trusted for
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is the kids' activewear sweet spot — soft, lightly compressive, and buil
Gerber's leggings are basic jersey — fine for lounging, not built for movement. Old Navy's PowerSoft is a genuinely different material: lightly compressive, ultra-smooth, and designed to move with a kid rather than bunch and ride up. Runner's World noted adults can't stop touching it. That's not marketing — it's a real tactile difference your kid will feel during a cartwheel.
Gerber is roughly $3-$4 per pair. Old Navy runs $15-$25 for a single pair, though frequent sales close that gap. For babies and toddlers who outgrow sizes every two months, Gerber's math wins every time. For kids in stable sizes who'll actually wear these through a full season of activities, Old Navy's durability makes it the better long-term spend.
Gerber's size range is limited — it's a baby and toddler brand, full stop. Old Navy offers plus and tall sizing online, which is genuinely rare in kids' activewear. If you have a tall kid who's been stuck with leggings that hit mid-calf, this is a real problem Old Navy actually solves. The catch is you have to order online, but the Reddit community has figured out the workaround: size in-store, order tall online.
Gerber's thinner fabric is honest about what it is — a budget product. Parents report it holds up adequately but not impressively over time. Old Navy PowerSoft has its own issue (some parents flag snags after multiple washes), but the base fabric is denser and more resilient. For a kid who wears the same pair three times a week, Old Navy will look better at month four.
Old Navy wins on fabric quality, durability, and fit for active kids — the PowerSoft material is genuinely a cut above what you'd expect at this price point, and the inclusive sizing is a real differentiator for tall or fast-growing kids. But Gerber's 3-pack at under $10 is hard to argue with for babies and toddlers who'll outgrow them in two months anyway. The community backs Old Navy for active wear, while Gerber remains the go-to bulk buy for parents who treat leggings as a consumable.
