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.
These leggings solve different problems. Moon and Back wins on fabric purity — GOTS-certified organic cotton is genuinely better for kids with eczema or chemical sensitivities, and the 3-pack value is hard to beat for school-day basics. But Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric moves with kids in a way that pure cotton simply can't match, and the tall sizing option is a lifesaver for parents of fast-growing kids who can never find the right inseam. The community consensus backs this split: parents recommend Moon and Back for comfort and skin safety, Old Navy for active use and fit flexibility.
Hanna Andersson's organic cotton leggings are the top pick for parents who prioritize chemical-free
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is the kids' activewear sweet spot — soft, lightly compressive, and buil
This is the core tradeoff. Moon and Back's GOTS-certified organic cotton means zero synthetic dyes, pesticide residues, or chemical finishes touching your kid's skin all day — that matters enormously for kids with sensitivities. Old Navy's PowerSoft is a synthetic blend engineered for stretch and smoothness, which makes it better for movement but means it's not the right call if your kid reacts to synthetic fabrics. You can't have both in one legging.
Pure cotton has a ceiling on how much it stretches, and Moon and Back hits that ceiling fast during cartwheels or high kicks. Old Navy's PowerSoft is described by Runner's World as fabric you 'continuously brush your hands against' — it's that noticeably smooth and flexible. For a kid who sits at a desk all day, this doesn't matter. For a kid who never stops moving, it's the difference between leggings that work and leggings that restrict.
This sounds like a minor detail until you've spent three years buying leggings that fit your kid's waist but end four inches above the ankle. Old Navy offers tall and long inseam options online — something almost no kids' brand does at this price point. Moon and Back offers standard sizing only. If you have a tall kid, this single feature might make the decision for you.
Moon and Back comes as a 3-pack at $15-$20, which works out to roughly $5-$7 per pair — exceptional value for organic cotton. Old Navy sells individual pairs at $15-$25, though frequent sales can close that gap. If you're building a leggings drawer from scratch, Moon and Back gives you more coverage for the money. If you need one specific pair that performs athletically, Old Navy's per-unit price is justified.
These leggings solve different problems. Moon and Back wins on fabric purity — GOTS-certified organic cotton is genuinely better for kids with eczema or chemical sensitivities, and the 3-pack value is hard to beat for school-day basics. But Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric moves with kids in a way that pure cotton simply can't match, and the tall sizing option is a lifesaver for parents of fast-growing kids who can never find the right inseam. The community consensus backs this split: parents recommend Moon and Back for comfort and skin safety, Old Navy for active use and fit flexibility.