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's PowerSoft leggings hit a sweet spot that's hard to argue with: buttery-soft fabric, tall sizing online, and a price point that doesn't sting when your kid blows through two sizes in six months. Athleta Girl is genuinely better-built and offers longer inseams that Old Navy can't match, but at up to $60 a pair for a growing kid, the value math only works if you're buying secondhand or your child has stopped growing. Reddit parents have landed on both, but Old Navy comes up more often as the practical everyday answer.
Athleta Girl brings the same premium Powervita and performance fabrics from the adult line into kids
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is a community favorite for active kids and teens — buttery soft, lightl
Athleta Girl tops out at $60 for a single pair of leggings on a kid who might outgrow them in a season. Old Navy PowerSoft regularly goes on sale for $15-$20, meaning you can buy three pairs for the price of one Athleta. For most families, that math ends the conversation before it starts — unless you're buying Athleta secondhand, which Reddit parents specifically recommend.
One Reddit parent put it bluntly about Athleta: 'my 5'11" daughter is just barely covered — but it's a good place to start.' Old Navy's tall sizing is a lifesaver compared to nothing, but Athleta Girl's longer inseam options are built for kids who are seriously tall, not just slightly above average. If your kid is in that top percentile, Old Navy tall might still leave her with exposed ankles.
Athleta's Powervita fabric is the same material parents and adults rave about in the grown-up line — it holds up through repeated washing without pilling or snagging. Old Navy PowerSoft is impressive for the price, but some parents report snags after multiple wash cycles. If you're buying one pair to last a full school year, Athleta holds its shape longer. If you're buying three pairs to rotate, Old Navy's durability is perfectly acceptable.
Old Navy covers toddler through teen in PowerSoft, making it a one-stop shop as kids grow through multiple stages. Athleta Girl's kids' line is more focused on older kids and tweens, so if you have a younger child or need to outfit multiple ages at once, Old Navy is the more practical choice. This also matters for families who want consistent sizing across siblings of different ages.
Old Navy's PowerSoft leggings hit a sweet spot that's hard to argue with: buttery-soft fabric, tall sizing online, and a price point that doesn't sting when your kid blows through two sizes in six months. Athleta Girl is genuinely better-built and offers longer inseams that Old Navy can't match, but at up to $60 a pair for a growing kid, the value math only works if you're buying secondhand or your child has stopped growing. Reddit parents have landed on both, but Old Navy comes up more often as the practical everyday answer.
