Best Pilates Bodysuits and Unitards: Support, Fit and the Bathroom Problem

The CRZ YOGA Butterluxe Cami Strap Jumpsuit is the Pilates unitard to start with: a 25-inch leg, removable pads and adjustable straps that let you fix the torso fit. For anyone deciding between a one-piece and leggings with a top, the questions that matter are torso length, built-in support and how you get out of it in a hurry.

We haven't tested these; the picks come from the makers' listings, CRZ YOGA's size guide and the Pilates clothing basics we already cover.

Why a one-piece suits Pilates

The case for a unitard is simple. Nothing rides up when you roll back or lift your legs overhead, and there's no waistband to dig into your spine when you lie on the carriage. The teacher sees one clean line from shoulders to ankles, which is the point of fitted clothing in Pilates; our what to wear to Pilates class guide explains why.

The case against is just as simple. Torso fit is harder to get right than leggings, and every bathroom trip means taking the top half off.

Torso length is the fit that matters

Leggings fit by waist and hip. A one-piece also has to span the distance from your shoulders to your crotch, and that distance isn't on most charts. CRZ's size guide sizes its onesies by bust, waist and hip only:

CRZ says to take each measurement on your body: bust at the fullest part, waist at the narrowest point between ribs and hips, hips at the widest point with feet together.

With no torso number to check, adjustable straps are your margin. CRZ's romper listing says its straps are there "for a custom torso fit", and Sunzel's jumpsuit has sliders at the back of each strap. If you have a long torso, choose one of those over a fixed-strap or racerback style, because a fixed one-piece that's too short pulls down at the shoulders and up at the crotch. Sunzel and OLCHEE both tell you to check their own size charts before ordering; do it, since their letter sizes don't necessarily match CRZ's.

Support: pads, or your own bra

The one-pieces split two ways. CRZ's jumpsuit and romper have built-in removable pads, and CRZ rates the jumpsuit "light support". OLCHEE describes its padded bra as "very supportive", with removable pads. Sunzel's is unpadded by design: the listing says to "choose your own bra" for the coverage and support you want.

Pilates is low-impact, so light support suits most people. If you need more, the Sunzel route of a thin unitard over your usual bra is often the better answer than relying on a shelf with pads. Our sports bras for yoga and Pilates covers low-impact bras that sit flat under a unitard.

The bathroom problem

Any one-piece has to come down past your shoulders when you use the bathroom. That isn't a reason to avoid them, but it does change which style is easiest:

• Thin adjustable straps slip off the shoulders quickest (CRZ, Sunzel).
• A racerback or cut-out back has to be peeled over your head and shoulders (OLCHEE).
• A wide fixed square neck sits in between (YIOIOIO).
• Wearing your own bra underneath, as with the Sunzel, means the top half of you stays covered while the unitard is down.

If you take back-to-back classes or have a long commute, a matching two-piece avoids the problem entirely: a bra and leggings in the same fabric and color. Our matching Alo sets shows the look; CRZ's Butterluxe bras with our reformer leggings picks in the same color do the same job.

The five one-pieces

CRZ YOGA Butterluxe Cami Strap Jumpsuit 25": the one to start with

This is CRZ's Butterluxe fabric, the same soft, stretchy knit as its best-selling leggings, made into a full-length unitard. It has a square neckline, a wide scoop U back, spaghetti straps, built-in removable pads and a 25-inch inseam. That 7/8 length ends above the ankle, so the hem stays off your grip socks on the reformer. CRZ rates it light support.

Sunzel Yoga Jumpsuit: unpadded, with a longer leg option

Sunzel's jumpsuit is 85% nylon and 15% spandex with no chest pads. The straps adjust with back sliders, and the listing describes "a continuous waist without a horizontal waistband", which is what you want when you lie on your back. It comes in 26- and 28-inch inseams, the only one here with a choice of leg length, and the listing names Pilates directly. It's hand wash only.

OLCHEE Seamless Racerback Jumpsuit: most built-in support

OLCHEE's seamless knit is 90% polyamide and 10% elastane, described as non see-through, with a ribbed waist and a removable padded bra the maker calls "very supportive". It runs in six sizes, XS to XXL. The trade-offs are coverage and convenience: a low round neck, a racerback cut-out, and a back that has to come over your shoulders.

YIOIOIO Ribbed Square Neck Jumpsuit: thicker rib knit

YIOIOIO says this unitard has "the minimum number of seams" and a thick fabric to "avoid see through". The listing gives no fiber content or inseam. Its straps don't adjust, so it suits an average torso better than a long one.

CRZ YOGA Butterluxe Cami Strap Romper 4": for hot studios

The same Butterluxe fabric as the jumpsuit, with 4-inch shorts, a low U back and adjustable straps for "a custom torso fit". It's the coolest option for a warm studio. The short leg leaves your thighs bare on the carriage, so it suits anyone happy in short shorts.

What to avoid

Several unitards on Amazon have zip fronts. Leave those for the gym: on a reformer, exposed zips scratch the upholstery and press into you when you lie down. Skip scrunch-back seams with hard stitching for the same reason. And because your legs are often in the air, check a light-colored one-piece in bright light before class. Only OLCHEE and YIOIOIO make an explicit opacity claim among these five.

Care differs too. Sunzel says hand wash only; follow the label on each one, and see our guide to washing leggings for the fabrics that share the same knit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wear a bodysuit to Pilates?

Yes. A fitted one-piece suits mat and reformer Pilates because nothing rides up and the teacher can see your alignment. Avoid zip-front styles on the reformer.

Do Pilates unitards have built-in bras?

Some do. CRZ YOGA's jumpsuit and romper and OLCHEE's racerback have removable pads; Sunzel's is unpadded and meant to be worn over your own bra.

How do I size a one-piece if I have a long torso?

Pick a style with adjustable straps, like CRZ's cami strap jumpsuit or Sunzel's slider straps. Most charts, including CRZ's, give bust, waist and hip but no torso length, so straps are the only adjustment you get.

Is a unitard or a matching set better for Pilates?

A unitard stays put best; a matching set is easier for bathroom trips and back-to-back classes. If you choose a set, pick a longline bra and a high-rise legging so nothing gaps when you lie back.

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