TLC Sport Discount Codes

The TLC Leggings Test: Do Award-Winning Tights Really Deserve a Trophy?

At some point in the past decade, leggings quietly replaced denim as the default lower-body uniform for women planning to do something - or nothing. Makes sense: they stretch, they compress (sometimes enthusiastically), and they’re generally more forgiving when you're trying to convince yourself that a smoothie counts as lunch. But as function blurred into fashion, the sheer volume of leggings on the market ballooned to a degree that would be alarming, were it not mostly Lycra.

Amongst this sea of spandex, TLC Sport is hoping to stand out - or at least firmly hug your thighs while doing so. Born in 1984 from the legacy of leotards and aerobics, TLC touts nearly four decades of experience working with stretch fabrics and body-conscious designs. Recently, its best-selling leggings were declared winners in the Health & Wellbeing Awards 2024 and handpicked by Cosmo as one of the year’s best gym leggings. Strong claims, softly presented. So, naturally, we wanted to find out: does heritage, hype, and a dash of compression add up to a pair of leggings worthy of your money, and your hamstrings?

What's the Deal (Literally)?

TLC isn’t shy about rewarding the prudent shopper. You’ll find a 10% discount code if you sign up for the newsletter - perfectly adequate if you don’t mind giving up your inbox in exchange for marginal savings and an occasional styling tip. Shipping is free over £55, which, considering most leggings cost between £45 and £65 depending on the style, means one pair likely gets you over the line. Exchanges are free, returns are straightforward (if not revelatory), and the checkout process is perfectly modern - no clunky redirects, no surreal payment systems.

Deals do pop up from time to time, especially in the rotating Sale section. Standard discounts tend to hover around the 20-30% mark. Predictable, reliable, refreshingly unflashy - like a friend who won’t decorate their emails with exclamation marks.

Compression, Compression, Compression

The flagship product from TLC - the so-called "extra strong" compression leggings - delivers on its core premise. These leggings feel sturdy the way a well-packed suitcase does: nothing’s going anywhere, and you might need to sit down for a second before zipping them up. That’s not a design flaw; it’s the cost of snugness. For some, it’s a motivator. For others, a reminder to not order pad thai before leg day.

Functionally, they do contour the legs, support the waist and hips, and, in many cases, provide tangible support for people managing conditions like lipoedema - a feature pointed out by more than a few of the 7,000-plus reviews. That said, breathless odes to their "perfect fit" should be taken with a pinch of realism. Sizes run a bit small. You may enjoy the abstract thrill of seeing your foot pop out the top like toothpaste before you realise you need to size up.

Look & Feel

Some leggings are designed for performance. Others, for the school run. TLC tries very hard (and mostly succeeds) to split the difference. The fabric doesn’t exactly whisper "luxe," but it also won’t shine like cling film under gym lighting. We found the higher waist flattering, the squat-test survived, and the movement restriction minimal - unless you consider sitting cross-legged a non-negotiable. Which, to be fair, some do.

Design-wise, they keep it just shy of adventurous. A few prints stand out, but overwhelmingly the palette leans into basics - black, navy, charcoal, the odd seasonal shake-up in burgundy or forest green. Safe bets, all. Think "subtle confidence" rather than "yoga unicorn." There’s a midlife comfort in that.

Final Thoughts: Worth It?

TLC Sport isn't promising a revolution. They’re promising competent, comfortable leggings - with compression that actually compresses, styles that are wearable outside of a Zumba context, and a brand heritage that predates Instagram fitness influencers by decades. Could you spend less elsewhere? Certainly. Will you find better quality for the price, especially with those discount codes, easy returns, and decent customer support? That's less certain.

They’ve got something good here - not earth-shattering, just… solid. Dependable. The kind of leggings you might unexpectedly end up wearing five days in a row and then hesitate to wash out of fear that they won’t dry in time. And really, isn't that its own quiet form of endorsement?

What you need to know