Do scrunch bum leggings really work?

Scrunch bum leggings seem to be popping up all over the place lately. You know, the leggings and shorts with the scrunched-up fabric, to accentuate your bum? As activewear connoisseurs in our own right, we had to try these for ourselves. We wanted to see if they actually work, if they’re comfortable (or give you a 24/7 wedgie), and if they truly make you look better than regular leggings & shorts. So we embarked on our journey to find out… Do scrunch bum leggings really work?

Do scrunch bum leggings really work?

We tried out a few different pairs of scrunch bum leggings and shorts for this review. Mary’s tried more than me, so you’ll want to watch the video to get a deeper answer to this question. For the video review, she tried out quite a few different pairs from Amazon, to compare and contrast their unique looks/comfort level. You can watch that full try-on and breakdown below.

For this blog, I’ll just throw in my own opinions on the scrunch bum leggings and shorts I’ve bought.

My Experience with Scrunch Bum Leggings & Shorts

I’ve bought a pair of scrunch bum leggings from Gymshark (butterfly collection) and a pair of shorts from NVGTN (who is famous for their scrunch bum leggings & shorts).

I’ll start out with the NVGTN shorts since they’re well known as a brand for scrunch bum leggings.

NVGTN Scrunch bum shorts

The shorts were cute, for sure. But the wedgie they give you constantly… I just couldn’t deal with it. Even with constant pulling and tugging (TMI?), I still couldn’t feel comfortable during my workouts.

They make your butt look great, which is why a lot of people seem to flock to these types of bottoms. But for me, the comfort factor upstaged the cuteness factor. I ended up selling these shorts on Poshmark after a few months because I just couldn’t handle the 24/7 wedgie. No matter how cute something is, comfort always comes first for me. But I know everyone doesn’t feel that same way, so I’m sure they’re being well-loved elsewhere now.

gymshark butterfly leggings

The Gymshark leggings, however, were a much more subtle scrunch bum. You barely notice the scrunch bum on these leggings when you get them, and they don’t feel uncomfortable like the NVGTN ones. You do feel a bit more tightness in that region, but that’s what you’re signing up for with scrunch bum leggings.

The Gymshark butterfly leggings are some of my favorite scrunch bum leggings I’ve tried. They’re comfy, and the scrunch butt adds just enough oomph to give you that extra boost in the back.

The only time I really notice the scrunch bum is when I’m doing squats. That movement stretches out the backside of any pair of leggings and makes me feel like they’re going to rip at times. However, I’ve never experienced any rips/tears to these leggings, so that seems to be all in my head. I’ve worn these leggings countless times to the gym *on leg day* and they’re still going strong.

Whitney Simmons x gymshark shorts

One final pair I’ll talk about is my Whitney Simmons x Gymshark shorts. When I first got these and wore them a few times, I didn’t even notice the scrunch bum, because it’s extremely subtle. You almost have to be looking for it to notice it.

The clothes from Whitney’s Gymshark collections are always a buttery soft, thinner material, which could explain why the scrunch bum isn’t as prominent. In my opinion, these are some of the best scrunch bum shorts I’ve had, because you don’t even notice it when wearing them. But they still give you that extra boost in appearance.

Final Thoughts

Overall, all the scrunch bum leggings and shorts I’ve bought definitely do their job: to accentuate your butt. If you’re buying a pair of these, that’s probably what you’re going for. So I’d say they 100% do what they’re made for.

However, I’d choose regular leggings/shorts over scrunch bum leggings 100% of the time, due to the comfort factor. If you’re not bothered by the feeling of a wedgie and tightness in the butt region, you won’t need to worry about this. But if you’re the type of person who prioritizes comfort over appearance, I’d say you’re generally better off without the scrunch bum.

When it comes to choosing a brand, I prefer Gymshark’s scrunch bum leggings over NVGTN’s. I know, hot take. NVGTN definitely makes your butt look great, but the scrunch bum is way more prominent, and much less comfortable, in my experience.

If you have any other questions on this topic, be sure to drop them in the comments here (or over on YouTube.) Mary & I are both happy to share our experience with this, to give you all the facts before making a purchase.