Is Old Navy Worth It? 2026 Review
Old Navy’s list prices are mostly fiction: in October nearly every pick was half off. Here is which jeans and basics are worth the deal price, which redesigned fleece to skip, and how to dodge the return fee.
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- Skip the upgrade
- Skip the Dynamic Fleece pieces at their $45 to $50 list prices. Buyers say the current version is thinner and pills, so the cheaper Rotation fleece covers the same job.
- Best time to buy
- Any week with a sitewide event, which in October meant 50% off Giftober deals plus an extra 10%, 60%-70% off Mystery Deals and clearance from $3.99. Never pay list.
Old Navy is Gap Inc.’s budget chain, selling jeans, activewear and basics for the whole family online and in its stores. Its list prices look reasonable, from $4.99 flip-flops to $49.99 men’s jeans, but they are rarely what anyone pays: in late October every pick below was marked down by half or more, with an extra 10% on top.
So the advice is about what, not when. The denim, especially the women’s Wow line and men’s Built-In Flex jeans, is the dependable part of the range. Activewear and fleece are where the complaints are, because several long-running lines have been reworked and regulars say the new fabric is thinner. Join the Encore rewards program before you order: members get free returns by mail and free shipping from $50.
Each model, priced and called
High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans
$36.99 Dark wash, regular fit. It showed $18.49 in October’s 50%-off event.
Old Navy’s popular wide-leg jean in a stretch cotton blend, with a huge size range and three inseams.
The Wow Wide-Leg is a high-waisted jean that sits at the belly button, runs loose through the hip and thigh and finishes below the ankle. The dark wash we read is medium stretch, 63% cotton with recycled polyester, recycled cotton and 1% spandex, and it comes in sizes 00 to 30 with short, regular and long inseams plus a Tall fit. It carried 21,136 ratings averaging 4.7 out of 5.
At $18.49 on deal it is the easiest denim recommendation in this guide. The lowest-rated reviews flag real issues, though: sizing that differs between colors of the same style, white pairs that are see-through, tiny front pockets, and one pair ruined after a single wash. Petite buyers also complain that true petite sizing is rarely in stock. Order one wash first before stocking up.
Upside
- Sizes 00 to 30 with three inseams and a Tall fit
- Often half price or less during sitewide events
Downside
- Fit can vary between washes and colors of the same style
- Front pockets are very small
From the product page
- Fabric 63% cotton, 30% recycled polyester, 6% recycled cotton, 1% spandex
- Stretch medium
- Sizes 00 to 30
- Rise high, sits at belly button
Slim Built-In-Flex Jeans
$49.99 List price; it showed $24.99 in October with an extra 10% off.
A slim men’s jean with a little stretch, worth buying at half price and measuring before you trust the label.
Built-In-Flex is Old Navy’s men’s stretch denim, and the Slim cut is slim through the hip and leg and hits below the ankle. The blend is mostly cotton, 94% plus 5% recycled cotton, with 1% spandex for give. It had 11,498 ratings averaging 4.7 out of 5.
The complaint that comes up most in the one-star reviews is inconsistent sizing. Several buyers measured a labeled 30-inch length as closer to 32, or the reverse, and one received a pair marked 28 by 28 that measured 29 by 32. Others describe shrinking two to three inches in the dryer, holes after a first wash, white streaks after washing, and a chemical smell. At $24.99 it is still decent value, but try it on before you cut tags, and wash cold and hang dry.
Upside
- Mostly cotton denim with just enough stretch
- Half price is a regular event, not a rare one
Downside
- Lengths and waists do not always match the label
- Reports of shrinkage in the dryer
From the product page
- Fabric 94% cotton, 5% recycled cotton, 1% spandex
- Fit slim thigh and leg
- Length hits below ankle
High-Waisted PowerSoft 7/8 Pocket Leggings
$39.99 List price; it showed $19.99 in October.
Old Navy Sport’s best-known legging, with phone pockets, a sweat-wicking knit and a fan base that worries it has changed.
PowerSoft is the slick, sweat-wicking knit Old Navy pitches for medium-intensity workouts. This 7/8 version is 77% polyester and 23% spandex, sits at the belly button, has pockets that fit a phone and a 25-inch regular inseam, with petite, tall and maternity versions. It has 30,456 ratings averaging 4.7 out of 5, the biggest review count of any pick here.
The weakness is recent. A run of one-star reviews from longtime buyers says the leggings changed when Old Navy Active became Old Navy Sport: thinner fabric, less support, and in some prints and light colors, see-through when stretched. Others report seams unraveling and a waistband that rolls down on runs. Dark solid colors draw fewer complaints than prints.
Upside
- Real phone pockets and a sweat-wicking fabric
- Petite, tall and maternity versions
Downside
- Regulars say the current fabric is thinner and sheerer
From the product page
- Fabric 77% polyester, 23% spandex
- Inseam 25 inches regular, 23 petite, 28 tall
- Rise high, sits at belly button
Flip-Flop Sandals (Partially Plant-Based)
$4.99 List price; it was $2.49 in October. A 3-pack lists at $19.99.
The famous cheap Old Navy flip-flop, now with a sugarcane-derived sole and some unhappy veteran fans.
These are the flip-flops Old Navy has sold for decades: a textured thong strap on a firm EVA footbed, now made of EVA and PVC with an outsole partially derived from sugarcane. They list at $4.99, carried 8,936 ratings averaging 4.7 out of 5, and are a sensible buy at almost any price.
Just do not expect the pair you remember. Several one-star reviews come from longtime buyers who say the straps are thinner, the sizing smaller and the foam wears faster than before. Others report blisters from a wide thong, and one strap that broke within hours. Oddly, the three-pack lists at $19.99, which is more than three singles at $4.99, so buy singles.
Upside
- Costs less than a sandwich even at list price
- Outsole partly made from sugarcane-derived material
Downside
- Veteran buyers say the straps and sizing have shrunk
- The 3-pack costs more than three single pairs
From the product page
- Materials EVA and PVC, outsole partly from sugarcane
- Footbed firm EVA
- Care spot clean
Rotation Hoodie
$44.99 List price; a Limited Time Deal cut it to $17.99 in October.
A loose-fit cotton-blend pullover hoodie that is a bargain under $20 and hard to justify at $44.99.
The Rotation Hoodie is a pullover with a built-in hood, kangaroo pocket and rib-knit trim, cut loose to hit at the hip, in a 60% cotton and 40% recycled polyester fleece. It is sold in the men’s section and drew 11,204 ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5.
The complaints are about a redesign. Several buyers who owned older versions say the current one is boxier, shorter in the body, has no hood drawstring and feels rougher. Women buying it as a unisex piece found it huge in the shoulders and arms but narrow at the waist. Pilling after a few washes is another repeat complaint, and one buyer said the pocket lining shed lint everywhere. At under $20 it is still a fair deal. At full price, it is not.
Upside
- Cotton-rich fleece in a relaxed fit
- Deal prices under $20 are common
Downside
- Boxy redesign with no hood drawstring
- Pilling reported after a few washes
From the product page
- Fabric 60% cotton, 40% recycled polyester
- Fit loose, hits at hip
- Details kangaroo pocket, rib-knit trim
Dynamic Fleece 4.0 Joggers
$49.99 List price; it showed $24.99 in October.
A four-way-stretch men’s jogger in Old Navy’s premium fleece, highly rated overall but criticized for its latest fabric.
Dynamic Fleece is Old Navy’s stretchier, more athletic fleece, and these men’s joggers are 69% cotton, 26% recycled polyester and 5% spandex, with an elastic drawstring waist, on-seam pockets, a relaxed hip and a tapered leg on a 30-inch regular inseam. They carried 4,581 ratings averaging 4.85 out of 5, the highest of our picks.
That rating hides a pattern in the one-star reviews: buyers of earlier versions say the material is thinner, that it pills between the legs, and that it does not feel like fleece at all. A couple say the newer cut runs long. At $49.99 these cost as much as a pair of Built-In-Flex jeans, so wait for the regular 50% events.
Upside
- Four-way stretch for moving and travel
- Tall inseam available
Downside
- Pilling and thinner fabric in recent reviews
From the product page
- Fabric 69% cotton, 26% recycled polyester, 5% spandex
- Inseam 30 inches regular, 32 tall
- Fit relaxed hip and thigh, tapered leg
Extra High-Waisted Dynamic Fleece Wide-Leg Sweatpants
$44.99 List price; it showed $22.49 in October.
A wide-leg women’s sweatpant in the reworked Dynamic Fleece, with one of the weakest ratings we found at Old Navy.
On paper this is a nice piece: an extra-high-waisted, wide-leg sweatpant in the same 69% cotton, 26% recycled polyester and 5% spandex blend as the men’s Dynamic Fleece joggers, with side pockets and petite and tall inseams. In practice it averaged 3.6 out of 5 across only 24 ratings, far below the rest of the range.
The one-star reviews read like an open letter. Returning buyers say the new version replaced the elastic waistband with a drawstring, uses a thinner fabric with a mesh-like texture, runs big, and pills after a few washes; two say it should not be called fleece. Even the positive reviews mention sizing down. Until the fabric gets better reviews, buy a cheaper Old Navy sweatpant or a pair of Wow jeans instead.
Upside
- Petite and tall inseams
- Pockets and a high, comfortable rise
Downside
- Redesigned fabric that regulars call thin and pill-prone
- Runs big; even fans say to size down
From the product page
- Fabric 69% cotton, 26% recycled polyester, 5% spandex
- Inseam 29.5 inches regular, 27.5 petite, 32.5 tall
- Rise extra high, sits at belly button
Side by side
| Product | Call | Best for | Price | Key spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg Jeans | Smart buy | Most women, most budgets | $36.99 | Fabric: 63% cotton, 30% recycled polyester, 6% recycled cotton, 1% spandex |
| Slim Built-In-Flex Jeans | Good buy | Men who want cheap stretch | $49.99 | Fabric: 94% cotton, 5% recycled cotton, 1% spandex |
| High-Waisted PowerSoft 7/8 Pocket Leggings | Good buy | Gym and errands leggings | $39.99 | Fabric: 77% polyester, 23% spandex |
| Flip-Flop Sandals (Partially Plant-Based) | Good buy | Pool, beach and dorm showers | $4.99 | Materials: EVA and PVC, outsole partly from sugarcane |
| Rotation Hoodie | Wait for a sale | A cheap, roomy pullover | $44.99 | Fabric: 60% cotton, 40% recycled polyester |
| Dynamic Fleece 4.0 Joggers | Wait for a sale | Stretchy athleisure joggers | $49.99 | Fabric: 69% cotton, 26% recycled polyester, 5% spandex |
| Extra High-Waisted Dynamic Fleece Wide-Leg Sweatpants | Pass | Nobody, for now | $44.99 | Fabric: 69% cotton, 26% recycled polyester, 5% spandex |
Find your model fast
- If you need one pair of jeans that fits most bodiesGet the High-Waisted Wow Wide-Leg JeansSizes 00 to 30, three inseams and a deal price under $20.
- If you are buying for a man who hates stiff denimGet the Slim Built-In-Flex JeansMostly cotton with a little stretch, but try it on before cutting tags.
- If you want workout leggings with phone pocketsGet the High-Waisted PowerSoft 7/8 Pocket LeggingsPick a dark solid color; prints draw the sheerness complaints.
- If you only want something cheap for the poolGet the Flip-Flop Sandals (Partially Plant-Based)Buy singles, which cost less than the 3-pack per pair.
The policies, plainly
- Trial
- Not applicable; 30 days to return from delivery, longer for some Encore tiers
- Returns
- Free in store; by mail free for Encore members, $6 for nonmembers; Premier members get 45 days, All-Access cardmembers 60
- Warranty
- Not stated for adult clothing
- Shipping
- Free on $50+ for Encore members; $7.50 under $50 for members, $9.50 for nonmembers
- Support
- Chat and phone at 800-653-6289, daily 7 am to 1 am ET
- Financing
- Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4 on orders of $35 or more; Encore credit card
Read on Old Navy's US site in October 2026.
Reading the one-star reviews
Old Navy’s own reviews are huge and mostly positive: six of our seven picks carry from about 4,500 to over 30,000 ratings, most averaging 4.7 or better. The lowest-rated reviews are more useful, and they share a theme: longtime customers saying a favorite has changed. PowerSoft leggings, Rotation hoodies, Dynamic Fleece and even the $4.99 flip-flops all draw complaints about thinner fabric, new cuts or smaller sizing. Denim complaints are about inconsistent sizing between colors and labeled lengths that do not measure true.
Trustpilot files oldnavy.gap.com under a Gap profile rated 2.4 out of 5, “Poor”, with complaints about packages that never arrived, offshored customer service and cancelled orders. The BBB lists Old Navy stores under Gap Inc.’s profile, rated A- and not accredited. Shipping complaints also show up on product pages, including paid express orders that arrived late.
Score breakdown
| Part | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Product | 3.6 | 35% |
| Value | 4.2 | 30% |
| Policies | 3.7 | 20% |
| Buying experience | 3.1 | 15% |
| Smart Score | 3.8/5 | |
Solid jeans and basics at deal prices, free in-store returns and long phone hours, held back by redesigned fabrics loyal buyers dislike, a $6 mail-return fee for nonmembers and a poor Trustpilot profile.
Shop around first
- Gap. Choose it instead if you want slightly better fabrics from the same company and can wait for its own sales.
- Target. Choose it instead if you want comparable basics from labels like Universal Thread and All in Motion with your groceries.
- Uniqlo. Choose it instead if you want basics whose fabric and fit stay the same from one season to the next.
FAQ
Is Old Navy ever really full price?
Rarely, going by October. Every one of our picks was marked down by at least 50%, the site stacked an extra 10% on top, and a separate Mystery Deals event promised 60% to 70% off. Clearance started at $3.99. Treat the list price as a ceiling and plan purchases around the sitewide events, which are frequent.
Does Old Navy charge for returns?
Only by mail, and only if you are not an Encore member. In-store returns and exchanges are free for eligible items. Returns by mail are free for Encore members, while nonmembers pay a $6 fee. The window is 30 days from delivery for online orders, with 45 days for Premier members and 60 for All-Access cardmembers, who get a Merchandise Return Card after day 30.
Does Old Navy sell items from other sellers?
Yes. Its shipping and returns notes say some items are sold and shipped by third-party sellers. Those ship separately, straight from the seller, and must be returned to that seller by mail rather than in a store. Check the product page for a seller name before buying anything outside Old Navy’s own clothing.
What we read
- Old Navy US product pages for the seven picks, including prices, fabric and fit details, read October 2026.
- Old Navy return policy, contact, shipping and returns notes and Encore program pages, read October 2026.
- Old Navy on-site customer reviews for each pick, sorted lowest rating first, October 2026.
- Trustpilot profile covering oldnavy.gap.com, read October 2026.
- BBB business listings for Old Navy stores under Gap Inc., read October 2026.