There’s quite a variety of top-notch activewear brands out there, and while our team has tested out a slew of said labels, we swear by a select few for our workouts (which primarily include those at-home sessions at the moment). And TBH, there’s a strong chance some of our favorites are go-tos for you as well.
Intrigued? Keep scrolling for an edited list of the best activewear brands out there based on quality, performance, and chicness. And if you’re shopping at the moment, you’ll also find a curation of our standbys, including leggings, shorts, tees, and sports bras.
“I’ve tried pretty much every single brand of workout clothing, and I always, always, always come back to Alo. The fit is perfect for me. I’m almost 5’10, so it can be a trick finding leggings that are long enough yet still hit perfectly in the waist. Plus, it’s the only brand that I can wear no matter what type of exercise I’m doing, from yoga to running to kickboxing. The material never feels claustrophobic on my skin. The styles and color palettes can’t be beaten and are chic enough that I end up wearing my favorites out and about even if I don’t have any exercise planned.”
“Sure, I love fancy workout gear as much as the next lady, but to me, JoyLab design-wise and performance-wise holds up to its pricey counterparts. So why spend more? This specific set below is confusingly soft. It is without a doubt the softest workout set I’ve ever touched, and I’m a fashion editor that’s constantly gifted with all kinds of activewear. The brand’s ribbed line feels especially current too.”
“Outdoor Voices is one of my main go-tos for activewear. Its branding is so good, and I love the TechSweat fabric for workouts and CloudKnit fabric for lounging. All of its leggings come in 7/8 length, which I find to be perfect. It also doesn’t hurt that pretty much everything is under $100.”
“I’m all about the men’s line at Outdoor Voices for comfortable and cool activewear. I love the Sunday Shorts range in particular.”
“Beyond Yoga has some of the softest, dreamiest workout pieces I’ve ever worn and, not to mention, some seriously cute and colorful matching sets to make things easy. While I do wear the sports bras, tanks, and bike shorts for taking a yoga or Pilates classes, I’ve also been wearing the brand a lot recently to lounge or work from home in.”
“I’ll always come back to Nike when shopping for workout clothes and shoes. I especially love its sneakers, shorts, and tanks, but it’s pretty much perfected every item.”
“I’m certainly not the only one who counts Nike as my go-to brand for workout attire. I love the clean lines and high-performance pieces that make it one of the most-stocked activewear lines in my closet. Also, right now you can design your own sneakers with its custom design options, which I’ve been excited to try out for myself.”
“No matter how many workout brands I stuff in my drawers, I always manage to come back to my Lululemon products. The quality and fit are incomparable. I have a pair of leggings from the brand that I used to wear in college that still look and fit just like the first day I bought them (and that was over eight years ago). Plus, the technology in the fabric gets better and better, so there’s always a reason to stock up on something new.”
“Lululemon is one of my absolute favorites when it comes to activewear that feels comfortable but also looks great. I particularly love its leggings (I wear the three pairs I own on repeat) as well as its super-soft long-sleeve layering tops. Its bags are pretty cool too.”
“I wear a lot of different activewear brands, but Athleta is always a classic for me. Everything is super comfortable but still fitted enough so that I can work out as hard as I want without having to worry about my leggings riding down or my chest feeling unsupported. It also has a great selection for different types of activities––hiking, running, yoga, HIIT, and even lounging. Plus, you’ll find your basic go-to black leggings, but there are also fun patterns and colors if you want to mix things up.”
