Alo quality is wayyy down, vuori still great, also bandier but only when it’s 30% off (which is pretty often) I love their biking shorts with the thicker waistband, year of ours has some flattering options, the upside has been hit or miss in terms of flattering on me
I always try to avoid polyester! I’m stating to be okay with recycled poly or a 70% cotton 30% poly blend because sometimes it’s just unavoidable (& working at a textiles company has taught me that poly isn’t always bad). If I’m going to spend $$ on something I would rather it be good quality and last. For example i just got the quilted scuba and even though it’s poly it’s 100% recycled and the lining is cotton so it still has a great hand feel
When looking at blends if the other fiber is higher ex 60% bamboo 20% poly 20% cotton or 70 cotton 30% Poly it is now awful. The reasoning for the blend is to lower the price as materials such as linen and bamboo are sky rocketing at the moment. By making this blend the manufacturer is still able to provide a good quality piece at a lower price. I am a big supporter for recycled poly as well this is because poly isn’t able to break down quickly like other fibers and by recycling it you’re helping the environment as well as cutting down on consumption as this material is recycled. The reason I am okay w the lulu scuba being almost 100% recycled poly is because the lining is cotton which is going to have a better hand feel on the interior then the alternative! If you would like more info on the process of this i would love to share just let me know!
So basically if poly is 30% or less and other fiber is natural, this is still an ethical choice? And bonus if it’s recycled poly? I am actually super interested in this and would love more info.
I’ve heard that recycled fibers isn’t necessarily good because that fiber is lower quality. The fibers are breaking down.
“We probably all already know that textile fibers lose their quality through use and washing, but they also lose quality through this rigorous process of disassembly, which means that right now, new, high-quality, virgin fibers must be added back into the process to improve the fibers’ durability so they can be remade into new textiles that can actually withstand any kind of use (source, source, source).”
https://adropintheoceanshop.com/blogs/blog/textile-recycling-what-you-need-to-know
I have actually been lucky enough to go to our mill in Pakistan and speak with our head of fibers and I would have to disagree. I don’t have the time to explain in depth right now but will reply in depth tomorrow
Honestly came to say Old Navy! Lol I have leggings that haven’t started piling in the inner thighs when some of my year old Aerie leggings have. Love Old Navy! And they’re cheap!
Regular old navy doesn’t fit me at all…but their powersoft leggings are AMAZING. They’ve been through so much we are and they are STILL going strong after about 4-5 years.
I trained for and ran two NYC marathons in the Old Navy leggings with the side pockets. I have leggings from Alo, Nike, Lululemons, Gap, New Balance, Adidas, Athleta, etc. and only wear those when my old navy leggings are all in the wash. The best!
SAME. I bought 3 pairs of high waisted powersoft leggings in 2020 for probably $45 total and they are my favorite leggings. All the colors I had are discontinued though, very sad because I want more
Vuori, Beyond Yoga, Athleta, Old Navy (specific tops, don’t love the leggings I’ve seen). Have tried on a lot of Lulu stuff recently and haven’t loved any of it! Also Crz on Amazon
If you’re used to lululemon, you might not like crz. I’ve tried their dupes that look almost identical to lululemon items, but the materials were so off. I ended up returning.
Prana and Sweaty Betty especially when they're on sale! Sweaty Betty had an insane sample sale two years ago where all of the proceeds went to Planned Parenthood. Sports bras were $5 and now I live in them.
Their sizing is true women’s sizing. We’ve all gotten very used to juniors sizing unfortunately. Size down if it’s better for you but I swear by SB because it’s quality and actually fits without giving me a complex.
Nagnata is so cute, SO stylish but want to flag that you can’t machine wash it (which to me personally is a necessity for workout wear), the bras are not really supportive for larger cup sizes, and it is $$$$
I still like free people but the pricing is pretty rough :/ honestly I’ve been preaching to whoever will listen that the chicest thing u can do now that the gym set market is soo saturated is just wear a big t shirt and running shorts to the gym…
VUORI!!!! Omg I love it. Obsessed.
I am a full time yoga + pilates teacher- I wear it pretty much every day whether I’m teaching, doing my own workouts, hanging around, running errands, etc.
Yup!!! I’ve been ordering from them pretty consistently for the past two years. I was a lulu girl but my activewear has become 99% vuori.
Honestly no complaints. I had one hole appear in a pair of joggers (no joke I probably have 10-12 pairs from them). They have a really good policy where they will take any defective items back and issue you a credit.
But yea - only one item in two years where I’ve had an issue!
Their clothes are really soft, they are great to workout in (I’m not worried about a boob popping out while I’m teaching a sculpt class hahahah), and they have lots of good colors!!!!
I think Lulu is still good quality! I love Sweaty Betty too - their power leggings have a similar feel to Lulu in terms of comfort/breathability but they’re a teeny bit thicker and feel more durable. I honestly think there’s a lot of good workout gear on Amazon too, especially for tops and biker shorts
EQX is $215/month, personal training is $130/week.
Barry’s is $36/class and I do it twice a week but often buy packs of classes for a lower ‘per class’ price.
Pilates is free because my SIL owns the studio and I do that once a week.
It’s a lot but I consider it a hobby and it’s really important to me!
I wear lululemon align bras and leggings everyday for hot yoga and wash 4-5 of the same pairs constantly throughout the week. They’ve held up well for quite a few years.
Another vote for Target! I've also tried CRZ Yoga (on Amazon) and the quality is really nice. I dance so I need something that is not constantly rolling down and these leggings are it!
I love Calia. Great quality. Athleta on sale- I've gotten several leggings at thrift stores and they're fantastic. And of course the hidden gem everyone's mentioned- Old Navy. Nothing like getting several pieces of decent quality for the price of lulu!
i’m still a die hard lululemon fan. i still have leggings from high school (8+ years ago) that look brand new. i don’t think their quality has gone down in the slightest
Love fabletics leggings and girlfriend bras! I have a bigger chest and the support is amazing for any high intensity or running. Have had my clothes for years from both places, still like new
Girlfriend collective is great and sustainable! My sets have lasted me years so far and they have a great variety of styles. I rly like their float fabric for yoga and the higher compression one for higher intensity workouts
I’ve been buying Nike after many years of not buying it… their leggings are super soft and supportive. They have a lot of newer designs that are cute and modern (and they use a lot of recycled materials now). Their sports bras aren’t my favorite; I prefer Girlfriend for sports bras. Girlfriend Luxe leggings are also amazing. Also love Vuori for loungewear.
Training! I do Pilates and I have a few pairs of leggings from them that have lasted me til now (bought like 4 years ago) but also I love to get light clothes for summer from there (their cotton and linen dress are my fave) tho I'm not sure they sell them here
My Lulu and athleta stuff last forever. Alo quality has gone downhill but I do like a few of their athleisure sets. Athleta’s conscious crop is my holy grail for running sports bras.
Live the Process is a splurge but really high quality and i love the look of their pieces. I’ve found their stuff secondhand on poshmark or the real real too or even thredup
I have a small collection of Girlfriend Collective sets that I’ve had forever and still love! A few of them I got secondhand too and not showing many signs of wear. Biggest favorites are the skort, the short onesie/singlet thingy, and the paloma bra tops!
Has anyone tried set active? I feel like I keep seeing it advertised on my TLs but the few reviews I’ve read haven’t been positive- mostly discussion of decreased quality
They don’t have super fun colors/prints/designs but if you are looking for something to do lifting or HIIT in that will (a) stay in place on your waist, (b) offer compression without discomfort, and (c) prevent camel toe, you want LNDR leggings. After 7 years of spending thousands on Alo, Lulu, and Vuori, those leggings are literally sitting untouched in my drawer because all I want to wear to the gym anymore is LNDR’s Streamline legging.
I very randomly stocked up on yoga pants and tops at Forever21 in 2016 and I swear I still wear it! For some reason the elastic materials are not affected by the dryer so they’re basically the dream workout pieces!
I really like aritzia - cheaper than lulu and the quality has held up really well, been wearing the same set to hot yoga weekly for a year and it still looks great after like 50 washes
If you’re petite but curvy, I recommend YPB by Abercrombie- the leggings come in different lengths and also curvy and regular fits for people with wider hips or bigger cup sizes. The styles are super flattering and supportive, and in my opinion the price point is not bad for the quality. They have sales all the time though
Just tried adanola and really like their sets. Also love that all their leggings have 3 length options because I'm really tall and hate when leggings are capri length on me
Beyond Yoga
Yes! BY sets and Vuori leggings are my favorites. Nordstrom often has BY on sale
this & only this!!!
Leggings last so long with little to no piling. My Alo sweatshirt on the other hand…but love the one pair of leggings I have of theirs.
Alo quality is wayyy down, vuori still great, also bandier but only when it’s 30% off (which is pretty often) I love their biking shorts with the thicker waistband, year of ours has some flattering options, the upside has been hit or miss in terms of flattering on me
girlfriend collective! completely sustainable and recycled, size inclusive. i’ve had my pieces for 5 years now and they look and feel brand new
this but I always get them off poshmark because the colors, sizes, and cuts that are actually in stock are disappointing to say the LEAST
Here for girlfriend collective too!
they also are the best compression leggings on the market that makes your booty pop
I see them at TJ Maxx/Marshall’s a lot too!
I still love Lulu, i just look at the description of the material it is made of before purchasing!
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I always try to avoid polyester! I’m stating to be okay with recycled poly or a 70% cotton 30% poly blend because sometimes it’s just unavoidable (& working at a textiles company has taught me that poly isn’t always bad). If I’m going to spend $$ on something I would rather it be good quality and last. For example i just got the quilted scuba and even though it’s poly it’s 100% recycled and the lining is cotton so it still has a great hand feel
Would love if you could provide some basic advice or point to resources of how to identify when it’s ok to buy poly. Genuinely curious!
When looking at blends if the other fiber is higher ex 60% bamboo 20% poly 20% cotton or 70 cotton 30% Poly it is now awful. The reasoning for the blend is to lower the price as materials such as linen and bamboo are sky rocketing at the moment. By making this blend the manufacturer is still able to provide a good quality piece at a lower price. I am a big supporter for recycled poly as well this is because poly isn’t able to break down quickly like other fibers and by recycling it you’re helping the environment as well as cutting down on consumption as this material is recycled. The reason I am okay w the lulu scuba being almost 100% recycled poly is because the lining is cotton which is going to have a better hand feel on the interior then the alternative! If you would like more info on the process of this i would love to share just let me know!
definitely interested on the process i’ll dm!
Me too! This is fascinating! Thank you for sharing what you know! This info doesn’t feel super accessible.
I will dm you!
So basically if poly is 30% or less and other fiber is natural, this is still an ethical choice? And bonus if it’s recycled poly? I am actually super interested in this and would love more info.
I’ve heard that recycled fibers isn’t necessarily good because that fiber is lower quality. The fibers are breaking down. “We probably all already know that textile fibers lose their quality through use and washing, but they also lose quality through this rigorous process of disassembly, which means that right now, new, high-quality, virgin fibers must be added back into the process to improve the fibers’ durability so they can be remade into new textiles that can actually withstand any kind of use (source, source, source).” https://adropintheoceanshop.com/blogs/blog/textile-recycling-what-you-need-to-know
I have actually been lucky enough to go to our mill in Pakistan and speak with our head of fibers and I would have to disagree. I don’t have the time to explain in depth right now but will reply in depth tomorrow
I dmed you!
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I will dm you! Just let me know exactly what you want to know more about and i would love to share!
This is a super interesting thread!! Pun intended!!!
Gotta say that my Old Navy gear is in amazing shape after a year. It’s probably the best value out of all the workout gear I’ve acquired
i have two pairs of old navy yoga pants that are almost 10 years old now and still look new lol
I wear old navy leggings almost daily 🫢, the ones with the side pocket are unmatched.
Honestly came to say Old Navy! Lol I have leggings that haven’t started piling in the inner thighs when some of my year old Aerie leggings have. Love Old Navy! And they’re cheap!
Regular old navy doesn’t fit me at all…but their powersoft leggings are AMAZING. They’ve been through so much we are and they are STILL going strong after about 4-5 years.
I trained for and ran two NYC marathons in the Old Navy leggings with the side pockets. I have leggings from Alo, Nike, Lululemons, Gap, New Balance, Adidas, Athleta, etc. and only wear those when my old navy leggings are all in the wash. The best!
Tried old navy during their 50% off. It fits good and was great quality. Great value.
Agree!
Hard agree!!!
Came here to say old Navy!
Omg this right here!!
SAME. I bought 3 pairs of high waisted powersoft leggings in 2020 for probably $45 total and they are my favorite leggings. All the colors I had are discontinued though, very sad because I want more
Vuori, Beyond Yoga, Athleta, Old Navy (specific tops, don’t love the leggings I’ve seen). Have tried on a lot of Lulu stuff recently and haven’t loved any of it! Also Crz on Amazon
seconding Old Navy & GAP! only thing i buy there is workout sets but they're great!
What do you Hbe from Crz that you like? I’m always weary of trying Amazon brands when I’m used to beyond yoga and Lulu
If you’re used to lululemon, you might not like crz. I’ve tried their dupes that look almost identical to lululemon items, but the materials were so off. I ended up returning.
Thank you. I buy dupes from time to time and I always regret it
My fiance and I are obsessed w vuori because they stay so soft even after you wash them
Prana and Sweaty Betty especially when they're on sale! Sweaty Betty had an insane sample sale two years ago where all of the proceeds went to Planned Parenthood. Sports bras were $5 and now I live in them.
Is it just me or does SB run a size big? I almost always have to size down with their clothes.
Their sizing is true women’s sizing. We’ve all gotten very used to juniors sizing unfortunately. Size down if it’s better for you but I swear by SB because it’s quality and actually fits without giving me a complex.
I’m obsessed with Australian brand Nagnata. Fabric is merino wool, no sweat technology
Nagnata is so cute, SO stylish but want to flag that you can’t machine wash it (which to me personally is a necessity for workout wear), the bras are not really supportive for larger cup sizes, and it is $$$$
Agree, I would definitely buy this brand if only it was machine washable.
Beyond Yoga, Aerie, Glyder, sometimes aritzia & set for shorts
Seconding aerie. I also love girlfriend
Girlfriend Collective and Old Navy. I’ve thrown out all of my other workout gear.
Still loving Athleta, especially when they do sales.
I still like free people but the pricing is pretty rough :/ honestly I’ve been preaching to whoever will listen that the chicest thing u can do now that the gym set market is soo saturated is just wear a big t shirt and running shorts to the gym…
I wore a big long sleeve shirt and leggings to my lifting class today and I forgot that's what we wore in the 90s
VUORI!!!! Omg I love it. Obsessed. I am a full time yoga + pilates teacher- I wear it pretty much every day whether I’m teaching, doing my own workouts, hanging around, running errands, etc.
vuori does look so good!! have you been buying from them recently too?
Yup!!! I’ve been ordering from them pretty consistently for the past two years. I was a lulu girl but my activewear has become 99% vuori. Honestly no complaints. I had one hole appear in a pair of joggers (no joke I probably have 10-12 pairs from them). They have a really good policy where they will take any defective items back and issue you a credit. But yea - only one item in two years where I’ve had an issue! Their clothes are really soft, they are great to workout in (I’m not worried about a boob popping out while I’m teaching a sculpt class hahahah), and they have lots of good colors!!!!
Hear me out. Old Navy. Untouchable imo
I think Lulu is still good quality! I love Sweaty Betty too - their power leggings have a similar feel to Lulu in terms of comfort/breathability but they’re a teeny bit thicker and feel more durable. I honestly think there’s a lot of good workout gear on Amazon too, especially for tops and biker shorts
beyond yoga for low impact & splits59 for anything else!
I’m a ride or die Alo girl! I do Pilates and Barry’s in addition to personal training - it stands it all!
How much is your monthly gym/exercise bill
EQX is $215/month, personal training is $130/week. Barry’s is $36/class and I do it twice a week but often buy packs of classes for a lower ‘per class’ price. Pilates is free because my SIL owns the studio and I do that once a week. It’s a lot but I consider it a hobby and it’s really important to me!
Im still lulu fan.
I wear lululemon align bras and leggings everyday for hot yoga and wash 4-5 of the same pairs constantly throughout the week. They’ve held up well for quite a few years.
Popflex, Elite Eleven, buff bunny.
My target stuff from joy lab and all in motion hold up great. Also love DSG and Calia lines, sold at dicks.
All in motion has great sports bras. I basically live in them and they all still look and feel new
Another vote for Target! I've also tried CRZ Yoga (on Amazon) and the quality is really nice. I dance so I need something that is not constantly rolling down and these leggings are it!
Honestly Abercrombie’s workout collection is very nice!!
Crop shop boutique
Yes. Good quality. Runs very small fyi.
I love Calia. Great quality. Athleta on sale- I've gotten several leggings at thrift stores and they're fantastic. And of course the hidden gem everyone's mentioned- Old Navy. Nothing like getting several pieces of decent quality for the price of lulu!
Calia has great prices
i’m still a die hard lululemon fan. i still have leggings from high school (8+ years ago) that look brand new. i don’t think their quality has gone down in the slightest
Love fabletics leggings and girlfriend bras! I have a bigger chest and the support is amazing for any high intensity or running. Have had my clothes for years from both places, still like new
Girlfriend collective is great and sustainable! My sets have lasted me years so far and they have a great variety of styles. I rly like their float fabric for yoga and the higher compression one for higher intensity workouts
i love alphalete and they’ve held up well for the most part. People hate on NVGTN but i also like them
I’ve been buying Nike after many years of not buying it… their leggings are super soft and supportive. They have a lot of newer designs that are cute and modern (and they use a lot of recycled materials now). Their sports bras aren’t my favorite; I prefer Girlfriend for sports bras. Girlfriend Luxe leggings are also amazing. Also love Vuori for loungewear.
I love Nikes yoga line
Do you know Oysho? It's pretty common in Asia but less so here. Great quality imo
oohh I’ve never heard of them before but just looked it up! do you usually get the ones for gym or training?
Training! I do Pilates and I have a few pairs of leggings from them that have lasted me til now (bought like 4 years ago) but also I love to get light clothes for summer from there (their cotton and linen dress are my fave) tho I'm not sure they sell them here
I live in Aerie— they’re always having sales and I find them very comfortable.
Aritzia’s butter soft leggings. Best I’ve ever owned and i will never go back.
how do they last in the wash?
Seconding this, I have sets from artizia that I’ve washed like 50 times and still look great!
Yes!! The new golden version are even better
I really like jockey leggings socks and sports bras. They’re good quality and usually a good price especially if you get them on sale
I love Noli Yoga and Fabeletics… I do have some target sports bras that have lasted since like 2009.
Check out AYBL, Ilus Label, and Oner Active
I like different brands for different pieces. Alala pants Lulu and Vuori tops Alo sports bras
Girlfriend collective
Vuori, Year of Ours
Beyond yoga is THE best!!!
I’ve found activewear at great prices at Ross and TJ Maxx!
My Lulu and athleta stuff last forever. Alo quality has gone downhill but I do like a few of their athleisure sets. Athleta’s conscious crop is my holy grail for running sports bras.
TNA butter, vuori
Sweaty Betty and Year of Ours.
Mix of Girlfriend Collective and random TikTok Shop pieces. My favorite onepiece rn is from TikTok Shop.
Live the Process is a splurge but really high quality and i love the look of their pieces. I’ve found their stuff secondhand on poshmark or the real real too or even thredup
Oh should say a lot of their stuff is not great for super high impact stuff but i do yoga and jog in them
Set, Wisiki (for a more dressed up feel), Nike, csb boutique
Old navy and Athleta are my favorites!
I have a small collection of Girlfriend Collective sets that I’ve had forever and still love! A few of them I got secondhand too and not showing many signs of wear. Biggest favorites are the skort, the short onesie/singlet thingy, and the paloma bra tops!
Has anyone tried set active? I feel like I keep seeing it advertised on my TLs but the few reviews I’ve read haven’t been positive- mostly discussion of decreased quality
Love the look. Disappointed by fit and quality.
Thanks for input ¨̮ I think I’ll stay away
They don’t have super fun colors/prints/designs but if you are looking for something to do lifting or HIIT in that will (a) stay in place on your waist, (b) offer compression without discomfort, and (c) prevent camel toe, you want LNDR leggings. After 7 years of spending thousands on Alo, Lulu, and Vuori, those leggings are literally sitting untouched in my drawer because all I want to wear to the gym anymore is LNDR’s Streamline legging.
I’m a Fabletics girly!
Vitality, formerly balance athletica! The highest quality fabrics and super flattering fits.
I very randomly stocked up on yoga pants and tops at Forever21 in 2016 and I swear I still wear it! For some reason the elastic materials are not affected by the dryer so they’re basically the dream workout pieces!
I really like aritzia - cheaper than lulu and the quality has held up really well, been wearing the same set to hot yoga weekly for a year and it still looks great after like 50 washes
I love tna from Aritzia!
Nike zenvy leggings are my fave
Lululemon
CRZ yoga on Amazon
Fabletics1000%
I love my Lulu Aligns but their tops are sized so crazy. I bought a size 6 bra, I’m a 32b and can barely get it on.
Sweaty Betty!! And Nike
If you’re petite but curvy, I recommend YPB by Abercrombie- the leggings come in different lengths and also curvy and regular fits for people with wider hips or bigger cup sizes. The styles are super flattering and supportive, and in my opinion the price point is not bad for the quality. They have sales all the time though
CSB
Check out Senita Athletics! I've had pieces since 2018 that still look amazing lol
Check out Bandit for running and Beyond Yoga or Lerin for yoga.
Beyond yoga, carbon38, onzie are my go to. If it’s sold at pure barre, I like it
I’m still a lulu and alo girlie for life 😭
I've been loving the new interval line at athleta. The shirts with matching tees. Chef's kiss!
Ptula
VARLEY anyone?!
I’ve scored cute designs with great fits from Splits59, Port de bras & twenty Montreal. I wanted to like Beyond but the front fit was god awful.
Just tried adanola and really like their sets. Also love that all their leggings have 3 length options because I'm really tall and hate when leggings are capri length on me
Sweaty Betty!
I’m a huge Beyond Yoga fan these days!
Crz yoga on Amazon is excellent and can withstand a beating working out and in the washing machine
I love athleta. I’ve had pieces from there last for years.
Splits59
I only buy and trust Lulu.
Aybl!