What to Wear to Workout: The Best Exercise Apparel I’ve Ever Found Online
Let’s be honest with ourselves. Going to the gym can feel like a chore somedays. One really easy way to stay motivated to exercise is to have a really cute outfit to wear. Not all workout gear is created equal though. I’ve hunted high and low and am here to share some of my tried and true athleticwear favorites. Here is what to wear to workout.
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Remember the days when cute workout clothes were difficult, if not impossible to come by? I might be giving away my age here, but I do! Thank God retailers like Lululemon came around and changed all that. Now it seems that the opposite is true.
From Target to Bloomingdales, just about everywhere you look you can find cute athleticwear. The problem now is how to know what is worth spending your money on. I’ve tried a number of different athletic brands over the years. I have finally been able to hone in on the brands and retailers that are consistently the best. To hopefully save you some time and money, I wanted to share the best exercise apparel I’ve ever found online.
In this post I am sharing what to wear to workout.
What to Wear to Workout: The Best Workout Clothes
Female Workout Gear
If we are honest with ourselves, our needs as ladies are much different than our male counterparts when it comes to clothes to workout in. Choosing what to wear to workout can make a huge difference in how you feel and perform during exercise. The key is to find gear that’s comfortable, functional, and tailored to your workout style.
Start with the basics. The right sports bra is a must-have for any type of activity. Look for one designed for your intensity level – light support for yoga or Pilates, and high-impact support for running or HIIT sessions. A good sports bra not only keeps you comfortable but also helps prevent discomfort during high-movement activities. I don’t have a large chest that needs a ton of support, so I tend to stick to very affordable options. Typically I shop at Amazon, Aerie, or Old Navy for my sports bras. If you are looking for more support, I’ve heard good things about Lululemon and Knix. I can’t speak from personal experience on those two though.
Next up are your bottoms. Whether you prefer leggings, shorts, or joggers, opt for fabrics that are moisture-wicking and stretchy. This will keep you cool and allow you to move freely, even during intense workouts. Keep on reading if you’re looking for a good pair of leggings. I’ve shared my tried and true go-to leggings later in this post . If you’re exercising outdoors, consider weather-appropriate options like insulated leggings for colder days or breathable shorts for hot summer runs.
For your top, look for something breathable and lightweight. Tank tops, fitted tees, or loose-fitting shirts made from quick-dry materials are perfect for staying comfortable and sweat-free. Layering can also be useful. Throw on a zip-up jacket or hoodie if you’re heading to the gym in cooler weather.
Don’t forget about footwear! Choose sneakers designed specifically for your activity, whether it’s running, weightlifting, or cross-training. Proper shoes provide the support and stability your feet need to help you avoid injuries. It’s for that very reason that if there is one piece of exercise clothing that I don’t mind splurging on, it’s my shoes. Personally, I love Adidas Ultraboost for cardio sessions and Nike Metcons for lifting days.
Pro Tip: Adidas shoes tend to run large in my experience. I always size down a half size when ordering Adidas shoes.
Finally, accessorize with practical extras like moisture-wicking socks, a workout-friendly water bottle to stay hydrated, and a good pair of earbuds to stay motivated. Here are a few of my favorite workout must-haves that I use time and time again and can highly reccomend:
Workout Clothing Brands
As I mentioned, there is no shortage of workout clothing options these days. Whether you are more of a Wal-Mart shopper or an Ambassador level Nordy Club member, it seems that cute athletic wear is available just about anywhere you might choose to shop. The challenge becomes figuring out which pieces are worth your money. I’ve searched high and low for decent workout clothes and have tried some winners and losers along the way. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the more popular retailers that carry clothing to exercise in and my brief experience with each of them.
Aerie – Aerie has an ever changing selection of high quality workout clothing at very fair price points. The nice thing about shopping Aerie online is that they have a very straight forward icon system on all of their products. At a glance, you can easily determine important things like how supportive or how breathable the item you are looking at is. I only have one pair of workout leggings from Aerie, but will continue to consider them next time I am need of new workout clothing!
Adidas – I’ve tried leggings from Adidas, and they are not bad, but also not my favorite. They aren’t high waisted enough for me. They are a little thin for my preference, but they do hold up to sweaty workouts. As far as gym sneakers go though, Adidas Ultraboost are top of the line in my opinion. I love them so much that I own three pairs of them. They are incredibly comfortable and hold up to any workout that I’ve ever done. I’ve also found some Adidas athletic tops here and there that I like to pair with leggings that I like more from other retailers.
Amazon – Do not sleep on Amazon for workout clothes! I especially like Amazon for their affordable leggings and sports bras. They also carry athletic tank tops and jackets, workout sneakers, gym bags, water bottles, gym socks, and workout gear like booty bands and yoga mats. Their wide breadth and fast shipping make Amazon such a convenient option!
Fabletics – Ok, I’ll be very honest here. The only Fabletics leggings that I’ve tried were a pair that I picked up at a rummage sale. I was impressed with the fit and quality. I don’t love their subscription model though. Yes, you can purchase Fabletics items without being a subscriber, but only if you’re willing to pay way more per item. If want fun and trendy new gym clothes every month, Fabletics could be a great option for you.
GymShark – GymShark offers high quality workout clothing at a slightly more affordable price point than say Lululemon or Vuori. I have a matching set that I ordered from GymShark several years ago and it has held up well. The only thing that I don’t love about GymShark is that their leggings aren’t quite as flattering as other options.
Lululemon – I absolutely will not knock the quality of Lululemon. They were the first to create a really great pair of workout leggings and they continue to do it well. The thing that I don’t love about Lululemon is that their designs seem to be catered to the fit models.
If you are somebody with a more athletic body type, Lululemon will probably work perfectly for you. I have more of a pear shape myself. Which means that I tend to carry any excess weight in my hips and booty. I find that Lululemon leggings don’t fit me the greatest. A size 4 cuts me off in an unflattering way and create a skin bulge that isn’t really there. A size 6 is a little big in the waist and I’m constantly feeling like I’m pulling them up. I wish they offered a size 5 or a curvy line for us pear shaped girlies!
Nike – Along with Adidas, Nike is by and far one of my favorite retailers to shop for gym shoes. They have a huge selection of sneakers designed specifically for all different kinds of activities. I personally really like the Metcons for the types of workouts that I do in the gym. Nike also carries great quality clothing at decently fair prices. I, however, tend to wear their clothes more for athleisure than I do for my workouts. Although, I have found some cute workout tops here and there from Nike that pair well with my favorite leggings from other retailers.
Old Navy – This might seem a little out of place, but when I first got serious about my workout regimen several years ago, Old Navy was one of the first stores where I was able to find decent quality workout clothing at a very affordable price point. I still have one of my first pair of workout leggings that I bought from Old Navy like 5 or 6 years ago! If you are on a tight budget, I definitely think Old Navy is worth checking out.
Spanx – Spanx by and far has my favorite leggings to workout in! Their BootyBoost leggings are SO good! They fit well, they are moisture wicking and they are extremely flattering! If you are looking for a good pair of high quality workout leggings, I can’t recommend the BootyBoost leggings from Spanx enough!
Target – If you’ve been in a Target lately, I don’t need to tell you how hard they’ve gone in on activewear. Even the smaller Target locations seem to have a vast array of workout clothes. Personally, I prefer to shop Target online, especially when it comes to exercise clothing. For whatever reason, I find that the size I need is never available in the store, specifically in their active section. The pieces that I gravitate towards most at this retailer are active tops and sports bras. They have lots of cute and trendy pieces at very fair price points. Sometimes you can even find stuff on sale and save a little more money!
Under Armour – I’ll be honest, I don’t do a ton of shopping at Under Armour. I have a pair of sneakers from them that I’ve had forever and have held up so well! They are very lightweight and barely feel like I’m wearing anything on my feet. They’re honestly some of the most comfortable pairs of sneakers that I own. Under Armour also tends to be very fairly priced. Although my experience is limited, I would say this is a good brand to check out for good quality at non-exorbitant prices.
A few more popular athletic brands that you might consider checking out are Alo, Sweaty Betty, Vuori, Athleta, and Zella. I haven’t tried any of these myself. I can’t speak to them from experience, but all of them do carry some really cute pieces.
Women’s Gym Leggings
When it comes to what to wear to workout, if there is one wardrobe staple that you’ll want to get right, it’s a pair of gym leggings. There is definitely no shortage of workout leggings out there these days. The thing is, not all leggings are created equal! That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to pay big bucks for a decent pair of leggings though. I love some of my under $30 Amazon leggings more than others that I’ve paid closer to $100 for. A good pair of workout leggings is similar to a good pair of jeans in that you really just have to find the pair that’s right for you. There are four main considerations to keep in mind when shopping for for the perfect pair of workout leggings: quality, fit, squatability, and breathability. Let’s break them down:
Quality – When you’re trying out new workout leggings you’ll want to take into consideration the type of fabric, quality of stitching, and overall craftsmanship. Since you will be moving around and (hopefully) sweating a bit while wearing your leggings, the quality of the garment is really important. By and far, Spanx and Lululemon offer the highest quality leggings I’ve tried.
Fit – Just because you’ve found a pair of leggings that is well made doesn’t mean you’ve found the perfect pair of leggings.
Case in point: Lululemon has some very high quality options, but as a pear shaped girl who carries my weight in my hips and thighs, I don’t find Lululemon leggings to fit all that well. A size 4 is way too tight, but a size 6 is too loose and it feels like they are constantly slipping down while I’m wearing them. Last time I checked, Lululemon doesn’t offer a size 5. Lululemon workout leggings are not cheap, and it’s very difficult for me to justify spending so much money on an item that I don’t love because it doesn’t fit quite right.
The best leggings not only fit throughout your waist, hips, and legs, they also will flatter you and not cause the dreaded camel toe. I urge you not to settle for a subpar fit!
Squatability – I almost wrapped “squatability” up with quality, but it is an important enough factor that I decided to break it out on its own. (And by the way, yes, I think this is a completely made up word. I’m not sure you’ll find the word squatability in Webster’s.) Whenever you try on a new pair of leggings, you should make sure and do a few squats in them. Not only should your leggings should be comfortable and flexible enough to squat in, you should also pay attention to how the fabric reacts when stretched. The last thing you want is to be the person in the gym with the see through pants. Make sure you find a mirror in a well lit area. Then do some real deep squats to make sure nothing is showing through that you don’t want to be showing!
Breathability – Last, but not least, you’ll want to pay some mind to how breathable your leggings are. I will be honest, this factor is very difficult to test for without actually doing a workout. As a general rule of thumb, I’d say that you’ll want to stay away from leggings that are too thick or heavy. There is a fine line. You’ll want them to be thick enough to be squat proof, but not so thick that you’ll be overheating while actually working out in them.
I’ve tried quite a few different pairs of leggings over the years. Some have been winners, but some not so much. If you’re looking for a starting point, here are some of my tried and true workout leggings. These are my favorite pairs of leggings that I’ve re-purchased in multiple colors. I use them regularly and I love them and stand by them!
Workout Clothes from Amazon
Amazon can be a great starting place when building up your workout wardrobe. Amazon has just about everything under the sun. From sports bras to sneakers to accessories like gym bags and hair ties, you can probably find it on Amazon. Plus, you can’t beat the convenience of Prime shipping!
The nice thing about Amazon is that a lot of their selection is very affordable. That said, the quality can vary. Even some of the pieces that are very highly rated don’t stand up to the types of workouts that I do. When it comes to Amazon workout clothes, I’ve had my share of hits and misses. A few brands that I have good luck with on Amazon are Aoxjox, Crz Yoga, and The Gym People. Here are some of my go-to workout pieces from Amazon that I wear regularly and have held up well:
There it is folks. All my personal knowledge and experience in workout apparel wrapped up in one big post. Hopefully after reading this, you feel confident about where to spend your hard earned money in regards to exercise apparel. Weather you are starting from scratch or just looking to add to your workout wardrobe, I hope that I’ve provided new recommendation or tip that you haven’t heard before.
