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The 8 best workout clothing brands for women in 2024
Size range: XS-3X, short and tall
Nike has the best balance of price, performance, and variety in its workout gear. A pair of leggings can go for upwards of $70, but you can find plenty of $40-$60 options, and the site semi-frequently offers discounts. Nike items also have a good price-per-wear breakdown thanks to an expert handle on performance engineering and technical materials across categories.
There's something for athletes of pretty much every sport: running, golf, soccer, training, tennis, basketball, softball, skateboarding, swimming, and lacrosse — and all different types of gear, from women's running shoes to swimwear and compression layers.
It's also expanded its activewear to have more inclusive sizes (from XS to 3X) and styles (for example, high-performance hijab options). That being said, its sizing can be hard to nail down, especially for sports bras that notoriously run small. –Mara Leighton
What to buy
Size range: XS-XXL; some styles go up to 3X
Quality budget workout gear is incredibly hard to find. While we love the price point, size range, and accessibility of brands like Old Navy Active, performance fabrics and thoughtful design features like light compression and phone pockets will make your workouts far more comfortable, especially if you're just starting.
We like Core 10, one of the uber-popular Amazon-owned fitness brands that make surprisingly reliable workout gear. In our experience, its bike shorts stay put on runs and do a good job of wicking away sweat. The company makes everything from yoga pants to running capris to sports bras to workout tanks, all usually between $18 and $35.
You can even customize your leggings, choosing the waistband, length, style, and color. The brand also just partnered with Reebok to make an exclusive line with the fitness giant.
The fabrics aren't going to compete with the quality of the higher-end leggings or tops. But to supplement your workout closet with a few cheaper pieces or get you into something until you see if your new running hobby is here to stay, Core 10 has you covered.
What to buy
Size range: XXS-3X
Among all the running brands on the market, Athleta is our top pick because it nails the sweet spot of price and quality and has a huge range of offerings for runners. When it comes to its running gear, we love that nearly all the tops and bottoms are moisture-wicking and lightweight to keep you flying through your miles.
Its gear is well-designed too, so the majority of the shorts don't fall or ride up, and reasonably priced, with most tops falling between $40-50 and shorts $50-60 (its leggings and sports bras are on the pricier end at $70-100 and $50-60, respectively).
In addition to price and quality, we love the fit of Athleta's clothing. For starters, the brand offers a wide range of sizes on 70% of its portfolio, from XXS to 3X, and plans to offer extended sizing across all categories by the end of 2022.
What's more, everything tends to run at least one size bigger compared to how other athletic brands are sized, which is refreshing in a world of sizing that makes you feel bad about yourself. Overall, this fosters a more positive and body-inclusive running community.
What to buy
Size range: 0-20
You don't have to drop tons of money to get a good workout in. But if you choose the right brand, smartly investing in $100+ leggings or $60 workout shorts can deliver not only more luxurious and comfortable fabric but also more nuanced and thoughtful designs that make your workout (or errands) more comfortable. Lululemon is the apex of that worth-the-splurge market.
People from our team have tried tons of items from Lululemon, and I have personally worn an array of tops, bottoms, bras, jackets, and even scrunchies from the brand (the perks of seven years as a fitness writer).
For starters, all its gear looks higher quality and more put together, which is a priority for some people. Moreover, everything is well-designed and stays put whether I was moving through a yoga flow or hitting box jumps at CrossFit.
Its leggings and shorts come with small nice-to-haves like phone and key pockets, strategically-placed reflective features for dark runs, and, most notably, adjustable ties on the inside of the waistband so you can synch the bottoms tighter for a more flattering fit and comfortable workout.
Most of my leggings and tops from the brand have been washed dozens and dozens (and dozens) of times and still have a rich color and sleek look (although the Align leggings notoriously pill inside the thighs).
To top it off, its cuts and styles are very flattering for almost every figure (although everything fits small so the sizing is frustrating for most women).
What to buy
Size range: XXS-XXXL
The cult-brand Girlfriend Collective is one of our favorite women's workout brands, and they just so happen to be sustainably made. Let's start with the fact that the brand designs its activewear to fit a huge range of body types and its leggings and sports bras are beloved by everyone from a size small to a size XXXL for their comfort and cuteness.
Then, the brand uses recycled materials for everything, most often post-consumer water bottles that have been turned into soft, recycled yarn, but also sometimes the factory-floor scraps of that fabric.
Mostly though, we love Girlfriend Collective because of its minimalist approach to its designs, offering all the basics, but designed near-perfect and in a range of coordinated colors. Its classic leggings are the perfect pair: high-waisted, slightly compressive, squat-proof, and made with super soft fabric crafted from 25 recycled post-consumer plastic bottles (79% recycled polyester).
Its low-impact sports bras are made from the same recycled polyester (from 11 bottles), while they probably won't support you through box jumps and jump rope, they are cut with a wide rib band so you can wear the set sans shirt to rock that uber-cute monochrome kit look during yoga, hikes, weight-lifting days, or just running out for coffee.
The brand also makes bike shorts, fun (and functional) unitards, and a bunch of loungewear like joggers and fleeces, all of which are made from mostly or entirely recycled materials. The activewear runs on the pricier side (although still cheaper than a lot of its competitors) but you're paying for higher quality and better sustainability practices.
What to buy
Size range: L-7XL
Even though the average woman is a size 16 or 18 (XL-2X), it is incredibly difficult to find many options for great workout gear above a size 12, let alone, say, a size 24, which is when the fashion industry ventures into "plus-size" or "extended sizing." However, there are a few plus-size athletic apparel brands that excel at what they do.
One of the newer darlings on the block is Superhero Fit, a brand of high-quality, sweat-wicking activewear designed specifically for people sizes L through 7X. It doesn't have a huge selection, but the brand makes one awesome sports bra, one legging, one Capri, and one bike short, each in a variety of colorways (and the option to go monochrome, which we love).
Each piece of activewear is designed using ultra-soft, sweat-wicking, quick-dry fabric with slight compression, strategic gusseting for mobility, and flat-lock seams to minimize chafing. The sports bra supports medium-high impact activities.
When we talked with a group of plus-size outdoor adventurers about what gear they can't live without, multiple women said they're obsessed with how comfortable and supportive Superhero Fit is.
What to buy
Size range: XS-XL, 4-12
Finding technical clothing that fits American female bodies is one of the biggest gripes in the outdoor industry. Title Nine makes outdoor gear specifically designed for hips, booties, and any curves you're rocking.
What's more, it has every type of outdoorsy woman covered, whether you like to hike in super technical pants with a ton of pockets, or you prefer form-fitting leggings; whether you like your adventure gear to be loose and breezy or more curve-hugging and flattering.
All of its gear is designed to hit that sweet spot of fashion and function. Its hiking shorts are the perfect length to flatter and prevent chafes, and they hold up against the elements. The sun shirts are quick-drying, offer UPF 50, and come in an array of necklines in case you want something a little shower. The brand even makes girly gear like sweat-wicking, move-with-your-body dresses, skirts, skorts, and rompers.
To top it off, its prices are in a reasonable category considering not only the technical fabrics and thoughtful features used in the designs but also the sky-high prices across competitors in the outdoor apparel industry.
What to buy
Size range: XS to XL, sometimes XXS through XXXL
Perhaps the original Instagram darling, Outdoor Voices is well known for its flattering designs, bright colors, and matching workout sets. Its leggings, shorts, sports bras, and tops are all made from high-quality, sweat-wicking material that keeps you cool and comfortable everywhere from the gym to a hike to running errands.
What sets Outdoor Voices apart from competitors are its on-trend colorways (this season is full of pale lemon and bright pink) and its flattering fits. The best-selling Hudson shorts, for example, are high-waisted and cut in a way that lifts and flatters your booty. Its shorts never cut in at the waist or give you chafing between the thighs. Its best-selling Doing Things Bra has a super comfortable rib band, flattering scoop neck, and a stylish back to help provide medium support.
Perhaps the most noteworthy option among OV's collection is its cult Exercise Dress (I own three colors), which has a lightweight, onesie spandex underlayer and a looser overlay so you can run, jump, play, and sweat without worrying about anything falling out, all while looking ridiculously cute.
The brand isn't the most size-inclusive with the majority of its line only running from XS to XL. But if that is your size, we love that you can mix and match OV pieces to create eye-catching, monochrome kits.
What to buy
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.