The activewear market has exploded in the past few years with countless new workout and athleisure brands — not to mention that just about every fashion retailer has added or expanded its activewear lineup. Needless to say, there's a lot to wade through when it comes to sports bras, running tights, and yoga tank tops. Lucky for you, we've done the legwork to precede your leg work. Below is our guide to the absolute best places to shop for workout clothes.
The Classics
Nike: The big daddy of athletic gear, where everyone's a Nike athlete no matter what your sport or level of activity. The brand is obsessed with constant innovation in performance wear, and consistently churns out the most on-point colorways. It really can't be beat for shoes that are both functional and stylish, but you didn't need us to tell you that.
Adidas: The athletic giant has been a bonafide staple for quite some time, but has really upped its game over the past few years with special collaborations, great branding and ad campaigns, quality gear, and celebrity partnerships with the likes of Pusha T and, of course, Kanye West. Shop the brand now for men's, women's, and kid's clothes and sneakers across a huge range of sports and styles.
Under Armour: Under Armour has all its athletic apparel bases covered, from day-to-day athleisure to high-performance gear for marathon runners and cold-weather hikers. It's also had a few big collaborations of its own, too, like this year's collection with Misty Copeland and the latest Steph Curry sneakers.
Lululemon: A huge range of pants, shorts, sports bras, and tank tops for runners and yogis is the company's bread and butter. Things like free in-store classes and a huge push for community building make it a full-on lifestyle brand, with shoppers swearing by the pricey leggings (which do at least come with complimentary hemming).
Athleta: This Gap Inc.-owned athletic chain has been expanding at a rapid clip with a really solid selection of workout apparel. Clothes on offer range in function from studio classes to winter sports, and are available in an agreeable range of hues like black, navy, and coral, with a few seasonally-updated prints thrown in the mix.
Reebok: Like the rest of the names on this list, the activewear giant has an extremely wide variety of gear, and can accomodate your needs across every single sport. Head here for running shorts, CrossFit gloves, UFC gear, pre-school sneakers, and so, so much more.
Asics: If you're a runner, at one point in time you've probably tried a pair of Asics sneakers. The brand carries men's, women's, and kid's training apparel with a look that's a little less logo-heavy than the likes of Nike and Adidas.
Paragon Sports: Paragon is another athletic behemoth, with a big-deal flagship store in New York City. But online, you can shop for clothing, gear, and shoes for just about every sport, from basketball to soccer to golf. The brand is especially good for its cold-weather clothing, like base layers, warm outerwear, hats, and more.
Inexpensive
Old Navy Active: You might be surprised to know that Old Navy's leggings — which are all in the $20 to $30 range — are actually fantastic. Even better is that they include a wide range of sizes and dedicated active sections for plus, petite, and tall girls, which means those leggings will actually be the right length and fit, and ankle-bunch will be one less thing to worry about while breaking a sweat or holding a pose.
H&M Sport: Workout tanks and quick-dry leggings are all mostly under $25, and both are available in standard solids and seasonal prints. Continue to stock your gym bag with colorful accessories like combination locks, water bottles, headbands, and sport socks.
Target: What isn't Target a great, cheap alternative for? The bulk of the retailer's athletic gear is from the affordable C9 Champion line, which offers leggings, sports bras, tops, jackets, and more that are mostly all well under $50.
Lane Bryant: The retailer's own Livi Active line is great for both fitness apparel and athleisure, which includes leggings in four categories — compression, control, wicking, and signature stretch — as well as supported bras with molded underwire and comfy loungewear.
Forever 21: If you're looking for workout clothes or athleisure that doesn't really need to stand up to the demands of marathon running, Forever 21 stocks a good selection of leggings, tops, and more that are trendy and affordable (think things like mesh leggings and low-impact strappy yoga bras). Most pieces clock in at under $20, which makes it a great place to pop into if you forget to pack a gym bag one morning.
Indie and Athleisure
Bandier: Former music manager Jennifer Bandier sought to reinvent the high-end activewear market when she launched her Southhampton boutique, which nows has an e-comm element, two stores in Manhattan, and another in Dallas. Find a variety of stylish specialty brands from Vimmia to VPL, but check out its exclusive artist collaborations if you're looking for something a little less traditional.
Net-a-Sporter: High-end e-tailer Net-a-Porter's sport division is called Net-a-Sporter (cute, guys) and it bills itself as "luxury sportswear." Here, shop the most stylish picks from big names like Nike and Adidas by Stella McCartney and and gratuitous sport offerings from high-fashion labels like Fendi.
Aether: Aether takes that "city-to-sport" look to the next level with well-designed pieces that work for blustery morning commutes and hardcore hikes (there is a section simply called "mountain," and the brand's tag line is "outdoor adventure, urban exploration, and innovative design."). Invest in base layers, snow pants, or studiowear, which are all backed by a lifetime warranty.
Vie Active: Relatively new to the US, this Aussie label uses merino wool — yes, wool — for everything from sports bras and shorts to compression leggings and jackets. "[Merino is] soft, breathable, quick-drying, and naturally regulates temperature," brand founder Noa Ries says of the material you're used to seeing in sweaters.
Outdoor Voices: Outdoor Voices is one of the newer activewear brands taking hold of the fashion world. Launched in 2013, it's often heralded as sportswear for millennials, with simple sweats, leggings, and crop tops in neutral colors like emerald green and charcoal.
Sweaty Betty: The British brand's vast selection of sports bras, tops, bottoms, and jackets is shoppable by sport, from Pilates to outdoors, and done in punchy colors like royal blue and buttercup yellow (as well as basic black and heathered grey).
Alala: Super luxe materials and downtown cool collide in this New York City-based brand. The products, mostly around the $100 mark, stand out with details that are sexy without being over-the-top, like breathable tanks and slimming tights with flattering mesh panels.
Lolë: Running, yoga, and ski apparel are on offer here. Its White collection is especially elegant, with drapey tops in neutral hues and berry shades, plus performance outerwear you won't mind wearing in the city, too.
Move by Alternative: Socially-responsible brand Alternative Apparel's answer to activewear includes lots of interesting, loose-fit tops, cool prints, and refreshing silhouettes. Prices range from $30 to $80 for bottoms that are mostly stretch jersey.
ADAY: The direct-to-consumer brand is dedicated to making quality workout clothes and athleisure in simple, efficient designs and sophisticated performance fabrics, like the adored "Throw and Roll" leggings that have Olympic bonded seams (and a waitlist to purchase).
Nola Activewear: The fitness branch of Addition Elle makes workout clothes and athleisure for sizes 12 through 26, with most prices coming in under $100. Head here for basics — like supportive sports bras, tees, and puffer jackets — and check out the reversible leggings to get the most bang for your buck.
Tracksmith: Tracksmith is a really simple brand that was built — like it'll tell you on the website — out of love for running. The draw here is quality apparel that's not flashy or overly "sport" feeling; just good-looking, functional clothes for both casual weekend runners and marathoners alike.
Beyond Yoga: Yoga clothes are arguably what Beyond Yoga is best known for, but like the name implies, there's a lot more to shop here, including a dedicated maternity section, on-trend athleisure, and cozy loungewear.
Koral: The best-sellers page on Koral's website includes a surprisingly vast selection of "liquid-like" leggings that have a lamé appearance in higher-performing fabrics. That pretty much sets the aesthetic tone for the brand, which leans heavily into sexy, strappy, and trendy athleisure that you can also wear to the gym (or out to the club).