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Listen, we’re all about Lululemon, and we can definitely get down with Alo Yoga—but when it comes to the best activewear brands, there are a million other places you can shop to find high-quality, stylish stuff. Whether you’re a marathoner looking for some sturdy sports bras to run in or a yogi wanting stretchy leggings for your toughest poses, stores like FP Movement, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Aritizia have what you need—even if you’ve never browsed their fitness gear before.
To prove it, SELF editors shared some of their favorite places to shop for athleisure and their best finds, including leggings, sneakers, exercise dresses, workout tanks, and more (no gatekeeping here). But don’t just take our word for it: Shop around each site below to find your new sweat session staples.
You can outfit your whole athletic wardrobe in clothes just from Amazon, but their selection of athleisure pants is definitely the place to start. One SELF editor is devoted to CRZ Yoga when it comes to comfy bottoms: “I only got the Naked Feeling Leggings after falling in love with CRZ's Ulti-Dry Leggings (and buying multiple pairs of them),” she says.
“Where those are extremely thin and a little matte, the Naked Feeling feels a little more substantial and supportive, but still incredibly easy to move in. I can run errands, take long walks, do yoga, run, climb, and sweat to my heart's content in them without worrying about them bagging out, showing sweat marks, or getting in the way of my activities.” And when it gets warm out, she switches to the Naked Feeling Biker Short (they’re not just for spin class).
Don’t sleep on the Amazon Essentials line, either. The brand’s Workout Leggings are one SELF tester’s new go-tos. “They’re officially in my regular workout rotation—they hold up great in the wash, wick away sweat, stretch and move with me, and are comfy enough to wear outside of the gym for a day of bopping around,” she says.
I also have to shout out one of my favorite pairs of yoga pants, the budget-friendly Topyogas Casual Bootleg Yoga Pants. They have a sleek, glossy finish that looks more polished and a stretchy waistband that doesn’t dig in, making them one of my go-to bottoms for long travel days.
Nordstrom has sneakers you can hit the trails in, loungewear you can slip on post-workout, and everything in between, including my beloved Vuori AllTheFeels Leggings. They’re super soft and stretchy, and I find myself pulling them from my dresser almost every weekend when I want to be comfy but don’t want to wear bulky sweats.
If you happen to need a new pair of kicks, Nordstrom carries tons of brands. One SELF tester recommendation: APL’s TechLoom Bliss Knit Running Shoes, which she has owned and adored for years. “The mesh is really stretchy and comfortable, and the sneakers form to your feet for a custom-fit feeling,” she says. “I also like how they look! I think they're pretty cool.”
Other standouts we couldn’t help but mention: a Nike sports bra that’s supportive enough for big boobs, a pair of SELF Activewear Award–winning Zella leggings, and so much more.
Free People’s quirky, colorful styles extend far beyond their jeans, frilly blouses, and accessories. The site’s activewear label, FP Movement, has some seriously cute pieces that are also practical for activities like Pilates, running, HIIT classes, and more.
The Righteous Runsie is your entire outfit in a single garment—and it’s one SELF editor’s closet must-have. “My entire college friend group bought this because it’s flattering, it comes in so many colors, and it’s really comfortable,” she says. “I can literally go without a sports bra underneath—it’s a miracle.” If you’re not into onesies, she recommends the Tempo Light as Air Run Shorts because they’re lightweight and ultra-comfy.
And you can bet FP movement is in on the exercise dress trend: Its Hot Shot Mini Dress has a built-in romper underneath, for some extra support (tennis match, anyone?). “It’s more loungewear vibes, but it’s so good for literally anything—yoga, laying around, a stylish hike,” our editor says. “I wore it fly-fishing once!”
Aritzia’s activewear line was nonexistent not too long ago, which sounds crazy to me because I wear the pieces I own on repeat—what was I doing before? My favorite piece has to be the Golden Butter New Cheeky Hi-Rise Flare Leggings because they’re soft and stretchy, plus they don’t have a top seam that’ll dig into my sides. If I want to wear tight leggings instead, though I reach for the Golden Butter New Cheeky Hi-Rise Leggings—they’re made from the same dreamy fabric, but have a different silhouette. (I’ll be wearing one of these every weekend until the end of time.)
On days I go to the gym to strength train, I reach for the Golden Life Atmosphere Hi-Rise Shorts because they let my legs breathe. They’re really soft, with a slightly thicker, more brushed feel than the brand’s “butter” fabric. I also love that they come in multiple inseam lengths, so you can find ones that hit right where you want them to.
And the Golden Butter Essential Camisole is velvety soft with a solid amount of stretch—and it’s especially nice in warmer weather, when I want to wear as little clothes as possible.
Buying Abercrombie as a 29-year-old definitely wasn’t on my bingo card, but after the store rebranded a few years ago, it’s become hard to resist. The brand’s activewear line, Your Personal Best (YPB), offers a good mix of trendy and reliable styles that always catch my eye.
One of my favorites? YPB’s sculptLUX 7/8-Length Leggings, which are so compressive that they always stay up, even when I’m squatting or deadlifting in them. And I currently have my eye on YPB’s sleek-yet-sweat-wicking Tie Game Dress for this summer.
We’re also huge fans of A&F’s sweats, specifically the Essential Sunday Half-Zip and Essential Wide Leg Sunday Sweatpant. One SELF editor wears them as a set and says they look a little more polished than your average comfies. “The inside [of the sweatshirt] is ridiculously soft, and I haven’t overheated once while wearing it (a common problem for me),” she says. And “[the pants are] super comfortable and flattering. Perfect for curling up in at home, but cute enough that I’d also wear them on a long flight.”
Spanx makes some of our all-time favorite leggings—the Spanxshape Booty Boost Flare Pant and the Spanxshape Booty Boost 7/8 Leggings have both won SELF Activewear Awards. They’re comfortably compressive and will stay up even through tough workouts (one tester wore the leggings to CrossFit, which is the ultimate test). The only thing you need to decide is if you want a flared or slim silhouette (or both).
It’s impossible to talk about Spanx and not mention the AirEssentials Half Zip and Wide Leg Pant. They’re insanely soft on the outside and feel cool on the inside, so I never sweat in them. The fabric also holds up well in the wash—I can tell because there isn’t a stitch out of place, and my black set hasn’t faded at all over the many months I’ve owned it.
Odds are, you’ve seen an influencer link to Revolve—at least, that was my introduction to the retailer. But perusing through the site, you’ll find a lot more than wedding guest dresses and trendy sets. “When I'm in a pinch—needing a last-minute outfit that's within a reasonable budget—I turn to Revolve; like the one time I was woefully unprepared for a ski trip and was in dire need of a good puffer (hello, Cordova!),” one SELF editor says.
The site feels a little more curated than your average sportswear store. “I’m no athlete, so I don’t necessarily look for performance-only attire, and I find that the brands Revolve carries—Beyond Yoga, Alo, Year of Ours, and Salomon, for instance—offer workout essentials with a measure of style,” she says. “There’s also always a discovery item (like cute Pilates socks or nicer-than-your-average sweatpants) that’s fun to tack onto your cart, and the seasonal edits are usually helpful and fun to browse.”
Shopbop is another great option to fill your athleisure drawer. The site carries tried-and-true brands like Nike, Alo, and FP Movement, along with workout-adjacent pieces from labels like Anine Bing and Clare V. It’s one SELF editor’s go-to shopping destination: “It has a huge inventory, so you can get specific in sizing or interest. I bought my maternity underwear, maternity leggings, and my baby shower dress in one go at Shopbop!”
P.S. Shopbop is owned by Amazon, so you can get free, two-day shipping with an Amazon Prime membership, in case you’re shopping at the last minute.
Over the past year, my TikTok has been flooded with people rediscovering Gap—and as someone who has always shopped there, I’m glad it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. I’ve found some of my favorite supportive activewear there—including the GapFit High-Neck Brami, which looks a lot like an Athleta sports bra I love (the two stores are owned by the same company, ICYMI).
Another SELF editor recommends shopping Gap’s leggings, since the Maternity Everyday Full Panel Leggings carried her through pregnancy. “They had the perfect combo of stretch and structure (which you need for your belly with leggings—so they both hold you up and don’t slide down),” she says. “I generally find leggings to be really oppressive (even when I’m not pregnant), but when I was pregnant, I had two pairs of these and wore them constantly.”
A lot of people know Uniqlo for their basics—especially their Heattech clothing, which is like souped-up thermal underwear. But a few SELF testers say you should take a pass through the brand’s activewear section. One of their favorite items is the AIRism Soft Leggings, which are seamless, soft, and “almost have a shapewear quality to them.”
She also swears by the AIRism Soft Ribbed T-Shirt and Active Bra Top, which she wears for yoga, running, and tackling errands. If you want a sporty bag on your hip, pick up the viral Round Mini Shoulder Bag—it’s available in plenty of neutral shades to match almost any ’fit.
Related:
- 20 of the Best Lululemon Dupes on Amazon
- Life’s Too Short to Work Out in Crappy Underwear. Try These Pairs Instead
- Here’s How to Actually Clean Your Sweaty, Stinky Workout Clothes
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