I'm Rebuilding My Entire Activewear Collection With Only These 4 Brands

To be completely honest, it took me a long time to get back into a solid workout routine post-pandemic. I liked the idea of at-home workouts but found I don't have the self-discipline it takes to be consistent with them. Over the past year, I've recommitted to my favorite studios and am finally back in my routine. Now that I'm doing three to four classes a week, I've noticed that my activewear drawer was looking a bit tired—most of my leggings were stretched out or pilling, and my sports bras had lost their shape. I also noticed I was reaching for the same handful of brands over the others in my collection, so I decided to start fresh and rebuild with only pieces from those brands.

My favorite activewear brands have a few things in common: The fabrics are comfortable and supportive, the silhouettes are flattering, and the quality is high. Based on these characteristics, I narrowed it down to just four brands I plan to invest in when refreshing my collection. I will caveat this list by saying that I'm a Pilates girl and avid walker, with an occasional Barry's class if I'm feeling particularly motivated, so if spin or high-intensity workouts are your thing, you may have different fabric preferences than those I've outlined. Each brand included offers a range of options with varying degrees of support. Without further ado, below are the four best activewear brands, in my opinion.

1. SET ACTIVE

I love a matching workout set, so when I was introduced to Set Active, it felt like a match made in heaven. Its selection is broken down by fabric type, and within each fabric, the brand keeps things streamlined by offering only a handful of silhouettes with the color options updated seasonally. Once you determine your favorite fabric family, shopping is a breeze. I'm partial to the Sportbody fabric, as I feel it has everything I'm looking for—breathable, holds you in, but also feels comfortable—but the Sculptflex and FormCloud have rave reviews as well.

2. GOLDEN BY ARITZIA

Many Aritzia pieces have acquired cult followings, but don't sleep on its activewear. The newly launched Golden line features streamlined silhouettes in performance fabrics at reasonable price points. Not to mention, the color range is extensive. The Butter fabric family is my favorite, and I highly recommend the Slouchy Socks for extra cushion on your walks.

3. ALO

There's a reason ALO is one of the most popular active brands out there. Its fits and fabrics are top-notch. I'm partial to the Airlift fabric specifically, as it holds you in without feeling restrictive, making it ideal for any workout.

4. ADANOLA

You've probably seen this brand on Instagram, which is admittedly how I found it, and there's a reason seemingly all the cool European fashion people love it. The UK-based brand offers modern silhouettes, quality fabrics, and of-the-moment colors at reasonable price points—plus cozy loungewear to style with your favorite workout pieces.

SNEAKERS

As I mentioned before, I'm big on daily walks, so I wanted to give an honorable mention to my favorite sneaker brands. Below are four ultra-comfortable options that support my goal of 10,000 steps a day, which I reach on most days.