By Emma Conner When I first started taking group classes regularly, I quickly realized that my favorite pair of leggings could not be washed every other day to wear to my next class. I asked around for recommendations, and lululemon was suggested to me. It was shortly after that recommendation that I purchased the nicest pair of leggings I had ever owned, and my purple printed Align leggings entered my workout legging rotation. But my bank account was quick to remind me that having a closet full of lululemon was not feasible. So it was my in my best interest to find comparable, affordable options if I wanted to expand my closet.
As someone who works from home (in athleisure wear 98% of the time) and also loves being active, I set out to find athletic gear that held up over time, supported me in all kinds of movement, and most importantly was in budget! Below are my top finds in each category, all for under $60!
Leggings
As a lululemon Align fanatic, anytime I see an Instagram post talking about leggings where the influencer says, “these are a lululemon dupe”, I immediately hit add to cart and look forward to my package arriving. (Surely, I’m not the only person who is an Instagram marketer’s dream?) I recently fell into this trap when I saw a post about Paragon. I ordered a pair of their High Rise Naked Leggings and loved them the moment I put them on! The material of these leggings are almost identical to lululemon while being HALF the price. That’s right… $50 for essentially the same fit and feel! Paragon is still newer to the activewear market, so they frequently have coupon codes offering additional percentage off on their activewear!
Tops
Similar to my preference on leggings, I love cute, sleek, fun workout tops that move well with my body, and provide good coverage. That’s where Athleta’s Conscious Crop comes in! This top is on the pricier side at $59 (hey, still under $60) but holds its color, stitching, and support even after numerous washes. Athleta offers this top in two different sizing options (A-C and D-DD) making it a top that truly works for all body types (p.s. they have the best size-inclusive marketing)! Athleta is constantly adding new colors to this tried and true top so you can usually find a color under $40.
Sports Bras
Similar to leggings, I am always open to trying new sports bras. If the marketing targeted at me includes buzzwords like support, comfort, and versatility, I’m in. In trying various brands (both expensive and inexpensive), I always come back to my #1 – Target. Over the past few years, Target has continued to diversify their athletic department including pieces that are meant for loungers, marathon runners, and everything in between. Target offers great medium support sports bra options which can be worn in a fitness class or day-to-day while also offering my personal favorite, high-support bra option with a zip front. The best part about Target’s sports-bra options? Almost all of them are under $25 which means you can get two and still not break $60!
Jackets
If you’re currently in (or from) the Midwest, you know that there is a good portion of the year where it’s absolutely freezing in the morning, with a gradual warm up throughout the day before being 80 degrees at 4pm, just for it to start getting cold again when the sun goes down. This type of weather is exactly why a good, dry fit and washable jacket is a must-have. Whether you’re an early morning, late night, or squeeze-it-in-while-you’re-already-on-the-go workout person, Old Navy’s Cropped Full-Zip StretchTech jacket is it. What I love about this jacket is the quick dry material which is easy to wash and also feels breathable for when you put it on after a good sweat sesh. Plus, it comes in a few great neutral colors to choose from!
Accessories
As someone with long, thick hair a good headband and scrunchie to hold my hair back make a world of difference. There is truly nothing worse than having baby hairs in your face and constantly having to redo your bun or ponytail. lululemon and Love Your Melon understood the assignment and created two of the best accessories for my friends with hair to hold back! lululemon’s Light Locks Scrunchie is $14 and comes in so many cute colors. This scrunchy is great for keeping your hair in a tight bun on top of your head and also still supportive for just a pony. With the scrunchie holding back the majority of your hair, the only thing left to do is make sure the tiny hairs stay off your sweaty forehead! Love Your Melon Scrunch Headband was given to me as a gift a few years and became my absolute favorite headband to date. It does not slide, has great compression (without giving you a headache), plus it benefits a great cause when you purchase!
There are so many options when it comes to fitness gear. At the end of the day, that absolute best athletic gear that is out there is the gear that you feel your strongest, most powerful, and most comfortable in. If that gear is over $60 – great! If you’re balling on a budget and don’t quite know where to look, check out these suggestions and give them a try – you might just save yourself some money, or be able to get everything in at least two colors!
We’d love to hear your favorites! Drop them in the comments below.
Hi PL team! One of my new discoveries (and favorites) is LuLuLemon’s Like New initiative. With this, you can sell your gently used Lulu items in store and/or purchase gently used items on their site at a much lower price point. Google LuLuLemon Like New and their site will pop up! Price varies by use or small damages they may find – which they make note of on the item before selling to you- however, I have found a handful of products in top shape condition for a fraction of the price! Definitely check it out.
Old Navy always has fantastic deals on their athletic wear (and is basically the same design as Athleta). Their stuff lasts a long time and I wear it constantly. I highly recommend their Powersoft line, especially for leggings/bike shorts. Overall, I have found nothing else that can compete with them for quality/look/value. I used to always think about Old Navy as it was when I was a kid (flag tees and their name printed on everything) but they’ve really come so far! When on sale (which is at least once a month), I can get 5 pairs of their leggings for that $60 benchmark!