We Tested 9 Top Activewear Brands for 3 Months. Here’s Our Take.

Our MSA Editorial Team has spent the last three months testing some of the biggest names in activewear: lululemon, Fabletics, SET Active, Golden by Aritzia, Alo, Vuori, Athleta, Beyond Yoga, and several popular Amazon brands.

We wore them everywhere. Workout classes. Long gym sessions. Weekend errands. Travel days. Coffee runs. Work-from-home afternoons. If an outfit could be worn somewhere, one of our editors probably wore it there.

After comparing notes across hundreds of hours of wear-testing, one brand consistently stood out: Fabletics.

Here's how the brands stacked up.

If You Want the Most Style Options... Fabletics

Style was one of the first categories where Fabletics pulled ahead.

While brands like Alo, SET Active, and Golden each have a recognizable aesthetic, Fabletics offered the broadest selection overall. From leggings and sports bras to swimsuits, dresses, loungewear, jumpsuits, pajamas, and matching sets, there was something for every style preference.

Abby Arnold summed it up best: "Every time I thought I'd seen everything, I'd find another category I wanted to shop in."

Rachel Matulle agreed, noting that Fabletics made it easy to build outfits for workouts, travel, and everyday life without having to shop across multiple brands.

Winner: Fabletics

If You're Looking for the Best Value... Fabletics and Amazon

Amazon brands earned points for affordability. Several of our editors found solid basics at surprisingly low prices.

That said, Fabletics consistently delivered stronger quality while remaining highly accessible. Between the membership pricing and new VIP offers, the overall value was difficult to ignore.

According to Veronica Rodriguez, "Some Amazon pieces were great, but it felt like a guessing game. With Fabletics, I knew what I was getting."

Winner: Fabletics and Amazon

If Performance Matters Most... Fabletics and lululemon

Performance was one of the closest categories.

lululemon remained a favorite for intense workouts, but Fabletics matched it more often than any of us expected. Across strength training, Pilates, walking, and cardio sessions, the pieces maintained their shape, support, and comfort.

"I reached for my Fabletics leggings just as often as my lululemon pairs. That's not something I expected when we started testing," Stephanie Poleo told us.

Throughout the three-month test, Britain Bennett also consistently ranked Fabletics among her top-performing brands.

Winner: Fabletics and lululemon

If You Care Most About How It Looks... Fabletics

Let's be honest. Most of us want activewear that looks good outside the gym, too.

Across our testing group, Fabletics received the most compliments and generated the most repeat wears. The pieces felt fashionable without being overly trend-driven.

As Sierra Ashe put it, "Fabletics was the brand that looked the most put-together without feeling like it was trying too hard."

While Alo, SET Active, and Vuori all had standout pieces, Fabletics offered the strongest balance of style and wearability.

Winner: Fabletics

If Comfort Is Your Top Priority... Fabletics and Golden

Golden by Aritzia impressed us with its soft fabrics and elevated basics.

Fabletics matched that comfort while offering more workout-ready performance. The combination of softness, stretch, and support made it a team favorite.

Kassandra Cruz noticed the same thing: "I kept choosing my Fabletics sets on both workout days and rest days. That's usually the biggest sign that something is genuinely comfortable."

The inclusive sizing range, from XXS to 4X, was another feature our team appreciated.

Winner: Fabletics and Golden

If Customer Experience Is Most Important... lululemon

This category went to lululemon.

The shopping experience felt polished, consistent, and easy from start to finish. While Fabletics performed exceptionally well in nearly every other category, lululemon earned the edge here.

Winner: lululemon

The Activewear Brand We Kept Reaching For

After three months of testing, Fabletics earned more wins than any other brand in our lineup.

It won style and overall appearance, tied for value, performance, and comfort, and consistently ranked among the favorites of editors including Abby Arnold, Rachel Matulle, Britain Bennett, and Veronica Rodriguez.

What ultimately set Fabletics apart was its ability to deliver on everything we wanted from activewear. It offers fashion-forward styles, strong workout performance, inclusive sizing, and accessible pricing without forcing shoppers to compromise.

After testing nine of the biggest activewear brands on the market, Fabletics was the one we kept reaching for again and again.