25 Cute Activewear and Athleisure Staples That Go from Workout to Night Out
Cozy leggings, sports bras, and joggers to wear 24/7.
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Spending the whole day in sweats used to be a fashion crime, but athleisure is now completely in fashion. Athleisure is a hybrid of workout clothes and loungewear, which makes for super versatile pieces that can go from the gym to the couch and even to the office. The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests all types of workout clothes, including sports bras, yoga pants, and sneakers. We evaluate durability, piling resistance, and moisture management to find the best buys for you. With the help of our in-house fashion experts, we found the best athleisure wear staples that are both comfortable and stylish from brands with previous top performance, editor favorites or styles with rave online reviews.
These buttery soft pieces are sure to become popular in your outfit rotations, as they can easily transition from activity to activity. Mix and match 'em for endless fashionable looks, whether heading out the door or to your sofa. Here are the best athleisure pieces for men and women:
Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Legging
These top tested leggings use 25 recycled water bottles in the polyester fabric that provides compression for a snug fit. Editors love that these Girlfriend leggings are available as part of a set with the matching Paloma sports bra. Available in 14 colors, three different inseam lengths, and sizes XXS to 6XL, you are sure to find a style that you love.
Athleta aces our sports bra and leggings test for being super comfy and supportive. This high neck sports bra is an editor favorite for keeping everything in place while being long enough to wear as a crop top too. It’s also available in D-DD sizing too.
Brooklinen, popular for their super soft sheets, now have a loungewear collection with equally soft athleisure pieces. These joggers have a draw-string waist with just the right amount of stretch. They come in three shades in sizes XS-XXL with a matching sweatshirt available too.
For ultimate comfort, these fleece lined sweatpants are super warm and soft. They have over 3,000 rave Amazon reviews, AND many love wearing them as a set with the matching sweatshirt. Some reviewers recommend going down a size for a more fitted look.
Top performers in our walking sneaker test, these lightweight sneakers are popular among testers for having great cushioning and a comfortable feel. Plus, podiatrists loved that they allow great freedom of movement with the front mesh fabric.
BALEAF bike shorts have over 4,000 rave reviews on Amazon for being comfy whether running marathons or wearing for style. They’re high-rise for a snug fit with convenient side pockets to store must have items.
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Leggings Depot Reflective Side Pocket Leggings
One of our favorite pairs best leggings with pockets, these affordable leggings come in 13 fun colors, starting at just $11. They have both a side pocket and an inner waist pocket to hold everything you need while on the go.
In Lab evaluations, J-Crew’s cashmere sweater showed minimal pilling and had a smooth feel according to our testers. It’s available in sizes XXXS to 3X in 20 shades, including bold neons and classic neutrals. For a cashmere sweater, it’s an unbeatable price.
When stretching during down-dog, you want your leggings to stay put. Our testers loved that these Lululemon leggings “allowed for a good range of motion,” feeling like a second skin. Plus, they were breathable, flattering, and opaque, holding up great in the Lab’s durability tests.
For a mix of athleisure and officewear, this jumpsuit from Athleta is made from sportswear fabric (polyester and spandex blend) for a super light, airy feel while having a professional look. It has a V-neckline and a belt for a cinched waist – did we mention it has pockets too?
Under Armour products are top performers in Lab testing for having excellent stretch and easily wicking moisture away. This long sleeve top is a perfect basic piece for every day wear or when going on an outdoor run.
With classic sportswear details, this cropped hoodie is made from cotton terry cloth with three stripe sleeve detailing. It can be paired with Adidas's matching track pants and sneakers for a head to toe athleisure look.
These lightweight, breezy polyester shorts are the perfect wrinkle-free travel companion. We love that they come in four shades, sizes 0-14 and can easily be styled up or down. There are two front pockets and a draw string for perfect fit.
This simple cotton T-shirt is anything but basic. It’s available in 11 sizes from 4XS to 4XL in nine colors. Online reviewers rave that it’s the perfect crew neck tee and it looks great wash after wash. If you’re unsure of your size, check out Universal Standard’s Fit Liberty program where at any point you can exchange the style for a new one in your updated size.
Allbirds are a popular as a travel shoe, but they’re also super comfy for just walks around the block. 91% of our tester panel gave these sneakers a perfect rating for comfort. You can also go sock-free and then throw them in the washing machine.
For a pop of color, throw on L.L. Bean’s classic Anorak windbreaker, available in regular and petite in sizes XXS to XL and plus sizes too. There is an adjustable hood and convenient kangaroo pockets in the front, all made from wind and water resistant nylon fabric.
SPANX Faux Leather Leggings
One of Spanx’s best seller, these faux leather leggings are a dressier take on classic black leggings. Plus, they have the popular shapewear effects Spanx is known for in the slimming waistband. Reviewers love that the nylon and spandex fabric makes their legs look long and lean.
These simple tanks are just about $8 each – plus they have over 3,000 rave Amazon reviews! Coming in 20 different styles, we want one in every shade. Made of mostly cotton with added modal and spandex, this shirt is designed to feel soft while wicking away moisture if you build up a sweat.
If you don't plan on topping off your athleisure wear outfit with shoes, these super plush wool socks are perfect to keep your toes warm. They're available in packs of three or five in eight different shades. These warm socks are very affordable at just $3.50 a pair.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
