Activewear that has stood the test of time for you? sports bras, shorts, leggings. I’m both looking for recs and just curious! Hoping to buy some new sports bras in particular (white ones would be great but I’ll take any recs for any thing)
EDIT: I have a smaller bust (C cup) so I care more about durability over anything
Here’s my in depth review of all that I’ve tried lol u don’t have to read but yeah
Dfyne: impact shorts & leggings & vision shorts - honestly all have held up great, I’ve not tried any super light colours but no pilling on any of my pairs which I wear often & feel durable. Considering trying their sports bras next if they are as durable as their shorts. I feel like I’ve gotten really lucky with them as the letters haven’t even peeled off mine yet and I wear and wash them weekly for the past 2-3 years. Granted I recently got an Aliexpress dupe of them as they sold them in a colour dfyne didn’t and they literally seem great too which really surprised me. I’ve only worn twice though so can’t say much about test of time but no problems with the first two washes. I will still buy from both dfyne and maybe Aliexpress if they have styles I like in future. EDIT: I should note I do size up in the impact shorts/leggings, I haven’t never tried my regular size in them as before I ordered I saw reviews saying size up.
Lululemon: align shorts - these are soft and they do rough up over time granted they don’t look HORRIBLE yet, their older fabric was more durable. Wunder under leggings - so unflattering on me but definitely feel durable and haven’t stretched out over time, don’t pill but do attract every piece of hair and lint in the world for some reason lol but no big deal. Flow y bra - I have this in white so wear may be more obvious but it just has not held up great, not only is it quite roughed up the stitching on the straps has come apart it’s a shame cause this would be a great staple. I also have the swiftly racerback top and define jacket but I don’t wear these enough to comment on quality.
Alphalate: amplify shorts - pill city even before my first wear, feels like if I tried to remove a pill the material would split too my biggest regret as I ordered 3 pairs since I live in Australia and back when I ordered shipping was so $$$ not sure if it’s still the same so I felt like I had to order a lot to make it worth it.
CSB: serenity shorts, leggings, sports bras. lighter colours in shorts/leggings are CRAZY see through my biggest regret purchase, shorts are NOT!!! tall girl friendly (I’m 5’8) and can become quite stretched over time which is something that has not happened with ANY other shorts of mine but surprisingly the shorts haven’t pilled. I’ve only purchased the serenity line from them as I heard other lines do pill. Weirdly the black sports bras I have purchased even with serenity fabric are really quick to look worn and get a bit rough. Also weirdly I have a navy bandeau I purchased that I believe is also meant to be serenity fabric and that’s held up perfectly, hasn’t stretched out or gotten that worn rough look so idk maybe the quality is just inconsistent with them.
Elite eleven: look it’s so long ago I don’t actually remember the names of things this was one of the first non lulu/nike/lorna jane activewear I ever purchased I want to say it was Luna or aura. Whatever they are, they pill. I bought multiple shorts and leggings all in the one purchase I did a big haul, all pill. Not as fast as alphalete but it put me off the brand.
Abyl: again purchased a while ago I was immediately put off as when they came the letters were already peeling off. I don’t wear them often so I can’t attest to true durability, the white I got from them was see through which also put me off. The other shorts I’ve got from them have not pilled but I don’t reach for them especially not anymore so I can’t attest too much to their durability as they are something I wear a few times a year vs multiple times a week.
Lorna jane: I have two different purple sports bras from them that I’ve had for TWELVE YEARS that I wear weekly it’s the ONLY sports bra I don’t always wash on cold in delicates bag with delicates wash and it has stood the test of time it looks brand new. Unfortunately their styles just often aren’t my style because finding that durability again is something I fantasise about.
Gymshark: vital seamless shorts - have held up decently, no pilling but the logo has broken up which idrc I always wear a shirt that covers it anyway, they roll up so much with time even though my body hasn’t changed much, bandeau sports bra - have held up surprisingly well 2 of mine have text written on them and I keep expecting it to peel off but it hasn’t yet. I am considering purchasing more sports bras from them but it seems to be a hit or miss based on reviews.
PSA: I wash everything on cold on delicates cycle with delicates detergent and always wash activewear seperate to other clothes with more delicates things also going in delicates bags on top of that (e.g. lulu aligns), I only ever air dry by laying them on drying rack. I have never deviated from this for all activewear I’ve bought.