Splurge vs. Steal- Cute Workout Clothes For Any Budget
Splurge vs. Steal- Workout Clothes For Any Budget
As a girl who covets her Lulu Lemons and swears by the power of a great pair of compression leggings from Athleta, you would be hard pressed to find me browsing Amazon Fashion for a new pair of workout pants. But, here I am at 10 p.m., a few glasses or wine in, and there is a lightning deal on workout leggings, high waisted, and hot pink! Have I ever heard of the brand? Nope. Do I really need one more pair of workout pants? Like a hole in the head. But, they’re 12 dollars, and I don’t have this shade of pink in my collection!
Two days later, Amazon Prime delivers. I’m now the proud owner of not one, but four pairs of workout leggings. HEY! No judgement, it’s free returns. Did I return any of them? Nope! Surprisingly, my lightning deal leggings are pretty frickin’ awesome! Now listen, I don’t discriminate when it comes to my workout clothes. I am an equal opportunity shopper. I have some amazing tops from Marshalls, Old Navy, and Target. My pants however? I am very picky when it comes to workout leggings.
You see, I suffer from something I like to call, “Hungry Thighs.” Any pair of pants I wear, no matter how much they claim to never move an inch, always get eaten by my thighs. If you see a girl in your workout class constantly puling up her work out pants after every movement, thats me, stop by and say hi. So, when I find a pair that I only have to pull up once or twice a class, it’s like I hit the jackpot. These Amazon leggings did not disappoint!
If you find yourself in need of some new workout clothes, look no further. Below I have listed my favorite splurges and steals, their pros and cons, and links to where you can find them.
Splurge:
First up is my all time favorite- The All in Capri from Athleta ($79). From Yoga to High Intensity Interval Training, these amazing compression capris are going to be your go-to gym pants. They are high waisted, which is an added bonus, and they stay put. I would be hard pressed to find much wrong with these crops. The one big downside is that they only come in the most basic of colors, and I have yet to find them in a print.
My next favorite splurge is the Wonder Under crops from Lulu Lemon ($88+).These are buttery soft and make your booty look oh so luscious. I love that the Wonder Under style comes in a variety of styles, colors, and prints. I also love that they come in high waisted and a mid-rise style. I mostly wore these workout pants when I did Cross Fit, so they definitely can withstand a rigorous workout. One drawback to these crops is that if you are prone to “Hungry Thighs” like myself, you will be pulling them up quite a bit.
Steal:
So, those impulse buy, lightning deal leggings from Amazon? I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the workout leggings for the first time. The Oalka Women’s Yoga Capris Power Flex Running Pants Workout Leggings ($18.99) did not disappoint! With a 4.5/ 5 approval rating on Amazon and over 2,053 ratings, I know I’m not alone. They provide just the right amount of compression when working out, whether you’re rocking a METCON, or flowing through some sun salutations, these leggings are up to the challenge. Because they are cheap, they definitely are not the softest pair of workout pants I have owned. They are also inconsistent in their materials that they use. For example, the Space Dye colors have a silky/ nylon look and feel to them, while the regular colored crops are much more spandex, in texture and feel. They do have a variety of colors to choose from, and if you happen to find them on lightning deal, you can grab a pair for around ten dollars.
Splurge:
Some of my favorite workout bras are the Free to Be sports bras from Lulu Lemon ($48) They come in super fun colors and look great under racer back tanks. These are not for the big chested ladies, as they do not offer much support. However, they get me through my Chaturangas and burpees equally.
Another Lulu Lemon favorite is the Energy Bra ($52). This bra offers much more support and is up to any task. This is a great bra for girls with a B/C cup. It is a bit restrictive, but I love it for jogging and all my more rigorous workouts.
Steal:
I really don’t discriminate when it comes to Sports Bras. I love a Target sports bra as much as a Lulu Lemon. I like the Old Navy Seamless Light Support Sports Bra for Women ($10). It isn’t flashy, and definitely not as cute as the Free to Be or Energy Bra from Lulu Lemon, but it has great support and does the job. As with most of the items on Old Navy, you might want to size down in this workout bra.
Splurge:
I don’t have any steals in this department. Not all workout shorts are made equal. I have tried Under Armor, Nike, and Champion with little success. Hands down, my favorite workout shorts, and every day lounge shorts, are the Run Times Short in 2-way stretch ($58) They are the perfect length for ladies with more athletic thighs (like myself) and don’t bunch up. These can be hard to find in a bunch of fun colors, like right now all I see is a white pair. White gym shorts? But, they are well worth the price tag.
So, TTD followers, whether you're on a budget, or can afford a splurge every once in a while, consider some of these great workout essentials. If you have any workout clothes recommendations, make sure to comment below, or share your recommendations on our Instagram @teachdistillery or our Twitter @TeachDistillery accounts!
Bottoms Up!