The Best Affordable Athletic Gear (at any price point!)

There is something so comforting about being in athletic wear. Everything stretches to move with you, fabrics are light and breathable, and hug you just tight enough to contain your food baby and minimize your extra giggle from last week’s candy binge. I’ve always been athletic which has led to a love of being in athletic wear, and because of my devotion to this love I’ve accumulate quite the collection. In the last few years I’ve noticed that it has become almost trendy to wear your workout gear outside of the gym, and it has become such a trend to live your life in your athletic wear it has become its own “look”.

And Athleisure was born (and it’s beautiful)

It’s hard not to support a trend that encourages me to look cute and sporty all the time, but as things become popular the prices go up and it becomes expensive and time consuming to look like you just threw something cute together on your way out of the house (ironic... no?) so I thought this would be a great opportunity to share some of my favourite deals on athletic wear to help channel your inner Sporty Spice on any budget (she always got to wear sneaker while the rest were running around in heels…she might be my spirit animal).

Costco

Costco is one of my absolute favourite places to shop for stretchy comfy goodness. I’ve gotten everything from Puma sports bras, to Kirkland brand thermal running shirts. They offer a selection of well-known respected sports brands and some exclusives and everything is priced really well. If you can find their “Tuff Stuff” brand (I think it’s an in-house brand) their products are amazing (I love their pants and hoodies)! I have multiple sets of leggings (at only $17 a pair no less) and not only do they look and feel like higher end bottoms, I have put them through the ringer and they perform just like their high-end counterparts. They don’t have a huge size selection (you’re relegated to XS-XL) but I you can fit into their size range you are going to get some serious bang for your bucks! If you are all ready a Costco member, I highly recommend you check out their apparel section, and if you aren’t a member I highly recommend tagging long with your closest Costco friend on their next trip!

Joe Fresh Active - Shop Joe Fresh Active

I totally stumbled across Joe Fresh Active wear by accident. I was on my way home from a with my run club at work and forgot to pack a sweater to throw on after. It was a little brisk once I was a stagnant sweaty monster so I pulled into the closest Loblaws to grab something easy to throw on. I was so pleasantly surprised by the selection and the zip that I left with that I’ve been back multiple times and now have a few pieces that have become go-tos for workouts and everyday wear. I looooooove their zip up fitted tops (great for running and have zip up pockets which are imperative for keeping your phone and everything from flying out mid jog) and their lose active tanks for any kind of day, you look cute, comfortable and ready to take on the world. While most of their items are priced reasonably, often you can find last season’s colour in the discount section (I’ve gotten all of my tanks for under $7) it takes a little looking but it’s worth it. They also have rotating sales online, if you know your size and prefer to stay at home that’s a great option too!

Old Navy - Shop Old Navy Active

What I love most about the Old Navy is the size range, between the petites and the plus size and maternity collections, it’s a lot more inclusive than a lot of brands are. Their gear is pretty decent quality and comes in a lot more fun colours and patterns than some other more economically priced brands. While their prices are reasonable, if you really want a deal the key to shopping for athletic wear at Old Navy (and the sister brands) are to wait for the sales. Old Navy will have sales where you can save up to 40% off their clothing, and on occasion they will run an active wear specific promo and offer 50% off! They’ve got a wide selection of items including bottoms, tops, under-things of various sorts and pullovers and sweaters for your post workout (or post brunch) outings. If you want to make sure to never miss a promotion, you can sign up for their email list, but take this word of warning… they will email you almost EVERY DAY!

Gap Fit - Shop GapFit

Since Gap and Old Navy are part of the same corporate family (at least they are here in Canada) they have a similar sale cycle. Gap will run the bigger promos less often, but they will regularly have 30-40% off sales if you are willing to keep an eye out. You can also earn “Gap Cash” towards your next purchases (which is always nice)but I do find that they tend to have much more selection in terms of sizing online, so if you are petite like me, or a tall drink of water it might be worthwhile to find you sizing and see what their online store has to offer. I have found that Gap athletic wear (or the Gap Fit line) are slightly upscale from their Old Navy cousins. The colours are a little more neutral, and while they do offer so patterns I find them to be less “in your face”. Even the pullovers have more on the conservative side, with more solid colours and skimming flowy silhouettes than the tight and bright you might find elsewhere. Their products are great quality and will always leave you feeling put together, whether you’re running errands or sweating you’re a$$ off.

Okay before we jump into the next brands, I understand that they are on the higher end of the price spectrum for workout clothes, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had. If you workout out regularly or enjoy simply pushing your body, you know there are some things that you just can’t cheap out on. Accessories like good shoes are worth the investment, but that doesn’t mean you still need to be paying full price. If you are looking for high quality gear that will take beating on the regular and still perform than maybe, it’s worth spending a little more to get something that will not only last you longer but will help you max out your workouts and hit your personal bests.

Under Armour/Nike/Adidas - Shop UnderArmour Sale

This is like the holy trinity of athletics, they’ve all got big athlete sponsorship deals, big shiny ad campaigns and all of them market themselves to be “changing the way you move”. They all also have outlet stores, where you can find the previous generation of the “it” shoe, or last season’s colour selection at some pretty steep discounts. I’m pretty picky about running shoes (mostly because I have wide, flat feet that require insoles and a desire to run and a body that is unhappy about it), but I’ve always been able to find great shoes that work for me and my style of workouts without paying full price.

Under Armour also has a good online outlet (although in my experience they have an entirely different selection of products in store), and if you sign up for their mailing list they will send you coupons to shop their online store (and include the outlet products so you can save on top of the discounted price). You can easily get high quality gear that will last you a long time without spending hundreds.

Lululemon - Shop Lululemon Sale

Okay, take a deep breath, yes Lululemon is on this list. Before you loose your mind over the price, yes they are expensive, but I’ve found their pieces last a loooooooong time have a really unique look that is a mix of performance and pretty (I feel really feminine in their clothing, and maybe that’s just me, but I appreciate not feeling like a Water Buffalo when I’m doing burpees). I wasn’t even planning on adding them to this list until I was talking to my (fitness goals) best friend who didn’t realize they have a sale section. Yes, you heard m right LULULEMON HAS A SALE SECTION! If you are in store you will find it hidden at the back and there may only be a few pieces in different sizes, but it you are online the sale section is called “We Made Too Much” and it is full of great items that they are selling down their stock (and shipping is always free). I’ve gotten some great deals on leggings, sweaters, and jackets that have lasted for years and still shock people when I mention that I’ve gotten them on sale. Somethings to keep in mind, is that all the sale items are final sale (whether in-store or online) so if you are unsure of your size, I’ve gone in store just to double check. Additionally, I always recommend reading at least some of the reviews for whatever it is that you are looking for. Sometimes things are on sale for a reason, whether it’s see-through leggings or sweaters that pill too quickly. If you want to make sure you will give yourself all the info if you plan to pull the trigger and splurge on some of these items. SO if you are looking for a way to treat yourself while still finding a deal, this is a great place to go, just make sure you have all the info.

Well there you have it, athletic wear deals at almost every prince point (that I can afford anyway), but I hope you have found some new shops to get you motivated to get working out, or to look cute while brunching out. Either way, you will look fab, be comfortable and own your own athleisure style!

Happy shopping!