I’ve been working out and buying activewear for years! I walk, run, lift, do pilates & yoga.. and also wear them at home because they are comfy. I ranked everything I tried so you don’t have to waste your time or money experimenting!

If you’re budget-conscious, you might hate to hear that I think the best brand to invest in is Lululemon🥹 Or scroll below, I shared my wallet-friendly faves:)

But hear me out, I bought my first pair of shorts from them 5 years ago, and I’m still wearing them. The Cotton On ones? I’ve had to donate them every year I buy them, I never learn my lesson because they just create cute designs all the time. But never again😂

Still, I’ve experienced quite a few misses from Lulu, so here are the best ones:

• Align shorts – Still have yet to find anything close to this in the market, and I’ve tried a lot. I love 4”, but you can go for 6” if you prefer longer lengths / No middle seam!

  • 4”: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1Eld?c=b&t=p-iExd4Id-s2C244bE

  • 6”: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1EOb?c=a&t=p-i3uLRLF-sPnjmzf

    • Btw, the other lengths in the Align series is also chef kisses

• Speed up shorts – Love the zipper pocket behind that can fit a lip balm, card or earbuds. Also super super comfy option if you don’t like tights but want to manage the heat on outdoor workouts. It’s more lower rise than the Aligns

  • 2.5” black: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1Emt?c=a&t=p-i3lJsX8-sP0RB0b

  • 2.5” white: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1EMd?c=b&t=p-i3lJP0A-sP0RgRO

  • 4” black: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1ENH?c=a&t=p-i3lJpQd-sP0RPXA

• Swiftly shorts: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1Enq?c=b&t=p-i3lJJqh-sP0SEbQ

  • Super comfy option, I’d say this one reminds me a little of FBTs but more well made and a softer, MUJI jersey + drifit type material

  • It’s a super basic design though and not something that cannot be found in other brands, hence not ranked higher

• Strappy racer bra – I have a $10 dupe for this down below, and I really want to say that I love the dupe more. This one is slightly lower coverage and more durable, but still a lot higher priced

  • A/B cup: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1EqU?c=a&t=p-i37Ps7X-sLVXyiG

  • C/D cup: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1EsN?c=a&t=p-i3z1Z7z-sQL8FXl

• Like a cloud bra: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1EGJ?c=a&t=p-iExXwdl-s2C23rbG

  • Actually my favourite bra from the brand, but it doesn’t really have traditional paddings so it can be a bit revealing😂

  • 1000% comfortable, but may not be for everyone so I didn’t want to rank it 1st for bras. Will highly encourage you to check it out in person first!

• Flow Y bra: https://s.lazada.sg/s.U1Euw?c=a&t=p-i2nerdJ-sHdGAtn

  • Go for this if you prefer higher compression & coverage. I personally prefer my sports bras to be softer, more stretchy and less restrictive so I won’t rank this higher

Misses from Lululemon:

• Unisex power stride crew socks – Extremely overpriced and feels so slippery within the sock that it feels really weird to run in. Will always go for regular crew socks from now

• Fast & Free split shorts – Actually love how this looks, but the inner lining is way too small if you train your glutes lol. Otherwise, it’s a really nice pair of shorts!

  • A better alternative for split shorts, my all-time fave from Nike: https://www.nike.com/sg/t/aeroswift-dri-fit-adv-mid-rise-brief-lined-8cm-running-shorts-z7RldM/FN2329-010

Budget-friendly options you really need to try now that you know my comparison is always against Lulu

Sorted by lowest price first:

• $10 lulu sports bra dupe – https://s.shopee.sg/9AM2nxsTLV

• Flex scoop bra – https://www.urbnzd.co/products/flex-scoop-bra-black

• Booty shorts 4” – https://www.urbnzd.co/products/booty-shorts-4-black

• Sculpt bra – https://www.cheak.com/products/sculpt-bra?variant=47774963368153

• Power shorts with pockets 4” – https://www.cheak.com/products/power-short-with-pockets?variant=46506186866905

Brands that I won’t really consider repurchasing, and don’t want to reach for in my collection:

• Alo Yoga – Although I love their Match Point Tennis Skirt. The rest are misses! Just feel the brand is incredibly basic and price point doesn’t match up to the quality

• Cotton On – Looks good until you try them on and everything just feels off and suddenly $40+ doesn’t feel that budget-friendly

• Gym Shark – Omg, are people pretending to like this brand? It’s soooo uncomfortable to me and I tried to order from them twice!

• Adanola – Actually the best out of this whole list, just find it overpriced and not as accessible as compared to Lululemon with physical stores I can try on

• Anya Active – Actually has so much potential but I find the material & design to be a bit thick, and thus on the uncomfortable side. Cheak is a lot more comfortable and similar in designs & vibes!