Athleta vs. Lululemon Leggings: Which one is better?

Lululemon is a premium athletic brand known for its high-performance, proprietary fabrics and trendy, body-hugging designs that come with a higher price tag. In contrast, Athleta, owned by Gap Inc., focuses on versatility, comfort, and sustainability, offering reliable and stylish leggings at a more accessible price point.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right leggings for your workouts and lifestyle.

Athleta: The Versatile & Sustainable Choice

Athleta is a performance-lifestyle brand dedicated to empowering women with clothing that seamlessly moves from the yoga studio to the street. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and environmental responsibility, Athleta appeals to conscious consumers who want durable, comfortable activewear that offers excellent value without compromising on style.

• Product mix: Offers a wide range of leggings for yoga, running, training, and everyday life. Their aesthetic is modern and practical, with popular lines like the Salutation Stash and Elation tights known for their buttery-soft feel.
• Price point: Generally more affordable than Lululemon, with most leggings priced between $60 and $100.
• Quality & Materials: Uses high-quality, durable performance fabrics, often incorporating sustainable materials like recycled polyester and nylon blends. Their Powervita™ fabric is famous for its soft, lightly compressive feel.
• Sizing/Fit: Known for its inclusive sizing, offering petite, tall, and plus sizes up to 3X. The fit is generally geared towards comfort and versatility rather than intense compression.
• Sales: Frequently runs sales and seasonal promotions, making their products even more accessible.
• Sustainability: As a certified B Corporation, Athleta is a leader in ethical production, using sustainable materials and promoting fair labor practices.

Athleta is ideal for shoppers seeking comfortable, reliable, and versatile leggings from a brand that prioritizes sustainability and inclusive sizing.

Shop Athleta: athleta.com

Lululemon: The Premium Performance Brand

Lululemon has built an aspirational brand centered on technical athletic apparel that sets the industry standard for performance and style. Known for creating the "athleisure" trend, its leggings are coveted as a status symbol due to proprietary, high-performance fabrics, legendary fit, and sleek, minimalist designs that flatter the body.

• Product mix: Offers specialized leggings for yoga, running, and training, each featuring unique fabric technologies. The Align™ Pant is a cult favorite for its weightless, buttery-soft Nulu™ fabric, while the Wunder Train and Fast and Free leggings offer more compression for high-impact activities.
• Price point: Positioned as a premium brand, with most leggings costing between $98 and $128.
• Technology & Innovation: Famous for its proprietary fabrics like Nulu™ (for a second-skin feel), Luon™ (for support and coverage), and Everlux™ (fast-drying for intense workouts). These fabrics are engineered for specific performance benefits.
• Sizing/Fit: Known for its consistent "hugged" sensation and compressive fit. While their sizing is true-to-size, it is less forgiving than Athleta's, focusing on shaping and support.
• Sales: Sales are rare outside of their "We Made Too Much" section, which maintains brand exclusivity.
• Sustainability: Lululemon is increasing its sustainability efforts with programs like "Like New" for resale and a growing use of recycled materials in their products.

Lululemon is designed for the consumer who prioritizes cutting-edge fabric technology and a fashion-forward, performance-focused fit, and is willing to invest accordingly.

Shop Lululemon: lululemon.com

Athleta vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

There's a clear difference here. Athleta's leggings typically fall in the $60-$100 range, while Lululemon's are priced in the premium $98-$128 bracket. Athleta also has frequent sales events and a more robust sale section, which means you can often find their leggings for significantly less.

If budget is a major factor, Athleta offers a better value proposition. Lululemon's higher price reflects its investment in proprietary fabric technology and brand positioning as a luxury activewear brand.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon built its reputation on its innovative fabrics, and for good reason. Engineered materials like Nulu, Luon, and Everlux offer distinct feels and performance benefits, from weightless comfort to cool-touch compression for intense sweat sessions. They are known for exceptional shape retention and a "held-in" feel.

Athleta's fabrics, particularly their Powervita™ material, are exceptionally soft and durable. While they may not have the same level of technical specialization as Lululemon's, they provide excellent comfort, moisture-wicking properties, and withstand repeated wear and washing. Athleta also leads in the use of recycled and sustainable materials.

Style & Aesthetic

Lululemon defines the sleek, modern athleisure look. Their designs are often minimalist, with subtle branding and colors that are trendy yet timeless. The fit is famously flattering, designed to contour and sculpt the body, making them a go-to for those who want their activewear to double as a fashion statement.

Athleta's aesthetic is more versatile and practical. Their designs incorporate functional details like deep pockets and offer a slightly more relaxed look. While still modern and stylish, the focus is less on creating a specific high-fashion silhouette and more on creating functional pieces that work for a wide array of activities.

Fit & Sizing

Sizing is a key differentiator. Athleta is widely praised for its inclusivity, offering sizes from XXS to 3X, along with petite and tall inseams. Their fit is generally designed for comfort and ease of movement, accommodating a wider range of body types.

Lululemon offers sizes from 0-20, and their fit is much more compressive and body-hugging. It’s what many people love about the brand - the supportive, shaping effect. However, shoppers who prefer a less restrictive feel or are between sizes might find Athleta's leggings more comfortable.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands make excellent leggings, but they serve different priorities. The right choice truly depends on your needs, budget, and personal preferences.

Choose Athleta if:

• You're looking for high-quality leggings under $100 and love a good sale.
• Sustainability and shopping with a B Corp-certified company are important to you.
• You need inclusive sizing options like petite, tall, or extended sizes.
• You prefer a comfortable, versatile legging for everything from light yoga to running errands.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You're willing to invest in premium, technical fabrics engineered for specific activities.
• You love a compressive, "held-in," and shaping fit in your leggings.
• A sleek, fashion-forward aesthetic is just as important as performance.
• You want the buttery-soft, second-skin feel of the iconic Lululemon Align pant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lululemon or Athleta cheaper?

Athleta is consistently cheaper. Their full-price leggings are about 20-30% less than Lululemon's, and they also run frequent sales, allowing for even greater savings, which is very rare for Lululemon.

Which brand's leggings are better quality?

Both offer excellent quality, but they prioritize different things. Lululemon is known for its proprietary, high-tech fabrics that offer superior shape retention and a specific performance feel. Athleta leggings are incredibly durable and comfortable, with a focus on sustainable materials that hold up well over time.

Which brand is better for running?

Both have excellent options. Lululemon's Fast and Free and Wunder Train leggings, made with Everlux fabric, are specifically designed to handle sweat and stay cool during intense runs. Athleta's Ultimate Stash and Rainier leggings are also popular among runners for their durability and convenient pockets.

Do Athleta or Lululemon leggings pill?

Any high-performance legging can pill over time with friction and improper care. Lululemon's buttery-soft Nulu fabric (used in Aligns) is more delicate and prone to pilling if not cared for properly. Athleta's Powervita fabric is generally very resilient against pilling. To minimize it for either brand, wash them inside out on a gentle cycle and avoid the dryer.

Which brand has more inclusive sizing?

Athleta is the clear winner here, offering a much broader range of sizes, including XXS-3X, and petite and tall inseams for many styles. This makes it easier for a wider variety of customers to find a perfect fit.

Are Lululemon leggings worth the money?

For many fitness enthusiasts, they absolutely are. The investment goes into the unique feel and performance of their patented fabrics, the compressive and flattering fit, and the brand prestige. If those qualities are a top priority, the price can be justified.

Which brand is better for everyday wear and lounging?

This is a toss-up, as both dominate this category. Lululemon's Align leggings are legendary for their weightless comfort. However, Athleta's Salutation Stash and Elation leggings offer a very similar soft, comfortable feel at a lower price point and with added features like pockets, making them an excellent choice for everyday versatility.

Do both brands have pockets in their leggings?

Yes, but Athleta is more known for consistently including deep, functional side pockets in many of their core styles, like the popular Salutation Stash tights. Lululemon offers styles with pockets, but it's not as standard across their entire range.