Crz vs. Lululemon: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Crz offers stylish, high-performance activewear with a strong focus on sustainability at a more accessible mid-range price point. In contrast, Lululemon is a premium leader known for its proprietary, high-tech fabrics, iconic fit, and a higher investment cost. Crz appeals to the eco-conscious and budget-aware shopper with a minimalist aesthetic, while Lululemon targets those seeking best-in-class materials and a strong, community-driven brand experience.

Let's compare these two activewear brands to help you decide which one best fits your lifestyle, budget, and workout needs.

Crz: The Sustainable & Stylish Activewear Choice

Crz has quickly established itself as a go-to brand for versatile athleisure that combines style, performance, and environmental responsibility. Targeting a modern, active customer, Crz focuses on creating durable pieces with innovative, eco-friendly materials that work equally well for a gym session or a casual day out. Their philosophy centers on providing high-quality activewear that doesn't force a choice between affordability and sustainability.

• Product mix: A focused collection of workout essentials including leggings, sports bras, joggers, tanks, and tops designed for activities like yoga, training, and running.
• Price point: Most items fall within the $50 to $150 range, making it a more budget-friendly alternative to premium brands.
• Quality & Materials: Utilizes advanced, eco-conscious fabrics that are moisture-wicking, breathable, and often made from recycled materials. The quality holds up well to both athletic activity and frequent washing.
• Style & Aesthetic: Features a sleek, minimalist, and contemporary look. The brand favors neutral color palettes and subtle branding, making its pieces easy to mix and match.
• Sizing/Fit: Offers a wide and inclusive size range. The fit is generally comfortable and tailored for movement, though it can vary slightly between different collections.
• Sustainability: This is a core tenet of the brand. Crz emphasizes the use of recycled fabrics and partners with manufacturers who follow sustainable practices.

Crz is the ideal choice for shoppers seeking functional, eco-conscious activewear with a modern, understated style at a reasonable price.

Shop Crz: crz.com

Lululemon: The Premium Performance Icon

Lululemon is a global powerhouse in the athletic apparel industry, famous for its luxurious fabrics, flattering fits, and creating a strong sense of community. Originally known for its yoga wear, it has since expanded into gear for running, training, and everyday life. The brand invests heavily in fabric research and development, resulting in signature materials that are often cited as the industry standard for comfort, stretch, and performance.

• Product mix: An extensive range including leggings, sports bras, shorts, jackets, and accessories for yoga, running, training, and casual wear. Popular collections include the Align and Wunder Train lines.
• Price point: Positioned firmly in the premium category, with leggings typically starting at $98 and tanks around $58. Prices for most apparel range from $70 to $200+.
• Quality & Materials: Renowned for its proprietary fabrics like the impossibly soft Nulu™ and the supportive Luxtreme™. These materials are exceptionally durable, maintain their shape, and offer a signature "second-skin" feel.
• Style & Aesthetic: Energetic, modern, and often trend-setting. While they offer core neutral colors, Lululemon is also known for releasing seasonal bold colors and distinctive patterns.
• Sizing/Fit: Celebrated for its consistent sizing and body-contouring designs. Lululemon products generally run true to size and are engineered for a flattering, supportive fit.
• Return policy: Offers a 30-day return policy for unworn items and a quality promise that covers manufacturing defects.

Lululemon excels at creating best-in-class performance apparel for those willing to invest in superior fabric technology, a consistent fit, and an iconic brand aesthetic.

Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com

Crz vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

The most significant difference between the two brands is price. Crz is positioned as a mid-range brand, with leggings around the $50-$80 mark. This makes it a much more accessible entry point for high-quality activewear without breaking the bank.

Lululemon operates in the premium/luxury space. Its famous Align leggings start at $98, and jackets or specialty items can easily exceed $200. While many customers find the cost is justified by the quality and longevity, it represents a substantial investment. If budget is your primary concern, Crz offers a better value proposition.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon's reputation is built on its materials. Fabrics like Nulu, created for the Align collection, are unmatched in softness, while Everlux in the Wunder Train line is engineered for fast drying during intense workouts. The company's R&D sets a high bar for performance, feel, and durability.

Crz also focuses on great materials, but with a different priority. They use high-performance, moisture-wicking fabrics while integrating sustainability through recycled fibers. While their fabrics are excellent, they may not offer the same specific, cult-favorite sensation you get from Lululemon’s signature technologies. Crz offers very good performance, but Lululemon offers a uniquely luxurious feel.

Style & Aesthetic

Your style preference will play a big role in your decision. Crz leans toward a minimalist, sleek aesthetic. Its collections primarily feature solid, neutral colors and simple designs that can easily transition from the gym to errands. The branding is subtle, appealing to someone who prefers an understated look.

Lululemon is much more fashion-forward. While it has plenty of basics, it constantly releases new styles, vibrant seasonal colors, and patterns. Its designs are often cut to be both performative and visibly stylish, making it a brand for those who want their gym wear to make a statement.

Fit & Sizing

Lululemon is known for its highly consistent, true-to-size fit. Their designs are meticulously crafted to contour and support the body in a flattering way, which is a major reason for its loyal following. If you find your size in one style of Lululemon leggings, it's very likely to be consistent across others.

Crz provides an inclusive range of sizes designed for comfort and performance. Customers generally find the sizing to be accurate, but because it is a younger, direct-to-consumer brand, you may find slight variations between product lines. Always check the specific size chart for the item you're interested in.

Sustainability & Ethics

Sustainability is a cornerstone of Crz's brand identity. Their use of recycled materials and focus on eco-friendly manufacturing is a central selling point for their target audience. They actively market their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint.

Lululemon has significantly increased its sustainability efforts, outlining goals for using sustainable materials, reducing water usage, and improving its supply chain. As a major global corporation, its initiatives have a large scale, but for shoppers who want to support a brand built from the ground up on green principles, Crz holds a slight edge.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really comes down to your priorities. Both brands make excellent activewear, but they serve different shoppers effectively.

Choose Crz if:

• You prioritize sustainability and want to support a brand with an eco-conscious mission.
• You're on a budget but refuse to compromise on performance and quality.
• Your personal style is minimalist, modern, and you prefer subtle, clean designs.
• You want versatile pieces that look just as good running errands as they do in a yoga studio.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You are willing to invest in what many consider the best-feeling, highest-performing fabrics on the market.
• A consistent, sculpting, and flattering fit is your number one priority.
• You enjoy a premium shopping experience and being part of a well-established brand community.
• You love staying on-trend with seasonal colors and fashion-forward athletic styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crz or Lululemon cheaper?

Crz is significantly cheaper. Most of its products retail for about 40-60% less than comparable items from Lululemon, making it a much more accessible and budget-friendly brand.

Which brand has better quality leggings?

This depends on what you value. Lululemon is famous for its proprietary fabrics that feel luxurious and are extremely durable over time. Crz offers excellent quality for its price point, with a focus on sustainable materials that also perform very well.

Does Crz fit like Lululemon?

While both brands focus on creating functional fits, Lululemon is known for its highly consistent sizing and body-contouring effect. It's best to check the specific size chart for Crz, as fit can sometimes vary by collection. Lululemon typically runs true to size with a compressive feel.

Is Crz a good Lululemon alternative?

Yes, Crz is an excellent alternative to Lululemon, especially for shoppers who want a similar high-performance aesthetic and quality but are more mindful of budget and sustainability. For many, it provides 80-90% of the performance for nearly half the price.

Which brand is better for yoga?

Lululemon built its empire on yoga wear, and its buttery-soft Nulu™ fabric (used in Align leggings) is designed specifically for that purpose. While Crz's gear is also great for yoga, Lululemon remains the specialized leader in this category.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Crz makes sustainability a central part of its brand identity, marketing its use of recycled materials and green partnerships. Lululemon has comprehensive corporate sustainability goals, but it's more deeply woven into the DNA of Crz.

How are the return policies?

Lululemon offers a standard 30-day return policy for unwashed and unworn merchandise. Crz offers a similar flexible policy, focused on ensuring customer satisfaction through its direct-to-consumer online model.

Do Crz or Lululemon ever have sales?

Lululemon rarely has site-wide sales, instead offering a year-round "We Made Too Much" section with discounted items. Crz's pricing is consistently lower, but they may offer occasional promotions or seasonal sales.