Gymshark vs. Rawgear: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Gymshark is known for its sleek, modern, and high-quality activewear with a minimalist aesthetic, positioning itself as a premium, trend-focused global brand. In contrast, Rawgear offers an edgier, streetwear-inspired style with bold graphics and darker color palettes, targeting a younger audience at a slightly more accessible price point.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right fitness apparel brand for your needs.

Gymshark: The Sleek & Modern Fitness Giant

Gymshark is a leading name in fitness apparel, appealing to a global audience of young, fitness-conscious individuals. The brand’s identity is built on trendy, form-fitting designs that seamlessly transition from the gym to casual wear. They have built a massive community through savvy social media marketing and collaborations with top fitness influencers.

• Product mix: Gymshark offers a wide range of men's and women's activewear, including their famous seamless leggings, sports bras, shorts, t-shirts, and hoodies. Their collections often feature coordinated sets designed for both performance and style.
• Price point: Positioned in the mid-range market, most items are priced between $30 and $80. Popular leggings often sell for around $50-$60, while hoodies are in the $60-$70 range.
• Quality & Materials: The brand is known for using high-quality, durable materials with moisture-wicking and four-way stretch properties. Their seamless leggings are particularly popular for their comfort, fit, and resistance to pilling.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally true to size, offering a range from XS to XXL. Their compression and seamless pieces are designed to be snug and form-fitting while remaining comfortable.
• Sales: Gymshark holds big sales a few times a year, such as during Black Friday and seasonal events, where shoppers can find significant discounts. They also offer bundle deals to provide better value.
• Return policy: They typically offer a straightforward 30-day return policy for most items.

Gymshark is the go-to for shoppers who want reliable, stylish, and high-quality fitness gear with a clean, modern look that performs well in and out of the gym.

Shop Gymshark: gymshark.com

Rawgear: The Edgy Streetwear-Inspired Upstart

Founded by fitness influencer Sal Frangieh, Rawgear carves out its space with a bold, streetwear-focused aesthetic. The brand appeals to gym-goers who want their apparel to make a statement, featuring gritty, dark designs, prominent logos, and graphic prints. Their target audience is younger, trend-savvy, and wants functional gym clothes with an attitude.

• Product mix: Rawgear's lineup includes compression shirts, joggers, shorts, tank tops, and accessories. Their pieces are designed to merge performance with a distinct streetwear vibe.
• Price point: Rawgear is very competitively priced, with most items falling between $25 and $70. This makes it a great option for those seeking stylish gym wear on a budget.
• Quality & Materials: The focus is on durable, performance-ready fabrics like polyester blends and compression materials that hold up during intense workouts. While not always feeling as premium as Gymshark, the quality is excellent for the price.
• Sizing/Fit: Similar to Gymshark, Rawgear offers sizes from XS to XXL. Their fit is generally true to size but leans toward a compression style. Some customers suggest sizing up on certain items if you prefer a looser fit.
• Sales: The brand is known for frequent flash sales and discount codes circulated by their network of influencers, making it easy to find a good deal.
• Return policy: Rawgear provides a clear 30-day window for returns and exchanges.

Rawgear delivers a unique, edgy alternative in the fitness apparel space, perfect for those who want their gym style to reflect a bold, street-inspired personality without breaking the bank.

Shop Rawgear: rawgear.com

Gymshark vs. Rawgear Comparison

Price Comparison

While both brands operate in the mid-range tier, Rawgear generally offers a lower entry price point. A typical Rawgear t-shirt or tank top might cost around $25-$35, while a similar item from Gymshark could be $35-$45. This trend continues with bottoms, where Rawgear joggers and shorts are often more aggressively priced.

Gymshark's slightly higher prices reflect their investment in specialty fabrics, like their signature seamless material, and a more established brand reputation. However, value can be found during their major sales events. Rawgear provides more consistent opportunities for savings through frequent flash sales and influencer discount codes, making them the more budget-friendly option year-round.

Quality & Materials

Gymshark excels in fabric innovation and feel, especially with their seamless collections. These products offer a soft, comfortable, second-skin fit with excellent four-way stretch and moisture-wicking capabilities that many customers praise for their durability.

Rawgear focuses on tough, resilient materials built for performance. Their polyester and compression blends are designed to withstand heavy lifting and high-intensity training. The fabrics may not have the same buttery-soft feel as some Gymshark lines, but they are praised for their durability and functional performance, providing excellent quality relative to their price point.

Style & Aesthetic

The difference in style is where these two brands truly diverge. Gymshark embodies a sleek, athletic, and minimalist aesthetic. Their colorways are often neutral or pastel, making pieces easy to mix, match, and wear outside the gym. It's a clean look that appeals to a broad audience.

Rawgear’s aesthetic is decidedly darker and edgier. Rooted in streetwear, its designs feature bold logo placements, graphic prints, and a color palette dominated by black, grey, and navy. It's a brand for someone who wants to stand out and showcase a more rebellious, fashion-forward gym look.

Fit & Sizing

Both brands offer an inclusive size range from XS to XXL and provide detailed sizing guides on their websites. Gymshark is known for its consistent, true-to-size fit. Their seamless and compression wear is meant to be snug, so if you're between sizes, you may prefer to size up for comfort.

Rawgear's fit is also mostly true to size, focusing on athletic and compression cuts. However, some users report certain items, especially tops and compression shirts, run slightly small or tight. It's a good idea to consult their sizing chart carefully before making a purchase, particularly if you're unfamiliar with the brand.

Shopping Experience

Both Gymshark and Rawgear are direct-to-consumer eCommerce brands with well-designed, user-friendly websites. You'll find high-quality product photos, detailed descriptions, and customer reviews on both sites. Customer service for both brands is responsive, and they each offer standard 30-day return policies, making for a straightforward and reliable shopping experience.

Sustainability & Ethics

Gymshark has been more public about its sustainability journey. The company has published reports on its environmental footprint and is actively working to incorporate recycled materials into its products. While there is still room for improvement, they are taking clear steps toward better transparency and manufacturing practices.

Rawgear's public information on its sustainability and ethical manufacturing is more limited. The brand emphasizes quality production, but detailed information about its supply chain or eco-friendly initiatives is not as readily available. For shoppers who prioritize environmental transparency, Gymshark currently has the clearer advantage.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really depends on your personal style, workout routine, and budget. Both brands offer quality apparel, but they serve different tastes.

Choose Gymshark if:

• You prefer a clean, modern, and minimalist look.
• Fabric feel is a top priority, and you love soft, seamless materials.
• You want versatile activewear that looks just as good running errands as it does in the gym.
• You are willing to spend slightly more for established quality and brand reputation.

Choose Rawgear if:

• You want bold, edgy, streetwear-inspired gym apparel that stands out.
• You're on a budget and love finding great deals through flash sales.
• Your style leans toward dark colors, graphic prints, and prominent logos.
• You prioritize durable, functional gear for intense training sessions like weightlifting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gymshark or Rawgear cheaper?

Overall, Rawgear is slightly cheaper. Their products generally have a lower price tag, and they offer frequent flash sales and influencer discount codes, making them a more budget-friendly option for shoppers.

Which has better quality leggings?

Gymshark is widely recognized for its high-quality seamless leggings. They are praised for their soft feel, durability, and flattering fit, making them a better choice if leggings are your top priority.

Do Gymshark and Rawgear run true to size?

Gymshark is known for being consistently true to size. Rawgear is also mostly true to size, but some customers find that their more compression-focused items can run a bit small, so it's wise to check their size guide.

What is the return policy for Gymshark and Rawgear?

Both brands offer a 30-day return window for unworn items with tags attached, providing a standard and reliable policy for online shoppers.

Which brand is better for weightlifting?

Both brands are popular among weightlifters. Rawgear's durable, performance-oriented fabrics are built to withstand intense sessions, while Gymshark's stretchy seamless designs offer excellent freedom of movement for exercises like squats and deadlifts.

Are Gymshark and Rawgear sustainable?

Gymshark has more publicly available information on its sustainability efforts, including the use of recycled materials and transparency reports. Rawgear's sustainability practices are less clear, giving Gymshark the edge for environmentally conscious buyers.

Can I wear Rawgear clothing outside the gym?

Absolutely. Rawgear's apparel is heavily influenced by streetwear fashion, making its hoodies, joggers, and t-shirts easy to style for casual everyday wear.

Who owns Rawgear?

Rawgear was founded by fitness entrepreneur and social media personality Sal Frangieh.