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

HeyNuts offers stylish, eco-friendly activewear at a much more accessible price point, typically under $80, with a vibrant, youthful aesthetic. In contrast, Lululemon is a premium performance brand with prices often exceeding $100, known for its proprietary high-tech fabrics, exceptional durability, and sophisticated, minimalist style.

Let's compare the specifics of HeyNuts and Lululemon to help you decide which brand best fits your budget, style, and performance needs.

HeyNuts: The Sustainable & Stylish Alternative

HeyNuts positions itself as a modern activewear brand for those who want comfort, style, and sustainability without the luxury price tag. Their target customer appreciates trendy designs and eco-conscious materials, seeking versatile pieces that work for both a tough workout and a casual coffee run. The brand stands out with its commitment to using recycled fabrics and vibrant color palettes.

• Product mix: A focused range of high-performance leggings, sports bras, tank tops, and hoodies. Their collection is designed to be mixed and matched, strongly leaning into the athleisure category.
• Price point: Very accessible, with most core items like leggings and sports bras falling between $30 and $80. This puts them in the mid-range market, offering a more budget-friendly option than premium competitors.
• Quality: Good overall quality for the price, utilizing durable recycled and eco-friendly fabrics with a comfortable, soft feel. While not always matching Lululemon's technical performance, they hold up well for daily wear and moderate exercise.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally inclusive, running from XS to XXL. The fit is designed to be flexible and comfortable, accommodating different body shapes without being overly compressive.
• Sustainability: This is a core part of the brand's identity. HeyNuts emphasizes its use of recycled materials, eco-friendly dyes, and transparent manufacturing processes.

HeyNuts is the ideal choice for shoppers seeking trendy, eco-friendly activewear that performs well for everyday activities at an affordable price.

Shop HeyNuts: heynuts.com

Lululemon: The Leader in Premium Performance

Lululemon is the global standard for premium technical athletic apparel, originally famous for revolutionizing yoga wear and now dominating the wider athleisure space. Their customer is willing to invest in high-quality, durable gear that offers exceptional performance, a flattering fit, and timeless style. The brand has built a loyal following through its innovative fabrics and strong community focus.

• Product mix: An extensive range including leggings for different activities (yoga, running, training), sports bras, jackets, tops, and accessories for men and women. Their product lines are highly specialized for various fitness needs.
• Price point: Firmly in the luxury category, with their famous Align leggings starting around $98 and jackets often priced between $128 and $198. Many shoppers see the cost as a long-term investment in quality.
• Quality: Exceptional. Lululemon is renowned for proprietary fabrics like the buttery-soft Nulu™ and the durable Luon™. Their garments are known to last many years with proper care, maintaining their shape, color, and performance features.
• Sizing/Fit: Famous for its engineered, consistent fit that flatters the body. Lululemon offers a wide range of sizes, typically from XXS to 3X (size 0 to 20), with options for different inseam lengths.
• Sustainability: Lululemon has major initiatives like its "Like New" resale program and increasing use of recycled and sustainable materials across its collections.

Lululemon delivers unmatched performance, a precision fit, and long-term durability, making it the top choice for serious athletes and those who prioritize quality above all else.

Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com

HeyNuts vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a stark price difference between the two brands. A typical pair of leggings from HeyNuts will cost you around $40-$60, while Lululemon's most popular styles start at $98 and can go up to $128 or more. Sports bras at HeyNuts are generally in the $30-$50 range, whereas Lululemon bras often cost between $58 and $78.

HeyNuts brings quality activewear to a much wider audience with its highly competitive pricing. Lululemon justifies its premium cost with extensive materials research, long-lasting construction, and a powerful brand reputation. If budget is your primary concern, HeyNuts is the clear winner. If you see activewear as a long-term investment, Lululemon's price may be justified by its durability.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon sets the industry standard here. Proprietary fabrics like Nulu™, Luxtreme™, and Everlux™ are engineered for specific sensations and performance metrics - from a "naked sensation" for yoga to fast-drying compression for high-intensity training. These fabrics are famous for their four-way stretch, shape retention, and pilling resistance over many years.

HeyNuts also focuses on quality, with an emphasis on soft, eco-friendly materials. Their fabrics are comfortable, breathable, and supportive for most everyday activities and gym sessions. However, they aren't engineered to the same technical level as Lululemon's and may not provide the same specialized performance for elite athletic pursuits.

Style & Aesthetic

The brands appeal to different style sensibilities. HeyNuts has a more vibrant and youthful aesthetic, often incorporating bold colors, trendy patterns, and modern cuts. Their style feels fresh, energetic, and aligned with current fashion trends.

Lululemon champions a more timeless and sophisticated look. Their designs are sleek, minimalist, and often feature subtle branding and a more muted or classic color palette. This makes their pieces incredibly versatile, easily transitioning from the gym to errands without feeling out of place. Lululemon's aesthetic is refined and focuses on flattering silhouettes.

Fit & Sizing

Both brands offer inclusive sizing and aim to provide a comfortable fit. Lululemon is known for its incredibly precise, tailored fit that sculpts and supports the body. Shoppers often find a size and style that works for them and stick with it for years due to its consistency. They also offer multiple inseam lengths for leggings, which is a major advantage.

HeyNuts focuses on a flexible, comfortable fit that moves with you. The fit is typically reported as true to size, but the focus is less on high-compression engineering and more on all-day comfort. Their range is solid (XS-XXL), fitting a good cross-section of customers.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands make sustainability a priority, but in different ways. For HeyNuts, it's a core marketing pillar. They lead with their use of recycled fabrics and sustainable production, making it a key reason for customers to choose them. This message is integrated into their identity.

Lululemon, as a much larger corporation, has large-scale sustainability programs. Their "Like New" resale platform is a significant step toward circular fashion, and they have public goals for reducing their environmental impact and using more sustainable materials. Lululemon's initiatives have a larger scale, but eco-consciousness is more central to the HeyNuts brand story.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice depends entirely on your priorities as a shopper. Both brands offer excellent products but cater to very different needs.

Choose HeyNuts if:

• You are on a budget and want stylish, functional leggings for under $60.
• You prioritize wearing clothes made from recycled and eco-friendly materials.
• You enjoy a youthful, trendy aesthetic with bold colors and modern styles.
• You need versatile and comfortable activewear for the gym, errands, and lounging.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You are willing to invest in premium activewear that will last for years.
• You need highly technical gear engineered for specific activities like running or heated yoga.
• You prefer a timeless, minimalist style that is both sophisticated and versatile.
• A consistent, tailored fit that sculpts and supports is your top priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HeyNuts cheaper than Lululemon?

Yes, significantly. HeyNuts is a mid-range brand with leggings typically costing $40-$60, while Lululemon is a premium brand with leggings priced at $98-$128.

Which brand has better quality leggings?

For technical performance, specialized features, and long-term durability, Lululemon is generally considered higher quality due to its proprietary fabrics and construction. For everyday value, a soft feel, and eco-friendly materials, HeyNuts offers very good quality for its price point.

Are HeyNuts leggings a dupe for Lululemon?

While some styles may feel similarly soft or have a comparable look, they are not direct dupes. HeyNuts offers a more affordable alternative with a different focus on materials (eco-friendly vs. performance-engineered). Lululemon's specific fabric sensations, like Nulu™, are unique to their brand.

Which brand is better for yoga?

Lululemon built its empire on yoga wear, and their Align collection, made from Nulu™ fabric, is considered by many to be the gold standard for its buttery-soft, next-to-nothing feel. However, HeyNuts leggings are also comfortable and flexible, making them a great and affordable option for a regular yoga practice.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Both brands prioritize sustainability. HeyNuts builds its entire brand identity around using recycled and eco-friendly materials. Lululemon has broader, corporate-level initiatives, including its "Like New" resale program and commitments to sourcing sustainable materials on a massive scale. Choosing the "more" sustainable one depends on whether you prefer to support a brand with sustainability at its core or a major corporation making large-scale changes.

Does Lululemon ever have sales?

Yes, Lululemon has a "We Made Too Much" section on their website which is their year-round sale area. Items in this section are final sale. They also participate in larger events like Black Friday, but widespread discounts are rare.

How does the sizing compare between HeyNuts and Lululemon?

Lululemon is known for its consistent and often compressive fit, with a numbered sizing system (0-20). It's recommended to check their size charts carefully. HeyNuts uses standard letter sizing (XS-XXL) and generally offers a more relaxed, flexible fit that is true to size for comfortable everyday wear.

What is the Lululemon "Like New" program?

The Lululemon "Like New" program allows customers to trade in gently used Lululemon gear at a store for an e-gift card. The traded-in items are then cleaned and resold on the "Like New" website, promoting circularity in fashion.