Outdoor Voices vs. Fabletics: Which brand should you buy? [2026]
Outdoor Voices offers versatile, high-quality activewear with a minimalist aesthetic and a strong focus on sustainability, typically at a mid-range price point. In contrast, Fabletics operates primarily on a subscription model, providing trendy, fashion-forward activewear at highly affordable prices for members. The choice comes down to investing in timeless, eco-conscious basics versus enjoying budget-friendly, contemporary styles.
Let's compare these two activewear brands to help you decide which one best suits your style, budget, and workout needs.
Outdoor Voices: The Versatile & Sustainable Activewear Brand
Outdoor Voices champions approachable, everyday activity through its motto, "Doing Things." The brand is known for comfortable, stylish, and durable activewear that effortlessly transitions from a workout to daily life. Their target audience values quality, versatility, and environmentally responsible products, preferring a clean, minimalist look over fast-fashion trends.
- Product mix: A focused collection of leggings, sports bras, joggers, tops, and outerwear designed for recreational activities like hiking, yoga, and walking. They are best known for their soft, high-performance fabrics like CloudKnit and FrostKnit.
- Price point: Mid-range, reflecting higher-quality and sustainable materials. Expect to pay between $50 and $120 for most items, with their popular exercise dresses and leggings priced around $95.
- Quality & Materials: A B-corp since 2024, they emphasize quality and longevity, using premium, durable fabrics often made from recycled polyester and other eco-friendly materials. Seams are reinforced for durability, making their pieces a long-term investment.
- Style & Aesthetic: Minimalist, versatile, and often featuring bright, solid colors or subtle color-blocking. The designs are timeless and functional, perfect for those who want their workout clothes to double as casual wear.
- Fit & Sizing: Generally runs true to size with a consistent and comfortable fit designed to move with your body. Their website provides detailed size charts to ensure you find the right size.
- Sustainability: This is a core part of their brand. Outdoor Voices is transparent about its supply chain, uses sustainable materials, and ships products in eco-friendly packaging.
Outdoor Voices is the go-to choice for those who prioritize sustainable materials, durability, and a clean, versatile style that works for both activity and leisure.
Shop Outdoor Voices: outdoorvoices.com
Fabletics: The Affordable & Trendy Activewear Subscription
Co-founded by Kate Hudson, Fabletics disrupted the activewear market with its flexible subscription model and fashion-forward approach. The brand makes on-trend athletic apparel accessible to a broad audience, offering a constant stream of new collections with bold prints and modern cuts. It appeals to budget-conscious shoppers who want variety and don't want to sacrifice style for performance.
- Product mix: An extensive range of products including leggings, bras, tops, and accessories for different activities. They also have collections for men and have expanded into loungewear and everyday basics.
- Price point: Highly affordable for members. While retail prices are higher, their VIP membership offers significant discounts, with leggings often priced between $25 and $40.
- Quality & Materials: Fabletics uses quality performance fabrics with good compression and moisture-wicking properties. While durable for regular wear, their longevity may not match premium competitors, reflecting the lower price point.
- Style & Aesthetic: Trendy, vibrant, and fun. Fabletics is known for bold prints, mesh cutouts, and fashionable silhouettes that align with current athleisure trends, appealing to a younger, style-conscious demographic.
- Fit & Sizing: Commendable for its inclusivity, offering a wide size range from XXS to 4X. Sizing is generally consistent, but due to the variety of styles, it is a good idea to check reviews for specific items as some can run small or tight.
- Rewards & Savings: The entire brand is built around a VIP membership that provides access to discounts, exclusive sales, and bundle deals. Members can either shop each month or "skip" to avoid being charged.
Fabletics is ideal for those who love having a large, rotating collection of stylish activewear and prioritize affordability and inclusive sizing.
Shop Fabletics: fabletics.com
Outdoor Voices vs. Fabletics Comparison
Price Comparison
The price difference is one of the most significant distinctions between the two brands. Fabletics is the clear winner on affordability, but it comes with a subscription. Their VIP membership offers leggings for as low as $25-$40. While you can shop at a higher price without a membership, the value is unlocked by joining.
Outdoor Voices operates on a traditional retail model with pricing that reflects its investment in sustainable, high-quality materials. A pair of their leggings typically costs around $95. You are paying a premium for durability, timeless design, and ethical production practices.
Quality & Materials
Outdoor Voices focuses on longevity and performance with premium, often recycled, fabrics known for their softness and durability. The construction is solid with reinforced seams, designed to withstand frequent use over many years. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their material choices and production processes.
Fabletics offers impressive fabric technology for its price, including their popular PowerHold compression fabric. The materials are great for workouts, providing support and wicking moisture. However, the overall longevity might not compare to Outdoor Voices, and some items may show wear faster with heavy use.
Product Selection & Style
If you prefer a classic, understated wardrobe, Outdoor Voices is for you. Their collections feature timeless designs with solid colors and simple, flattering cuts. Their aesthetic is more about a relaxed, active lifestyle than following fast-fashion trends.
Fabletics is the opposite, embracing trends with force. They release new collections frequently with bold patterns, seasonal colors, and fashion-forward details like cutouts and unique textures. Their selection is also much larger, offering more variety for building a diverse activewear collection.
Fit & Sizing
Fabletics stands out with its commitment to inclusivity and promoting body positivity, offering sizes that range from XXS to 4X. Outdoor Voices provides a standard size range that is true-to-size, though it isn't as extensive. Both brands provide detailed sizing guides on their websites to help you find the right fit, but Fabletics gets the edge for its celebration of all body types.
Sustainability & Ethics
Sustainability is a core pillar of the Outdoor Voices brand. They actively work to reduce their environmental footprint through recycled fabrics, responsible manufacturing, and transparent supply chains. Shoppers who prioritize ethical practices will find their values align well with OV.
Fabletics has made some progress in sustainability, incorporating recycled materials and offering eco-friendly packaging. However, their primary focus remains on affordability and trendiness. While they are taking positive steps, they are less vocal and committed to this single issue compared to Outdoor Voices.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice really depends on your priorities as an activewear shopper. Both brands offer quality products but are designed for different customer needs.
Choose Outdoor Voices If:
- You value high-quality, durable materials that are made to last.
- You prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
- You prefer a timeless, minimalist aesthetic with solid colors over trendy designs.
- You're happy to invest more in a few versatile pieces you'll wear for years.
Choose Fabletics If:
- You're shopping on a budget and love a good deal.
- You want trendy, fashionable activewear with bold prints and colors.
- You need an inclusive size range that caters to all body types.
- You enjoy having a large, rotating wardrobe of workout clothes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Outdoor Voices or Fabletics cheaper?
Fabletics is significantly cheaper, especially for VIP members. With membership, entire outfits can often be purchased for less than the price of a single pair of leggings from Outdoor Voices.
Which has better quality, Outdoor Voices or Fabletics?
Outdoor Voices is known for higher quality, using more durable and sustainable materials designed for longevity. Fabletics offers good quality for its price point but is not positioned as a premium or long-term investment brand in the same way.
Do I need a subscription to buy from Fabletics?
No, you can purchase from Fabletics as a guest at full retail price. However, the brand's main value is tied to its VIP membership, which provides access to significant discounts and perks.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Outdoor Voices has a much stronger and more central focus on sustainability, using recycled materials and transparent, ethical production. It is a core tenet of their brand identity.
What is the style difference between Outdoor Voices and Fabletics?
Outdoor Voices offers a minimalist, timeless, and versatile style with a focus on solid colors. Fabletics is trend-driven, featuring bold patterns, bright colors, and fashion-forward designs that change frequently.
Which brand offers more sizes?
Fabletics offers a more inclusive size range, with most products available from XXS to 4X, making them a better choice for shoppers seeking a wider variety of sizes.
Is Fabletics' subscription easy to cancel?
Yes, Fabletics allows members to cancel anytime and you also have the option of skipping a month to avoid charges.
Does Outdoor Voices run true to size?
Yes, Outdoor Voices generally fits true to size with consistent sizing. They provide detailed sizing information on their website to help you find the right size.
