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

Outdoor Voices is known for its casual, colorful, and comfort-focused activewear designed for everyday movement, with a more accessible price point. In contrast, Lululemon targets high-performance athletes and fitness enthusiasts with its technical, innovative fabrics, sleek aesthetic, and premium pricing. The key difference lies in purpose: Outdoor Voices is for 'Doing Things' comfortably, while Lululemon is for optimizing athletic performance.

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

Outdoor Voices: The Go-To for Casual Activewear

Outdoor Voices champions the idea of recreational activity over hardcore competitive fitness. Their brand ethos, "Doing Things," focuses on making movement fun and accessible. The target customer is someone looking for versatile, stylish, and comfortable clothing that works just as well for a walk in the park or meeting a friend for coffee as it does for a light yoga session.

• Product mix: Offers a range of leggings, joggers, sports bras, tops, and sweatshirts designed with versatility in mind. Their collections often feature mix-and-match color palettes and relaxed silhouettes.
• Price point: More affordable than many premium brands. Leggings typically cost between $75 and $110, while tops and sports bras range from $45 to $70.
• Quality & Materials: Utilizes signature fabrics like TechSweat, which is lightweight and sweat-wicking for activity, and CloudKnit for extreme softness and comfort. While durable for everyday wear, the materials may not offer the same longevity as more technical options during intense, high-friction workouts.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally consistent and true to size, with a focus on comfortable, relaxed fits rather than intense compression.
• Style & Aesthetic: Embraces a playful, approachable, and colorful aesthetic. Designs are often minimalist with a focus on unique color-blocking and bright hues.
• Sustainability: Prioritizes sustainability through the use of eco-friendly and recycled materials in their products and packaging. They are transparent about their manufacturing processes.

Outdoor Voices excels at creating approachable, comfortable activewear that seamlessly transitions to casual wear, making it perfect for those who value versatility and a relaxed style.

Shop Outdoor Voices: outdoorvoices.com

Lululemon: The Leader in Performance & Technical Apparel

Lululemon has built its global reputation on producing high-quality, technical athletic apparel trusted by serious athletes and fitness lovers. Originally focused on yoga, the brand now creates gear for running, training, and everyday life. Their customer is willing to invest in premium apparel that delivers superior performance, durability, and a sleek, modern look.

• Product mix: Features a wide assortment of leggings, shorts, bras, tops, and outerwear tailored to specific activities like yoga, running, and high-intensity training. They are famous for their Wunder Under, Align, and Fast and Free leggings.
• Price point: Sits firmly in the premium category. Leggings typically range from $98 to $128, and sports bras are priced between $48 and $68.
• Technology/Innovation: Lululemon is known for its proprietary fabrics. Nulu™ is buttery-soft for yoga, Luon™ offers cottony-soft support, and Everlux™ is fast-drying for intense HIIT sessions.
• Quality & Materials: The brand is synonymous with high quality. Their fabrics offer excellent shape retention, moisture-wicking properties, and durability, often lasting for years with proper care.
• Sizing/Fit: Typically true to size, but its performance-oriented styles are designed for a close-to-the-body, compressive fit. Some shoppers may prefer to size up for a more comfortable feel.
• Shopping Experience: Offers a seamless online experience and in-store services, including complimentary hemming and community fitness events. Their educators are well-trained to help customers find the right gear.

Lululemon is an undisputed leader in technical performance apparel, ideal for those who demand the best in terms of fabric technology, durability, and a performance-driven fit.

Shop Lululemon: lululemon.com

Outdoor Voices vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a clear price difference between the two brands. Lululemon operates in the premium segment, with leggings regularly surpassing the $100 mark. A typical outfit from Lululemon (leggings and a bra) could cost around $150-$190. While not cheap, customers often justify the price with the brand's reputation for long-lasting quality and innovative materials.

Outdoor Voices is more accessible. Leggings start around $75 and rarely exceed $110. A complete outfit is more likely to fall in the $120-$160 range. They also run sales more frequently than Lululemon, especially on seasonal colors, making them a more budget-friendly option for stylish athleisure.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon's core strength is its portfolio of proprietary technical fabrics. Whether it's the weightless, buttery-soft feel of Nulu™ or the sweat-wicking power of Everlux™, each material is engineered for a specific activity and feel. Their construction is top-notch, with flatlock seams to reduce chafing and designs that have been wear-tested for years. This makes them a go-to for serious athletes who need their gear to perform and withstand constant use and washing.

Outdoor Voices focuses on comfortable, high-quality fabrics that are versatile. TechSweat is great for moderate-intensity workouts, but the brand’s overall focus is on all-day comfort. While the quality is strong for casual recreation and daily wear, the fabrics may not have the same level of compression, shape retention, or durability as Lululemon’s when subjected to intense, high-impact activities over a long period.

Style & Aesthetic

The brands' styles are a major point of differentiation. Lululemon offers a sleek, minimalist, and performance-oriented aesthetic. Colors are often solid and muted, though they release seasonal brights. The designs are modern and understated, easily recognizable by their small, subtle logo placement. It's a look that conveys serious performance without needing to be loud.

Outdoor Voices, on the other hand, is all about approachable, fun, and colorful style. They are known for their distinct color-blocking, playful palettes, and a more relaxed feel. The brand’s aesthetic feels less intimidating and more inclusive, encouraging people to find joy in movement. Their vibe is more "community fun run" than "elite marathon."

Fit & Sizing

Both brands generally run true to size, but their fit philosophies differ. Lululemon designs for performance, meaning many of its core products offer a "hugged" sensation with moderate to high compression. This snug fit is intended to support muscles and stay in place during intense activity. Shoppers looking for a looser fit may need to size up.

Outdoor Voices prioritizes comfort. Their fits are often more relaxed and forgiving. While their activewear stays put during light to moderate exercise, the goal isn't intense muscle compression. Their sizing is consistent and designed to fit a wide range of body types comfortably for everyday life.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both companies have made public commitments to sustainability. Lululemon has a more established and comprehensive program, outlining clear goals for carbon reduction, responsible sourcing, and creating circular products. They publish detailed impact reports and are scaling up efforts to use more recycled and sustainable materials.

Outdoor Voices has integrated sustainability into its brand DNA from the start, working with responsible factories and using recycled materials like recycled polyester (RecPoly). Their approach is rooted in transparency and making continuous improvements, though their overall scale of initiatives is smaller than Lululemon's global operation.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice between these two brands depends entirely on your lifestyle, activity level, and personal style.

Choose Outdoor Voices if:

• Your workouts consist of light to moderate activities like yoga, hiking, walks, and dancing.
• You want versatile apparel that seamlessly transitions from a workout to a casual outing.
• You love a playful, colorful, and approachable style and enjoy mixing and matching hues.
• You prioritize all-day comfort and a more relaxed fit over intense compression.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You're a dedicated athlete who engages in high-intensity training, long-distance running, or serious yoga.
• You need technical features like exceptional sweat-wicking, compression, and support.
• You are willing to invest in premium apparel known for its extreme durability and longevity.
• You prefer a sleek, minimalist, and sophisticated athletic aesthetic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lululemon or Outdoor Voices more expensive?

Lululemon is consistently more expensive. Their leggings start at $98 and go up to $128, while Outdoor Voices' leggings are typically in the $75 to $110 range, making Outdoor Voices the more budget-friendly option.

Which brand is better for running?

Lululemon is generally better for serious runners. Their Fast and Free collection and products made with Everlux fabric are specifically designed for high-sweat, high-impact activities, offering superior wicking, minimal bounce, and a stay-put fit.

Which has better quality leggings?

It depends on your definition of quality. For technical performance, durability, and fabric innovation, Lululemon's quality is hard to beat. For everyday comfort, softness, and versatility, Outdoor Voices's quality is excellent.

Does Outdoor Voices run small?

Outdoor Voices generally runs true to size. Its fit is designed to be more relaxed and comfortable compared to the compressive, snug fit of many Lululemon styles.

Do both brands have sales?

Yes, but Lululemon's sales are less frequent and typically found in their "We Made Too Much" section, which is final sale. Outside of major events like Black Friday, site-wide discounts are rare. Outdoor Voices runs sales more often and offers promotions on seasonal items.

What is Lululemon known for?

Lululemon is known for its high-performance technical fabrics, especially its buttery-soft Align leggings made from Nulu™ fabric. The brand is considered a pioneer in the premium athleisure market and is synonymous with yoga and running apparel.

Can you return items to both brands?

Yes, both have customer-friendly return policies. Lululemon typically offers a 30-day window for returns on unworn merchandise. Outdoor Voices also has a 30-day window and makes the process simple with free return shipping.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Both brands are focused on sustainability, but their approaches differ. Lululemon has a larger-scale, corporate sustainability program with extensive reporting. Outdoor Voices integrates sustainable practices like using recycled materials and transparency into its core brand message and has from the beginning.