Pursue Fitness vs. Gymshark: Which brand should you buy?

Compare Pursue Fitness and Gymshark: minimalist sustainability vs. trend-driven boldness. Discover which activewear brand suits your style and budget best.
Spencer Lanoue
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Spencer Lanoue
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Pursue Fitness offers versatile, high-quality activewear with a minimalist aesthetic and a strong focus on sustainability, often at a slightly more accessible price point. In contrast, Gymshark is a trend-driven global brand known for its bold, body-hugging designs, vibrant styles, and massive social media presence.

Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right activewear brand for your fitness and style.

Pursue Fitness: Versatile & Sustainable Activewear

Pursue Fitness is a modern activewear brand built for those who value functional design and durable materials without sacrificing a clean, stylish look. They cater to a broad range of fitness enthusiasts who want reliable gear that performs well during a workout and looks great for everyday wear, emphasizing comfort and quality craftsmanship.

  • Product mix: Their collections include leggings, tops, jackets, and performance gear made with moisture-wicking and stretchable materials. The focus is on foundational pieces designed for both high-intensity training and casual comfort.
  • Price point: Prices are positioned in the mid-range market. Expect to pay around $30 for tops and leggings and up to $80 for technical outerwear or jackets, making it an accessible option for quality gear.
  • Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally inclusive and runs true to size. Pursue Fitness focuses on comfortable, flattering cuts that suit a variety of body types, with detailed size guides helping ensure a good fit.
  • Sustainability: The brand is dedicated to eco-conscious practices, using sustainable fabrics and prioritizing transparent, ethical manufacturing. This makes it a great choice for environmentally aware shoppers.
  • Return policy: Offers flexible return policies, providing a convenient and straightforward shopping experience for those ordering online.

Pursue Fitness is an excellent choice for anyone seeking durable, minimalist, and eco-friendly activewear at a reasonable price point.

Shop Pursue Fitness: pursuefitness.com

Gymshark: The Trend-Forward Fitness Giant

Gymshark has become a worldwide fitness apparel powerhouse, celebrated for its trendy, performance-focused activewear and masterful use of social media marketing. Its target customer is the social-savvy, younger gym enthusiast who wants bold, stylish gear that enhances their physique and makes a statement. The brand's connection to top fitness influencers has cultivated a loyal global following.

  • Product mix: Gymshark offers a wide array of products, from their famous seamless leggings and sports bras to joggers, tank tops, and outerwear. Many collections feature innovative cuts and squat-proof fabric technology.
  • Price point: While still in the mid-range category, prices can lean slightly higher, especially for new releases and influencer collaborations. Basic tops and leggings start around $25, while specialized sets and jackets can cost $70 or more.
  • Sizing/Fit: Known for its body-conscious, form-fitting designs that sculpt and support. Sizing is available from XS to XXL, but the fit is very compressive. It's often recommended to consult their detailed size guides carefully.
  • Sustainability: Gymshark has launched several initiatives to improve its environmental impact, such as using more recycled materials and reducing plastic waste, though it faces ongoing pressure to improve supply chain transparency.
  • Sales: The brand drives excitement through frequent product drops and limited-edition collections. They also host major sales events throughout the year that offer significant discounts.

Gymshark is the go-to brand for those who want eye-catching, fashionable gym wear and enjoy being part of a vibrant, trend-setting fitness community.

Shop Gymshark: gymshark.com

Pursue Fitness vs. Gymshark Comparison

Price Comparison

Pursue Fitness tends to be slightly more affordable overall, with its core products falling comfortably in the $30-$80 range. It offers a consistent value proposition for high-quality, everyday activewear, making it easier to build a full workout wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Gymshark’s prices are similar but often skew higher, especially for their hyped-up new releases and performance collections. While you can find great deals during their major sales events, standard prices reflect their strong brand recognition and marketing costs. Essentially, Pursue Fitness is better for everyday value, while Gymshark requires more strategic waiting for sales to get the best prices.

Quality & Materials

Both brands deliver high-quality apparel, but their focus differs. Pursue Fitness puts an emphasis on durability, longevity, and comfortable, functional fabrics designed to withstand countless workouts. Their stitching and materials are built to last, often using eco-friendly sources.

Gymshark is also known for quality, particularly its signature squat-proof, body-hugging fabrics that excel in both performance and visual appeal. While their gear is functional, some designs prioritize aesthetics and trendiness, which can occasionally mean certain pieces may show wear faster than more classically constructed apparel.

Style & Aesthetic

The style difference is the most obvious differentiator. Pursue Fitness champions a clean, minimalist, and versatile look. Their pieces feature neutral color palettes, simple lines, and subtle branding, making them easy to mix, match, and wear outside the gym.

Gymshark is the opposite. Its aesthetic is bold, trendy, and often loud. They utilize vibrant colors, flashy designs, and visible logos. If you want to stand out and wear the same gear as your favorite fitness influencer, Gymshark’s fashion-forward approach is for you.

Fit & Sizing

Pursue Fitness apparel generally runs true to size, offering a comfortable and flattering fit for a broad range of body types. The focus is on a functional fit that allows for movement without being overly restrictive.

Gymshark leggings and tops are known for their body-conscious and compressive fit, designed to accentuate your physique. This can mean items feel tighter or more snug. It’s highly recommended to check their specific size guides for each collection, as fits can vary, and some people choose to size up for comfort.

Shopping Experience

Shopping with Pursue Fitness is a straightforward and user-friendly experience. Their website is clean, with easy navigation and clear product details, backed by responsive customer support.

Gymshark offers a more dynamic and engaging online environment. The site is built around hype, featuring frequent product drops, influencer showcases, and a strong community atmosphere. Their digital presence is high-energy and designed to make shopping feel like an event.

Sustainability & Ethics

Pursue Fitness integrates sustainability into its core mission, focusing on eco-friendly fabrics and ethical manufacturing visibility. As a smaller brand, it can maintain more direct control over its supply chain, appealing to consumers who prioritize environmental responsibility.

As a global giant, Gymshark has made public commitments to sustainability, like incorporating recycled materials. However, it faces greater scrutiny regarding its large-scale production and overall environmental footprint. If sustainability is a top priority, Pursue Fitness's more focused approach gives it an edge here.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands create excellent activewear, but they serve two very different customers and style preferences.

Choose Pursue Fitness if:

  • You prefer a timeless, minimalist style over fast-fashion trends.
  • You value sustainability and want to support a brand with eco-conscious practices.
  • You want versatile apparel that you can wear comfortably both inside and outside the gym.
  • You like a true-to-size, functional fit that isn't overly compressive.

Choose Gymshark if:

  • You want to wear the latest trends in fitness fashion and make a bold statement at the gym.
  • You enjoy the hype of new product drops and influencer collaborations.
  • You prefer a body-hugging, compressive fit that sculpts and defines your physique.
  • Being part of a large, active, and social media-driven community appeals to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pursue Fitness or Gymshark cheaper?

Pursue Fitness is generally slightly more affordable than Gymshark on a day-to-day basis. While both are mid-range, Pursue Fitness offers more consistent value, whereas Gymshark's prices can be higher for new releases. Both brands have major sales that offer significant discounts.

Which brand has better quality?

Both have high-quality construction. Pursue Fitness focuses more on durable materials and longevity for timeless wear. Gymshark focuses on high-performance materials tailored to trendy, aesthetic designs. Your definition of "better" depends on whether you prioritize durability or fashion-forward performance.

What's the difference in style between Pursue Fitness and Gymshark?

Pursue Fitness, in a word, is minimalist. They rely on clean lines, and neutral colors with an understated design and versatility. Gymshark is bold and flashy, maintaining a reputation at the forefront of social-media-driven trends and styles.

How does sizing compare between the two brands?

Pursue Fitness generally fits true to size, offering a standard and comfortable feel. Gymshark runs more body-conscious and compressive, many customers consult size charts carefully and sometimes size up depending on the collection.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Pursue Fitness has a clearer and more central focus on sustainability, emphasizing eco-friendly fabrics and a transparent supply chain. While Gymshark has initiatives in place, Pursue Fitness's focused approach makes it a stronger choice for eco-conscious shoppers.

Are Gymshark's leggings squat-proof?

Yes, one of Gymshark's most well-known features is its squat-proof fabric technology, which is a key selling point in most of their popular legging collections.

Which brand is better for beginners?

Pursue Fitness is arguably more approachable for beginners. Its true-to-size fitting, accessible price point, and versatile style make it an easy choice for someone building their first activewear collection without needing to guess on compressive sizing.