Ten Thousand vs. Lululemon vs. Vuori: Which brand is better? [2026]

Ten Thousand creates minimalist, high-durability gear for serious athletes, while Lululemon blends performance with a trendy, stylish aesthetic for gym-to-street wear. Vuori carves its niche with ultra-comfortable, versatile pieces that emphasize a relaxed, eco-conscious West Coast lifestyle, often at a slightly more accessible price point.

Let's compare these three activewear brands to help you decide which is right for your workouts and lifestyle.

Ten Thousand: The Ultimate in Performance Gear

Ten Thousand is a men's activewear brand built with a singular focus: creating gear that can withstand the toughest training sessions. They appeal to dedicated athletes, CrossFitters, and runners who prioritize durability and function over fleeting trends. Their no-nonsense, minimalist designs are engineered with technical fabrics to perform under stress.

• Product mix: A focused collection of shorts, joggers, shirts, tanks, and leggings engineered for specific training types like interval training, running, and versatile fitness.
• Price point: Premium performance pricing, with shorts like the popular Interval Short costing around $68 and joggers priced at $98. Most items fall between $50 and $150.
• Quality & Materials: Known for extreme durability, using abrasion-resistant, four-way stretch, and anti-odor fabrics. Seams are reinforced to prevent rips during intense activity.
• Sizing/Fit: Designed for an athletic build and fits very true to size. Consistency across different items makes online ordering reliable.
• Return policy: Standard 90-day return window for unworn items with tags attached, providing ample time to make a decision.

Ten Thousand is the choice for serious athletes who need their gear to be as tough as their workouts and are willing to pay for exceptional durability.

Shop Ten Thousand: ten-thousand.com

Lululemon: The Leader in Stylish Athleisure

Lululemon is a global phenomenon that mastered the art of blending high-performance athletic apparel with everyday fashion. Originally gaining fame in the yoga community, the brand now serves men and women across nearly every activity. Its target customer is the style-conscious individual who wants clothes that look as good grabbing coffee as they feel during a workout, thanks to their famously soft proprietary fabrics.

• Product mix: Extensive range including leggings, Align pants, joggers, shorts, tops, sports bras, and outerwear for men and women. They offer activity-specific collections for yoga, running, training, and casual wear.
• Price point: Sits in the premium to luxury range. Leggings typically cost $98-$128, while men's shorts like the Pace Breaker are around $68-$78.
• Quality & Materials: Known for its buttery-soft Nulu™ fabric and versatile Luon™. The construction is high-quality, but some softer fabrics may be less resistant to pilling with intense use compared to Ten Thousand's gear.
• Sizing/Fit: Generally fits true to size, but styles designed to be compressive may feel tight. The fit is famously flattering, designed to complement different body types.
• Shopping Experience: Offers a premium experience both in its clean, well-staffed retail stores and on its user-friendly website.
• Return policy: A 30-day return policy for unworn items, with a "Quality Promise" that covers manufacturing defects.

Lululemon is perfect for those who want their activewear to double as weekend wear and who prioritize aesthetic, comfort, and a premium feel.

Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com

Vuori: The King of Californian Comfort

Vuori brings a relaxed, Southern California vibe to activewear, focusing on creating clothes that transition seamlessly across every part of your day. Their brand ethos is "A new perspective on performance apparel," which translates to incredibly soft materials and versatile designs that are equally suited for a light workout, a long flight, or lounging at home. They have a strong emphasis on sustainability and a community-driven feel.

• Product mix: Best known for incredibly comfortable joggers and shorts. Also offers a full line of tops, leggings, and hoodies for men and women.
• Price point: Mid-tier to premium, sitting slightly below Lululemon on average. Their beloved Ponto and Sunday Performance Joggers are priced around $89-$98.
• Quality & Materials: Focuses on exceptional softness and comfort with sustainable materials like recycled polyester. A key fabric is their signature DreamKnit™, which is known for its silky, brushed feel. It's durable for daily wear but not built for the extreme training that Ten Thousand gear is made for.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is reliable and true to size, with a focus on relaxed, comfortable fits.
• Sustainability: A major focus for the brand. Vuori is committed to offsetting 100% of its carbon footprint and uses recycled and sustainable materials in a large portion of its lineup.
• Return policy: Generous 120-day return policy for unworn items, reflecting confidence in their products.

Vuori is the ideal choice for those who value all-day comfort and sustainability and want stylish clothes for life in and out of the gym.

Shop Vuori: vuoriclothing.com

Ten Thousand vs. Lululemon vs. Vuori Comparison

Price Comparison

The three brands occupy distinct tiers within the premium activewear market. Vuori is often the most accessible, with many popular items like joggers and shorts priced between $50 and $130. Ten Thousand targets a similar price range of $50-$150, but the value is justified by its hyper-focus on technical performance and specialized materials.

Lululemon sits at the highest end of the spectrum, with many core products ranging from $70-$200. With Lululemon, you are paying for the brand's reputation, premium and proprietary fabrics, flattering fits, and the community status it holds.

Quality & Materials

This is where the brands differ the most. Ten Thousand's materials are chosen for battle-tested durability. Think reinforced seams, permanent anti-odor technology, and fabrics that resist snags and abrasions from barbells and demanding outdoor use. Their focus is purely on long-term performance.

Lululemon's reputation was built on its proprietary fabrics like the buttery-soft Nulu™ used in its Align leggings. These materials excel at comfort, stretch, and feel, making them fantastic for yoga and everyday wear, but they can be less resilient to high-intensity friction than Ten Thousand's options.

Vuori prioritizes a different kind of quality - one centered on supreme comfort and ethical production. Their DreamKnit™ fabric is incredibly soft and perfect for lounging and light activity. While durable for daily use, it's not designed to be a top performer under intense athletic stress.

Style & Aesthetic

Each brand's style directly reflects its core customer. Ten Thousand is minimalist and utilitarian to a tee. Their color palette is often subdued, with athletic cuts focused on movement and zero distraction. It’s a purely functional aesthetic.

Lululemon is fashion-forward. They release seasonal colors and trendy silhouettes that align with current athleisure and streetwear trends. Their designs are sleek, modern, and intentionally created to be worn far outside the studio or gym.

Vuori embodies a laid-back, coastal cool. The designs are versatile, understated, and relaxed. It's the kind of clothing you can wear on a hike and then to a casual brunch without feeling out of place. It’s stylish comfort without broadcasting that you're wearing performance gear.

Sustainability & Ethics

Vuori is the clear leader in this category. They are transparent about their goals, from carbon neutrality to ethical manufacturing and their use of recycled materials. This commitment is a core part of their brand identity and a major selling point for conscious consumers.

Lululemon has made significant strides in sustainability, outlining goals for material circularity and creating more sustainable products. Their efforts are growing but are not as central to their public-facing message as Vuori's.

Ten Thousand's main focus is on product durability, which one could argue is a form of sustainability since longer-lasting clothes reduce waste. However, they place less explicit emphasis on eco-friendly materials or carbon offsetting in their marketing.

Which One Should You Choose?

These three brands are excellent at what they do, but they serve very different needs and priorities.

Choose Ten Thousand if:

• You're a serious athlete who engages in high-intensity training, CrossFit, or heavy lifting.
• Durability and function are your main concerns, you break down your gear quickly.
• You prefer a simple, no-frills minimalist aesthetic without bright colors or logos.
• You value gear that is engineered for a specific athletic purpose.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You want versatile apparel that is fashionable enough for everyday life.
• The feeling of fabric––softness and comfort––is a top priority.
• You participate in activities like yoga, pilates, running, and studio classes.
• You appreciate a premium in-store shopping experience and trendy color options.

Choose Vuori if:

• All-day comfort is your ultimate goal.
• You want incredibly versatile clothing for travel, work-from-home, errands, and light exercise.
• Sustainability and eco-conscious manufacturing are important parts of your purchasing decisions.
• You prefer a relaxed, understated, and casual look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which brand is the cheapest?

Vuori is generally the most accessible of the three. While still a premium brand, its key items are often priced slightly below comparable products from Lululemon or Ten Thousand.

Which brand is best for intense workouts like CrossFit?

Ten Thousand is specifically designed for high-intensity training and durability, making it the top choice for CrossFit, weightlifting, and other demanding workouts where gear takes a lot of abuse.

Which is the most comfortable for lounging?

Vuori wins for lounge and all-day comfort. Their joggers and hoodies, made from fabrics like their signature DreamKnit™, are famous for being incredibly soft and cozy.

Does Lululemon run true to size?

Generally, yes. However, fabrics with higher compression intended for performance can feel snugger. It's always best to check the specific product description for fit recommendations, as it can vary slightly between their different lines.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Vuori is the clear front-runner. They have built their brand around sustainability, an ethical supply chain, and using recycled materials, and they are vocal about their commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint.

Are these brands worth the money?

All three brands are considered premium and are priced accordingly. They justify their cost with high-quality materials, thoughtful construction, and superior comfort and/or performance compared to cheaper alternatives. The "better" value depends on your personal needs: durability for Ten Thousand, style for Lululemon, or comfort for Vuori.

Which brand is better for running?

All three offer excellent running gear, but Ten Thousand's shorts are particularly favored by serious runners for their minimalist design and technical features. Lululemon also has a dedicated and very popular line of running apparel with different lengths and fabric options. Vuori's options are great for casual jogging and daily runs but may lack some of the technical features found at the other two.

Can men wear Lululemon and Vuori?

Absolutely. While Lululemon became famous for women's yoga pants, their men's line is now incredibly popular and respected, especially items like the ABC Jogger and Pace Breaker Shorts. Vuori has always been a unisex brand with equally popular items for men, like the Kore Shorts and Sunday Performance Joggers.