So, it’s the start of a new year, and we’re all getting clued up on the best activewear brands — it’s virtually impossible to motivate ourselves otherwise, right?
For context, I’ve vowed that 2026 will be the year I finally lock in a workout routine I can stick to. Preferably, one with enough variety to keep me interested but also effective at helping me gain the strength I’ve craved for years.
But, and it goes without saying, I’ll need activewear to do it all in. So, while trialling new ClassPass studios and fresh running routes over the last few weeks, I’ve also been flitting between athleisure brands to see if I can secure a new favourite.
My findings? Premium brands like lululemon and Sweaty Betty are home to the very best leggings, while Adanola and FP Movement nail that minimalist, just-came-from-Pilates aesthetic.
Elsewhere, Swiss brand On is hard to beat when it comes to performance-focused running trainers and apparel, while Gymshark and TALA have all bases covered when it comes to strength training.
So, whether you’re gearing up for your first reformer class or you’re on the hunt for outdoor running gear that’ll see you through the coming months, I’ve got you covered with my edit of the best activewear brands for women in 2026.
How I test the best activewear:
I, alongside our team of shopping editors – Sophie Cockett, Shani Cohen, Georgia Trodd and Mayola Fernandes – double as Glamour guinea pigs and so are constantly roadtesting the latest beauty, fashion and wellness releases to see which they’re really worth your cash. For this guide, the fitness keen were asked to test a few products from each activewear brand for up to two weeks.
When reviewing products, we considered them against the following criteria:
For those we haven’t yet tested, we asked industry experts whether the pairs selected would get their stamp of approval, and read countless customer reviews.
Why you can trust me: Sophie Donovan
As a shopping writer, it’s been my job to test a host of wellness products for the last two years — that’s 14 months at Glamour and a year elsewhere. From sexual wellness products, including the best vibrators, to running trainers and menstrual products such as period pants, I’ve tried thousands of products across hundreds of brands so I can publicly declaring the best.
Over the last year, I’ve attended countless press days, spoken to various women’s health experts, sex therapists and activewear designers, plus regularly read up on the latest research across all the above categories. As a result, you could say I am more of an expert on the subject of wellness than your average online shopper.
Ahead, the best activewear brands for women in 2026, approved by Glamour editors:
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past, let’s say, three years, you’ll have spotted Adanola making many an appearance on your Instagram feed. Serving up a capsule wardrobe for your workout and leisure time, every single item in their (now extensive) collection matches the next. Their brunch-to-leg-day pieces are tonal – think chocolate browns, navy blues, and cherry reds – pushing us in the sartorial direction of a wardrobe filled entirely with clothes we’ll actually wear.
View the original article here.