I Tested More Than 40 Athleisure Pieces This Year. These Are My 6 Favorites

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On an average week, I cycle through at least 14 athleisure pieces. I throw on a sports bra for a yoga flow and slip into a pair of leggings for working from home. As a staff writer for Yoga Journal, I also try out a variety of workout tops and bottoms for my job. So yes, my closet is packed with more than a few tanks, leggings, sweatshirts, tanks, and socks.

Like any athleisure enthusiast, I have my favorites—those pieces I search for in my abyss of a closet multiple times each week, even when there are other (and maybe even less smelly) options. These are the new-to-me workout staples that I turned to again and again this year.

In my bin of sports bras, different ones are reserved for different activities. I gravitate toward my Nike sports bra for long runs when I’m looking for compression, while I prefer my sweat-resistant Girlfriend Collective top for a hot yoga class. I’d never found a single sports bra that adequately addressed the demands presented by all of those activities until I tried this one from ON. Billed as the perfect accompaniment to pilates or low-impact movement, I found that this bra not only held my chest in place during each of those activities, but also during my high-intensity workouts. Now, when I head out of town, I only need to throw one sports bra in my bag.

$65 at REI

I’ve never given much thought to the athletic shoes I casually wear around town. However, once I tried these Lululemon sneakers, I was immediately in love. They provide just the right touch of cushion, giving me the right amount of support for walks and low-impact workouts, unlike those bouncier, "cloud-like" shoes that make me feel unstable. And during the past few months, they’ve somehow stayed pristinely white, even after strolling miles of New York City sidewalks.

$128 at Lululemon

I sweat a lot. Whereas my friends flick droplets off of them during hot yoga class, I’m fully soaked. As someone who loves color, I like to mix it up from my typical black, and as much as I love my pastel and white leggings, they sometimes show sweat in some, erm, awkward places. This navy set from Sweaty Betty fits my criteria perfectly. In addition to the muted color, I love the stretch and support of the top as well as the "stay up" ability of the leggings.

Leggings: $46 at Sweaty Betty

Sports bra: $13 at Sweaty Betty

It's tricky to find the "right" way to bundle up for the 12-minute walk (or the 8-minute I’m-running-late-jog) to my yoga studio this time of year. Coats often leave me sweating but lightweight fleece leaves me shivering. This pullover is my go-to. I frequently receive compliments on the fun, printed design of the sweatshirt and the lined interior and fuzzy exterior keep me warm.

$168 at Free People

A confession: I was skeptical of this athleisure trend. I didn't think a one-shoulder sports bra could contain my C-cup chest. But once I tried it, my perspective shifted. The single strap gave me the support I needed for low-impact workouts like yoga and pilates. Although I don't turn to this sports bra for my high-intensity exercises or runs, I do find myself lounging around in it on weekend mornings. (I also wrote a comprehensive review on this sports bra.)

$64 at Set Active

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