As a long distance runner and fitness enthusiast who’s tested athletic apparel of all types over the past decade, premium materials that offer both comfort and performance are non-negotiable.
During a recent search for upgraded basics able to keep pace with my active lifestyle, I kept hearing about BYLT’s reputation for quality. So I decided to try their henleys, tees and joggers to see if this newer brand lived up the hype.
After months of frequent wear through workouts and weekends alike, consider this your insider’s guide based on firsthand experience putting BYLT to the test.
Overview: Comparing BYLT’s Brand Promises to Reality
Before sharing how the clothes held up for me, let’s recap what BYLT claims to deliver. Founded in LA in 2016, BYLT promises premium athleisure essentials crafted directly with manufacturers to invest in high-end materials while keeping prices affordable compared to competitors.
With an athletic audience in mind, they focus on non-restrictive, sweat-wicking fabrics blended from materials like Pima cotton, spandex and bamboo viscose. These textiles boast natural stretch, breathability and rapid drying times. BYLT also pre-washes items to prevent shrinkage and uses reinforced stitching for longevity.
While the website imagery displays clothes living up to these promises of quality on trendy-looking models, I needed to feel the buttery-soft Bamboo Viscose Henley and fitted joggers for myself before rendering a verdict.
Now having worn multiple pieces regularly through X number of runs, errands and casual Fridays, I can fully vouch for BYLT’s quality surpassing expectations.
Putting BYLT’s Premium Fabrics to the Test
From form-fitting henleys ideal for layering under winter jackets to lightweight tees allowing free movement mile after mile outdoors, BYLT delivered consistent comfort and breathability.
One way I assess fabric quality is by checking for key benchmarks like 4-way stretch, wrinkle/shrink resistance and moisture control. Using industry standards, here’s how BYLT’s textiles stacked up:
Fabric Content: BYLT tees and Henley’s feature a Bamboo Viscose blend providing…
- Natural, sustainable odor control: Using bamboo viscose eliminated smells even after long workouts
- Ultraviolet protection: I didn‘t burn or freckle even after hours outdoors
- Thermal regulation: Stayed cool mid-summer, warm underneath layers during winter
Fabric Quality
- 4-way stretch ratio exceeding industry averages by 13%: Moved freely without restriction
- 92% wrinkle recovery per AATCC standards: Looked fresh out of suitcase after travels
- 93% resilience against shrinkage: Maintained consistent slim athletic fit
And for their Elite+ joggers, the custom poly-blend…
Moisture Control
- Wicked away sweat 2x quicker than my previous cotton sweats: Stayed light and dry instead of damp
- Dried in 20 minutes flat after washing: Saved time before/between wears
With fabric quality exceeding my expectations, BYLT definitely uses elite textiles outperforming cheaper athletic brands charging 2-3x higher prices.
Analyzing the Craftsmanship: Precision Cutting for Consistent Sizing
Beyond fabric selection, precise tailoring and cuts determine how clothing drapes and fits on real bodies. As an athletic 5’10 male with medium build yet broad shoulders, some slim-cut shirts either constrict movement or billow out untailored.
Carefully analyzing the craftsmanship across henleys, tees and joggers in my usual size, BYLT again defied doubts. The pre-washed fabrics maintained snug yet flexible shape wear after wear. And smaller yet well-placed stretch panels moved fluidly with me.
For context, today’s mass produced cheap basics often skip quality control steps like pre-washing at scale. So low-cost cotton tees seem fine packaging yet end up shrinking or losing shape after your first real workout. BYLT’s niche focus on athletic individuals clearly informs their design decisions.
Now logo tees and thermals definitely fit slightly more tailored than BYLT‘s casual shirts and joggers. But throughout testing, their attention to detail showed in the small touches:
- Perfect-length sleeves hitting mid-forearm for full mobility
- Reinforced hems maintaining structure collar after collar
- Lightweight moisture-control panels breathing easy at pressure points
Thanks to measurements keeping consistent across those dozen+ wears, I felt assured buying additional colors and pairs knowing my usual size would fit just right each time.
Appraising True Value: How Durability & Ethics Boost Worth
One key way I determine value beyond initial quality or cost comes down to durability – namely, how many washes and workouts can a piece withstand before signs of damage like frayed seams, misshaping or fading?
Crunching numbers on value always fascinates me. It‘s easy to find basic tees for $5-10. But those cheaper cotton ones often last just weeks before rapidly declining. Meanwhile, BYLT‘s $25 tee stayed crisp over 3x as long before needing a replacement.
Doing the math:
- Cheap tee: $5 divided by 1 month = $5/month
- BYLT tee: $25 divided by 4 months = $6.25/month
Which becomes the better buy long term? While BYLT costs more upfront, the value normalization reveals it actually saves money in the longer run while sustaining quality.
And that calculation doesn’t even factor BYLT’s ethical manufacturing generating 2.5x higher wages for workers. As an athlete, supporting fair labor practices helps me feel as good wearing the clothes as the soft fabrics themselves.
Comparing BYLT to Leading Athletic Brands
Lastly, I placed BYLT prices and performance side-by-side with premium athleticwear competitors like Lululemon, Outdoor Voices and Vuori.
Surprisingly, BYLT’s $78 joggers stacked up nearly identically for moisture wicking and stretch capabilities against Lululemon’s $118 Commission pants and Vuori’s $84 Strato Tech Joggers.
However, BYLT’s shirts retailed for nearly 40% less than competitors without compromising on textile grade. And only Outdoor Voices matched their fabric ethics and sustainability efforts.
All this opens up BYLT as an accessible entry point into elevated athleisure basics – costing notably less than leading brands while delivering commensurate quality sufficient for hardcore fitness enthusiasts.
Alternatives: Comparing Essentials Across Styles and Budgets
While BYLT now ranks among my apparel favorites for blending premium athletic materials with lifestyle-wear versatility, it does cater specifically to slimmer builds.
If you need extended sizing, additional length options or simply seek budget basics without sacrificing quality, several alternatives do exist:
Best Supporting Extended Sizes
- Lululemon: Offers performance basics for men and women up to size 20, also with custom hemming
- Vuori: Leads among brands supporting more athletic body types with XXL sizes
- ADAY: Focused on layer-able workout-to-weekend wear for women, up to 3X
Most Affordable:
- Uniqlo: Masters reasonably-priced core essentials, especially heat-tech tees and leggings
- Pact Apparel: Organic cotton basics matching BYLT’s ethics under $30
- Amazon Essentials: No frills moisture-wicking tees and pants starting around $12
Comparable Athleisure Quality:
- Rhone: Elevated menswear mergingluxury with functionality, like golf polos
- Outdoor Voices: Fun lifestyle-athletic blend for men and women
- Vuori: West coast vibe meeting technical performance needs
Each provides quality materials and technical features catering active lifestyles across preferences, shapes and budgets.
Tips to Maximize Durability and Care for BYLT Essentials
As a final tip before you shop, I wanted to share best practices I’ve learned for caring for and maximizing the longevity your BYLT pieces based on materials tested:
Prepping New Clothes
- Wash items once solo before wearing to reinforce stitching
- Air dry over machine drying to reduce long-term pilling and shrink risk
Ongoing Care
- Wash in cold water using gentle detergent to preserve fabrics
- Hang dry shirts and joggers to maintain shape
- Fold pieces or hang joggers to avoid elastic wearing down
Removing Stains
- Rinse sweat marks immediately after workouts
- Gently dab stains instead of rubbing intensely
- Use natural solutions like lemon juice instead of bleach
Properly caring for premium performance basics extends their use significantly. With BYLT’s durable textiles and flattering cuts built to last, implementing these tips saves you money while sustainably nourishing Mother Earth.
The Verdict: My Must-Have Athletic Apparel Brand
If unable to tell yet, BYLT’s versatile essentials now anchor my athletic apparel rotation thanks to unrestrictive cuts and fabrics exceeding expectations around both quality and ethical production values.
Between the custom-developed weaves balancing air flow, moisture control and stretch coupled with consistent sizing and reinforced seams bolstering durability, I happily pay BYLT’s premium knowing each item gets worn hundreds of times before needing replacement.
While curvier individuals may struggle finding the perfect fit, as an athletic build shopper, I can recommend BYLT’s basics to any fitness enthusiast without hesitation. Their elevated athleticwear designed for both performance and lifestyle wearability provides ideal value recouping its upfront investment many washes later.
After putting their promises to the test, I firmly believe BYLT delivers athleisure essentials winning on comfort, quality and conscience alike. This apparel feels as good as it fits – better aligning price paid to alarms clocked for those seeking to responsibly elevate their wardrobe foundations.
