As an activewear tester with over a decade of experience evaluating performance and quality across thousands of apparel items, I‘ve developed an expert eye for which brands balance functionality, comfort and style. Marika is one of my long-time favorites.
Overview
Founded in 1982 during the fitness craze of neon leotards and legwarmers, LA-based Marika has pioneered high-quality athletic apparel specifically designed for the way women move and sweat for over 40 years.
Acquired by FAM Brands in 2008, Marika has accelerated growth, earning media features and over 100k social media followers. Core products include leggings, sports bras, tops and joggers mixing performance fabrics with flattering silhouettes inspired by active fashion trends.
But how does the brand actually perform during workouts? Which specific products are worth the money? After rigorously testing over 20 top-selling Marika items, I‘m breaking down the hits and misses by category along with recommendations on which customers will love each item the most.
Marika Leggings Reviews
Leggings are the athletic foundation we wear to squat, downward dog and sprint, so compression and sheerness are make-or-break. Here are my reviews of 5 top Marika leggings.
| Leggings | Fabric | Fit & Structure | Pros | Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Side Pocket | Polyester-Spandex | Cross-waisted | Stretchy & squat-proof; Perfect rise & inseam for 5‘2" to 5‘7"; Useful side pockets | Pills slightly after few washes | 👍👍👍👍💫 |
| Celeste Capri | Interlock Compression | Mid-waisted | Hugging fit ideal for yoga, pilates & barre; stays perfectly in place with no sagging; subtly sculpting | Shows sweat marks | 👍👍👍💫💫 |
| Blossom Tregging | Rayon-Nylon-Spandex Blend | Cross-waisted with wide waistband & drawcord | Gorgeous drape & ultra soft handfeel; flattering tapered leg silhouette perfect for casualwear | Needs delicate wash & dry | 👍👍💫💫💫 |
| Jordyn Pull-On | Polyester-Elastane | Elastic waistband | Smooth fabric with forgiving stretch; comfortable wider waist; perforated behind knees for breathability | Loses shape over course of a workout | 👍👍💫💫💫 |
| Brooklyn Jogger | French Terry Knit | Drawstring waistband | Warm, cozy fabric; stylish jogger silhouette with cuffs; front seam construction prevents camel toe | Baggy through hips & knees | 👍💫💫💫💫 |
For intense cardio, I recommend the Celeste which passed my squat test with flying colors. For HIIT and strength training, the Billy is your best bet. For low-intensity yoga and everyday casualwear, choose the crazy-soft Blossom.
Sports Bras Test Results
Finding sports bras sized for actual women not stick figures with adequate support remains an elusive unicorn for many of us. Here are my top picks from testing nearly a dozen Marika bras over the past year:
| Bra | Size & Structure | Workout Performance | Overall |
|——————–|—————————–|——————————————————————————————–|————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-|
| Lola Longline | A, B, C cups; light removable padding & mesh back | Held shape doing cardio boxing | Love the adjustability & breathability; provides just enough shape & support for high intensity training | 👍👍👍👍💫 |
| Ember Seamless | B,C cups; molded inner bra | Bounced too much running trails | Smoothing inner bra provides shapely silhouette but needs more compression for high impact | 👍👍💫💫💫 |
| Athena | B, C cups; encased underwire | Kept the girls locked down weightlifting | Sturdy canvas fabric with pretty cross-back straps; perfect for bustier ladies needing serious support | 👍👍👍👍 |
| Milly Racerback | A, B cups; fixed straps & pads | Band crept up during hot yoga | Super cute Angled shoulder straps show off back definition beautifully | 👍👍👍💫💫 |
My top choice is the Lola for strappy style with customizable support working well for cardio, weights and yoga. For larger busts, splurge on the Athena which could pass the jump test.
Marika Tops Tested
Whether layering under jackets or wearing solo, workout tops need to feel like silk, wick sweat in a flash and bounce back from body oils and washes. Here‘s how Marika‘s top styles performed:
| Tops | Fabric | Workout Test | The Verdict | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Tee | Poly-Spandex | Stayed featherlight boxing | Flattering classic tee with a bit of shaping | 👍👍👍👍 |
| Lydia Hoodie | French Terry | Got soaked during hot vinyasa | So soft inside but shows every drop of sweat | 👍👍💫💫💫 |
| Courtney Wrap | Rayon-Spandex | Looked cute lifting weights | Flouncy dolman sleeves allow great range of motion | 👍👍👍💫💫 |
| Blake Tank | Poly-Elastane | Wicked sweat running trails | Sporty boxier tank balanced coverage & breathability | 👍👍👍👍💫 |
My top pick is the cute Courtney for barre and strength training. The Debra Tee also fills the need for a classic gym shirt perfectly.
Cozy Joggers Reviewed
Joggers need to work just as well lounging on the couch binging Netflix as squatting heavy at the gym. Here‘s how Marika delivered on both fronts:
| Jogger | Fabric | Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Waffle Knit | Poly-Rayon Spandex | Crazy soft inside yet structured outside with subtle booty lift; stays toasty wearing outside | 👍👍👍👍👍 |
| Riley Drawstring | French Terry | Classic comfy sweats with stylish cinched ankles; pilled a bit after a few washes | 👍👍👍👍💫 |
| Julia Crop | Poly-Spandex | Cropped style shows off legs nicely but awkward tight ankle cuff digs in | 👍👍💫💫💫 |
I practically live in my Georgia joggers now – they are heavenly cozy for Netflix nights but also moved well during leg day lifts.
Final Recommendations By Customer Profile
After evaluating fabric, stretch, support, coverage and exercise performance across 20+ top Marika products, here are my recommendations based on customer needs and body types:
The Cardio Queen who lives in spandex doing HIIT, zumba and bootcamps:
- Billy Side Pocket Leggings – Squat-proof and stay in place even when dripped in sweat
- Lola Longline Sports Bra – Customizable support keeps the girls locked & lifted
- Debra Tee – Featherlight and cute crew neck layering staple
The Yoga Junkie who flows from downward dog to paddleboards:
- Blossom Tregging Leggings – Soft as buttah with gorgeous drape
- Milly Racerback Sports Bra – Feminine strappy back won‘t peek out of those open back tanks
- Courtney Wrap Top – Fluttery dolman sleeves move beautifully transitioning poses
The Weekend Fitness Enthusiast tackling 5Ks, spin class and strength training:
- Celeste Capri Leggings – Compression leggings that earn you allll the squats
- Athena Underwire Sports Bra – Serious support that still gives great shape
- Blake Tank – Sporty coverage to tackle a variety of low-key workouts
Marika has been delivering beautifully made activewear specifically designed for women since the days of unitards and Richard Simmons. While the brand keeps innovating performance technical fabrics, they stay true to a feminine aesthetic celebrating every body in motion.
I hope these deep dive product reviews help you find your perfect Marika pieces to support feeling as unstoppable as you look! Drop me any other questions in the comments.
XOXO,
Sweat Tennis Shoe Girl 👟
