Sweaty Betty has earned a cult following for their stylishly designed athleticwear that seamlessly transitions from hardcore workouts to brunch with the girls. With comfort, performance and sustainability as their guiding principles, this UK-based brand has staked their claim in the booming athleisure market.
But with leggings ranging from $80 to $150 each, is their collection worth the investment? I put Sweaty Betty to the test in this in-depth review. After analyzing the fabric, fit, functionality and overall quality of their apparel, here’s the verdict on whether they live up to the hype.
Overview of Sweaty Betty
Founded in 1998 by Tamara Hill-Norton, Sweaty Betty seeks to inspire women to find confidence, strength and beauty through fitness fashion. Unlike mainstream activewear focused solely on performance, Sweaty Betty injects style into every yoga pant, bra top, jacket and ski accessory they design.
With HQ in Notting Hill, London, Sweaty Betty has expanded across Europe and into the United States. They now operate over 60 brick-and-mortar stores paired with an impressive e-commerce operation at sweatybetty.com.
While prices sit at the higher end of athletic apparel ($20 for accessories up to $498 for outerwear), Sweaty Betty also prioritizes ethical manufacturing. Most products utilize recycled plastics and fabrics with limited environmental impact. These sustainability initiatives have earned them certification as a B Corp Brand.
Some key advantages that set them apart from competitors:
Trend-Driven Designs: Their talented creative team churns out athleticwear reflecting current fashion trends more akin to Ready-To-Wear than typical performance gear. Examples include moto leggings, cut-out sports bras and tailored joggers, rather than basic black.
Innovative Fabrics: Investment in technical fabrics and construction techniques yield leggings, bike shorts and tops that excel during intense workouts but still look great at the cafe afterwards. Signature collections include Zero Gravity, SuperSculpt, Power, Merino and Seamless.
Cohesive Collections: Meticulous attention to detail across each seasonal collection allows easy head-to-toe outfitting. You’ll find corresponding color stories, complementary silhouettes and consistent technical specifications across their expansive catalog.
Now let’s take an in-depth look at some of Sweaty Betty’s best-selling leggings and sports bras to see if the quality matches the elevated price tags.
Sweaty Betty Leggings Review
The foundation of Sweaty Betty’s apparel lineup relies on their extensive assortment of leggings engineered for everything from low-impact yoga to high-intensity HIIT workouts. With over 25 legging styles available, let’s analyze how they compare to my gold standard for performance and comfort.
Sweaty Betty SuperSculpt Leggings Review
The SuperSculpt leggings ($108) represent their advanced compression options made with Sweaty Betty’s proprietary Power Flex fabric. This ultra-lightweight compression fabric contains a higher percentage of elastane (20%) for enhanced muscle support and recovery.
The contoured waistband conforms to your core without squeezing or shifting during downward dog or deep squats. For hot yoga, the sweat-wicking properties keep moisture under control even when your practice intensifies. The fabric is buttery-smooth yet remains totally squat-proof.
Over 10 wear-tests hitting the yoga studio, lifting weights and lounging on the couch, the SuperSculpt passed every test. They earn an enthusiastic recommendation for their unrestricted flexibility, durable yet comfortable compression and ability to wear straight from the gym to running errands without looking sloppy.
Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity High-Waisted Leggings Review
The Zero Gravity leggings ($118) feature a slightly lighter compression level while remaining squat-proof thanks to their full-length, high-waisted silhouette. The brushed fabric feels almost impossibly soft yet provides effective moisture control.
These became my top choice for long distance runs outside in cooler weather. The streamlined waistband eliminates any potential gapping at the back and blocks wind. After 8+ miles, I experienced zero chafing thanks to seamless construction.
In terms of fit for curvier figures, the Zero Gravity accommodates fuller hip and thigh measurements while avoiding the dreaded saggy knee look many leggings succumb to over time. The back pocket also securely held my iPhone 11 Pro during intense speed work intervals.
For at-home barre and pilates sessions, they provide the ideal balance of compression without overly restricting range of motion needed for small, controlled movements. The Zero Gravity leggings earn high marks all around as a solid multi-purpose option with style-forward colors and prints that energize your routine.
Additional Favorites: Sweaty Betty Power Leggings & All Day Leggings
Beyond the SuperSculpt and Zero Gravity collections, two additional Sweaty Betty legging lines shine:
Sweaty Betty Power Legging Collection features bolder color-blocking details, adjustable drawcords and side stash pockets ($108-118). Ideal for lifting, HIIT and gym sessions.
The Sweaty Betty All Day Leggings offer extreme comfort and recovery for just $78. With ultra-soft, brushed fabric, they excel for low-intensity yoga, pilates and travel days.
Sweaty Betty Sports Bras Review
Finding sports bras offering both function AND fashion proves challenging, but Sweaty Betty gets high marks for their stylishly designed support tops. I evaluated four popular bra silhouettes during HIIT training, hot yoga, running and everyday wear.
Stamina Workout Bra Review
The fan-favorite Stamina bra features medium support ideal for B/C cups with tons of on-trend strappy detailing. For HIIT and hot yoga, the sweat-wicking fabric and breathable mesh panels kept me cool. The racerback strap design allowed free upper body movement.
My only issue came with the angled neckline that can show undergarment lines if you’re particularly busty.
Overall, the $40 Stamina bra works beautifully for low to medium impact activities where you still want an element of style. The neon orange color I chose added sunrise vibes to my morning runs.
All Time Bra Review
For high-intensity circuit training and running, the All Time bra became my new go-to for support. The thicker padded straps do not dig in or slip off my shoulders like many flimsy bras. The bonded seams eliminate any rubbing or skin irritation.
There’s ample compression (rated for C/D cups) to limit bounce during plyometric moves without squashing or compressing unnecessarily. The mesh overlay adds breathability while the sweat-wicking fabric works overtime when your heart rate elevates.
Could this $52 bra work for hot yoga or Low-Impact activities? Definitely. But the All Time really excels at controlling bounce during high-energy training which earns it a permanent place in my gym bag.
Additional Favorites: Longline Bra & Glory Bra
Beyond the Stamina and All Time, Sweaty Betty offers countless sports bra styles catering to different figures and sweat levels. Two additional winners:
The Longline Bra ($44) works perfectly under tanks or tees, providing light support and coverage in subtler shades like black, white and nude.
For smaller cup sizes, the distinctive Glory Bra ($38) serves up strappy style reminiscent of the Stamina but with a bit less compression. The pastel tie-dye shade screams Gen Z!
How Sweaty Betty Compares to Popular Athleisure Brands
With celebrity fans like Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Garner along with tons of social media buzz, you may wonder how Sweaty Betty’s quality and fit compares to trendy competitors like Lululemon, Alo Yoga, Outdoor Voices and Girlfriend Collective.
Here’s my take after extensive product testing across all five brands:
Lululemon reigns for innovation and functionality but styles skew basic so the cool factor is not on par with Sweaty Betty’s of-the-moment looks. My Align leggings from Lulu show pilling after just a few months wear.
Alo Yoga offers tons of made-for-Instagram pieces but their fabrics are thinner and start to sag quickly. The bras also lack support for larger bust sizes. Cute for lifestyle, not high performance.
Outdoor Voices promotes a philosophy of doing activity you enjoy instead of hardcore training. Thus their apparel fits the recreational jogger but can feel basic and tame style-wise compared to Sweaty Betty’s cuts and pattern play.
Girlfriend Collective wins top marks for sustainability practices with most items made from recycled water bottles or plant-based materials. The affordability is fantastic but the muted color palette leaves something to be desired. Fits are also quite relaxed rather than slim and tailored.
In summary, Sweaty Betty forges the best overall balance of style, performance, quality and ethical production standards. Yes the pricing exceeds fast-fashion athletic brands but you absolutely get what you pay for in terms of technical features that stand the test of time.
For stylish workout gear backed by substance, Sweaty Betty takes the lead among the competitive set obsessed with all things athleisure.
Finding Sweaty Betty on Sale: Secrets to Saving Big
If those Triple Digit price tags cause hesitation, discovering Sweaty Betty deals provides the perfect excuse to fill your cart. Here are my top tips for scoring discounts:
Monitor the Sale section daily for newly added items marked down 40-60% off original pricing. Best deals go extremely quickly due to limited sizes and quantities.
Shop seasonal sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Week where you can expect at least 20% off site-wide and deeper discounts on last season’s colors/prints.
Join Sweaty Betty’s Member Program for exclusive discounts and early access to new product launches and collaborations which sell out fast. Also access birthday and subscriber-only promo codes.
Buy discounted gift cards on third party sites like Raise.com where buyers list unwanted gift cards they don’t plan to use for up to 20% off. You score additional savings paying with discounted gift cards instead of cash.
Wrap Up: Should You Buy Sweaty Betty Activewear?
Sweaty Betty’s slogan “powered by women, designed to perform” perfectly encapsulates their positioning. This trailblazing brand empowers ladies to push boundaries in the gym and beyond while looking fabulously fit, never frazzled.
Sure you’ll pay above average price points ($30 for tees, $100+ for leggings, $200 for jackets) that exceed budget brands focused purely on function over fashion. But proven quality, consistent technical innovation and cute-meets-cool designs make their collection favorite among style setters who refuse to compromise either aesthetic.
For motivation to get your fitness on while wearing athletic apparel fit for fashion week, jump into Sweaty Betty without hesitation. Chasing PRs has never looked so chic!
