Fitness
6 Fitness Influencers Over 50 Who Deserve a Follow
This story is part of This Is 50+—an in-depth look at guys who are thriving later in life, with tips and tricks on how all of us can future-proof our bodies.
TAKE A SCROLL through your social media feed, and you’ll find no shortage of fitness content. The stars of those exercise routine and form videos are probably a lot of ripe 20-and-30-year-olds, though, in the prime of their physique.
Scroll a little further, and you’ll find another impressive group of fitness influencers over 50 who are keeping up with (and often surpassing) those 30-year-olds. Sure, it’s cool to watch them do wall sits while holding 100 pounds, juggle enormous kettlebells, and even rep out lock jaw push ups with 70 pound (you really have to see this one to believe it). But, best of all, they’re utilizing their platforms to teach others how to do the same—at any age.
Regardless of how old you are, what kind of exercise you enjoy, or where you are in your fitness journey, there’s so much to learn from these inspiring influencers. Here are five of our favorites, along with their advice for performing at your best after 5o.
Colin Daring
COLIN DARING’S JOURNEY began with a simple bench in the basement of his childhood home, where his father taught him how to train. Often, they would go to a local park and do calisthenics, like pull ups—something the 53-year-old senjoys doing to this day.
After traveling to different countries and seeing their traditional forms of training, he started becoming interested in “odd objects,” as he calls them. He began training with a variety of equipment including kettlebells, Atlas stones, sandbags, and mace clubs. Now, he takes to social media to post videos about the use and benefits of these different styles of training (and some more traditional training tips, too).
Daring is aptly named—much of his content includes heavy kettlebell juggles that are not for the faint of heart. Bells weighing upwards of 70 pounds flying behind the back, under the leg, and over the shoulder—all magically sequenced together in a way you have to see to believe. He teaches kettlebell workshops at a few gyms in Brooklyn, and offers online training. Even in his 50s, “training is now embedded in my lifestyle,” he says. He’s only looking to get stronger, too—he sets short term and long term goals for himself that help him stay consistent and motivated.
HIS ADVICE: Find movement you enjoy that keeps you physically and mentally engaged. “Watching TV on the treadmill doesn’t really count,” he says. “Think tennis, volleyball, basketball. Exercises that have the mind and the body engaged at the same time.”
Bill Maeda
HAWAII-NATIVE BILL Maeda, 55, has been a trainer since 1987. Recovering from addiction, and being diagnosed with PTSD and ADHD, training was the only job he was able to hold for many years, he says. “I could hide from the world in my small gym near Waikiki, and fixate on one client at a time.”
In 2012, he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy that left him “physically plundered and deeply depressed,” he says. That carried all the way through 2019, when his mother passed away, and into 2020, when lockdown began. During quarantine, he randomly decided to take a video of how many push ups he could do in 10 minutes, and posted it to YouTube. He didn’t think twice about it—until “an avalanche” of notifications began to light up his screen.
“Somehow that video took off, and the comments that came in changed my life,” Maeda says. “People from everywhere were saying the kindest and most encouraging things that I had ever heard. Their kindness and support taught me to stop feeling sorry for myself and redirect that energy into serving, teaching, and at the very least entertaining any who grace me with a few moments of their time to watch my videos.”
After that, he dedicated himself to filming his daily workouts. That was more than 4 years ago. Since then, 2 million people have followed him to watch his impressive lifts and less traditional strength feats (that lock-jaw push up we talked about earlier? Yeah, that was him).
HIS ADVICE: Start easy. Like, really easy. “The goal is to get in the habit of training every single day,” and continuing to do so, he says. “The only way to do this is by making the workouts very short and very easy.”
He suggests starting with just 5 minutes on the clock. Pick a handful of exercises you can do and are comfortable with. Work through ranges of motion that are doable. “This is exactly where you want to be. You should also feel certain that they can do the exact same thing tomorrow…and the next day and the next day,” he says.
When you are ready to dedicate more time, add a minute, and then another—slowly build to where you want to be. The short time frame will help build the habit, which is more important than the exercise itself. “That’s what they mean by easy does it.”
Bryan Krahn, C.S.C.S.
BRYAN KRAHN C.S.C.S. HAS been studying, practicing, and writing about exercise science and training for almost 20 years. In fact, he’s written lots of content for Men’s Health, including our muscle-building guide for men over 40.
Krahn, 50, dubs himself a “semi-serious physique-athlete,” meaning he builds and maintains a aesthetic frame, but does not compete in body building competitions. While you might find a picture or two of his impressive six-pack on his Instagram, you’ll find that most of his content is information based. He uses “a base of scientifically supported industry practices but also a litany of techniques that have been shown to work in the real world,” to fuel his training programs and his content.
HIS ADVICE: “Train like you want to show up again tomorrow,” he says. “After 50, longevity and preventing injury becomes the new ‘optimum.’” To do that, he suggests three things. First, never work through pain—find an alternative if any exercise bothers you.
Second, don’t be afraid to use safer alternatives to high-risk lifts. For example: “A barbell overhead press is a great lift if you have the technique and shoulder mechanics for it. But using dumbbells with a neutral grip is easier on the shoulder and just as effective.”
Third, aim for higher reps with lighter weight on most exercises. You’ll still get the muscle building benefit without sacrificing safety. You can find even more of his tips for building muscle after 50 here.
Paul Sklar
PAUL SKLAR, C.S.C.S. IS a Division 1 athlete turned fitness expert. He was a distance runner during his time at Wake Forest University, where he earned his bachelors degree in Exercise and Sports Science. He began competing in duathlons, where he was ranked second nationally, and 25th in the world.
The 52-year-old been a professional trainer since 1993, working with novices and professional athletes alike. He’s taken his expertise to Instagram—where he posts his workouts, mobility exercises, and recovery routines.
HIS ADVICE: “If you want to get lean (and have a strong foundation), make sure you never miss leg day. You get better bang for your buck with a well-rounded program.”
Brad Schoenfeld
SOCIAL MEDIA IS full of misinformation. If you want to make sure you’re getting foolproof, science-backed fitness info, look for no further follow than 61-year-old Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D., C.S.C.S..
Schoenfeld is a professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Recreation at Lehman College in NYC, and a leading researcher on muscle building and fat loss. He’s also competed as a drug-free body builder for most of his life. A self-coined “fitness myth-buster,” his page is a one-stop shop for real tips and tricks for body composition.
HIS ADVICE: “The aging process tends to impair recovery; you simply cannot recuperate as well at 50 vs when you were 20. Thus, it’s important to be cognizant of how your body responds to training and manage exercise volume and frequency accordingly,” he says.
Cameron Shayne
CAMERON SHAYNE’S INSTAGRAM feed looks a bit different from that of your traditional male fitness influencer. Instead of hulking around big weights, you’ll find the 52-year-old crawling on the floor, demonstrating impressive feats of mobility, and taking down guys half his age in Jiu-Jitsu fights.
In the 90s, Shayne established himself as one of the pioneering voices and teachers of contemporary yoga, martial arts and the movement culture in Los Angeles. In 2001, he designed Budokon Mixed Movement Arts by combining the combat arts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts together with yoga, crawling patterns, mobility, calisthenics, and cognitive studies into a single black belt system. Now, he trains some of the best professional UFC, ADCC, and Bellator fighters in the world. Now, he takes his teachings to social media, where he’s gained quite a following.
HIS ADVICE: “Athletic longevity depends greatly on joint mobility. Focus on the 3 essential qualities of joint health: mobility, flexibility and strength,” he says.
This is just the beginning. See what else guys at 50+ are thinking, doing, and crushing here.
READ MORE
The article below is an excerpt from my newsletter: Well Enough with Harry Bullmore. To get my latest thoughts on fitness and wellbeing pop your email address into the box above to get the newsletter direct to your inbox.
Exercise doesn’t always make a good first impression. Often, the opposite is true.
A recent survey found that unpleasant experiences in PE lessons put 28 per cent of people off exercise “for life”.
In the UK, if you didn’t take to football, rugby, athletics or netball like a duck to water, there’s a high chance you came to believe that sport isn’t for you.
Then, as an adult, someone stresses the importance of exercising for your health, so you do what everyone else seems to be doing and go for a run. That invariably feels horrible because your body isn’t quite ready for it, so you stop.
The thing missing throughout this process is choice. It’s hard to develop a healthy relationship with something you feel forced into. But exercise becomes less of a chore if you can find a form of movement you enjoy and actively choose to do on a regular basis – whether that’s swimming, pickleball, home workouts, qigong, Nordic walking or something else.
That is the theme of this week’s newsletter – making exercise work for you:
This probably isn’t the first time you’ve been told to enjoy exercise. That’s easier said than done – and far harder for some than others. Simply running more or pressuring yourself to go to the gym every day isn’t going to work. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.
Anne Dockery, a 77-year-old champion runner and triathlete from Bristol, demonstrates this point beautifully. Her bulging medal cabinet would turn any athlete green with envy, yet she only started running at 52.
“I thought running was really boring at first,” she tells me, laughing. “Now I don’t know what I would do without it.”
So what changed? She joined a club.
Anne became part of a diverse group of runners who hit the trails and tarmac every Sunday. They chatted, they ran, and she soon found herself covering up to 18 miles in a day. But it didn’t feel like exercise – by adding a social element, she found a way to make it fun.
There’s a lot more to Anne’s story, including her fight for fitness brands to represent over-45s fairly, which I’ll be diving into in next week’s newsletter.
This is not an isolated case. My uncle joined a volleyball club in his sixties. In the past decade, my mum and several friends have discovered the unbridled joy of Cornish pilot gig rowing. Another friend found a dance class she loves and hasn’t looked back.
Few of these activities feature in school curriculums or exercise guidelines, but they are all forms of movement. And as World Health Organisation guidelines from 2020 state: “Every move counts towards better health.”
I’ve experienced this personally, too. After growing like a weed during my sixteenth summer, I joined a new sixth form as a gangly teen in a foreign-feeling body. I felt awkward and uncomfortable – bulking up in the gym felt like a straightforward solution.
So I went along, lifted a few weights to the best of my ability, then spotted people sniggering at my efforts and promptly left. The gym was clearly not for me.
Fast forward to 2026, and I now write about fitness for a living while teaching people how to lift weights outside of my nine-to-five. What happened in between? I made lifting weights work for me and regained exercise autonomy in the process.
I don’t think anyone enjoys being sniggered at (although I’ve since found most gyms are supportive environments). But what I do love is learning.
So I went to a discount store, picked up a cut-price set of spinlock dumbbells and a barbell, then started inhaling every piece of strength training-related literature I could get my hands on.
I proceeded to pump iron in my garden shed over the coming months. My body changed, my mindset changed, and I grew to love it. Later, I was able to return to the gym with a pep in my step and a self-made exercise plan in my back pocket.
One of the best ways to build confidence is to start exercising with a coach. Once you’ve learned how to perform five to 10 fundamental full-body exercises (think squats, lunges, presses and rows) with good form, you have everything you need to build a robust body.
If the gym environment feels intimidating, accessible home workouts – like the one featured in The Independent’s strength training guide – are a great, time-savvy alternative.
Or you can increase the enjoyment factor by heading outside with sessions like coach Dan John’s favourite kettlebell workout. There are extra health benefits if you can rope in a few friends too – an ongoing 80-plus-year Harvard study has highlighted the importance of strong social connections in living a longer, healthier life.
Of course, these two examples only cover strength training. From all the reading and interviews I’ve done, the optimal exercise mix (on paper) involves regular strength training, challenging your heart and lungs at least a couple of times per week, and a good dose of general movement (ie walking).
But the more important takeaway from this newsletter is that any movement is better than none – and fun is invaluable. Combine the two and you’ll be laughing.
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Fitness
Exercise: Doctor shares a change to how you drink water that can boost energy and performance during exercise
The wellness and fitness market is full of supplements promising health and performance benefits. One that has grown in popularity is electrolytes.
PhD neuroscientist and Phizz co-founder, Dr Paul Anastasiades, spoke exclusively to GB News to explain what these are and how they can be beneficial in both your fitness regime and in everyday life.
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are essential minerals that help the body rehydrate, making them an important tool when taken around exercise.
Dr Anastasiades said: “Electrolytes are essential minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium. They are often associated with exercise due to their critical roles in nerve and muscle function and the fact that fluids and electrolytes are lost through sweat, impacting physical performance.
Electrolytes can give more benefits than just drinking water
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GETTY“Electrolytes are particularly important during exercise, as you lose them when you sweat, so taking electrolyte supplements can help improve both physical performance and recovery. But they aren’t just for athletes, they also matter on a day-to-day basis because hydration underpins your energy, focus and overall mood.
“What is less well known is that electrolytes also support 100s of different biological processes, including immune system function and energy metabolism.
“Importantly, we lose electrolytes throughout the day, not just during sweaty workouts, so we need to keep our electrolyte levels topped up daily to ensure our bodies function optimally.”
Indeed, a study published in MDPI looked at the effects of electrolyte supplements on the body during exercise. It compared electrolyte drinks to plain water and found that electrolyte intake better maintained hydration and physiological balance.
What’s more, the improved fluid retention helped support exercise capacity and recovery compared to drinking water alone, showing their value for endurance and sustained performance.
This is particularly relevant for those training at higher intensities or for longer durations, where sweat loss is greater and hydration needs increase.
Hydrating with electrolytes is not just important when exercising, however, as those who enjoy an active lifestyle could get more out of the supplement than they realise.
Dr Anastasiades continued: “Despite an ever-increasing focus on health and fitness, fast-paced, high-stress, and increasingly active lifestyles lead many people to suffer from tiredness, low energy and reduced focus. What many don’t know is that one of the main causes of these symptoms is dehydration.”
Even mild dehydration can affect Britons in a number of ways. This includes difficulties concentrating, weaker muscle contractions, earlier fatigue during exercise, and distorted hunger signals, among other drawbacks.
Electrolytes can help with performance and recovery around exercise
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GETTYSo how can you combat this? The doctor said: “Combatting dehydration is not just about how much water you drink, but how effectively your body uses it. That’s where electrolytes come in. Certain formulations – like Phizz – use the power of electrolytes to help your body absorb and retain fluids more efficiently.
“Electrolyte-based hydration formulas offer a powerful solution to dehydration. When sodium is paired with a small amount of glucose, it helps increase the speed and efficiency of water absorption in the body. This supports hydration during or immediately after exercise, while also making hydration more effective in everyday life.
“This is why electrolytes are increasingly becoming part of people’s daily routines. By harnessing the power of electrolytes, we can stave off dehydration to improve our energy and focus. Advanced formulas, such as Phizz, also include other vitamins and minerals to provide a great-tasting daily supplement to support overall wellbeing.”
Fitness
This High-Performance, Stylish Activewear Brand Has Topped My List of Workout Clothes for Nearly a Decade
As Women’s Health’s style and reviews writer,, I have drawers filled with activewear, so you can rest assured that I know a thing or two about the best workout clothes for women. And while I try a lot of compression leggings and moisture-wicking underwear that blow me away, I also try some not-so-great stuff that makes their way to the bottom of my dresser or giveaway pile.
Best Workout Clothes for Women
Over the past two years, I’ve tested over 30 activewear brands—from gym staples to runner-friendly picks to stylish options that are more about the look than the workout. Meanwhile, our fashion contributors Lily Wohlner, Kristen Saladino, and Rose Lauture bring 20-plus years of experience testing fashion brands to the table. Together, we teamed up to curate a list of our all-time favorite workout clothes—ones that deliver on style, quality, and durability and are truly worth every dollar.
What to Consider
Materials
The professionals on this list agree: The best workout clothes should be comfortable. But, because sweat does happen while you’re working out, they recommend materials that are moisture-wicking, like nylon or elastane.
- Elastane/Spandex: This is a lightweight, stretchy fabric that will give your clothing that elastic feel. This is especially useful for workouts that require a lot of movement and stretching, like yoga or Pilates.
- Nylon: A soft, stretchy, and durable fabric that’s moisture-wicking—perfect for when you want to stay dry and keep sweat stains at bay during your workout.
- Polyester: This fabric naturally repels water, wicks sweat like a pro, and dries quickly, making it ideal for high-intensity workouts. It’s also lightweight, breathable, and durable—plus, it won’t shrink or wrinkle easily.
Price
I’m gonna be honest—some of the brands on this list can get a little pricey (hi, lululemon and Vuori). But, the pros recommend them because they’re long-lasting, and they feel stretchy and soft rather than heavy and constricting. If you’re looking for something on the more affordable side, check out Amazon’s exclusive workout brands or Adanola, which has many stylish options for less than $100.
Durability
Speaking of long-lasting wear, you want to make sure your workout clothes won’t pill, stretch, or lose their color after a few wears and washes. All the brands on this list have passed that test. Registered dietician Maddie Pasquariello, RDN, has even owned the same pair of leggings from Splits59 for five years and says they’re still good as new.
Besides their ability to stay intact for years, you also want to make sure your workout clothes pass the wear test. Do they allow for movement? Are they see-through while squatting or bending over? Does the waistband slide down? You can get a good sense of whether or not your activewear passes the wear test by trying it on in person before you make a purchase.
How We Chose
For the past two years, Women’s Health editors, including myself and fashion contributors Lily Wohlner, Rose Lauture, and Kristen Saladino, have been testing the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated workout clothes. We used our first-hand experience and consulted other fitness and fashion professionals to narrow down our favorites and determine what to consider when shopping. We rated all the workout clothes on versatility, sizing, clothing options, moisture-wicking abilities, durability, and comfort. The options that got the highest marks are the ones that made it onto this list.
Are you ready to shop our activewear faves? Look no further than this curated list of the best workout clothes for women to shop now.
lululemon Align Hi-Rise Pant
lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Short
lululemon Chargefeel 3 Workout Shoes
Lululemon’s technical apparel has been the holy grail of activewear since the brand launched its signature buttery-soft leggings and yoga pants, and we’re huge fans. Motivational speaker Denise Vitola, a devoted lulu fan, says the brand stands out for blending endurance, performance, and fashion. But what truly sets lululemon apart is its obsessive attention to detail—from sweat-wicking fabrics that feel like a second skin to precision tailoring that moves with you. Our fashion editors agree: these pieces don’t just last, they become essentials you can’t live without.
One downside of lululemon’s activewear is that it errs on the pricier side, but our editors definitely think it’s worth the investment, since lululemon excels at durability. Founder of Yoga Kawa Echo Wang agrees. “Lululemon’s outfits hold up wash after wash and they feel amazing and so stretchy during yoga practice,” she says.
In terms of the pieces we love, the lululemon Align Leggings can’t go without a shoutout. Our editors love them for their breathability, barely-there feel, and how easy they are to move in thanks to the perfect blend of stretchy elastane and smooth nylon. All of those features extend to its other activewear, like sweat-wicking tops, biker shorts, sports bras, and more.
Another loved product by Vitola and our team? The cult-classic Energy Bra, which is one of our all-time favorite sports bras, is especially great for medium-impact activity like strength training or jogging. “It’s super comfortable on my shoulders and doesn’t give me a uni-boob under my shirts,” she says, adding that she likes that the cross straps take the pressure off your shoulders during wear.
Read More: Best lululemon Items
Most Affordable: Crz Yoga
Crz Yoga Strappy Longline Sports Bra
Crz Yoga Butterluxe Cross Waist Workout Leggings
Crz Yoga Pima Cotton Workout Tank
One brand in particular we love for comfort, durability, and price? Crz Yoga. The affordable brand delivers styles (and quality!) that rival even some of the pricier activewear brands.
Crz Yoga offers all sorts of super cute pieces like flare leggings, cropped tees, and longline sports bras. Founder of iCORE Method Courtney Virden says this is her all-time fave activewear brand because it’s super stylish without breaking the bank. She also adds that the brand is constantly adding new items to its roster, so fresh and fun styles and colors to choose from.
Since Crz Yoga’s prices are more budget-friendly, I was a little skeptical about the quality. But after trying the Butterluxe Workout Leggings, I was surprised—they’re almost as comfortable as our top pick, lululemon. And at half the price, they’re an even easier buy.
Most Comfortable: Vuori
Vuori AllTheFeels Legging
Vuori AllTheFeels Bra
Vuori Restore Half Zip Jacket Hoodie
Vuori is another personal favorite on this list, as its fabric is unbelievably soft without slacking on compression. After trying many pairs of leggings, I found that I felt the most confident at the gym when wearing Vuori’s Daily Legging, because it contours any lumps and bumps and makes my ‘bod look so smooth and snatched, but it doesn’t feel overly compressive or tight.
Vuori not only hugs you in all the right places, but the textures are so soft against your skin (hi, polyester and elastane blend), says personal trainer, Kim Strother, NASM, who also loves the brand’s Daily Collection. “Vuori is really made to move,” she says. “Not all activewear is actually comfortable to work out in, but this brand fits my very active lifestyle.”
Gini Grimsley, MS, director of fitness products at Vasa Fitness, is a big fan of Vuori’s famed Performance Joggers because they allow for a ton of movement without needing to readjust the waistband. As a weight lifter, she never has to adjust her clothing between sets, meaning she has more time to focus on the task at hand. Vuori’s proprietary fabric is so comfy that we’ve even worn its leggings for couch rotting, lounging, errands, and the list goes on.
I did notice that Vuori’s sizing is not as inclusive as other brands on this list, with most of its options only ranging from XXS to 2X (as a reference, Girlfriend Collective’s options go all the way to a 6X!).
Read more:Vuori Review
Best Quality: Athleta
Athleta Interval Bra
Now 18% Off
Athleta Interval High Rise Legging
Athleta Easy Fleece 1/2 Zip Hoodie
Now 44% Off
I’ve been testing activewear for years, but it was only until recently that I gave Athleta a shot, and it has quickly become one of my all-time favorite activewear brands. And, that seems like a common theme—three experts we spoke to praise its fashion-forward styles and comfortable fit. But, the common thread among our team and experts was that the fabrics wear very well and the materials are super high-quality.
Certified personal trainer Rachel Macpherson, CSCS, wears and tests workout clothes daily, and one thing she loves about Athleta is never having to worry about see-through fabric while stretching or squatting. Plus, its materails hold up well after multiple washes. The brand offers six proprietary fabrics, ranging from second-skin softness to cooling technology for intense workouts. The best part? They’re all super stretchy, so you don’t have to worry about rips or tears mid-workout.
Golf instructor Erica Larkin loves Athleta’s layering pieces and outerwear—like its pullovers and jackets—as they keep her dry and warm during every season. Plus, they’re easy to move and swing in. Taryn Toomey, founder and creative director of The Class, agrees. She loves moving in a way that lets her focus on how her body feels, not her clothes—and Athleta’s gear makes that easy.
Freshest Styles: Nike
Nike Swoosh Medium Support Sports Bra
Nike Pro Sculpt High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
When it comes to activewear, there’s a high chance you have at least one Nike piece in your closet—at least WH editors all do. In our opinion, the brand has the freshest styles, with its pieces ranging from practical gym ‘fits to streetwear staples. We especially like that Nike’s sizing is pretty solid, with pieces ranging from size XS to 3XL. I’m a true medium (typically a size six in clothing), and all of Nike’s medium sizes fit me like a glove, so I can also attest to the brand’s size consistency.
Dani Coleman, director of training and head trainer at Pvolve (and Jennifer Aniston’s personal trainer!), says her all-time favorite activewear brand is Nike because of its athletic styles and practical function. In our opinion, it blends streetwear (hi, bold branding, oversized fits, and trend-driven designs) with performance to make functional pieces that are designed for movement. “No matter what I have on-deck, its styles easily morph into any occasion from being in the studio or out and about.” We’ve even worn some of its clothing to spruce up a GNO.
Coleman specifically loves the Zenvy Legging (I’m also a huge fan of these—they’re lightweight and squat-proof!), the Alate Sports Bra, and her all-time favorite training shoe, the Nike Free Metcon 6. A favorite of mine from the brand is the Nike Swoosh Medium Support Bra, which actually won our best overall spot in our best sports bras roundup for its compressive feel that keeps you locked in during runs, Pilates, walks, yoga, and HIIT. What specifically draws Coleman to Nike is its representation and diversity as a brand and in its products. “It also pushes the envelope on innovation and partners with some of the most talented athletes in the world,” she says.
Splits59 Ella High Waist Airweight 7/8
Splits59 Ella Airweight Tank
Registered dietician Maddie Pasquariello, RDN, has had a longtime obsession with Splits59 because its products hold up better than any others she owns. She says she’s owned one of the brand’s leggings for five years (!!), and they’ve retained their shape, stretch, and color the entire time.
Pasquariello also adds that she prefers matte fabrics over shiny ones, and Splits 59 has many options that are up her alley. Plus, we especially love the colors and patterns the clothes are available in, all options that are easy to mix and match.
While Pasquariello loves everything she’s tried from the brand, she calls out the Ella High Waist Airweight Legging as well as the matching Ella Airweight Bra—they’re made out of moisture-wicking and quick-drying nylon that keep you comfortable during super sweaty workouts. And don’t sleep on the stretchy tanks and tees—the Jackson Rib Turtleneck is so cute and it has thumb holes, which makes it perfect for chillier days, she notes.
Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket Legging
Girlfriend Collective Tina Open Back Unitard
Girlfriend Collective Compressive Pocket Run Short
Girlfriend Collective is a great option for activewear, but what makes it stand out is its commitment to size inclusivity. All of its clothing options range from a size XXS to a 6XL, so it caters to so many body types.
Wang loves Girlfriend clothing specifically for yoga, touting the Float line as the fabric is slightly thicker and more compressive for flexible moves like downward dog or child’s pose. While its clothes are slightly more expensive, she says she sees Girlfriend Collective as an investment in quality, comfort, and inclusive sizing. Style coach Liz Wendler is also a fan of the brand, calling out its Compressive Leggings and Paloma Racerback Bra. “This set is incredibly comfortable and sits at the right spot for comfort and movement,” she says.
I do find that its sizing runs a tad bit big, so if you want your workout attire to fit more on the snug side, opt for a size down that what you’d normally go for.
Amazon Essentials Active FormFlex Y-Back Sports Bra
Amazon Essentials Active FormFlex High Waist Biker Shorts
ICYMI, Amazon Essentials—known for its stylish, affordable basics—launched its own line of activewear earlier this summer. The collection is full of super cute pieces starting at just $17, which deals and trends editor Sidney Lee loves for low-impact workouts and daily athleisure wear.
The brand’s signature FormFlex fabric (a blend of smooth nylon and stretchy elastane), which you can find in most of the line, is buttery-soft and breathable with light support. Lee is a fan of the Active FormFlex Y-Back Sports Bra to keep cool and ready to bend during yoga and Pilates, as well as the Active FormFlex High Waist Biker Shorts, which don’t slip while running and don’t show any sweat marks (at least in navy).
Read More: Amazon Essentials Activewear Review
Most Popular: Alo Yoga
Alo Airlift Intrigue Bra
Now 31% Off
Alo Accolade Full Zip Hoodie
Alo HIgh-Waist Airlift Leggings
Alo is always ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion-forward activewear. And, that’s why it’s the most widely worn brand among our editors. The brand is a trendsetter in the fitness world, but it also has fashion-forward styles we feel super chic wearing on the street. We appreciate the brand because the quality of its clothing is consistently top-notch, its sizing is inclusive, and its pieces hold up through all kinds of activities.
Saladino loves that the brand makes a little bit of everything—biker shorts perfect for hot yoga or summer workouts, recovery sneakers, smoothing leggings, and the list goes on. And, we love that it introduces new, fun colors every month so its products never get old and there’s always an option for anyone.
The brand offers three signature fabrics: Airlift (82% polyester, 18% elastane), Airbrush (87% nylon, 13% elastane), and Alosoft (87% polyester, 13% elastane). Each one has a different feel—whether you want high compression, extra softness, or more stretch. This makes shopping at Alo a breeze, and once you find a fabric you love, you can stick with it and grab different styles in the same material.
Read More: Alo Yoga Review
Most Versatile: Adanola
Adanola Ultimate Short Sleeve Zip Up Top
Adanola Ultimate Wrap Over Leggings
Like many of the other brands on this list, Adanola offers a variety of styles that work with different dress codes from the gym to the office. But, we also love that most of its pieces are below $100. And DW, the quality is surprisingly great for the price.
Adanola is a favorite in fitness instructor Aubre Winters-Casiano’s closet. Its apparel is simple yet makes you feel like the coolest and most confident gal in the room, she says. I’ve worn its clothes to the gym, but I also own pieces perfect for lounging around my apartment.
Winter-Casiano’s favorite pieces are the Ultimate Tank Bra, the Ultimate Leggings, and the Ultimate Long Sleeve Longline Top. “The Ultimate Sleeveless Unitard is also so flattering,” she adds. She also calls out that the brand shows its pieces on models of all different body types and shapes, which makes her feel really confident ordering online while pregnant.
Saladino says that its fabric feels thick and super high-quality. For the leggings specifically, the high-waisted band stays securely in place without any need for adjustments during yoga. “I most often reach for its flared leggings—they’re my go-to for barre class, especially when I’m wearing ankle weights.” And, on weekends, she reaches for them just to lounge because they’re just that comfortable. She even ended up buying two more pairs so she always has a clean option in her drawer.
FP Movement Retro Rider Layer
FP Movement Varsity Blues Shorts
Both myself and Lauture are obsessed with the adorable styles from FP Movement. We can confidently say we’ve never felt more stylish—whether we’re working out, hiking, running, or just lounging. The pieces pair effortlessly with anything, but the subtle boho flair and vibrant, versatile colors make them stand out. Plus, its quality is amazing—its workout sets are extremely soft and maintain their quality after multiple washes, Lauture says.
I also love the versatility of FP Movement. In my mind, they’re less of a workout brand and more of a lifestyle label because there are so many clothing options to choose from. I own the extremely soft and stretchy Never Better Full-Length Leggings, but I also have outerwear like the Mountain Top Half Zip Fleece and cozies like the For The Win Sleeveless Sweatshirt and the Let’s Bounce Pant.
If you want ultra high-performance gear, FP Movement might not be your best bet. But if you’re after everyday staples that can take you from the gym to the rest of your day while keeping you effortlessly cute, it’s a solid choice.
Meet the Experts
- Denise Vitola is a fitness instructor, wellness coach, and motivational speaker.
- Liz Wendler is a style coach.
- Echo Wang is the founder of Yoga Kawa.
- Rachel Macpherson, CPT, is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach.
- Erica Larkin is a golf instructor at Larkin Golf.
- Taryn Toomey is the founder and creative director of The Class.
- Kim Strother, CPT, is a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor.
- Gini Grimsley, MS, is the director of fitness products at Vasa Fitness.
- Aubre Winters-Casiano is the founder of Sweat Sessions Studio.
- Dani Coleman is the director of training and head trainer at Pvolve.
- Maddie Pasquariello, MS, RDN is a registered dietician.
- Kristen Hislop is a certified personal trainer and running coach.
- Courtney Virden is the founder of iCORE Method.
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Shannen Zitz is the Associate Style & Reviews Editor at Women’s Health, where she covers all-things sneakers and activewear. Previously, she was an assistant editor at Prevention. Shannen graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.
Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men’s Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.
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