It's official: these are the 11 best matching women's gym sets for brunch, Barre and more
If you’re anything like the team here at Marie Claire UK, you’re extra motivated when you’re wearing the best gym wear that makes you feel both confident and supported. We’re fans of fashion-forward designs that also perform, too – no crinkly knees, sweat patches or saggy waistbands over here. Enter stage right, our edit of the best women’s gym sets, tried and tested by the team.
A bit like our edits of the best workout leggings, the best running trainers and the best sports bras, we’ve tested all the items in this round-up and can vouch that they a. look great and b. perform well, too – because we can’t be alone in looking forward to the gym more if we enjoy wearing the outfit. Case in point: one Barbell Apparel study found that, out of 2,000 regular gym-goers, 79% believe owning good gym clothes is an important step toward accomplishing their fitness goals.
Plus, 85% of people reported that having gym clothes that looked good gave them more confidence (bye-bye, gym anxiety). Not only that, but the National Library of Medicine found a direct link between regular physical activity and self-esteem. What you wear certainly plays a part in how you feel, too – heading to a high-intensity intervals class with a bra that doesn’t support you or leggings that leave a crotch sweat patch doesn’t exactly sound confidence-boosting.
That said, knowing which women’s gym sets to shop to make you feel great can feel like a minefield – which is why we’ve done the legwork for you. If you’re after something for rest days and to tide you over between gym classes, we’ve also collated edits for the best matching loungewear sets, oversized gym T-shirts and gym hoodies. But for the best matching women’s gym sets to inspire you to get yourself moving, keep scrolling to shop our favourites.
Testing process
We did a range of workouts from yoga to weight training to running to see how each set held up. There are no brands included that we haven’t tried out ourselves, so you know that you’re getting our honest tried and tested opinion.
If you want to know more about how team MC get up close and personal with the products we include, make sure to check out our handy guide to how we test everything that makes it into our edits.
Who tested the matching women’s gym sets?
Wondering who tested the below women’s gym sets? We enrolled the help of MCUK’s Senior Health, Sustainability and Relationships Editor, Ally Head, Junior Shopping Editor Valeza Bakolli, Health Writer, Grace Lindsay, and our Affiliate Manager, Dami Abajingin.
Our Senior Health Editor Ally has done her fair share of testing when it comes to workout gear, especially running shorts and workout tops. She’s completed multiple marathons, strength trains every week, and loves to cycle to work (although she’s most definitely a fair-weather cyclist).
Senior Health Editor, Ally Head, wearing one of the brands tested in this roundup (Image credit: Future)
Valeza’s job is to test products for a living and she’s a fan of low impact strength training, Pilates, yoga and tennis (especially when it involves one of the best tennis outfits) she’s recently tried Barre for the first time (and definitely not the last), so, naturally has invested in a number of the best unitards as a result.
What did we look for when choosing our favourite women’s gym sets?
We’re so glad you asked. Keep on scrolling to see what we looked for when testing these sets.
- Are they true to size?
- Are they non-see-through?
- Are they sweat-wicking?
- Are they supportive?
- How did the material wash?
- Is the product good value for money?
Health Writer, Grace Lindsay, wearing one of the brands tested in this roundup (Image credit: Future)
11 of the best matching women’s gym sets, tested by team MC
1. Best all-round matching gym set
“I am a big fan of Adanola. They’re one of those brands that seem to merge fitness and fashion perfectly. I’d wear every single one of their women’s gym sets to both the gym and brunch with friends, which for me is really important (because I really love brunch).”
“When I tested this kit, I loved the colour – ideal for all year round – plus found the material to be both soft and stretchy. I felt very secure while working out in both the top and cycling shorts – they offered more compression and support than I’d expected – and liked that the top came with long sleeves. Win win.”
“I did the 12-3-30 workout while wearing this set, and while a little bit of sweat did start to show, considering how light the colourway, I was impressed. That said, if you do tend to sweat a lot during your workout, maybe wear this for a lighter session, like yoga, instead.”
“The set washed really well and I have worn it loads since. The only thing that I would note is make sure you wear the right underwear with the brand’s shorts. Something seamless would probably be best.” Grace Lindsay, Health Writer
Get the matching shorts here for £32.99
2. Best patterned gym set
“I am utterly obsessed with this gym set. The pattern is both statement-making and somehow really timeless (animal prints are a neutral, right?). The Power sports bra is the most supportive-yet-comfortable I’ve ever tried, I’m a huge fan of the adjustable back straps. My bust falls on the larger side, and I feel really supported during high-impact workouts while wearing this bra.
Yes they’re a bit on the pricey side, but these leggings are worth the hype. They’re high-waisted, supportive and have two handy pockets (one wide, deep side one for my phone and a zipped back one for keys and cards). Basically, these are my perfect leggings” – Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
Get the matching leggings here for £88
3. Best breathable matching gym set
“Ok, so this isn’t technically matching, but it’s pretty close. When I say that these are the most comfortable leggings I’ve tried, I mean it – they’re a cut above the rest.”
“The leggings are buttery soft, fit me so nicely and made me feel really confident pre my session. Not to mention that the classic black colour means that they will stay in my wardrobe forever.”
“I also loved the top, and it’s a great option if you’re not keen to work out in just a sports bra or don’t want your midriff exposed. It’s made from a breathable material that stops the growth of odour-causing bacteria and felt really airy (that’s coming from someone who worked out on some of the hottest days of the year).”
“Both pieces washed well, and I know that I will have them for a very long time.” Grace Lindsay, Health Writer
Get the leggings here for £88
4. Best long-sleeve matching gym set
“Gymshark is one of the cult brands everyone loves, yet I’d never actually tried it before I tested this set, so it’s safe to say I was intrigued.”
“The first thing I really liked was that the set came with a long-sleeved top, similar to Adanola. Weirdly these are hard to find in the fit kit world and are ideal for anyone who’s self-conscious of their arms or prefers a little more coverage. I felt a lot more confident at the gym in this outfit and liked that the top had an oval cutout design and thumbhole sleeves, win-win.”
“Second pro: the material is thick, but no so thick that it’s not breathable for your sweat sessions. I loved this as it meant that the set was both flattering and supportive, however you might want to avoid it if its a particularly hot day. I found that the sizing ran a little small on me, so maybe size up if you don’t want it to be too tight.”
“That being said, thanks to the darker colour, no sweat patches showed up during my workout. It’s worth noting that I did opt for low-impact workouts when wearing this, so it will be interesting to see how it does during a more sweaty session.” Grace Lindsay, Health Writer
Get the matching leggings here for £50
5. Best fashion-forward matching gym set
“While Hush is predominantly a lifestyle – not sports – brand, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried their activewear offering. I tested the Gettie Star Sports Bra and the Gettie Star Leggings, which both say they’re designed for medium-impact sports. This I would agree with – while I didn’t get any major sweat patches while testing during Pilates or a strength training session, I didn’t attempt to wear for a run, as I could tell from the feel of the material that it wouldn’t be sweat-wicking enough (for my marathon training, anyway.)”
“Do buy if you love a fashion-forward women’s gym set that’ll get you compliments from fellow class-goers: don’t buy if you’re solely marathon training or have boobs that need more than medium support.” Ally Head, Senior Health, Sustainability & Relationships Editor
Get the matching leggings here for £14
6. Best sustainable matching gym set
“As a Sustainability Editor, I’m always on the hunt for gym gear that a. Performs b. Looks cute and c. Doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the planet (see my roundup of the best sustainable sports brands here). Allbirds are one of the most innovative sportswear brands, in my opinion, and were certified B Crop in 2016.”
“Comparing their activewear offering to when I first tried it in 2020, it’s come on leaps and bounds. I tried the matching Natural Run Shorts and Natural Run Form Tank, and particularly loved the tank top. It sat just above my belly button, meaning I didn’t need to wear a top and had less washing to do. It was also supportive enough to run in, thanks to the in-built bra, although this wouldn’t be enough support for those of you with bigger boobs.”
“While I loved the look of the tank and shorts as a matching set, I found the shorts to be slightly too long (I’m 5ft2, for reference). That said, they offer more coverage than shorter, more race-style alternatives, for those of you that prefer a longer fit, plus they have handy pockets on both the front and back.” Ally Head, Health, Sustainability & Relationships Editor
Get the matching shorts here for £24
7. Best short matching gym set
“I’ve long been a fan of Pocket Sport – what was once, in my mind, a celebrity workout brand (the company belongs to Louise Thompson from MIC, and often celeb gymwear brands are more style than substance), is now firmly cemented as one of the best mid-range sports brands out there. I’m a huge fan of their Claude set.”
“The Claude shorts have become my go-to – I wear them to the gym, Pilates, for walks and even for runs (although they’re not the most compressing, if you’re a distance runner). They’re super comfortable and have a grip circle in the waistband so they never roll down. While the Claude bra isn’t high-support enough for, say, running, I love how flattering the V-neck design is and wear it regularly for low-impact gym sessions, yoga and my day-to-day (Saturday coffee walks, I’m looking at you).” Ally Head, Health, Sustainability & Relationships Editor
Get the matching bra here for £18
8. Best matching gym set for breathable coverage
“On days when I want a bit more coverage (but still want a cohesive athleisure look), this is the gym set I reach for. The top is nicely oversized and has a high neckline for extra coverage, but still feels really breathable thanks to the lightweight material and large mesh panel at the back. I also own the matching sports bra and the logo design peeks through the mesh for an added design element.
The leggings are supportive, great for both high impact and low impact workouts and have a handy side pocket to boot. I can’t fault this set.” – Valeza Bakolli, Junior shopping Editor
Get the matching leggings here for £55
9. Best supportive matching gym set
“New on the activewear scene is YMO from The Sports Edit, which stands for You. Me. Ours, Developed using seven years of industry insight and exclusively stocked on the premium sportswear site, I was curious to see what the kit was like.”
“First thought when testing the Spark Cross Strap Bra and the DayBreak Full Length Leggings was that I was impressed. This kit is a serious all-rounder – sweat-wicking, compressive, supportive and flattering, too, you can tell the designers know what they’re doing. I wore for long runs, interval training, and a gym session, and it held up throughout all three – no sweat patches, here.”
“The kit made me both supported and confident – which is exactly what you want from a matching gym set, after all.” Ally Head, Health, Sustainability & Relationships Editor
Get the matching leggings here for £58
10. Best reversible matching gym set
“MyProtein is great for more affordable activewear. I tried out the ‘Adapt’ set, and was impressed by how soft and comfortable the leggings were. I felt very secure, and for someone who is no taller than 5ft2, the length wasn’t too bad.”
“I love the fact that the sports bra is reversible, as you get two looks for the price of one. That being said, I did find that the sports bra came up a little small and offered a halter-neck fit, meaning it didn’t offer as much support or coverage as other alternatives.”
“I wore this set for a yoga class and they didn’t roll down, crinkle at the knee, or dig in around the stomach. Sure, it wasn’t the sweatiest of classes, but I didn’t notice any sweat patches, either. I was impressed at the quality, especially for the price.” Grace Lindsay, Health Writer
Get the matching leggings here for £10.99
11. Most flattering matching gym set
You might have heard of sustainable activewear brand, TALA. Founded by Grace Beverley, the brand offers both high performance activewear and comfortable everyday clothing. We love that they aim to make more sustainable options accessible and inclusive, and we also love that the products don’t come with a super hefty price tag.
“As a woman with curves, activewear that is supportive but not restrictive is of the utmost importance to me. This set from TALA is the perfect combination of both. The leggings are incredibly flattering, they sculpt in all of the right places.”
“One of my favourite features about the set is that it comes with a tag made from seeded paper which you can plant, meaning your purchase goes so much further.” Dami Abajingin, Affiliate Manager
Get the matching leggings here for £54
So, there you have it, the best gym sets for women. Which one will you go for?