Best Activewear to start the year 2024 including Tala, RedRun and H&M
As much as we would all love to be 10x more active from January 1, it's not realistic. And that being said, we need January to recuperate, make realistic goals and move forward with a productive 2024.
We have been looking at the different ways we can all make for a fresh start to the year, and what better way than with that teeny, tiny push we all need in the form of some new activewear.
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We have scoured the pages of our favourite activewear brands and chosen a wide range of different shapes, sizes, colours and materials just for you. Ready to get motivated to stay active during 2024? Here's what our fashion experts think.
RedRun
I have worn for numerous outings- the gym, a walk with friends, school running, and even just to nip out for a coffee with family. I can honestly say they tick all of the boxes for me. I have gotten a little weightier over Christmas so I wanted supportive activewear BUT still not making me feel frumpy or uncomfortable.
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The RedRun Perky Legging (regular) from the INKY Collection is the most perfect, ideal legging for keeping active in the new year. I hate this phrase (I feel like such an influencer wannabe) but, they are so buttery soft. The material is made from 80% Polyamide and 20% Elastane- and they are not only sculpting but so comfortable.
I love the waist detail (shoelace tie waist) and they have passed the ‘no rolling’ test when working out - there is nothing worse than gym leggings scrunching and rolling when you are trying to get a good workout perfected… they are completely squat-proof and are the softest leggings I've ever worn.
The RedRun INKY Collection has this incredible Limited Edition LS Game Tee for £60 which has completely sold out I must admit, I have even fallen into the trap of wearing RedRun for socialising in, too - the RedRun Limited Edition LS Game Tee (which is now unfortunately sold out), is a lovely, versatile addition to my wardrobe. I have worn it out for dinner with my girlfriends with a smart pair of floral pants and my spanking new Red Adidas Campus 00S Shoes.
I can also quite confidently say that the INKY collection sports bra top is the most comfortable sports bra I have worn in a long time- it's a great fit, the soft
Mountain Warehouse
This Active People set is a great fit and currently on offer on the Mountain Warehouse websiteOf all the sets I have trialled ahead of this review, this Active People set I would say is best for the gym. I have loved learning the different styles needed to really enjoy each activity I have endured. The leggings are the most perfect fit and I like how they sit on my waist (especially while I still have an extra stone to shift from way before Christmas).
The Active People Velocity Womens Leggings are now just £25 (44% off) and the Dynamo Womens Mid Support Bra is just £18 (55% off) and they are certainly in my top 3 favourite sets for the gym. They have that buttery, soft texture we all love for a good, vigorous workout AND the sports bra sits comfortably on my ribs (and both don't migrate- there is nothing worse than your sets rolling out of place when you're concentrating on sets).
Lounge
The Lounge Essentials Apparel is a new love of mine- Haf Zip Jumper, £60 (Image: Stacey Dutton)The Lounge Essential Apparel has been my ‘on the go’ uniform for the last two weeks. I am really enjoying throwing on a pair of leggings with a matching Cosy Quarter Zip Jumper and I am ready to tackle the day. The Cosy Knit Half Zip Jumper is my new favourite wardrobe essential from the apparel range- with a perfect oversized fit and just generally the cosiest jumper for throwing on after the gym, it's become a great alternative for a jacket on a brighter, a little less bitterly cold day (a really good changing seasons item too).
Hoodie, top and Silhouette Crossover Leggings all Lounge Apparel (Image: Stacey Dutton)The new range includes sculpting leggings, joggers, tank tops and hook & eye long sleeve tops which can be dressed up or down. I have found that with this particular brand, Lounge does 'lounging' wear incredibly well. The sets are the softest I have ever felt in activewear and super comfortable for being able to go about your day.
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One thing I would say though is that, while they are simply perfect for comfort they are not the most practical. If you are looking for that buttery soft daywear without a workout fit then this is your brand go-to.
I have found that the leggings do roll down a little and the top are not sports bra style so absolutely do not rely on them for support at the gym.
Due to the brand's huge popularity and wearability, they are at quite a high price point- but, I feel like they can kind of get away with it. The fabrics are very breathable, the leggings (although not practical) are more of a fashionable statement and the hoodies are incredibly soft and cosy.
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Tala
You can get Shani's entire activewear look from TalaIf there’s one thing in life I can’t live without, it’s activewear - whether I’m heading to the gym, working from home, or going to brunch with friends. Now, I don’t know about you, but investing in a cute new set always motivates me to get to the gym and while I’m a total sucker for Lululemon and Adanola, after trialling a set from Tala, I can safely say it’s up there with some of the best activewear when it comes to comfort, support and style.
Having recently taken up pilates, I decided to switch out my usual leggings for these stunning £64 DayFlex Wrap Flared Yoga Pants with a flattering wrap waistband which doesn’t roll down when working out. I’d say they’re definitely made for lower impact workouts like yoga, pilates and strength training as they’re slightly longer than normal straight leggings, however, they do come in a range of lengths including 30”, 33” and 35” to suit all body types. They’re also super versatile too and great for pairing with a cosy knit jumper and trainers for a casual everyday look.
The next piece I went for is this new-in £42 FormTech High Neck Running Sport Bra - and if it’s support you’re after - this bra certainly does the job. It boasts a high neck design and clasp closure to keep your girls locked in place, and it’s super cute too, with sculpting seams, moulded cups and an intricate mesh back design.
H&M
This blue set is not only comfortable and practical, but it's gorgeous too (Eve Rowlands)
(Eve Rowlands)
It's also pretty stretchy... (Eve Rowlands)H&M's new activewear range in partnership with singer-songwriter RAYE is gorgeous. And because of that, I was a smidge sceptical about its quality. I shouldn't have been, however, as I was severely proven wrong after taking three items from this new collab out for a spin at my local gym and put through the paces of a strength workout with a blast of cardio. The drymove seamless shaping sports tights in dark blue (£27.99) and its matching top (£15.99) are a gorgeous shade of ultramarine and brighter than I expected - in a good way. The tights are thick and wonderfully soft. Its waistband is chunky and gives me decent coverage from my waistline to just above my hips and holds in my lower abdomen while cinching in my waist, which is something that helps me to feel a bit more comfortable and confident during a workout - especially post Christmas when there's a bit more timber on me than I'd like.
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The length is perfect too and the leggings' seamless design is flattering and smooth - and super comfy. So much so that I've been wearing them around the house and on errands, just because they're snug.
The top - or should I say sports bra, as it is advertised - is a lot better than I imagined. It has the same thick material as the trousers and a wide hem at the bottom and is long enough so that, when put with the leggings, not too much of my midriff is on show.
The elasticity of the top is really supportive and, to my surprise, so are the cups for the bra element. I even did the bounce test when I first tried the set on and concluded it'd be safe to do a moderately intense workout with no second sports bra underneath.
That being said, with my planned workout including sprints and burpees, I opted to pop H&M's seamless light support sports bra on underneath the top, for extra security. This bra is soft, easy to slip on and really comfortable. It's actually pretty flattering too with a soft v-neckline. As I started my workout, I was pleasantly surprised to find that, during my sprints, I didn't need to hoist up the leggings (as I so often need to do), nor did I need to readjust my top and bra as they didn't slide around. The was the same for the entire workout. It even passed the squat test with no undergarments visible to any passersby, thank goodness.
This new sportswear range has exceeded my expectations and I'm sorry I ever doubted you H&M. The price point is amazing for the quality you get with RAYE's new collaborative collection and you can get bet that whenever I'm not in my regular clothes, I'll be sporting this set. Proudly.
Sloggi's
Jada wore Sloggi's new Ever Infused range
The Pantherella socks were great for working outI regularly do two pretty different workouts - spin class and yoga - and sometimes they're back to back which leaves me wanting quite a few things from my gym wear. I recently tried Sloggi's Ever Infused Aloe range in Foggy Mauve and some of Pantherella's Sports Luxe socks and I was pleasantly surprised.
The material is buttery soft which I find unusual for gym gear but I loved how comfortable this made it to wear. It's slightly ribbed and the leggings are high-waisted which I find a must for anything I'm wearing to the gym. In person, the Foggy Mauve colour is much more pink but I really like pink so that worked great for me.
The top perfectly reaches the edge of the leggings which is great and it was really comfortable. I was impressed with the leggings and top, my only reservation is with the bra. Now it is worth noting that I have a fuller bust and I found the bra just didn't provide a lot of support. It was okay for yoga but during spin class I found myself wishing I'd worn something a little more supportive.
I think it's worth checking the size guide when ordering these as there's a lot of stretch to the material and I found myself going down a size from what I originally expected. After two workouts there were no visible sweat patches even though I'd definitely worked up a sweat. At the time of writing the leggings are better than half price on Amazon at just over £16 and I've already placed an order for a second pair for when I have classes two days in a row.
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