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Jun 07, 2023

28 Lightweight Pieces Of Workout Gear

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

We've entered the it's-too-hot-to-do-anything portion of the summer.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "Love the color and fit, wish there were more neutrals/nudes. I ordered a small which was true to size. Overall adore the set. Will probably be ordering in another color, I do enjoy how the top is adjustable. 🤎" —Maggie

Get it from Amazon for $19.59+ (available in women's sizes XS–XL and 19 colors).

Love Fitness is a family-owned small business based in Hawaii that workout gear.

Promising review: "I bought this sports bra in an XL along with the matching leggings and it’s super cute!! Soft, the color is beautiful and I love the adjustable straps. I have a bigger chest so I have to adjust myself a couple of times throughout my workouts, but I’m hoping with time they’ll fit better. Love this brand! :)" —Emily Redenshek

Get it from Love Fitness for $45 (available in sizes XS–3XL and seven colors).

Promising review: "I have seen these all over TikTok. I’m so glad I ordered these! I can wear these without a bra and I think they are awesome for the price point. I just wear these as tops I don’t wear these to workout. I’m happy with my purchase and I’ll be ordering more. They are all the hype! Hope this review helped!" —Customer

Get a pack of three for $28.98 (available in sizes XS–XXL and dozens of styles, including two-packs).

I absolutely love these bike sorts (as I do all things from Aerie, TBH) and wear them constantly. The material is so breathable and lightweight... I can't imagine wearing anything else during the hot summer months. They also look very cute when paired with an oversized tee on not-as-hot-days. Princess Diana chic!

Promising review: "Before these shorts you’d never catch me in biker shorts. These 4” offline goals bike shorts are a MUST!! As a girl with thicker legs. They roll a little but don’t DIG. And that’s a big one for me. Super comfy, and waaayyy cute!" —Erica

Get them from Aerie for $20.96 (available in sizes 2XS–2XL).

Promising review: "Once I started working out and getting sweaty, these leggings held like a dream and were very comfortable. It was sort of like a yoga towel, the more you sweat the better it works. I am also hopeful that these will hold up well as they didn't pill at all after wearing them (and I've got thick ol' thighs that cause basically every pair of pants I wear to pill the first time I wear them). Definitely worth a try, especially at this price!" —Mal

Get it from Amazon for $21.98+ (available in sizes XS–2XL and 40 colors).

Oh, and these have pockets! Reviewers say they love the high, supportive waistband and the compression fit that keeps them secure during movement.

SuperFit Hero is a woman-owned small business based in California specializing in premium plus-size activewear in sizes L–7XL.

Promising review: "I’ve had these for a while but have generally felt nervous about wearing skintight anything in public so I haven’t given them a real test. Today I said 'what the hell, you only live once' and wore them on a hike. They were SO GOOD! Super supportive, wicking, zero chafing, stayed put both on the waist and the leg, and laid flat under the waist belt of my pack. These shorts are the real deal. Just more confirmation that Superfit Hero is the place to go for serious athletic gear for larger bodies. I will definitely be hiking in them in the future!" —Mollie S.

Get it from SuperFit Hero for $75 (available in women's sizes L–7XL and in 11 colors).

PLUS the built-in shorts have a pocket for your cell! Asking for a friend, does it get any better?!

Former BuzzFeed editor Rachel Dunkel has this and raves: "I wore the exercise dress on a camping trip and absolutely loved it. It's tight enough that you feel agile but not SO tight that it's restricting. It was great for hiking, too! I even scaled some big ol' rocks and exposed mountain faces, and it fared really well. Despite me literally sliding down a giant rock on my butt, the dress never got caught, ripped, or showed wear. It's a trooper."

Get it from Outdoor Voices for $80 (originally $80; available in sizes XS–3XL and 14 colors).

Promising review: "Really love this bra/tank! I’d say it gives medium-light support. The material is so comfortable and airy! I would definitely buy this item again!" —LoveHeatlh_Beauty

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in sizes XS—3X and in 25 colors).

Promising review: "Amazing. They feel like butter. They have ruined me for all other bike shorts." —MJAS

Get them from Lululemon for $74 (available in sizes 0–14, two in-seams, and eight colors).

Promising review: " I usually don't buy colored workout shorts because I'm a sweater. While in the gym I felt the sweat going down my lower back. I just knew the sweat was showing through my shorts. To my surprise no butt sweat or inner thigh sweat 🙌. These shorts are soft and comfortable they stayed in place and I love the length. I will definitely purchased another pair." —Danielle

Get them from Amazon for $23.99 (available in sizes XS–XL, two in-seams and 15 sizes).

Promising review: "The color was what made me buy it but the fit was perfect. Very comfortable and no bra needed! Just what I was looking for to go hiking. 10/10." —Niecy H.

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes XS–L and in 32 colors).

Promising review: "The material is a good balance of thick and stretchy which allows for great compression without limiting mobility. I wore it while doing cardio and strength training and the waist doesn’t slide and the legs don’t roll up. Definitely getting more colors." –Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in sizes S–L and in 32 colors).

Check out this activewear essential on TikTok here.

Promising review: "Honestly saw this on TikTok and contemplated getting it for a long time. I’m so glad I committed! It’s extremely comfortable. The padding is amazing so you don’t have to worry about a bra underneath at all. You can wear it with sweats or leggings to the gym or even dress it up for a night out. Considering more colors for sure!" —Kristyn Long

Get it from Amazon for $17.24+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 20 colors).

Rebdolls is a size-inclusive, Latine woman–owned small business that specializes in coats, dresses, bathing suits, jeans, and more!

Get it from Rebdolls for $29.90 (available in sizes M–5X).

Promising review: "I was amazed!! This outfit is better than I expected and good quality so far. The color is beautiful and the material is comfortable. I have used it on a strenuous workout because I want to test its durability and so far👍🏼. I will definitely order more!!" —Christina Jordan

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in sizes XS–L and in 24 colors).

Promising review: "I love this workout tank! The material is very breathable. I do wear a sports bra under it because it doesn’t have any padding in the tank, but it’s the perfect cropped tank for pairing with leggings, tennis skirts, bike shorts, etc." —CC

Get it from Amazon for $18.98+ (available in sizes XS–XL and in 23 colors).

My colleague Emma Lord owns these and said: "I recently bought these shorts because I'm in love with the similar ones you can get at Old Navy, but they sell out so fast. Turns out I love these even more! I love the huge range of colors you can buy these in (at other places they often sell out too quickly to get to pick!), love that the high-waistedness of them meets about where my running crop top ends so I don't have to get bonkers with sunscreen, and love love loooooove the side pocket for my keys or face mask. I only have them in purple so far but I'm excited to try other colors!"

Promising review: "These shorts are PERFECT for running! They stayed in place the whole time. They are the perfect lightweight, sweat-resistant material and a good length! Definitely recommend! Waist is a bit snug and otherwise true to size!" —Katie Micc

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in sizes XS–3XL and in 36 colors).

Promising review: "I really like the actual fit of the skirt because it has the protection/privacy of athletic shorts underneath, but the aesthetics of a looser, more casual fit in the skirt. I find that these look best when styled with a cropped top to break up the look of overall puff and show the lovely aspect of the ruched waistband. The length is also really nice for shorter girlies, as I feel covered enough that my butt is totally covered, but not too long that it looks like it needs a hem." —Isabelle S

Get it from Girlfriend Collective for $58 (available in sizes 2XS–6XL and four colors) and get the coordinating cami here.

Promising review: "I love this bodysuit. I feel so free to run around and get things done. It’s super cute and not see through at all. Not tight on my thighs and has adjustable straps with removable pads. Everything a bodysuit should be, it’s this one!" —Jaedyn

Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in sizes S–L and 12 colors)

Promising review: "The moment I took it out of the bag and felt the material... I immediately knew it was good quality, durable, and it was gonna be super snug. I wasn't wrong at all! Definitely tight but throughout the wear I either got use to it or I started to stretch it out a little bit. Overall, I absolutely love them and I'm buying more things soon!!" —Ness

Get it from Amazon for $32+ (available in sizes S–L and three styles and eight colors)

Promising review: "These are comfortable and the fit is perfect. They're breathable and nice for daily wear or working out. After getting one pair and loving them I purchased two other colors." —Sj

Get it from Amazon for $5.44+ (available in sizes 1X–5X and seven colors)

Promising review: "If you have been looking for sleeveless workout shirts that are not so loose you have to tuck them in the front, these are for you!! I am able to go from all my exercises without worrying about my shirt being out of place and showing my stomach or chest." —Jh Michigan

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–2XL and 12 colors)

Promising review: "These joggers fit the bill for me. I needed lightweight pants to wear while working in the yard. We live in the heavily wooded boondocks of Florida, and working in the yard without getting eaten up by mosquitoes and other insects is a challenge. These pants are lightweight and breathable enough to wear when it's warm, and at the same time, help to ward off the bug bites." —Hello

Get them from Amazon for $34.98 (available in sizes XS–3XL and 16 colors).

Promising review: "This is a great item of clothing. I brought two bodyshorts on a vacation to the islands and they served me well. I pack light so I mixed and matched them with either swim board shorts or oversized tee shirts. They are versatile and so comfortable. I have three of the four colors. Looking forward to getting the navy, too." —Maryann B.

Get it from Universal Standard for $108 (available in sizes 00–0, 6–12, and 30–40)

Promising review: "These shorts are everything! I saw a review on TikTok and I had to get these. As a plus-size woman, I have found that it is very hard to find cute and affordable gym shorts that actually look good! BUT THESE!?!? They are perfect." —Siani Herrera

Get themfrom Amazon for $19.95+ (available in sizes XS–2XL and 28 colors)

Nylora is a Asian woman-owned small business founded by Carolyn Jang, a Parsons-trained designer and peripatetic knitwear specialist, based between New York, LA, and Seoul.

Get it from Nylora for $98 (available in sizes XS–L).

Promising review: "These shorts are so light and airy! They are so comfortable. The only downside is that they do run small, I would size up by one size. I wore them to the beach and they were perfect for hanging out when I didn’t plan on getting in the water!" —Reese Elder

Get them from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and in 29 colors).

Splits59 is a Los Angeles–based small business that sells stylish workout gear.

Get it from Splits59 for $168 (available in sizes XS–XL and two colors).

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.