The right workout set won’t transform your life—but it might change how often you show up. Not because it’s trendy or aspirational, but because it removes friction. When what you’re wearing fits well, moves easily, and doesn’t immediately feel like something you can’t wait to take off, getting dressed becomes simpler. And simpler is usually what wins.
I’ve noticed a clear pattern in my own routines: the days I reach for worn-out leggings and an old tee tend to stay small. The days I put on a set that actually feels considered—supportive, well-cut, and wearable beyond the workout—are the days I stay present for my workout longer. Not out of obligation, but because I’ve already made the choice to take myself seriously.
The Best Workout Sets of 2026
That’s the shift defining workout sets in 2026. Performance still matters—but so does longevity, versatility, and how seamlessly a set fits into the rest of your day. These aren’t pieces designed solely for a gym selfie. They’re made for Pilates studios, long walks, travel days, errands, and the moments in between. The sets below earn their place because they get worn—often—and because they make consistency feel less like a push and more like a default.
What Makes a Great Workout Set in 2026
In 2026, a great workout set is about how easily it integrates into real life—and how often you actually reach for it. Fabric is non-negotiable. The sets worth investing in hold their shape, breathe well, and provide support without feeling restrictive. They smooth and move without over-compressing, and they still feel good hours after your workout has wrapped.
Versatility matters more than trends. A great set should work just as well for yoga as for errands or for sitting on the floor answering emails. Clean lines, thoughtful cuts, and timeless silhouettes outlast whatever’s cycling through the algorithm.
Fit has finally caught up to reality. Inclusive sizing, adjustable support, and designs that accommodate a range of bodies—not just workout archetypes—separate the sets that get worn repeatedly from the ones that stay folded in a drawer.
Most importantly, the best workout sets make movement more accessible and consistency less dependent on motivation. When a set does that, it stops being “workout wear” and becomes part of how you move through your day. Every day.
The Best of the Best
The best workout trends garner repeat wear. They’re pieces that earn their place in your rotation because they work hard, wear well, and move easily through the rituals of real life.
These categories reflect how we’re actually getting dressed now: fewer novelty pieces, more sets that pull double (or triple) duty. Each one stands out not because it’s loud (often, the opposite—quiet luxury still reigns supreme in this category) but because it delivers where it counts.
Best Overall: Alo Airlift Intrigue Bra + High-Waist Airlift Legging
This is the benchmark—the set that does everything well and holds up over time. If you’re investing in just one, this is the set that earns it.
Best Affordable (That Still Looks Expensive): Quince Ultra-Form Scoop Neck Longline Bra + Ultra-Form High-Rise Legging
Clean lines, strong fabric, no visual giveaways. Proof that polish doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag.
Best Size-Inclusive Set: Girlfriend Collective Tommy Cropped Bra + Compressive High-Rise Legging
Designed across a genuinely inclusive size range—supportive, flattering, and made to move with you.
Best Style-Forward Workout Set: SET Active Formcloud Cloud Crossback Bra + Formcloud Cloud High-Rise Leggings
For when you want your activewear to feel intentional, not incidental. High design, low effort.
Best Studio-to-Street Set (The New Essential): LSPACE Uppercut Bra + Level Up Legging
The set you don’t change out of. Moves easily from workout to errands to travel without missing a beat.
Best Athleisure Alternative to Leggings: Varley Assure Cerys Bra + Assure High-Rise Legging 28″
Less “gym,” more lived-in. A refined option for low-impact movement and everyday wear that still counts as activewear.
The Best Workout Sets of 2026
Best Overall: Airlift Intrigue Bra + High-Waist Airlift Legging
Best for: Sculpting support, versatility, longevity
The gold standard for a reason. Alo’s Airlift fabric delivers smoothing compression that’s supportive without feeling stiff, and it holds its shape beautifully over time. The bra offers reliable support with clean, modern lines, while the high-rise leggings stay put through every class. That’s right: no rolling.
If you’re investing in one workout set that works across disciplines and seasons, this is it.
Best Affordable (That Still Looks Expensive): Quince Ultra-Form Scoop Neck Longline Bra + Ultra-Form High-Rise Legging
Best for: Polished basics, everyday workouts, budget-friendly upgrades
Quince’s Ultra-Form fabric offers smoothing, medium compression with a surprisingly elevated look—clean lines, a flattering scoop neckline, and a high-rise legging that feels secure without digging in.
It’s the kind of set you reach for when you want to feel put-together at the gym (or on a long walk) without overthinking it. And at this price point, it’s easy to justify grabbing more than one color.
Best Size-Inclusive Set: Girlfriend Collective Compressive Bra + Compressive High-Rise Legging
Best for: Full-size range, supportive compression, everyday wear
Girlfriend Collective continues to set the standard for truly inclusive activewear—and this set is a standout for a reason. Available in an extended size range, the compressive fabric offers firm, supportive hold that feels secure without being restrictive, making it a favorite for… everything.
The bra provides reliable support with a streamlined silhouette, while the high-rise leggings stay put through movement. Add in the brand’s commitment to sustainable materials, and this is a set that feels as good ethically as it does every time you slide it on.
Best Style-Forward Workout Set: SET Active Formcloud Cloud Crossback Bra + Formcloud Cloud High-Rise Leggings
Best for: Studio workouts, off-duty styling, elevated athleisure
SET Active nails the intersection of fashion and function with this Formcloud set. The Cloud Crossback Bra brings a sculptural, design-forward feel to the studio, while still offering light-to-medium support that works beautifully for low-impact workouts like Pilates and barre.
The Formcloud leggings live up to their name—soft, smoothing, and lightweight with just enough hold to feel polished. This is the kind of set that looks intentional even when worn straight from class to coffee, making it a go-to for anyone who wants their workout wear to work a little harder in the style department.
Best Studio-to-Street Set (The New Essential): LSPACE Uppercut Bra + Level Up Legging
Best for: Pilates, errands, travel days, all-day wear
The LSPACE Uppercut Bra and Level Up Legging strike that rare balance between performance and effortless wearability. Designed with clean lines and a flattering, stay-put fit, this set offers light-to-medium support that’s ideal for studio workouts—while still looking polished enough to carry you through the rest of your day.
The fabric feels smooth and supportive without reading overly technical, making it easy to style beyond the gym. Throw on a knit, trench, or blazer, and you’ve got a look that feels intentional, not transitional. This is exactly what we want from activewear: pieces that move with us—without requiring an outfit change.
Best Athleisure Alternative to Leggings: Varley Assure Cerys Bra + Assure High-Rise Legging 28″
Best for: Low-impact workouts, travel, walking, polished off-duty wear
The Varley Assure Cerys Bra and Assure High-Rise Legging offer a more refined take on activewear—designed for movement, but elevated enough to live well beyond it. The bra delivers soft structure and support without compression, while the leggings provide a smooth, sculpting feel that flatters without feeling restrictive.
What sets this set apart is its versatility. The fabric feels substantial yet breathable, with a clean finish that doesn’t lean sporty. I’ll wear it for everything from a morning workout to a long flight to a casual meeting—no outfit change required. This is athleisure at its best: supportive, streamlined, and effortlessly wearable.
More Workout Sets We Love
These sets may not sit in our top-tier categories, but they’re in heavy rotation for a reason. Each brings something distinct to the table—whether that’s impeccable basics, elevated design, or a fresh perspective on what to expect from our workout wear.
Best Elevated Basic (The “Uniform” Set): Adanola
If your ideal workout look is clean, minimal, and quietly cool, Adanola is hard to beat. This is the set you reach for when you want zero fuss and maximum polish—the kind that looks just as good grabbing a post-class matcha as it does during a low-impact workout. Consider it your off-duty uniform: reliable, flattering, and always the right choice.
Best Low-Impact, High-Design: Port De Bras
Port De Bras exists at the intersection of movement and art. With sculptural silhouettes and intentional lines, these sets feel designed, not just made. They’re best suited for Pilates, low-impact workouts, and slower studio practices—but they also happen to turn heads on a morning walk. If you love activewear that feels expressive and unexpected, this is your set.
Best Ballet-Core Influence: Splits59
With its nod to dancewear and classic ballet silhouettes, Splits59 taps into one of 2026’s biggest style crossovers. Think stirrup leggings, wrap details, and soft layering pieces that feel feminine and functional. This is the set that makes even a quick stretch feel like a vibe—and looks equally good styled with loafers or a sleek jacket.
This post was last updated on January 9, 2026, to include new insights.
