The Best Workout Sets According to Shape Editors

Best-Rated Workout Set

Get the matching bottoms at bandier, $55

Used for: Weight training, HIIT, hiking
Time Tested: Eight months
What You'll Love: This set comes in a trendy color and style and won't break the bank.
Keep In Mind: The material is thicker and sucks you in, which can be uncomfortable at times.

"After working as a Shape editor for six years, I have just about a trillion pieces of workout clothes — but it's amazing how I keep coming back to the same favorites over and over again. Some of those faves? Anything from Nike's Pro collection. I love their sports bras and leggings for running, hardcore HIIT workouts, and yoga alike, and I've worn their Nike Pro shorts for years for cheerleading practices and now, since COVID, as WFH bottoms. I love these new solids with a hint of cheetah print — it's the perfect excuse to buy more of the collection without buying repeats of the exact same pieces. (And what makes you feel more fierce in the gym than animal print?!)" — Lauren Mazzo, senior Shape editor

Best-Rated Workout Set (Another Favorite)

Get the matching bottoms at Athleta, $98

Used for: Weight training, HIIT, hiking
Time Tested: Eight months
What You'll Love: This set comes in a trendy color and style and won't break the bank.
Keep In Mind: The material is thicker and sucks you in, which can be uncomfortable at times.

"This is a newer bra from Athleta and hits the high notes for me: ultra comfortable, mid-length that hits just below my upper abs, great colors, medium-support that doesn't cut into my neck/collarbone but also doesn't leave me spilling out during exercise. The material and colors are a match to the classic Salutation Stash Pocket Tight.

I have had multiple iterations and colors of these tights over the past few years, and they still look and feel great after many washes. The waist doesn't gap after countless workouts, the pockets are large enough for my phone or wallet when needed, and they're extremely squat-proof. About half of my workout wardrobe is Athleta and these are a staple I keep coming back to, especially how they look as a set with the Warrior Longline bra and my other favorite, the Conscious Crop." — Megan Soll, ecommerce editor

Best Matching Workout Set

Used for: Weight training, HIIT, hiking
Time Tested: Eight months
What You'll Love: This set comes in a trendy color and style and won't break the bank.
Keep In Mind: The material is thicker and sucks you in, which can be uncomfortable at times.

"This set comes with everything you need: leggings, bra, and shorts. It's soft with ribbing details and doesn't have a super tight compression feeling. I love wearing it to my favorite barre classes since it's so easy to move in, and you can definitely catch me repeating this outfit throughout the week since it's so comfortable." — Taylor Lane, ecommerce writer

Best Cute Workout Set

Get the matching bottoms at Carbon38, $128

Used for: Weight training, HIIT, hiking
Time Tested: Eight months
What You'll Love: This set comes in a trendy color and style and won't break the bank.
Keep In Mind: The material is thicker and sucks you in, which can be uncomfortable at times.

"I'm pretty picky when it comes to workout sets and tend to go for separates instead. After having my eye on this Takara Shine set from Carbon38 for a while, when the chance to try it out came along, I jumped at the opportunity. All I can say is that the set lived up to the hype — when I put it on, whether for a Peloton class at home with Jess King or under a jacket to run errands, I feel like a shiny bad bitch superhero. It has just enough compression to keep things in check without having to readjust throughout a ride or yoga class, which I love." — Jayla Adrulonis, ecommerce writer

Best Affordable Workout Set

Used for: Weight training, HIIT, hiking
Time Tested: Eight months
What You'll Love: This set comes in a trendy color and style and won't break the bank.
Keep In Mind: The material is thicker and sucks you in, which can be uncomfortable at times.

"Like everyone else, I wanted to jump on the brown co-ord trend with a fun workout set. As a college student, bargains are my best friend. When I found this set for just $30, it was love at first sight! This set has been my go-to for everything from HIIT and strength training to hiking in the mountains. Best trendy set for a bargain, for sure!" — Alyssa Brascia, ecommerce editorial apprentice

Best Affordable Workout Set (Another Favorite)

Used for: Yoga, hiking, lounging and running
Time Tested: Nine months
What You'll Love: This set can be used for both low-impact and high-impact activities, so you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Keep In Mind: The bottom of the shorts ride up sometimes during runs and hikes, and they could also be improved with pockets.

"For the price, I've been super impressed with this set. The shorts are comfy enough that I find myself wearing them just to lounge around, but the set also holds up during vigorous exercise. It comes in a wide array of fun colors and you can choose a sports bra or a crop top for the top." — Hannah Freedman, content strategy manager

Best Splurge Workout Set

Get the matching bottoms at Amazon, $94

Used for: Running, especially in low light
Time Tested: One month
What You'll Love: It's made of reflective compression material to keep you safe and visible, and also features a pocket for your phone.
Keep In Mind: The entire set can be pricey if you aren't a runner or mostly exercise during the day.

Buy It: Brooks Drive 3 Pocket Run Bra, $50

"True or False: A cute 'fit makes you go harder, faster, stronger. I'm fully convinced this set from Brook's Run Visible collection helps me power up and down hill repeats in studio classes and fly faster on outdoor runs. Now with the sun setting faster (UGH!), I need a 'fit that will keep me safe and seen. I would say start with the Drive 3 Pocket bra, as it's only $50 bucks and quite possibly the best running bra I've had. It's incredibly supportive and has a pocket in the back along the spine that can fit even the biggest phones. Game changer." — Marietta Alessi, social media director

Best Soft Workout Set (Another Favorite)

Get the matching bottoms at Beyond Yoga, $97

Used for: Yoga
Time Tested: Nearly a year
What You'll Love: Thanks to the brand's signature spacedye fabric, these are soft yet supportive.
Keep In Mind: The cups are not removable from the sports bra, in case that's a dealbreaker.

"The brand's signature spacedye fabric feels almost too good to be true. It's buttery soft, yet surprisingly structured for the kind of held-in feel you need for your toughest power yoga flows, but still as comfortable as second skin." — Alyssa Sparacino, deputy editor

Most Durable Workout Set

Get the matching bottoms at Spanx, $98

Used for: Running, weight training
Time Tested: Six months
What You'll Love: This set offers solid support without squeezing you too hard.
Keep In Mind: The bra and leggings combination come in limited colorways.

"The sports bra makes me feel extremely supported, especially when doing high-impact workouts such as running and sprinting. And despite the solid support, the straps don't ever dig into my skin or feel too tight.

The leggings offer optimal support without feeling too tight around my midsection, too. They also don't slip down during workouts, which is something I've struggled with when wearing other leggings in the past." — Maya Gandara, E-Commerce Writer

Best Size-Inclusive Workout Set

Get the matching bottoms at Girlfriend Collective, $58

Used for: Dance cardio, video-streamed ballet, Pilates, yoga
Time Tested: Nearly two years
What You'll Love: The size range includes sizes XXS — 6XL.
Keep In Mind: This top and bottom combination is not recommended for high-impact workouts, since they are made from thinner material.

"Girlfriend Collective doesn't have any sets, but all of their clothing and separates work together as if they were a set. A mix and match, if you will. I feel like Danny Devito in pants so I haven't worn them in 13 years. Occasionally I wear workout leggings if the weather really requires it, but my preference are bike shorts — and specifically these. The length is great and they're high-waisted. The brand was launched with size inclusivity in mind, so the clothes in my "plus/extended" size fit well and don't seem like an aftermath.

The sports bra is great for the non-running or jumping exercises I do, so I don't usually need a very high-impact bra. For example, I don't think this one could hold up in a kickboxing situation. But for what I do, it works and it works well. It's also the only sports bra I've literally ever worn that's been comfortable on my DDD's." — Tamim Alnuweiri, ecommerce beauty writer

Best Eco-Friendly Workout Set

Get the matching bottoms at Carbon38, $108

Used for: HIIT, kickboxing, weight training, running, dancing
Time Tested: Two months
What You'll Love: The waistband on the leggings is no-slip, and both the top and bottom are wash machine-friendly.
Keep In Mind: The label of the pants and bra tends to fade after a few uses (but the overall fabric and fit stays intact wash after wash).

"Where my HIIT girls at? If you love a dynamic sweat sesh, you know the struggle of leggings that slip. And when it comes to boxing, you best believe I'm not taking off my gloves to hike up my pants. Luckily, this set from celeb-loved Carbon38 keeps up with my workout. (I mean, if it's good enough for Captain Marvel, it's good enough for me.)

While it's a bit pricier, it's well worth it. The sustainably-sourced fabric is made from plastic water bottles and the cut is built to hold up under pressure— meaning lots of sweaty workouts, lots of washing machine cycles, lots of use. I've worn this for everything from strength training to treadmill sprinting, boxing and cardio dancing, and this 'fit can handle it all." — Marietta Alessi, social media director