I Walked, Lifted, and Ran Errands in H&M Activewear. Here Are My Top Picks.
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It’s well known that I don’t believe in pricey activewear. I recoil any time I see leggings that cost more than $45 and roll my eyes every time a new, expensive brand picks up steam. I mostly stick toOld Navy, which is reliable and well made. I haveleggingsfrom the brand that go back a decade with barely a stitch out of place. Recently, I’ve been eyeing H&M’s Move, the brand’s activewear line. I tried one set when it initially launched in 2022 but wasn’t impressed with the fabric. It felt less like workout gear and more like athleisure, which wasn’t appealing to me. The one time I worked out in it, I was pulling up the leggings the entire time. I filed it under cute but ineffective, relegating it to the back of my workout drawer.
Six months ago, during my regular browse, I saw a matching set that looked compelling. It was a workout jacket, a sort-of dupe for that Lululemon jacket everyone adores, and I was wanting more workout tops. I decided to try it along with the matching shorts. Once it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. It was markedly nicer than the stuff I’d tried years ago. The fabric was a little thin, but it washed well and aesthetically reminded me of Oner Active and Adanola, brands beloved by fitness influencers but too rich for my blood. I’ve since added the set into my rotation but was curious to try some of the other offerings, especially as it’s rolled out new dusky colors in different technical fabrics.
Below, everything I tested.
Thebestofthebunch
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Of everything I tried, these are my favorite. They feel premium — sturdy and substantial but not too thick. These are made from the brand’s SculptMove fabric, the most compressive of the collection. I like the sculpted look and these definitely gave me a shape I don’t naturally possess. Suddenly I had hips and my tummy was tucked in. I like the silhouette it created and I also liked the feeling of being held in. I also like that these aren’t super-thin — while I like thinner leggings, especially in the beginning, I have a tendency to poke holes in them due to my pointy nails. I don’t worry about that with these. The color is also great — the deep plum shade is one of those ruddy, in-between colors that I imagine you create by messing with the color sliders in Photoshop. I plan to buy a bunch more.
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Usually I wear a cotton T-shirt to the gym, but I picked out this top because it matched a pair of leggings I wanted to try. I wore it during a particularly sweaty workout and was impressed by how not sweaty I was by the end. The fabric is very thin, but I liked that and it offered light compression that creates a nice skimming effect. It’s also stylish, there’s a non-zero chance that I’ll wear this with a pair of cargo pants this summer.
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My second-favorite thing was this workout jacket. Like the leggings, it’s made from SculptMove. Of all the fabrics I tried, it’s the one I’d buy without thinking twice and highly recommend. Generally, I love working out in a jacket, it makes me feel like a proper “gym girlie.” This was compressive and tight but not uncomfortable. Once I’m zipped in I feel held, but it isn’t at all restrictive. My favorite feature is that it’s collarless and sits at the neck like a scoop-neck T-shirt. My other workout jackets have stand collars that fold down, which can be distracting and rub against my skin when I’m doing repetitive motions like squats or cardio. I often end up tucking the collar into my bra, but with this I don’t have to fuss with my jacket or adjust anything. I can totally focus on the movement, which improves my session overall. H&M, please make more colors!
Therunners-up
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Even though I don’t do Pilates or ballet, I like the gear, so I was excited to try this wrap top, which is made from modal. It’s more aesthetics than function, so don’t expect much in the way of sweat-wicking or compression. It’s very comfortable and the fabric is lightweight and practical too — I could easily see myself wearing it in other contexts. I picked an XXL because I was concerned about it being a bit tight in the arms and it ended up being very stretchy and slightly big. It didn’t matter much because it wraps around the body, but something to keep in mind.
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I got two colors of the flare leggings, plum purple and black. These are made from SoftMove, a brushed fabric that’s lightly compressive. My other H&M workout gear is made of similar fabric but this is a little thicker. I recommend it if you’re looking for leggings with medium compression or want something you can wear outside of the gym. I ended up running errands in these and felt very cute while doing so. They’re opaque, stylish, and feel substantial. They remind me of my old Old Navy leggings, which are some of the best I’ve tried. My one critique: They’re a touch shorter than I’d like. I’m five-foot-six and these hover above my feet. There’s a little gap when I wear my Vibram V-Souls, which makes them look ill-fitting. They look a bit better with sneakers, but I wish they were just a little longer. Besides the length, I’d recommend them.
Thenot-quite-rights
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I wanted to try all the fabrics so I tested these long running shorts, which are crafted from ShapeMove, a compressive fabric that’s designed to hold you in. It’s not as compressive as SculptMove but a good option if you want support without feeling squeezed. I wasn’t a fan of the bottom hems, which are unfinished. It looks nice laying against the skin, but I’m concerned about longevity and fraying down the line.
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I chose this top because I’m very into sheer clothing at the moment. I also liked the pool-blue color, which I’ve been gravitating toward. The shirt is very thin and lightweight. It feels whisper-thin on skin, so much so I forgot I had it on. I was also impressed with its moisture-wicking abilities. Despite a half-hour on the StairMaster, where I was dripping with sweat, I looked dry. The big drawback for me is the fit. It’s a little too roomy and shapeless for me. I might have liked it better paired with different bottoms, but generally I prefer something a bit more formfitting.
On the whole, I wasn’t impressed with the bras. For reference, I’m a 38H and wear a XXL. None of them felt particularly supportive. I couldn’t run in any of them if I wanted to. It worked because I mostly weight lift and walk, so there’s not a lot of jumping up and down. I tried two bras and a tank top with a built-in bra, none of which did much for me. The medium-support bra with thinner straps is particularly light support; I couldn’t run down the stairs without my boobs nearly hitting me in the chin. The thick straps wasn’t much better but did make me feel a bit more secure. I wouldn’t recommend any of these for larger-chested people looking to be held in. That said, they’re very cute.
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