I Get Why Everyone Likes 437’s Minimalist Activewear

This top is my favorite of the pieces I tried, which is surprising because I find many workout tops quite ugly — so much so that I typically work out in just a bra and leggings. But this tank changed my mind. It’s simple, classic, and very flattering, with thin straps that stay put, a slim fit, and a supportive built-in bra (bonus points for the nearly invisible logo placement on theback). I prefer my sports bras to be tight, even ever-so-slightly suffocating, for the least fussy and most supportive hold of my B-cup bust. This top’s built-in bra delivers. It’s plenty snug; nothing has budged through weeks of Pilates inversions — no riding up, no straps falling off, no annoying curling at the hem, and no fear of a boob falling out. The top, like all 437 items, is made of the brand’s signature 437 Cloud spandex-polyester blend. It’s incredibly soft, with a liquid fabric feel and lots of stretch. To me, it’s the platonic ideal of a workout top — a camisole with enough support to keep things in place while bending over in RDLs, but dainty enough to look good during and after a sweaty session.

This full-length tank stands out in the same way the Classic does. The square neckline is beautifully cut and a welcome change from the scoop-necks of most of my bras and tops. The scoop back just grazes the bottom of my shoulder blades, a cut that’s both flattering and ventilating. The double layering in the bust holds my chest in place firmly without creating excessive cleavage. The hip length is perfect — even when my arms are fully extended in sun salutations or twisting during side planks, the top doesn’t ride up or expose my midriff.

Arguably one of the brand’s most widely recognized designs, this bra was on my radar for its minimalist cut and pleasing contrast piping. Of my dozen or so bras, I find 437’s to be the cutest. There’s a shoulder-blade-exposing scoop back (same as the square tank’s), which I find especially pretty and elegant. The lack of adjustable straps worried me, but the fit turned out to be just right. The double-layered fabric feels thick, which makes the bra surprisingly supportive despite its thin straps yet still incredibly soft and flexible. It’s not as snug and secure as the full-length two-in-one tops above, however. While I’m not sure I’d run or sprint in this, for my daily incline walks and Pilates routines, it fared well enough for me to wear it on its own.

Given my preference for plain, not overly fashionable workout wear, I was worried these would make me feel like too much of a try-hard. But the V-shaped waistband is subtle thanks to the two slightly overlapping wide bands at the front. They’re layered to create a band that cradles your waist right around the belly button. It accentuates your curves, while the high waist provides coverage when you’re bending, stretching, and folding. Like the Leisure Pants, these have a flattering back seam and no front seam, and their fabric is just as smooth and comfortable. The length is ideal too, fully covering my ankle to the very top of my foot.

I thought these pants would be comically wide, especially by the ankles, but they had just the right amount of flare. They’re slim through the thigh but fit straight through the knee. The fabric doesn’t awkwardly pool but gently drapes, hitting my ankles at the perfect point (I often opt for an inseam of at least 30 inches, and I’d guess these are around that). These bottoms have become a new staple. I can blindly pair them with just about any bra or top, 437 or not. The back V-seam makes my butt look good, and the lack of a front seam in the crotch eliminates the risk of camel toe. The not-too-thick waistband is flat and comfortable, hitting my belly button for a fit that holds me in. They’re stretchy but sturdy, equally suited to incline jogging and practicing splits and tree pose.

Headbands are a necessity for me at the gym since they keep frizzy flyaways at bay and sweat away from my eyes (which, since I wear contacts, tend to get irritated if sweat trickles in). My stretched-outScunci onesneeded a massive upgrade, so I decided to try this two-pack (the brand also offers theContour, a pair of the same size bands in different colors). The wider band in the Micro set is double-sided, so you can match it to your outfits, while the other’s a much skinnier black one. Both headbands feel buttery soft and have a generous amount of stretch, but I prefer the larger one. It’s a breeze to put on (and hasn’t irritated a fresh cartilage piercing in a particularly exposed part of my ear) but still fits tightly — essential for a curly-haired person. It does a good job pulling the front of my hair back and keeping the baby hairs down. The width is especially key: not so thin that it awkwardly sticks out in the middle of my scalp against frizz, but not so overly thick that it makes me sweat more.

I largely avoid working out in shorts for fear of them riding up, and I’ve grown convinced that the perfect inseam doesn’t exist. Most shorts are either too short or awkwardly long. These did not convince me otherwise. While the five-inch inseam hit me just right — mid-thigh, high enough to be flattering and elongating but long enough that I didn’t feel naked — they rode up my thighs the minute I moved. Even just walking a few blocks to the gym, I felt like I had to keep my hands stuck at my sides to tug the shorts down. As you can imagine, it was even worse actually working out in them. They do have some good qualities: They’re very soft, stretchy, and not sheer in the slightest. But I was constantly on guard for adjustments and felt limited in movement as a result.

I found this tank even more appealing than the Classic thanks to the crisscross back, deep scoop-neck, and ruching on the sides. But it’s a touch too boob-y for my liking, and I fear I’ll flash someone if I bend over. While it’s stretchy and supportive and the straps are comfortable and never dig into my skin, this isn’t a top I would do particularly active workouts in.

I’ve always loved how dainty and ballerina-like wrap tops look on the women flitting in and out of Pilates, and I envisioned this as the perfect light layer to throw on over a bra and leggings. Unfortunately, I tried this in my usual size and a size down, and I ran into issues with both. No matter how I tried to adjust the straps, the top immediately rode up my waist. I wasn’t in love with the cropped look either; I prefer a top that gives me full-torso coverage. While there’s plenty of give in the arms (and the soft sleeves are long enough to stretch past my wrists), I could really only wear this top to walk to and from the gym. I wouldn’t work out in it; the back rides up, and the knot and hem dig slightly into my skin, even when tied fairly loosely.

These are comfortable socks, and the scrunching around the ankles is cute, reminiscent of ’80s leg warmers. They’re cozy, with 85 percent cotton and a good amount of stretch from the remaining mix of spandex and polyester.But $25 is more than I’m willing to pay for a single pair of gym socks; I’d opt for another headband setinstead.