Q uite possibly the biggest fashion trend of the past decade, athleisure and activewear brands have absolutely exploded in recent years.
And there are two big reasons why:
First and foremost, technology has come a long way.
As a result, today there are plenty of great athleisure brands making stylish staples out of the same sweat-wicking technical fabrics usually found in gym clothes.
(By contrast, our fathers and grandfathers had to wear cotton shirts and wool trousers everywhere because they didn’t have access to more comfortable fabrics.)
Secondly, men today also lead a much more active lifestyle than our forebears, which has blurred the line between athletic clothing that’s worn in the gym and the casual wear worn in everyday life.
But while the sheer quantity of athleisure pieces on the market has exploded since the early 2010s, the quality of those pieces can vary pretty wildly.
Which is where this post comes in.
Below we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best men’s athleisure brands for guys who want high-quality workout gear that’s both functional and fashionable.
The (Absolute) Best Athleisure Brands for Men
Breaking Down the Best Men’s Activewear and Athleisure Brands
Public Rec
Easily one of my favorite athleisure brands, Public Rec is one of the best places to turn for stylish everyday wear made from comfortable, stretchy, and sweat-wicking fabrics.
One great thing about Public Rec is that their high-quality clothes are more versatile than a lot of other popular athleisure brands, which gives you plenty of options.
Pieces like their lightweight bomber jacket or all day every day pant can be paired with gym clothes to really lean into the athleisure look.
Check out my full Public Rec review to find out how their clothes hold up over the long haul.
Western Rise
Another one of my top picks for athleisure, Western Rise is a great brand for guys who want comfortable clothing that looks like regular casual wear but moves a (helluva) lot better.
Unlike a lot of other new athleisure brands, Western Rise doesn’t do purely athletic apparel.
Instead, they focus on casual staples that blend contemporary design with high-performance materials and rugged construction.
The result is an athleisure line that’s great for everything from hiking a mountain to giving a big presentation at work – two very different environments that are equally likely to make you sweat.
What the Heck is “Athleisure” Anyway?
The term “athleisure” is pretty broad these days. (Seriously, we probably could have included 100 more brands here.)
But to us, athleisure means casual, comfortable clothing that’s stretchy enough to wear to the gym, but stylish and versatile enough to wear to the grocery store or other errands.
(Or, in my case, one immediately followed the other.)
Because it’s so comfortable, a lot of athlesiure is great for travel, but the sweat-wicking fabrics also make it perfect for a weekend hike, a backyard BBQ, a day at the beach, meeting the guys for a quick nine holes…
You get the idea. It’s good for athletics. It’s good for leisure. Someone should really coin a portmanteau for it.
Vuori
Vuori is a California-based clothing brand that embodies the sort of laid-back-but-somehow-super-active vibe so many people seem to have in the Golden State.
They tend to specialize in the sort of surf-and-sand stuff you’d expect from a brand that’s proudly Californian, as well as functional everyday essentials made from ultra-soft fabrics and high-quality materials.
(For instance, their best-selling Ponto Performance Pant is both moisture-wicking and incredibly soft.)
But they also have a selection of chinos, shorts and polos that work just as well in New York as they would in Los Angeles or San Francisco, making them a great option for anyone who wants to build out their summer wardrobe.
Lululemon
Lululemon is the Canadian brand founded by Chip Wilson, who arguably kickstarted the rise of athleisure by designing a pair of leggings so comfortable that women started wearing them damn near everywhere.
They’ve leaned hard into menswear in recent years and now offer a pretty great selection of pants, button down shirts and polos, along with an extensive line of activewear in a wide range of vibrant colors and patterns.
Their prices are famously high, but the quality is typically quite good.
Alo Yoga
Alo is one of those brands that’s often mentioned in the same conversation as Lulu, because they make clothing for pretty much every activity, whether you’re hitting the gym, yoga, or just strolling to Trader Joes,
They offer a wide range of clothes for men that includes everything from loungewear and tank tops to jackets, underwear and other accessories, all of which are high-quality and in my opinion, stylish as hell.
Mack Weldon
At Mack Weldon, daily wear is the name of the game.
They specialize in all the staple pieces that you tend to see throughout the athleisure world, including everything from boxer briefs and long johns to button-down shirts and jackets.
While not all of their stuff is athleisure – for instance, their crewneck sweaters are available in cashmere – a lot of it is made from high-performance materials that move well and look great.
Fabletics
Yes, it was founded by Kate Hudson, and yes, Fabletics originally made its name by offering yoga pants, sports bras, tank tops and other workout clothes for women.
But they’ve since expanded to make some of the all around best athleisure clothing for guys, including a pretty comprehensive line of both men’s athletic wear and stylish casual clothing made from high-performance fabrics.
(Their High Side Chino even made our list of the best athletic dress pants for men.)
Still skeptical? Check out their recent collab with Kevin Hart, or their new Fab Daddy collection, and you’ll be sold.
Richer Poorer
Richer Poorer isn’t as popular as some of the other brand names on this list, but makes a great place to turn for high-quality loungewear and casual staples like sweats, tees and a good pair of shorts.
What’s cool about Richer Poorer is that they forego the nylon and polyester fabric used by a lot of major brands in favor of more natural, sustainable materials like organic cotton, which is softer and often more comfortable.
Myles Apparel
Myles is a men’s activewear brand that specializes in fit, performance and versatility.
Their stuff tends to be divided into three main lines:
An “everyday” line that has casual staples like tees and henleys, a “momentum” line of workout wear that’s focused more on performance, and a “tour” line that splits the difference, which is great for golf and other occasions that call for a blend between athletics and aesthetics.
That said, you could wear pretty much anything from here to the grocery store and no one would bat an eye.
Rhone
No list of best athleisure brands would be complete without the high-quality athleisure wear Rhone offers.
In not much time, they’ve become one of the most trusted brands in the space, earning rave reviews from guys who swear by their practical, performance-driven athletic gear and clothing.
Besides making some of the best workout clothes, Rhone offers apparel that keeps you cool as you go about your day, whether you’re in the gym, at the office, on the golf course or (pretty much) anywhere else.
Everlane
Everlane is a direct-to-consumer brand that has made a real push into the athleisure, loungewear and activewear space with their timeless aesthetic and minimalist design.
Like their everyday apparel, their performance wear and athleisure is sustainably made, high-quality, and versatile, with a minimalist aesthetic that’s made to outlast fleeting fashion trends.
Adidas
It’s impossible to talk about “athletic leisure” brands without mentioning a few of the titans of athletic wear.
Adidas is at the top of the list of brands that have made the transition to offering not just sports gear, but a wide range of casual staples that look great and (of course) perform well.
It’s notoriously a go-to brand for trendy tracksuits and of course, sneakers, but you can also find T-shirts, tanks, shorts, jackets, and pants that work for a variety of activities, whether you’re playing sports or just hitting the streets.
Outdoor Voices
If there were a clothing brand that embodied the cliche, “Tell me you’re an active individual without saying you’re an active individual,” it’s this one.
Outdoor Voices does indeed have a wide variety of clothes and gear that’s great for outdoor activities, as well as looking like a stylish person who’s probably heading to the gym, even if you’re not.
Joking aside, their clothing is all well-made and impressively on-point, making it great for everything from hard workouts to hikes to casual hangs.
Twillory
Twillory offers a wide selection of — rather sharp and nicely styled — everyday staples made from stretchy performance fabrics.
Their stuff kind of reminds me of Banana Republic’s (now defunct) Hill City brand, in that it takes the whole performance apparel idea and applies it to the types of clothes most often worn by the modern gentleman.
With high-quality button-down shirts, blazers, five-pocket pants and more, you can build a stylish, versatile wardrobe of everyday basics and athleisure essentials.
Champion
Previously kind of an afterthought, Champion roared back onto the athleisure scene a few years ago when designer Todd Snyder put a modern spin on some classic Champion looks, reinvigorating the brand in the process.
Since then they’ve capitalized on the attention by offering a wide range of sportswear and athleisure that runs the gamut from vintage old-school cool to hip, modern must-haves.
Nike
Another titan of the activewear industry, it’s no surprise that Nike has made the transition into athleisure that can be worn both on and off the court.
Today the Just Do It brand offers a huge range of athletic apparel that covers just about every activity imaginable, along with plenty of pieces that work just as well on the streets as they do for sports.
Reigning Champ
Like Lululemon, Reigning Champ is another Canadian brand founded in Vancouver back in 2007
Their offerings are divided into two main categories:
Performance fabrics that stretch well and wick sweat while you’re on the go, and classic fabrics that are soft, stylish and perfect for less active, more casual occasions.
