There was a point, probably a little over a decade ago, when our choices for athletic gear was restricted to the obvious huge names like Nike or Adidas. If we needed leggings or running shorts, these were the some of the only brands that would immediately come to mind. But long gone are those days of limited choices, now the market is abounding with options and you’ve got to have something super special about your collection to continue to stake a claim at even a small portion of the market. All to say that, nowadays, you’ve gotta be darn spectacular in order to keep your customers, because the market is flooded with options.

Well, look no further for a breakdown on the latest and greatest of what’s out there. I’ve done my research, I’ve sweat my fair share, and here I am giving you all of what I’ve learned out there on the field. Truth is, not all brands are make equal, but depending on what you’re looking for, there is something out there that will meet your needs. These are my top 5 activewear brands of the moment:

I think Lululemon was a major gamechanger when it hit the scene in 2000 in Vancouver, Canada. A brand developed specifically with the yoga community in mind, Lululemon very quickly became every woman and her mother’s favourite legging. Their fabrics are breathable and yet still manage to suck it all in to flatter any body type. I, like most, can live in Lulu – their leggings and tops are perfect for stretching, movement, an outdoor walk, or even a HIIT class. They they have all kinds of technologies to support every sport, but I usually reach for Lulus when I’ll be in a studio for yoga or pilates.

So Koral is more of my high-fashion activewear. Of course I still hit the gym in Koral look, but I just love the fabric and textures so much that it’s hard not to find ways to integrate the sports bra into a denim look sometimes. Koral is relatively new on the scene, founded in 2014 – but they have definitely made waves. Their technical fabrics are luxurious and fashion-forward. If you don’t already own something Koral, spend three seconds on their site and try not to add to cart! I dare you!

I’m also slightly obsessed with their Great Soles socks. Not only do they keep your ankles warm so as to prevent injuries, but they also have good grip on the soles which makes them perfect for dance, ballet, pilates, and that sort of work out.

Aurum’s thin 2-ply fabric is legit the perfect fabric for all things sweat related. Super flattering in terms of fit, I think I’d say the thing I love most about Aurum is how stylish their sets are. We’ve all been known to wear our exercise clothes on days where, let’s admit, the most exercise we get is lifting our forks, and Aurum elevates that athletic look to a whole new level. Their patterns are slick and the cuts are form-fitting. They developed their brand to go from gym to street and I must say, succeed they did, because I sometimes change out of my gym clothes and throw on my Aurum outfit!

I’ve been known to talk about Praise relentlessly, so I’ll keep it brief. If you are a runner or train in track in any shape, way or form, there is no other brand you should be wearing. Their stuff is incredible and is made for the field. Incidentally, if you don’t work out at all and just want to kick back in some super cozy, trendy athleisure, look no further. It’s basically the best of both worlds and I’m just a major fan. There. Enough said.

I love Spiritual Gangster for a plethora of reasons. One is that their activewear is meant for an active lifestyle. What I mean by that is that it can be worn in so many contexts and is meant for that flexibility and easy way of living. Whether on hike, bike ride or day out running after my fast-moving children at a theme park (speaking from experience of course) Spiritual Gangster has you covered. I’m in love with their sweat sets and graphic tees also.

What brand is your go-to when it comes to working out? Hit me up with recos and I’ll put them to the test!

Photography by Patricia Brochu