Lululemon - Worth it?

[User1706]

Just that really, but particularly:

• Are they a generous/tight fit?
• Will my underwear show?
• Are they worth the money?
• Are they very long (I'm only 5ft4)

I always size up - no issues with quality so far and the fit is great - usually buy at their outlet stores or on ‘We made too much’ … no better than Sweaty Betty though and I’m sure there is other athletics wear that is less pricy and just as good!

I’m 5”3
I rate lululemon leggings in particular but not alllll of them.

they wash well and my pairs are good for 2 years + with regular wear. The pair I have don’t show underwear (if in doubt do the squat test in the dressing room and take a pic 😅)

i wouldn’t buy online unless I knew the style / had tried it on in store.

i don’t find it runs small it’s true to size / a bit generous imo

Are they a generous/tight fit?

-They have a weird sizing system whereby the smallest sizes come up small and then around size 8 they suddenly come up large. I suspect the smaller sizes are designed for petites.

Will my underwear show?

• I don't wear any with mine and that feels very secure, flattens the tummy and absolutely not see through.

Are they worth the money?

-Depends on purpose and fabric type. I only buy the compression type (luxetrance or something like that) and they do help me keep form better. I have slight hyper mobility and it seems to help with that so it really improves my ability to exercise and my muscles feel less strained in comparison to regular leggings.

If it's just for daily wear, people tend to go for the buttery soft ones and those pill really quickly so I don't think those are worth the money.

I do think they're overpriced for what they are but I've yet to find something better. Which annoys because I despise the whole cult around it, the original founder and his philosophy and the chipper staff who instantly jump on you once you set foot in the store and are overly eager to get in the fitting room with you. For daily wear, I've heard Alo Yoga are better and often have offers on.

Are they very long (I'm only 5ft4)

• I'm the same height, the 7/8 hits just above my ankle which is my preferred length. 3/4 length is like an 7/8 on me but I tend not to buy those.

Edit: argh not sure what's happening with formatting and I can't seem to fix it.

I buy 7/8th too

Thank you for all responding, I'll hold my hands up - I'm certainly no gym bunny! I do yoga and walking (not in the pounding around purposely exercising kinda way, more of the racing to and from nursery or running after my son in the park.) So perhaps I am over egging their use. I'm just sick of the bobbly/ see-through leggings I have from M&S.

I'll have a look at Alo Yoga, and if anyone else has any good suggestions?

Have you tried the good move range in M&S? I have had mine for years never had bobbling.

I agree, I find GoodMove great dupes for Lulu/SB

I used to regularly pick up some Uniqlo airism active leggings, they don't have the compressive quality that Lulus have but they are great for the price, don't fade and bobble and are not see through. For whatever reason, Uniqlo don't sell them much anymore, or only in odd lengths or very loud patterns. I have no experience with the regular airism leggings which seem to be the default now.

The other thing not mentioned, but most of the appeal for Lululemon is the smoothing and flattening of the tummy and the lift and shaping of the butt (without that weird ruching stuff 🫣). You kind of are surprised how amazing you look when you first try them on and this is what most of the love for the brand is about.

There are some dupe brands that apparently manage it without the performance fabric if that aspect is less important to you, think the main one is CRZ Yoga on Amazon. A lot more affordable but they don't last as long as Lululemon and the stitching can come undone over time. Lululemon offers a free repair service (as far as I understand for the lifetime of the garment so long as it can be repaired, in that case sometimes they'll replace free of charge or with a discount), they'll also hem it for you if you need it shortened so the added expense does come with some benefits but won't be worth it for everyone.

Oh, and I keep meaning to check out Vuori which is a more ethical version of Lululemon, apparently comparable in quality. Might be of interest for you too.

I have a pair of the LL joggers and they are really comfy, but I wear the no vpl underwear with those, as the cotton type will give a 4 bum look imo. I am not into heavy gyming, also yoga and the likes and they are not see through at all.

My dd is very sporty and has numerous pairs of leggings. She must be a in between size for LL as they irritate her a bit, as they fall down on the waist. But she has a tiny waist but (what she calls ) a shelf bum.

Her fave are Glow Mode from Shein. I know, I know but you can buy them direct and not go through Shein for them if you would rather. And these come in different lengths too.

They are really good and last well, but there are other brands that are a fraction of the price for the same quality.

Sweaty Betty are good, and I got a few pairs from Amazon for about £20 each. The brand I bought on Amazon seems to be no longer available, but if I was in the market for new ones I’d try M&S.

I think the sweaty Betty fabric is nicer to wear, the Lulu ones feel plasticky to me. However if I wear buying them to wear out of the gym I’d go for CRZ yoga from Amazon

I find Lulu leggings to be much better quality than Sweaty Betty - the latter brand was sold to an American company in 2021 and the quality has dived. I really rate Lululemon Wunder Train leggings.

I was going to say Wonder Train too. I have two pairs that I’ve had on rotation for maybe five years. I’ve upped the gym use a lot in the last two years so they are in the laundry twice a week and they are still perfect. No bobbles or fading. Very buttery and comfy but also flattering. I have SB leggings too but they aren’t as nice and I only wear them if both pairs of LL are in the wash. I am 5’6 and wear 7/8 length, they sit on my ankle so are not cropped.

The ones I have from M&S are good moves, I did really like them (maybe just need to not be tight and buy a new pair!) But they have bobbled in between the legs and my pants show.

As a response to the poster above who nailed it, I'm very pair shaped. My hips are about 4" wide with big thighs to match yet my stomach/waist are a 10/12 so I can find bottoms difficult and would love to appear a little more 'tucked in'.

• sorry I can spell "pear" I'm just tired 😂

In that case you might want to get the Wunder Train Contour fit, they sinch in the waist and are roomier in the hip and bum area than the standard Wunders. The Wunder series are the ones that compress the most, I also find they shape the thighs really nicely.

I like Element Karbon but they have quite a limited range. Nice designs though and a lot less pricey than Lululemon.

I do really like the the look of Lulelemon but I really really really don't need any more running stuff. I guess "need" isn't what we are talking about here though :)

I buy CRZ YOGA Women's Butterluxe High Waisted Yoga Leggings - 28'' Fitness Yoga Pants Sport Leggings from Amazon. Lulu Lemon dupes at £31 they are fab wash and fit well