A notoriously harsh critic when it comes to her activewear, L360 deputy editor Anna Evdokimou shares her honest thoughts on this new affordable brand.
Activewear and workout clothing has become crazy expensive. Gymshark leggings range between £40-£49 per pair, while Lululemon’s Align Leggings costs £88.
Now, there are more affordable options on the market, with Asos’s 4505 fitness gear averaging between £20-£35 per item, and H&M have also entered the fitness arena with its SoftMove and DryMove ranges — with reasonably priced and usually discounted items.
But should we be paying so much for our activewear? We all want to feel our best while working out, but does that necessitate spending close to £100 on a single matching set?
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Getting active wear clothing right is no easy feat, and I’m a harsh critic. Most of my gym clothes are from Oner Active, Tala or Nike — all higher-end brands — because I have a fear of turning up to the gym in see-through leggings. I aim to work out around four times a week and I love to train hybrid, which means that one day I’ll be in a Pilates class and the next I’ll be doing Russian dead lifts and squats on the gym floor.
I want my active wear to feel comfortable — whatever type of training I’m doing — and I want items that fit right, that don’t feel loose but also don’t hug me in too tightly. I want my sports bras and leggings to feel like investments that will last the test of time (or at least a few years). Most of all, please, oh please, don’t let them be see-through.
When I first heard that George at Asda — the British supermarket’s flagship clothing brand — was launching a new sportswear line, I was a little sceptical. I’ve never worn or bought clothing from Asda before, and I’ve always (ignorantly) associated fashion from supermarket brands with lesser quality items.
But my interest was piqued when I heard that Gym Locker — the new brand’s name — is an “affordable answer to high-quality contemporary athleisure for both men and women”. It was even more piqued when I found out that prices for the range start at just £7.
Deciding to against my usual grain and give it a go, I opted for the So Skin Black Wrap Waist Leggings, (£18) and the Indigo V Neck Vest Top, (£16). I also stepped outside my comfort zone even more and got the matching Long Sleeve Zip Front Top, (£22) for some additional colour (I usually prefer blending into the background when working out).
The range features gym tops for as little as £7, and the zip-up hoodies are only £12 — a stark contrast to Gymshark’s £38 for a similar item.
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As soon as I put the leggings on, it was clear that the fabric was made to stick to the body and stay there. Despite the tightness, I still felt as though I could move around freely and do my usual squats without worrying about anyone seeing anything that they shouldn’t.
The top has inbuilt padding, which could remove the need for a sports bra, and the low back felt more comfortable than the usual criss-cross back sports bras that I wear. All in all, I found myself pleasantly surprised at the quality. The leggings felt similar to my 4505 pair from Asos, and the jacket top had a contouring effect that hugged me in right to the bottom of my waist. One of my friends even asked me where my top was from: you can image their surprise when I answered “Asda”.
In terms of being comfortable, form-fitting and not see-through, Gym Locker ticks all my boxes. Is it the most stylish range of fitness clothing? Probably not. But if you’re someone who simply wants to work out in clothing that feels comfortable, hugs you in and keeps you feeling secured throughout your session, Gym Locker is a safe bet.
Our top picks from the Gym Locker range:
So Skin Indigo V Neck Vest Top
With a scoop neckline and a padded bust, this top was super comfortable and flattering. I also loved the purple burst of colour.
So Skin Indigo Long Sleeve Zip Front Top
I’m a sucker for a thumb-hole sleeve, so this zip-up top was definitely one of my favourites from the range. Also, the figure-hugging material felt flattering without being overly tight.
So Skin Black Wrap Waist Leggings
This wrap waist gave the leggings a more premium and expensive feel, and I didn’t have to worry about them being see-through — which tends to be a problem with even the most up-market of activewear.
You can find the full range available here.
