Why I Wanted to Try Walmart’s Athletic Works Activewear

Athletic Works Activewear*

What It Is: Athletic Works is an affordable activewear line for women, men and kids exclusive to Walmart. The collection features sizing that’s inclusive for a range of body types, from XS to XXL for women and from S to XXL for men. I wanted to review this clothing line in particular because of its sizing and affordability, both of which help spread the positive message that fitness and staying active is for everyone.

What You Might Not Know: I was able to buy myself a complete outfit—workout leggings, tank and warm-up top—from Athletic Works for just $60, including taxes! I had plenty to choose from, too—there were tops, tanks, pants, jackets, even sports bras. Most pieces mixed and matched well together with vibrant colors and neutral staples.

While it’s possible to exercise in just about any comfortable clothing, sweating in a cotton shirt and heavy jogging pants can feel icky and damp, a sensation that might mess with your motivation to continue going to the gym.

Lack of functional exercise clothes shouldn’t be a barrier to getting and staying fit; Athletic Works activewear helps with this barrier.

Feelin’ the Love: As I milled around the women’s Athletic Works display in my local Walmart store—stretching out and scrutinizing the workout leggings for signs of see-through material (nope, not an issue with the half-dozen I inspected)—I noticed that the line was made from a lightweight, breathable fabric that wicks away sweat (they call it DRI-MORE). These days, moisture-moving technology in activewear is a necessity more than a luxury, so I was impressed to see it in Athletic Works activewear.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to go for a short run about once a week in addition to hitting the gym. Motivated by this goal, I recently threw on my Athletic Works leggings and top in search of a snow-plowed path along Vancouver’s seawall. Everything performed up to my (high) standards for breathability and fit.

In fact, my Athletic Works outfit exceeded expectations, partly because it comes with many of the same above-and-beyond features found on pricier pieces: thumb-holes on the long-sleeve shirt, a mini-pocket in the waistband of the pants, and reflective accents for better visibility in the dark (you can see this feature in the photo above, where the camera’s flash hits the striped reflective material on the side of the leggings).

Although I wouldn’t have ever gone looking for a cowl neck on a fitness top (above), this feature has turned out to be one of my favorites for providing extra coverage and warmth outdoors and in air-conditioned gyms.

This black layering tank (below), another favorite, feels especially “breezy” and lightweight. With its slightly loose cut around the midsection and all those perforations in the design, it’s been perfect for my most intense workouts. I think it will perform really well for outdoor running this summer as well. (FYI, it also comes in a pretty light-purple color. I had a hard time choosing.)

If I Could Change One Thing: The Walmart Canada website doesn’t do the Athletic Works collection justice. The clothes look cuter in person than online. Browse in-store for more options.

Should You Try It? I paid just $12.97 for a workout tank I wear all the time. The prices are reasonable if you’re on a budget. And since Walmart Canada has a lot of new stock for 2017, now is a good time to explore Athletics Works. Find it at the Athletic Works collection in Walmart stores and on walmart.ca.

*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the Athletic Works New Year Look program. In exchange for this review, I received special perks in the form of products and compensation. All opinions in this blog post are my own.  

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