The Lululemon sale is the perfect opportunity to save on the premium activewear brand and revamp your workout wardrobe for less.
When it comes to workout clothes, there's no point in making compromises. You need to be comfortable and supported. That's why I always shop the Lululemon sale when it comes around. Of course, you can find cheaper alternatives, but trust me when I say they don't have the same superior soft feel, quality, durability, or the original style of this Canadian brand.
Having spent the last few hours researching the Lululemon sale as the digital health editor at woman&home, I can confirm these discounts on the best workout leggings, tops, running essentials, and hiking shorts are the ones worth knowing about.
Lululemon sale
Lululemon sale: Quick Links
- Lululemon: The summer sale has landed with more than 50% off across the site
- Flannels: 30% off bestsellers, including leggings, tops, water bottles, and accessories
- Net-A-Porter: Take 70% off athleisure wear, accessories, and jackets for winter
Avoid shopping for Lululemon on Amazon. There are plenty of good Lululemon alternatives on the website, but Amazon is not a verified retailer.
Lululemon sale: Top deals
Lululemon sale: Bestsellers
Look no further than the Lululemon Align High-Rise Pant (28") for full coverage support during your yoga, Pilates, and lower-intensity workouts. Digital Editor Kerrie Hughes has had her pair for about three years now and confirms they are worth every penny - so much so, she bought another set in the most recent sale.
"I love the super smooth materials - it's a feature often raved about when it comes to these leggings, but really, they are so soft and comfortable to wear for hours on end while still offering a light compressive fit that feels supportive enough for exercise," she says.
You're unlikely to find a pair of the best black gym leggings in the Lululemon sale - it's the most popular colour, so rarely discounted - but since the brand specialises in muted colour palettes for the most part, you're bound to find a shade that works for you on a discount. Already this year, I've seen muted greens and blues, greys, and neutral beige and brown colourways all on sale in the 'We Made Too Much' section and across third-party retailers, so keep your eyes peeled.
The Align High-Rise Pant is similar to the Sweaty Betty Power leggings in many ways - similar price tags, similar second-skin-like feel, and even a similar construction - but the competitor is designed for higher-intensity workouts, with a drawstring support in the waistband and side pockets. If this is something that better fits with your workout routine, it may be worth weighing up Sweaty Betty vs Lululemon.
It's hardly surprising that Lululemon's sports bras are bestsellers, given the popularity of the leggings, shorts, and tops. Much like the Align leggings, the Energy Longline Bra is made from soft materials that hug the body in all the right places and provides medium support, making it a great choice for yoga, Pilates, strength training, cycling and other medium-intensity workouts.
The moulded cups inside the bra (which are removable) support you as you move while the light compressive layer over the top holds the shape together for a comfortable and flattering fit. Specialist breathable materials in the lining of the bra help to keep you cool as you work out.
Lululemon might not offer many of the best sports bras for larger busts - the maximum size is a G-cup and this is only available in one product - but it caters very well for anyone below this size looking for a comfortable and supportive sports bra.
Lululemon's Define Jacket is one of the brand's bestsellers for three reasons: it's a light layer and comfortable to wear both during and between your workouts, it hugs the body snugly in a compressive fit that helps to support you through your daily walks or workouts, and it accentuates your curves. Thanks to this, it gives the appearance of a sculpted bum and slimmer waist.
As with all Lululemon clothing though, comfort is the priority with the Define Jacket. The polyester-nylon blend is made with added Lycra, giving it a super-stretchy and soft feel that's hard to beat as you can wear it casually for hours on end or during exercises like walking, hiking, spinning, strength training, or even yoga, as it still has that second-skin-like feel when you move. Thumb holes help keep your hands warm in winter and the sleeves down, two front pockets keep your essentials secure.
The longer length and high neck of the Define jacket (as opposed to the cropped version) makes your body look longer too. The detailed seams on the front of the jacket offer a unique design feature - but you'll also find that your chest is slightly accentuated, which may be an off-putting feature for some and a welcome one for others.
The size you buy will play a key role in how the jacket fits though, so if this figure-hugging look isn't for you, simply buy your normal size or size up. I'm between a size 12 and 14 in upper-body clothing as I have a larger chest, so I chose the 14 for a more relaxed fit.
The Lululemon Swiftly Tech Short-Sleeve Shirt 2.0 ticks all the boxes when it comes to finding a go-to workout top that looks great and performs even better. This one is traditionally designed for running and higher-intensity workouts - given the chafe-free, limited-seam construction and specialist technology in the material that reduces odours post-workout - but for the same reasons, it's perfect for whatever you've got planned.
"I bought my first Swiftly Tech Short-Sleeve Shirt 2.0 six months ago and it's a regular in my rotation - and as woman&home's digital editor and a keen gym-goer, it gets a fair bit of use. While I wouldn't go too long between washes, it is the only workout top I have that can I wear more than once before washing in most cases," says Kerrie.
"It's a lightweight design, so I find it fits perfectly under jackets and sweaters in the colder months but the full-coverage length and breathable mesh panels makes it a good option for warmer weather too."
Is the Lululemon sale worth it?
Yes, absolutely! Many brands feign discounts to score extra spending, but the Lululemon sale isn't one of them. It's actually worth shopping. Whether it's Black Friday - the best sale of the year online - or the regular 'We Made Too Much' discounts that are updated year-round, there's normally £10 or more off bestsellers.
In some cases, you'll see leggings, shorts, tops, and jacks for as much as 60% off.
Unlike some retailers too, Lululemon doesn't inflate the price pre-sale to make the savings seem larger. This is the genuine price - trust me, I've spent enough time on the Lululemon website over the years that I'd spot if something was off.
You also won't find exclusively bizarre colourways or only certain sizes in the sale either. If an item is on sale, it's on sale in all sizes. Darker colourways also often feature in the sale, which is surprising, as these are often the most popular.
When does 'We Made Too Much' restock?
'We Made Too Much' is Lululemon's evergreen sale, featuring items made in excess, on sale for a lower price. This restocks every Thursday afternoon, UK time. So, if you've got your eye on a particular style, you might want to check back in at this time.
But I would say, as someone who's spent months looking at the Lululemon sale, it's best to snap up the savings when you see a deal you like. There's no guarantee these will last a week, and once the deal is sold out, it's sold out.
Lululemon uses this section on the website to sell excess inventory, giving shoppers the chance to pick up a pair of the best gym leggings with pockets or one of the best high-intensity sports bras for much less year-round.
What is Lululemon's biggest sale of the year?
The biggest Lululemon sale starts on Black Friday every year, with all the best deals on the brand's website. Last year, we saw up to 75% off across the bestselling leggings, workout tops, sports bras, jackets, coats, accessories, and more.
Apart from these two peak sales periods, you're unlikely to find a sale outside of the Lululemon 'We Made Too Much' department.
Some third-party retailers like Selfridges, Matches, and Flannels may do their own sales over Cyber Weekend (Black Friday to Cyber Monday), seasonal periods, and at other points in the year as well. So, it's also worth checking out these retailers if you're after a good deal.
Is Lululemon cheaper in the UK or US?
It's widely thought that it's cheaper to buy lululemon in the US, Canada, and Australia than elsewhere in the world - including the UK, unfortunately. This is down to various factors like currency conversion and local taxes.
However, it's not cheaper by a considerable amount. For example, doing my own maths, I found out that the bestselling Swiftly Tech Short-Sleeve Shirt 2.0 is $58 in the US. At the time of writing, this converts to £54.15. In the UK, the same top is on sale for £58 at the time of writing - it's a £4 price difference.
Why is Lululemon expensive?
Many people consider Lululemon to be among the more expensive sportswear brands around, alongside Sweaty Betty, TALA, and Nike. Like these brands, Lululemon has a justification for the higher price tag.
All activewear has a premium construction that prioritises comfort and a chafe-free experience while being supportive enough to see you through whatever activity it was designed for. The material is lightly compressive but feels smooth and comfortable on the skin even when sweaty. The leggings, tops, and sports bras are long-lasting and durable, so you'll be able to wear them for longer, buying fewer pieces in the long term and helping you to save money.
That being said, you are also paying for a brand name. There are some alternatives that are relatively similar in construction and design, like the CRZ Yoga Butterluxe leggings, but come without the pricey brand name or guaranteed high-quality feel and support.
