Today I’m reviewing a brand that’s new to the blog: Sweaty Betty. Sweaty Betty itself isn’t new–they’ve actually been around for quite some time, and they have a sizeable fan base in the UK, where they were founded. They’re quickly growing their market in the US and have opened several stores in the northeast (jealous).
I check up on Sweaty Betty’s website every once in a while, and I’ve really liked what I’ve been seeing lately. They just dropped a new collection for winter and launched a nice and clean new website, too. Their offerings run the gamut from yoga to dance to spin to run, and more, all infused with a fun, sporty, British aesthetic. One of the things I like about SB is their size selection. Many of their styles are available all the way down to XXS, and some also come in short and/or tall lengths. Since leggings with special style elements often fall on the wrong place on us shorties, having styles re-proportioned is extremely helpful!
It was about time I got some Sweaty Betty on the blog! I was so excited when Sweaty Betty offered to send me a couple pieces from their fall lineup, and I was even more excited once it arrived.
Disclosure: these pieces were complimentary from Sweaty Betty. All opinions in my reviews are always honest, no matter where the products come from.
Photos in this post by Julia Romano Photography
For these photos, Julia and I went the extra literal mile in search of some fall color as a backdrop. I am so pleased with how the end result turned out! The all-black outfit turned out to be a beautiful contrast against the golden aspens.
Glisten Long Sleeve
When I first pulled this top out of the package, I was worried to see an “S” on the size tag, because that’s one or two sizes up for me. To my surprise, it fits very well! So, the S will actually fit XXS and XS as well. The sleeves are the only looser part for me, so they don’t run quite as small as the rest of the top. There is subtle texturing on the fabric that’s hard to make out in pictures (and is quite subtle in real life too), which I believe helps with venting. The top is a seamless construction through the body that makes it very soft and comfortable.
The fabric on this top is lusciously wonderful. Although it’s not labeled as a thermal fabric, it’s thicker and cushier than most technical tops. It has bamboo in the fabrication, which gives it that ultra-soft feel. It’s a mid-weight layer that can work on its own, over a tank, or as a base layer. For my workouts, I found it warm enough to ward off chills, but breathable enough that it didn’t feel stuffy and uncomfortable once I started to work up a little body heat. The only downside of this top is that it does not have thumbholes! If you’re a thumbhole junkie, keep that in mind.
If left to my own devices, I probably wouldn’t have thought to order this, but now that I have it, I actually really love it! My long sleeve top options are pretty lacking and this will serve as a nice and versatile basic. I’ve already been reaching for it regularly!
Thermal run leggings
These tights are so wonderful, anytime I wear them I don’t want to take them off. I could literally sleep in them. The brushed fabric is unbelievably soft and cozy. They’re completely opaque, too, no matter what you wear underneath, which is another huge plus. I like this fabric at least as much as I like lululemon’s rulu fabric, and fans of rulu will know that’s saying a lot!
Both sides of the fabric are the same brushed material, which means compression is pretty light. The comfortable and supple fabric make these an excellent base layer option for winter. Since they’re a simple design, they’re suitable for wearing on their own or under another pair of pants for extra warmth.
Although these leggings are mostly pretty simple, there are some nice details Sweaty Betty added to the mix. The front seam detail adds flattering contours to your figure, and is reflective for added visibility. The reflective seam is visible from both the front and the side. There’s a continuous drawcord in the waistband, plus a back waistband zip pocket. The rise is medium, about where your average active bottoms land.
During my workouts, these did very well. The soft fabric moved easily with me even in all manner of squats, bends, and stretches. They did not slide down or need adjusting even after running, jumping, and squatting. Much like the top above, they feel warm but not stiflingly hot. The only downside is that the brushed fabric definitely does not repel pet hair, so I can’t sit on the couch when I’m wearing these. ;) I’m also hoping that the fabric holds up well over time–I’ll be on the lookout for pilling, but it’s too early to tell.
Price-wise, I’ll note that Sweaty Betty is not for the faint of heart. Almost all of their bottoms will set you back over $100. As with any kind of purchase, it just depends on your budget, priorities, and general pricing comfort level. Sometimes you can find coupon codes or sales, too–first-time buyers can get 10% off by signing up for their email list. Whatever position you’re in, my goal is for my reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Overall, I’m thrilled with my new Sweaty Betty pieces. The fit and feel of both pieces is amazing, and both will be staples for my fall/winter wardrobe. For my first experience with this brand, I have to say I’m pretty sold–I’m placing an order for a few more thermal pieces. :)
Shop this review
This outfit
Glisten L/S top | Thermal run leggings
More Sweaty Betty favorites
Trail thermal training tights | Trail 1/2 zip L/S
Motion thermal run leggings | Zero gravity pinnacle tights
Splits 7/8 leggings | Elite seamless run top
cute stuff! thanks for reviewing! what lovely fall colors too… i miss those now that i live in CA :(
FYI for everyone: I just went to the website and there is a 20% off code: SBNYT
I’m still poor from my alala purchase, but excited to try sweaty betty in the future!
Thanks for the sleuthing, you’re a champ, hehe. :)
Funny! I’ve been losing interest in lulu and my eyes have been roving – Sweaty Betty is one brand that’s definitely caught my interest lately! I was put off by the prices, but if their stuff is as high quality as your review makes it sound, I might take the plunge.
Btw, I just ordered the chill tights from Alala – the ones with pink contrast pockets. I know I said I didn’t want another black running tight (I think I also mentioned once I would never pay $125 for tights – oops) but it’s been so long since I had that “Oooh, I must own that!” feeling when it comes to athletic gear. Plus, Alala’s sizing appears to be better for my proportions. Here’s hoping!
Aaand I just realized after reading the comments here that you had a coupon for us for Alala. Ah well, obviously the regular price didn’t bother me too much in the end! XD
A lot of readers have also noted that there are often coupons for Sweaty Betty too–definitely helps take the edge of the price. I ordered the chill tights, too. :) Let me know what you think of them!
I have been eyeing SB for quite some time as well, and I’ve really been wanting the Rythm Pants because they have them in a long. However, I recently purchased black Alala Rolldown Sweats after seeing them reviewed here, so I’ve been trying to be ‘good’ and to just drool at the Rythm Pants from afar. (I believe my comment on the Alalas was something like ‘the last thing I need is another pair of black pants.’ I did just order them so it looks like I’m getting another pair of black pants!) I’ve heard good things about the brand, so I’m curious how it will work for me. And I really like the video option on the website. It’s so nice to be able to see the pieces on a moving person.
I’m so happy for the 20% off tip — It’s so nice to save money on something you were going probably going to pay full price for!
(However, I wish you would stop making me buy stuff!!)
: )
I really like the video option too, especially since sometimes it’s hard to picture what the style looks like as a whole from still photos. Sorry for being a bad influence, though. :)
What was the sizing like on the pants? I’m usually a 2 in lulu bottoms, would an xs be right for me here?
I’m also a 2 in lulu bottoms and these tights in XS fit me well!
(And you need to stop making me buy stuff!!)
: )
So great to see you reviewing SB! They’re one of my fave British brands (I’m Scottish) and I was so excited when they finally made it over here. My Halasana butterfly print capris are truly one of my favorites – suuuuuper soft (I want to stroke my legs when I’m wearing them!). Their stuff is great and holds up really well. Sales are usually pretty good too, so keep an eye out!
Congrats on your xfit competition by the way – your Dragon crops were fab! :)
Ohhh good, glad to hear they’ve lasted well for you. I’d like to try some of their yoga stuff, too. I’ll definitely be watching for sales!
Thanks for reviewing this brand. I’m glad to see you liked these pieces. I have several pieces of theirs from last year and am overall happy. I have a splits 3/4 run Capri that is sheer, but not much different than the issues with other brands. I will say that this brand has so many sales that you really shouldn’t ever order from them without a discount code of some type. I found that out too late I’m afraid. I look forward to hearing how you like the other things you’ve ordered from SB.
Thanks for your input! I really like the splits capris in the motorslick print, but I wondered about sheerness since prints are often problematic for sheerness in any brand. Moot point though, since they’re currently out of my size. Also thanks for the heads up about codes and sales, that’s definitely good to know. :)
I really love both those pieces. I love simple designs like the tights have. I recently ordered run tights but haven’t got them yet. I love that returns are free but don’t love the non-eco-friendly aspect of overseas shipping. :( I’m surprised they didn’t give you a discount code to offer readers. When I placed my order, I was able to activate a feature where anyone who mentions my name (Jennifer Kent) at checkout gets $25 off their purchase, and I also get a $25 credit. Also, LOVE the photos. Really beautiful!
Thanks Jenn! That’s good to know about the referral–since I haven’t actually placed an order (they chose these for me), I hadn’t seen that yet.
Oh, you’ll be getting a code then. FWIW, my leggings didn’t work out for me, and I’d be hesitant to try their leggings again. Maybe a top if there was a good sale. But no worries…I ordered the Alala Weekender Dress to take the place of my returned SB leggings. :)
Fingers crossed on the dress!! I hope you don’t have to return it because I know how you feel about non-free returns, lol. ;)
Thanks for this review! I’ve been ordering here and there from Sweaty Betty since they first came to the U.S., and it’s been very hit or miss for me. Sometimes I’ll have a win and just LOVE the item, but mostly I don’t feel like the quality is worth the price. I don’t find the quality to be any better than LLL or Athleta, frankly.
For example, some items are missing flat locked seams, or I don’t like the fabric. Some of the pants have a super thick and slippery texture, which turns me off. However, I recently bought a run windbreaker jacket, and it has thoughtful features- plus it looks totally different from any other brands. I’ve had a couple of great wins, so it’s not a total wash.
Agree with the poster who wrote about the sales- they always send me catalogs with 20% or sometimes even 30% off my purchase, so I wait for those.
I also think that the brand runs small. I wear a size 4 in LLL and a size 2 in street clothes, and I need a small across the board in Sweaty Betty. An XS is perfect for a LLL 2! :)
Thanks for sharing your input! I’ve yet to find a brand that I think has top-notch products every time. All brands these days have been hit or miss for me, even my favorites, so it’s not too shocking to hear you’ve had a similar experience with SB. I look for those “wins” like you mentioned, and am pretty shameless about returning the rest, lol. To your sizing point, that’s good to know. I did find that the XS in these tights fit me well, though it also felt like it might stretch to fit a lulu 4 just fine, too. The pieces I had my eye on only go down to XS, but it seems like I’ll be fine there if I do order some more!
Interesting to hear your thoughts. I just ordered my first pair of leggings and I SWEAR that the fabric is identical to a pair of my Fabletics crops…which I got for $30. :-(
Thanks for the review! Also, your hair looks fantastic!!
Thanks Karen!! The lady who cuts my hair definitely does a great job. :)
I finally got my merino Rythm Pants yesterday, and they are fantastic! If they were offered in other colors I would have ordered more by now. I love that the bottoms can be unzipped and rolled down or cuffed up, and they are definitely long enough for me. They are really comfortable, and lightweight without being too thin, which I hate. It’s hard for me to justify another pair of black pants, but the quality and overall design are different enough that I didn’t think twice about keeping them. I usually put new clothes in a ‘pending’ pile, and I try to give a couple of days of thought toward whether I’m going to keep them or not. The SB pants went from the box to my body and they may be there for awhile!
Awesome, glad to hear they worked out, especially for length! :) Thanks for the info.