Non Toxic Activewear Review: My Favorite Brands I’ve Tried

If you’re looking for non toxic activewear but are feeling overwhelmed by the choices this blog post is for you!

Since 2018 I’ve been making swaps in my life to reduce toxic load. I started with my cooking products, then cleaning. Then I slowly swapped out bedding for lower tox options. Cleaned up my water, then air quality. 

You get the idea. 

However, the one area that I’ve been putting off for YEARS was my clothing. Specifically, my activewear. 

I knew that my “made in china” polyester workout gear wasn’t the healthiest option but it was hard to make the change and to let go. 

It’s not that I hadn’t tried. I did buy some organic cotton leggings a few years ago but, well. I didn’t love them. So I went back to what I knew, what was comfortable. 

Then I got pregnant and had my daughter and as is normal and expected, my body changed. (I changed too but that’s a story for another day.;)) My old polyester working clothing didn’t fit the same and was no longer comfortable. 

So I slowly started clearing out my old leggings, selling them or donating them. I figured NOW was a good time to replace those items with more healthy and sustainable options. It was time to give organic cotton activewear another try. 

Over the past 6+ months I’ve been slowly swapping and testing non toxic activewear brands, trying to find my staples and favorites.

I have been very pleasantly surprised with my discoveries, especially since my first run in with non toxic activewear wasn’t my favorite. 

I thought it would be helpful to write a non toxic activewear review with all of the brands I’ve tried so far, what I love about them and what I didn’t.

Disclosure: some of these brands were kind enough to gift me some items to try and test but all opinions are my own. 

Affiliate disclosure: Some of these links may be affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

My Favorite Non Toxic Active Wear Brands

Definite Articles 

Why they are lower tox: Definite Articles uses performance fabrics designed without added water, stain, or odor resistant chemical treatments, and incorporates CiCLO® technology to help synthetic fibers biodegrade more readily in the environment. The brand is B Corp certified and has some products with OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT-certified materials as well.

Certifications or third party testing: Finished garments are independently tested by Intertek for PFAS, BPA, formaldehyde, and 50+ other chemicals of concern, with published results showing these substances were not detected within the tests’ stated limits. The fact that it is the finished garment that is tested is very comforting.

What I like: Out of all the brands I tried, these felt the most familiar since they are still synthetics. They are stretchy, comfortable for all day wear, hold up well with workouts (hiking, lifting etc) and they look really good too. If you are wanting to switch to lower tox active wear but don’t love organic cotton or bamboo- this is a great brand to consider. 

Although I haven’t tried them yet I noticed they had running shorts. I definitely prefer a traditional runners short as opposed to tighter leggings so they are on my list of items to try.

What I think could be better: I don’t have any complaints with the items I was able to try. Everything fit perfectly and according to size. My only suggestion is that if you are trying to completely avoid synthetic materials no matter what, this brand might not be for you.

PuraKai 

Why they are lower tox: PuraKai uses GOTS-certified organic cotton in its activewear, with most performance pieces made from 92% organic cotton and 8% spandex, and uses AZO-free dyes without water- or stain-resistant PFAS coatings. 

Certifications or third party testing: Third-party PFAS-tested, GOTS Certified organic cotton.

What I like: Out of all the organic cotton leggings I’ve tried, these ones were my favorite. The seams are all in the right place and are flattering. The waist band is not overly tight or constricting and has just the right amount of stretch for hours of comfortable wear. I reach for them the most often! I love that they offer different inseams, pocket options, etc so you can find the perfect fit for you.

What I think could be better: 

They do offer quite a bit of color options which I greatly appreciate, but I would LOVE to see patterns and more color options. If you get a lighter color they will show sweat but that is kind of to be expected with cotton. 

Reprise Active

Why they are lower tox: Reprise Active uses 93% TENCEL™ Lyocell and 7% spandex in most of its leggings, bras, and tanks, offering a plant-based alternative to conventional polyester and nylon activewear without relying on chemical performance coatings.

Certifications or third party testing: The TENCEL™ fabric is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, and the brand states that all its fabrics are third-party tested and certified formaldehyde-free; its Fusion performance line is also OEKO-TEX® certified. Note that certifications can vary by material and product, so check the specific item for details.

What I like: Overall the biker shorts I tested were VERY comfortable and fit well. I love that they come in two different lengths so you can choose the best look. They were also resistant to showing sweat because of the type of fabric and completely squat proof.

What I think could be better: Although I really like the super soft feeling of the tencel fabric my shorts did have some shedding and pilling after the first wash despite following wash instructions. (It may have been my detergent?) I also was not a huge fan of the lower hip/waistband seam. For me it just hit in the wrong spot.

Valinor Active

Why they are lower tox: Valinor Active uses its proprietary Taurenna™ fabric, made primarily from regenerated hemp cellulose derived from regeneratively grown hemp, with less than 9% partially bio-based elastane wrapped in hemp fiber. The brand says it avoids chemical moisture-wicking finishes and low tox dyes. 

Certifications or third party testing: Its finished fabric independently third-party tested, with no detectable BPA, phthalates, PFAS (screened for 14,700+ compounds), or formaldehyde in the reported tests. Its hemp is grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, according to the brand, but is not currently certified organic.

What I like: Love the feel of this fabric. It has plenty of stretch (You could probably size down) and feels luxurious against your skin. It moves with you and stays put but doesn’t feel restrictive at all. The sports bra is supportive but not too tight. They have fun beautiful colors and bra designs.

What I think could be better: I love that it has stretch but I wish the waist had just a tiny bit more support for the tummy area. (Maybe I just need to size down.) The fabric feels amazing but it also feels maybe a touch thin. Lighter colors will show more so be aware of that. 

Happy Earth 

Why they are lower tox: Happy Earth uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and GOTS-approved dyes, which restrict hazardous substances throughout textile production, including PFAS, formaldehyde, and certain toxic dyes. 

Certifications or third party testing: Happy Earth says its practices are third party tested. They are Fair Trade Factory, B Corp certified, and a 1% for the Planet member.

What I like: Happy earth comes in second place for me as far as favorite organic cotton wear. I love the feel of the fabric, the different colors and styles and they have the perfect amount of stretch. I was able to try smalls and mediums and both fit well. They suggested your regular size for lounging and sizing down for workouts. They have quite a bit of stretch without feeling like they are going to be overstretched.

What I think could be better: As far as their active wear line goes they use mostly earthy and subdued colors like navy, black, dark greens etc. (which are beautiful) but as always I’d love to see brighter colors and even patterns as options. 

Lezat 

Why they are lower tox: Lezat focuses on lower-tox activewear made primarily from certified organic cotton, blended with bio-based elastane derived from corn for stretch. The brand says it avoids PFAS, BPA, harsh chemical finishes, and azo dyes, and uses OEKO-TEX-certified printing

Certifications or third party testing: Lezat reports third-party testing on select fabrics and garments, but this is not confirmation that every finished garment is tested for all toxins.

What I like: I love love LOVE that Lezat has SO many fun colors and patterns. It’s really what sets the brand apart in my opinion. The organic cotton is just the right thickness without feeling heavy.

What I think could be better:  The shorts that I have from them are lovely and fit pretty well. If i’m being picky tho the top elastic on the waistband is not my favorite and I wish they would get rid of it! It can feel a little tight after wearing it for too long. 

Moon Studio Activewear

Why they are lower tox: Moon Studio Activewear uses mostly bamboo-derived fabric and 4% recycled Lycra in its leggings and tops (tho specific fabric makeup may depend on the specific item) with the bamboo fabric carrying OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification for tested harmful substances. The brand also uses OEKO-TEX®-certified low-impact dyes and offers some hand-dyed pieces made with plant-based dyes.

Certifications or third party testing: I couldn’t verify that Moon Studio independently third-party tests its finished garments specifically for toxins beyond the fabric’s OEKO-TEX® certification.

What I like: Truly beautiful activewear. I love the many styles and strappy designs of the tops, the tye dye is gorgeous and unique, and the top I purchased is very comfortable, flattering and makes me feel like ME! 

What I think could be better: I’ve only tried one top from this brand but so my only suggestion is maybe offer more tops with more support or built in bras. I wouldn’t run in this top but its great for lifting.

Pact 

Why they are lower tox: Pact activewear uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and is made without intentionally added PFAS, harsh chemicals, or toxic dyes, according to the brand. Its clothing is produced in Fair Trade Certified™ factories, supporting more responsible manufacturing.

Certifications or third party testing: I couldn’t verify that Pact independently third-party tests all finished activewear garments for toxins beyond the GOTS-certified organic cotton.

What I like: Over the years I’ve tried tops, leggings, and biker shorts from Pact. In recent years they’ve really shrunk their activewear offerings, but I still love their crop tops. They fit well and are comfortable staples for me.

What I think could be better: I’ve tried a couple different organic cotton leggings from pact and unfortunately did not love them at all. They felt too thick and stiff, the waist didn’t fit me right (felt too tight) and just didn’t like the feel of them. I think Pact has some great items but regular cotton “on the go” leggings (for me) are not one of them.

Wrapping it Up

Of course there are probably several other brands that I was not able to try but hope to in the future. I’ll update this post as I discover and try more non toxic active wear brands. 

Another thing to keep in mind is just because I liked or didn’t like something doesn’t mean you’ll have the same experience! The point of this post is to help you narrow down options and find the items that will work best for you. 

I hope by doing some of the homework and testing it will make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for. 

Is there an non toxic activewear brand that I didn’t mention that you know of and love? If so drop it down in the comments and share what you love about them!