If you love Gymshark, the closest alternatives are other direct-to-consumer gym brands built the same way: Alphalete, NVGTN, AYBL, and YoungLA lead the list. They span cheaper seamless sets to premium training gear, so the real question is not which is "best" but which fits your body and your training style.
Gymshark did not start as a shoe company or a mall brand. It started as a screen-printing operation in a founder's garage and grew through fitness creators and community. So the brands that actually feel like Gymshark are the other DTC gym-wear labels with that same origin, not Nike or Adidas. Below are 12 worth knowing, sorted so you can jump to the one that matches how you train.
How we picked these brands
- Real DTC gym brand. Each one sells its own gym wear directly and grew through community, the way Gymshark did. We left out the big shoe giants that keep padding other lists, because they are not structurally similar to Gymshark at all.
- Holds up to lifting. Squat-proof, sweat-managing fabric that survives real training, not just a photo.
- Honest about fit. We note where a brand runs small or cuts slim, because sizing is where most returns happen.
- A spread of prices. From budget seamless sets to premium training kit, so there is a match whether you want to spend $30 or $120 on leggings.
- A track record. Established brands with real review volume and a following, not a dropship label with a logo slapped on.
At a glance
| Brand | Best for | Price | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphalete | Premium compression + influencer aesthetic | Mid-premium | Amplify scrunch leggings |
| NVGTN | Curve-sculpting seamless sets | Budget-mid | Viral scrunch leggings, Contour fabric |
| AYBL | The Gymshark look for less | Budget-mid | Squat-proof seamless sets |
| YoungLA | Men's bodybuilding cut + graphics | Budget-mid | Muscle-fit tees, pop-culture collabs |
| Buffbunny | Inclusive-size women's activewear | Mid | Size-inclusive themed collections |
| Bo+Tee | Fashion-forward women's sets | Mid | ButterCloud sets, going-out styling |
| Ten Thousand | Durable men's training | Premium | Athlete-tested Interval and Set shorts |
| Rhone | Premium men's gym-to-office | Premium | Commuter line, anti-odor tech |
| Born Primitive | CrossFit and functional fitness | Mid | Veteran-founded functional apparel |
| ASRV | Technical street-performance | Mid-premium | Tetra-Lite and AeroSilver fabrics |
| Jed North | Muscular-build men's fits | Budget-mid | Tailored-for-muscle cuts |
| Fabletics | Member-priced everyday sets | Budget-mid | VIP membership, inclusive sizing |
1. Alphalete
Alphalete is the closest thing to Gymshark's premium cousin. Fitness YouTuber Christian Guzman started it in 2015, and it grew the same influencer-first way. Its signature Amplify legging has a high compression fit and a back scrunch that made it one of the most talked-about leggings in the space.
Expect a heavier, more sculpting fabric than most seamless sets, and a look that leans clean and upscale. Best for shoppers who want that Gymshark feel with a bit more compression and are fine paying mid to premium prices for it.
2. NVGTN
NVGTN (say "navigate") is the brand that took the scrunch-bum seamless legging viral. Ashleigh and Brett Schneggenburger launched it in 2018 out of an apartment, and it blew up on TikTok for bright, form-sculpting sets.
Its Contour and Aera fabrics are stretchy and soft, with a huge color range and constant new drops. Prices usually undercut Gymshark. One honest note: NVGTN tends to run small, so size up if you are between sizes. Best for women who want curve-sculpting seamless sets without the Gymshark price.
3. AYBL
AYBL is the brand most people name first when they want the Gymshark look for less. It is a UK direct-to-consumer label with a nearly identical product line, squat-proof seamless sets, and one of the biggest color ranges out there across its Physique, Adapt, and Enhance collections.
Shoppers who have worn both say the quality is comparable, with fabric that can feel slightly thinner. Best for anyone who likes the Gymshark aesthetic but wants to spend less to build out a full rotation.
4. YoungLA
YoungLA started in Los Angeles in 2014 when brothers Gurmer and Robby Chopra began making men's bodybuilding gear. It has kept that muscle-fit DNA, with cuts that flatter a bigger build and loud pop-culture collabs (UFC, Gold's Gym, and various anime lines).
The graphics run bolder than Gymshark, and the fits favor lifters over runners. Best for men who train for size and want statement pieces at budget to mid prices. The site carries well over 100,000 reviews, so there is plenty of real fit feedback to read before you buy.
5. Buffbunny
Buffbunny was founded in 2016 by fitness creator Heidi Somers, and it built its following on size inclusivity. The collections are designed for every body type, with proprietary fabrics like NuBre and Cloud and seasonal themed drops that give it more personality than most gym brands.
Sets are organized by how you train, from strength to recovery. Best for women who want inclusive sizing and expressive, collectible collections rather than plain black staples.
6. Bo+Tee
Bo+Tee sits where activewear meets going-out fashion. A sister brand to Oh Polly, it makes flattering matching sets in its ButterCloud fabric and styles them to work for the gym, a Pilates class, or drinks after.
The fits are cut to be fashion-forward first, so it is less about heavy training and more about looking put together. Best for women who want gym sets that double as an outfit.
7. Ten Thousand
Ten Thousand makes men's training gear the way an engineer would. Everything is tested with elite athletes and refined from their feedback, and the brand leans hard into durability with a "proven under pressure" philosophy.
Its Interval and Set shorts are the hero pieces, minimal and logo-free, built to survive years of hard use. Prices sit at the premium end. Best for men who want one perfect training short and gear that lasts rather than a closet of trend pieces.
8. Rhone
Rhone is the premium pick for men who want gym gear that also works at the office. Brothers Nate and Ben Checketts founded it in 2014, first selling through Equinox and SoulCycle, then adding the Commuter line of shirts and pants that move like activewear but read as smart-casual.
The training pieces use anti-odor and moisture-wicking tech. Prices are premium. Best for the guy who wants one wardrobe that covers a workout and a meeting on the same day.
9. Born Primitive
Born Primitive is the functional-fitness and CrossFit pick with a story behind it. Bear Handlon, a Navy officer and CrossFit Games competitor, started it in 2014 from a homemade pair of compression shorts, and the brand carries a strong veteran and service mission.
The gear is built for high-intensity training and holds up to it. Best for CrossFitters and functional-fitness athletes who want durable kit from a values-driven, veteran-founded brand.
10. ASRV
ASRV blends streetwear looks with real technical performance. Its collections split by Run, Train, and Rec, and it uses proprietary fabrics like Tetra-Lite, AeroSilver, and Laser-Vent for sweat and odor control.
The aesthetic is darker and more tactical than Gymshark's, with a cult men's following. Best for shoppers who want technical training gear that also looks good on the street, at mid to premium prices.
11. Jed North
Jed North solves a specific problem: standard activewear that fits too slim on a muscular build. Its "tailored-for-muscle" cuts are designed for bodybuilders, with tanks, joggers, and even posing trunks in a dedicated bodybuilding category.
If you have ever found gym tees tight in the arms and loose everywhere else, this is the fix. Best for bigger-built men and competitors who want clothes cut for their frame at budget to mid prices.
12. Fabletics
Fabletics co-founded by Kate Hudson, runs on a VIP membership model that gets you member pricing (often 20 to 50 percent off retail) and access to new sets each month. The range is broad and the sizing is inclusive.
Just know the membership auto-charges monthly unless you skip in the first few days of the month, so it rewards people who actually shop often. Best for shoppers who want a steady stream of affordable new sets and do not mind managing a membership.
How to choose a brand like Gymshark
Start with how you train, then match the fabric and cut.
If you want the closest thing to Gymshark's premium feel, go with Alphalete. If you want curve-sculpting seamless sets for less, NVGTN or AYBL are the value picks, just size up in NVGTN. If you want gym sets that also work as an outfit, Bo+Tee, and if size inclusivity matters most, Buffbunny or Fabletics.
For men, YoungLA and Jed North cut for a muscular, bodybuilding build, Ten Thousand is the durable minimalist, and Rhone is the premium gym-to-office option. If you train CrossFit or functional fitness, Born Primitive is built for it, and if you want technical gear with a street edge, ASRV. If you actually care less about the gym and more about all-day softness, a lifestyle-leaning brand like Vuori is worth a look, though it sits further from Gymshark's training focus.
Frequently asked questions
What brand is most similar to Gymshark?
AYBL is the brand most shoppers name as the closest, with a very similar look, seamless product range, and slightly lower prices. Alphalete is the closest on the premium end, and NVGTN is the closest for viral scrunch-style sets.
Is AYBL cheaper than Gymshark, and is the quality the same?
AYBL is generally a bit cheaper. People who have worn both say the quality is comparable, with fabric that can feel slightly thinner in some pieces. For the price, most find it a strong value.
What is the difference between NVGTN and Gymshark leggings?
NVGTN leggings tend to be stretchier and softer with brighter colors, while Gymshark often uses thicker, more compressive fabric in muted tones. NVGTN also runs smaller, so size up if you are between sizes.
Which brand like Gymshark is best for men?
It depends on your training. YoungLA and Jed North cut for a bodybuilding build, Ten Thousand is best for durable minimalist training gear, Rhone is the premium gym-to-office pick, and ASRV suits a technical, streetwear look.
Are these brands squat-proof and not see-through?
Most of the seamless sets from Alphalete, AYBL, and NVGTN are designed to be squat-proof, and Alphalete's compression fabric is on the thicker side. As with any brand, lighter colors can be more revealing, so check reviews for the specific colorway.
What is a good affordable alternative to Gymshark?
AYBL, NVGTN, and YoungLA all sit below Gymshark on price while keeping a similar look. Fabletics can be very affordable too if you use its member pricing.
Do brands like Gymshark run true to size?
It varies. NVGTN and many bodybuilding-cut men's brands run small, so consider sizing up. Fabletics and Buffbunny tend to be more forgiving. Always check each brand's size guide and recent reviews before ordering.

