How to save money on: sportswear

The thought of exercising might fill you with dread, but the cost of buying sportswear shouldn’t. So where can you buy good quality activewear at reasonable prices?

Thanks to celebrity endorsements and buzzwords like “technical” and “breathable”, the prices of some sportswear brands have gone through the roof. But if you can’t imagine spending almost £100 on a pair of leggings, fear not!  

You’ll usually save money by choosing non-branded sportswear, but it’s still possible to find your favourite brands at lower prices too. Here are some of the best places to get sportswear for men, and ladies, all with non-celebrity price tags.  

Branded sportswear 

ASOS 

ASOS doesn’t just cater for women, it has a large range of sportswear for men too. They sell branded activewear (as well as non-branded) and although the prices aren’t always discounted you can usually find a bargain in the sale section. For example, these Puma joggers for men are currently on sale for £24.50. That’s a 30% discount off the usual price of £35.00. And women can pick up a Nike sports bra for £14.10, a saving of almost 50%. 

ASOS have launched their own brand of sportswear too - 4505 is a range of modern activewear for men and ladies at great prices. 

MandM Direct 

MandM Direct (named after its founders Martin and Mark) has been around for over thirty years and claims to bring you savings of up to 75%. You can indeed grab a bargain for men and ladies on branded sportswear like Adidas, New Balance, and Umbro. Check out their £9.99 delivery service for a whole year’s worth of deliveries - a bargain if you’re going to use the website more than once a year, although if you order over £75 it would qualify for free delivery anyway. 

When we checked their website, men could pick up a pair of Umbro shorts for just £6.99 and those shopping for ladies' sportswear could save a huge £55 off a pair of Adidas leggings. 

TK Maxx 

TK Maxx is known as the store that brings you designer brands at knockdown prices. If you don’t mind hunting for a bargain then you might well find one, although it could be several seasons old. If that doesn’t matter to you, then you’ll find lots of choice in-store although they also have a website. Their ladies’ sportswear bargains included this Regatta fleece for £12.99 - a saving of £22, and this Regatta hoody for men will save you £23. 

Get The Label 

Get The Label is a website offering big discounts on brand names like Adidas, Nike, and Lacoste. A subsidiary of JD Sports, they aim to bring you designer sportswear at affordable prices.  

Women, kit yourselves out from head to toe in Adidas with this tracksuit for sale at £36.99, saving £35.00 off the RRP.  There are big savings for men too, like this Under Armour Warm Up Jacket, available for £49.99, saving £55.00 off the RRP. 

Sports Direct 

Still going strong is Sports Direct, a popular choice for people looking for reduced price sportswear. They sell a range of brands including Umbro, Kangol, Puma, and Nike. You can shop on their website or at various stores around the country - find one near you. 

Ladies can buy a pair of sweat-wicking leggings from Everlast for £10.00, saving £29.99 off the RRP. And men can get a Slazenger tracksuit for just £20.00 - saving £39.99. 

Non-branded sportswear 

Supermarkets 

Your local supermarket may not be the first place that springs to mind for sportswear, but it’s worth taking a look when you next do your grocery shop - you might be surprised. Often curated by well-known designers, supermarket clothing is a great option for those looking to kit themselves out on a budget. For example, Morrisons sell a range of men’s joggers for £12 and Sainsbury’s sell jogging trainers for women for £14.00. 

Check out what your favourite supermarkets have to offer here: 

• George at Asda 
• Tu at Sainsburys 
• F&F at Tesco 
• Nutmeg at Morrisons 

New Look 

With their free returns policy, it’s never been easier to find something you like at New Look. Their ladies’ sportswear range includes this basic sports t-shirt for £9.99, available in a range of colours. If you want sportswear for men, take a look at this zip up hoodie for £19.99 - or get two for the price of £32. 

Primark 

Primark is a great place to stock up on basics thanks to their low prices. Buy women’s sports leggings for only £7.00 and men’s Gel Active trainers for only £16.00. They have a small range of sportswear on their website but there’s a much larger range in-store - find one near you. 

Matalan 

Offering a good choice of stylish sportswear is Matalan, the online and high street retailer. Women’s sporty tank tops can be found for £9 and the website has a handy feature that suggests items of clothing to go with your selection. Men can pick up a gym t-shirt in grey or navy for £8 - and it’s sweat wicking too! 

everything5pounds.com 

As the name suggests, everything will cost you £5 on everything5pounds.com, although we did see a few items for £5.50! For £5, women can get a tank top and leggings set, available in three different colours. And men can get these short joggers or a fleece hoodie for the same price. 

Now you’ve sorted the outfit, read on for some budget friendly exercise ideas.