The 10 Best Women's Active Underwear
Special Honors
Lululemon Mula Bandhawear Bikini Offered in a variety of colors, the silky soft Mula Bandhawear were designed for yoga in particular but stand up well to strenuous exercise in general. They're naturally breathable, wick away moisture, and dry quickly. The smooth waistband won't dig in and they feature added Lycra for extra stretch and shape retention. lululemon.com
Dear Kate Hazel Hipster Full Dear Kate's offerings are patent-pending designs made to accommodate women on their periods, which can be particularly frustrating when working out. The Hazel Hipster Full feature a bikini cut with a modest leg line and sporty style. They boast three-layer fabric that’s absorbent and breathable with no plastic layers or film, are offered in sizes up to 3X, and can be worn as your main coverage or as a backup for your monthly cycle. dearkates.com
Editor's Notes
June 25, 2020:
When it comes to active underwear, personal preference is just as important as moisture-wicking fabric, elastic that doesn't pinch your skin, and stay-put waistbands. Because we know everyone's bodies and fitness regimes are different, we made sure to include thongs, bikini briefs, boyshorts, and even an extensive coverage, above the knee cut with the Jockey Skimmies. These in particular are great for runners since they won't ride up and help keep thighs from chafing. They offer enough coverage to even be worn with a sports bra if you live in a warm climate or like to dress down for your workouts.
Because clothing items are so quickly surpassed by superior and better-engineered styles, we overhauled this list by removing about half of it. Some, like the Jockey Sporties Heathered Bikini and Adidas Seamless, became unavailable, while items like the Hoerev Middle Waist and Adidas Climacool Cheekster we felt could be changed out with stronger options. And so we added Fruit Of The Loom Coolblend to replace the Climacools, as they offer a better fit, don't have protruding seams over the front, and are way more budget-friendly.
While we liked that the Hoerev were made from bamboo fibers, which tend to be very soft and comfortable, their silhouette and cut left much to be desired. We felt the Capezio Low-Rise were a superior choice that offers the same amount of coverage without meeting the belly button. These are perfect for anyone who dances, cheers, tumbles, or does gymnastics in general, as they move with you and won't gap. This is a boon when wearing skirts or loose-fitting pants. They're also offered in myriad bright colors to match your uniform or performance outfits.
For an all-around reliable choice that flatters most forms and feels durable and well-made, the Reebok Hipster are hard to beat. They're soft and breathable, have a comfort fit that doesn't ride up, wick away moisture, and can be easily washed in the machine.