Crz Yoga vs. lululemon: A Style Writer Put the Viral Activewear Labels to the Test

5 min readNow in my second year as a style writer, I’m pretty sure I could write a dissertation on workout leggings and sports bras. I spend a good chunk of my week bouncing between Pilates, strength training, HIIT classes, walking my dog, and commuting to work, so I’m constantly testing activewear. And when it comes to the category itself, it’s hard to ignore lululemon’s influence. The Vancouver label helped turn leggings and athleisure into wardrobe staples, and its signature Align leggings have become a big part of that story.But lululemon isn’t the only activewear name that has caught the attention of the workout girlies lately. Crz Yoga has been popping up more and more on my feed, so I wanted to put the two brands side by side and take a closer look at what sets them apart. I’ve tested pieces from both labels over the years with a focus on the things I care about most as an activewear shopper: price, fabric, fit, durability, and, perhaps most importantly, how everything feels and performs IRL. And while there’s plenty to compare across the two brands, I started with their respective marquee: Crz Yoga’s Butterluxe leggings and lululemon’s Align leggings. Here’s what stood out to me.Crz Yoga Butterluxe vs. lululemon Align Leggings.If there’s one category where I knew this comparison would get interesting, it’s leggings. The Crz Yoga Butterluxe and lululemon Align are both exceptionally soft and smooth, with that stretchy, second-skin feel that makes them easy to wear for everything from a Pilates class to lounging on the couch. The biggest difference I noticed right away is that the Butterluxe fabric is slightly thicker than the Align, which is less noticeable during everyday wear, but makes the Crz Yoga pair a little less appealing for heated workouts or warmer days when I want something lighter.Both brands have also gone far beyond their original hero leggings, releasing plenty of iterations over the years, from cropped lengths to capris to different rises and waistband designs. Both even have no-front-seam versions—which I have to say is my favorite legging innovation to date. Crz Yoga also tends to offer a wider range of colors, which makes the Butterluxe collection particularly fun if you like your workout drawer to have a little personality. But the differences between these leggings—and the brands as a whole—go beyond the initial feel and color selection. Next, I’m getting into the bigger questions of price, fabric, and durability to see how the two labels really stack upThe Price Difference Is Fairly Significant.The price gap between these brands is most noticeable when you’re shopping for leggings. Crz Yoga’s Butterluxe leggings typically land around $30, while lululemon’s Align leggings can sit at over $100, making the difference pretty hard to ignore. But with sports bras, for example, the gap isn’t nearly as dramatic: Crz Yoga’s tend to hover around $30, while lululemon’s are generally in the $40-to-$60 range depending on the style. And there’s another wrinkle for lululemon shoppers: The brand’s We Made Too Much section is regularly stocked with cute bras, tops, and leggings that can reach up to 50 percent off. You do have to keep an eye on it, though, because the most popular sizes and colors tend to disappear quickly. So while Crz Yoga is clearly the more budget-friendly option at full price, the real-world price difference can vary depending on what you’re buying and whether you catch a lululemon We Made Too Much find.Both Brands Nail That Soft, Slinky Activewear Feel.If there’s one thing I kept coming back to while testing both brands, it’s the fabric. Crz Yoga’s Butterluxe and lululemon’s Align (each brand’s most popular fabrics) are both exceptionally soft and stretchy, with the kind of buttery smooth feel that makes leggings easy to wear well beyond your workout. But once I spent more time in both, I noticed that they aren’t identical in feel: Butterluxe is a little thicker and has a bit more heft, while Align has more of that lightweight, barely-there sensation. That difference is especially noticeable during warmer workouts, when I prefer the lighter, more breathable feel of Align.And while the two fabrics may look remarkably similar when you compare their fiber content, there’s more to a fabric than the numbers on the tag. Lululemon’s Align fabric is 81 percent nylon and 19 percent Lycra elastane, while Crz Yoga’s Butterluxe is 81 percent polyamide and 19 percent Lycra. At first glance, that sounds nearly identical…but while all nylons are polyamides, not all polyamides are nylon. And because Crz Yoga identifies Butterluxe as polyamide rather than specifically calling it nylon, we can’t assume the two are the exact same fabric based on their fiber percentages alone. Meanwhile, things like fabric thickness, knitting and weaving techniques, stitching, and seam placement also contribute to how a garment feels. In other words, two leggings can have very similar-looking fiber percentages and still feel noticeably different once you put them on.Lululemon Has the Edge When It Comes to Durability.In general, I’ve found lululemon pieces to be more durable over the long haul. Most of my lululemon gear has held onto its shape, color, and original feel through countless wears and washes, and I generally don’t notice significant pilling until years into the life of a piece—if I notice it at all. There is one notable exception in my closet: some of the brand’s super-soft sweatpants have developed more significant pilling after only a few wears, particularly around the inner thighs, so even lululemon isn’t completely immune to it. Crz Yoga pieces aren’t exactly disposable, either; my leggings and sports bras certainly haven’t fallen apart after a few washes. But I’ve noticed more signs of wear over time, including some fading in brighter colors, a few loose threads, and minor pilling after several months of regular wear. None of that has made the pieces unwearable, but I’ve come to expect that I’ll probably replace some of my Crz Yoga favorites within a year or two, whereas many of my lululemon staples have lasted more than twice as long.My Final ThoughtsAfter wearing both brands, I don’t think there’s one universal answer as to which is better—it really comes down to what I’m buying and how I plan to wear it. If I want to spend less, get more pieces for my money, or experiment with a fun color or bright matching set that I’m not totally sure I’ll love once I actually put it on, Crz Yoga is probably where I’d look first. I appreciate that the brand offers a wide range of colors, which makes it easy to have a little more fun with my workout wardrobe without a huge investment. But if I’m shopping for a reliable wardrobe essential or neutral set that I know I’m going to put through the wringer—something I’ll wear constantly, wash repeatedly, and expect to keep in my rotation for years—I’m more likely to reach for lululemon.Shop Our Favorite StylesMore Workout Clothes We LoveBest lululemon Leggings | Crz Yoga Review | Best Matching Workout Sets | Best Workout Clothes on Amazon| Best Workout Clothes For Women | Best Workout Tops | Best Workout Shorts | Best Workout Leggings | Old Navy Activewear Review |Beyond Yoga Leggings Review | Best Leggings On Amazon | Best Leggings With Pockets | Best Yoga Pants | Most Comfortable Sneakers | Best Brooks Shoes for Walking | Best Hoka Shoes for Walking Shannen Zitz is the Associate Style & Reviews Editor at Women's Health, where she covers all-things sneakers and activewear. Previously, she was an assistant editor at Prevention. Shannen graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor's degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men's Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.