I Wore Abercrombie’s YPB Workout Gear for a Week—Here’s How it Compared to Pricier Brands

This was my favorite of the bunch—probably because of the World Gym logo. For years, I worked out at an old, dirty World Gym with an on-site repairman whose sole purpose was to fix each of the decades-old cable machines every day. Yet it’s easily my favorite gym, and this hoodie provided some much-needed nostalgia.Despite the old-school look, it feels like some of the best athleisure I’ve tested. I first assumed it was a cotton sweatshirt, similar to the Champion one I wear in the winter. I was wrong, but pleasantly surprised—it’s made with a mix of cotton, polyester, and elastane, and Lululemon was the first thing that came to mind. I wore it during a hot day in New York City, and found it fought off sweat admirably and fit like a glove; relaxed, but not baggy. It also has the perfect midweight feel for the fall. I’m excited to rock it regularly.I’ve gone full Little League Dad recently; I traded in my stringers and tanks for muscle tees. This isn’t your classic beach dad muscle tee; it’s sort of the best of both worlds. Funny enough, this was the first piece that caught my eye because of the World Gym logo. That style is no longer available, sadly, but there are a few great alternatives (the Greenwich gym version is a close second).It’s made out of a performance cotton blend (70 percent cotton and 30 percent polyester) and strikes a nice balance. It’s soft and a little heavier than other athleisure tanks I’ve worn, but it doesn’t hold moisture after an intense workout. I wore this on arm day and didn’t feel swamped in sweat. I also didn’t look like a total douche going to the coffee shop after, which isn’t always the case when I run errands sleeveless.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowI have a million pairs of gym shorts at this point, so my standards are fairly high. Still, I love the brand’s MotionTek option. They’re roomy, super stretchy, and light. I’m also a big fan of the 5-inch inseam, which I’ve grown to favor after years of not going above 7 inches. They’re pretty minimalistic and what you’d expect in a basic pair of linerless gym shorts, but they held their own against some of the best activewear I’ve tested.I also liked the discreet design near the bottom of the black colorway; it differentiates them from the dozens of other black shorts I have without going overboard. Though they’re still a little pricey—$65 when they’re not on sale. Still cheaper than some athleisure shorts out there going for nearly $100.I wore this on chest day, and I love the relaxed fit and the longer sleeves, which hang past the elbows. It reminded me of an old-school powerlifting shirt with a new-school feel. It’s much softer and lighter than your traditional oversized lifting shirt, and it’s cut at the waistline and doesn’t feel too boxy.Which leads to my next point and only (slight) gripe with the shirt. I wish it fell a little lower; the current cut feels a little too short for me. I will say, I’ve had this problem with many shirts in the past. I have wide shoulders, so workout shirts do tend to ride up during upper-body lifts. I wouldn’t size up, though; it otherwise fit perfectly. I just might have to avoid wearing it on overhead presses…Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowI’m pretty picky about wearing joggers to the gym. Once they came back in style, I quickly ditched my old straight legs and went with the ’90s-inspired look. For me, the perfect jogger is a little relaxed around the quads without sagging around the waist. A lot of athleisure brands do this well, but again, at a higher price point.YPB’s more affordable joggers held up well. Much like the sweatshirt, they look like 100 percent cotton, but they’re super smooth and offer that classic performance stretch. I could wear these to bed, and that’s not hyperbole. I also like that they remind me of Abercrombie’s old sweatpants from the early 2000s, sans the overbearing logos. The heather material gives off an old-school vibe, and while I’ve dialed back on 45's with the squats these days, they gave me exactly what I was looking for.I was pretty torn on this one. I liked the cut, which reminded me of the “victory cut” we used to do back in the day. This is a bit cleaner-looking and a little lighter than the World Gym muscle tee I had. The gym I go to gets hot fast.The Delt-Fit Tank wasn’t my favorite. It was definitely more form-fitting, which isn’t exactly my style in my mid-30s; I would’ve had a field day in my early 20s, though. It also very much lives up to its namesake—the slightly exaggerated cut accentuates the delts nicely and subtly shows off the traps.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThe freestyle shorts are a natural fit for the golf course. They’re made with a mix of polyester, elastane, and nylon and offer a classic chino-short look. The 7-inch inseam is also perfect for golf—you definitely don’t want to go any shorter.I tested them out on the golf range. I love how Abercrombie ditches the zipper for an elasticated drawstring waistband with a traditional button closure. The unique setup provided more support, even before you add a belt to the equation. This was a huge game changer for me; my golf shorts tend to sag when I have too many golf balls in my pockets. Speaking of which, there’s a hidden zipper pocket that’s perfect for doing just that. You can also get away with wearing these as everyday shorts or even to the gym; the versatility is unmatched.Tim Kohut is the Deals and Trends Editor for Popular Mechanics, Men’s Health, Best Products, and Runner's World. He has extensive product review and gear coverage expertise, particularly in tech, home, auto, and health. Tim was previously the Deputy Commerce Editor of The Drive and a Commerce Editor at BGR. He’s also overseen gear coverage and strategy at Popular Science, Bob Vila, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream. He has a strong affinity for cats, Batman, and early 90’s Nicolas Cage films, in that order.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.