Gymshark Review: Are They the Beast Their Name Implies?

Vuori, lululemon, Rhone, Ten Thousand, and plenty of others. 

The only remaining contender I could think of? 

Gymshark.

I picked up some of their best-sellers from their Arrival and Crest collections, and here’s what I think. 

What Is Gymshark?

Ben Francis founded Gymshark in 2012, and in the very beginning, it was a supplement drop-shipping site. Doesn’t sound like the wildly popular Gymshark we all know today, right? 

But Ben had a genuine passion for the fitness industry and started to create his own clothing. The man literally sewed and screen printed in his small apartment to make the first of Gymshark’s own clothing. 

And within a few years, Gymshark was being touted by all the most popular lifters. See, at that time, there weren’t many brands that focused on bodybuilders and lifters. Lululemon wasn’t doing men’s clothes. Nike and Underarmour were pretty much the only games in town. And while those brands do everything, there was no focus on lifters, specifically. 

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So because Ben was a lifter himself, he just made the kind of clothes he wanted to wear in the gym, but couldn’t find. 

And year after year, the brand grew exponentially. Now, a little over 10 years later, you’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of Gymshark, or at least seen their logo on someone’s tee. 

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are a few levels of workout clothes: there’s the cheap, the functional and value-driven, and then there’s the premium. 

Cheap is the $6 Champion jersey shorts I used to wear to the gym that fit like a garbage bag. Technically, they work. But you don’t feel good in them. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s premium. My favorite workout short is the Vuori Kore, and that’s what I wear pretty much every lifting day. But each pair also costs almost $70, which is a lot for workout shorts. So when I was needing one more pair to get me through an entire week of workouts, I shopped around for something more reasonable. 

And that’s where Gymshark fits in. Their shorts don’t have a liner, and they don’t have velcro, zippers, or any hidden pockets. They’re just basic workout shorts made with good quality, fast-drying, light-weight fabric. 

Best of all, they cost less than half of what Vuori’s shorts cost. 

My Hands-On Review

Arrival Shorts

I picked up the Gymshark Arrival shorts in the 7” version, Olive. I love the simplicity of this short. 

Normally, I like to wear lined shorts which isn’t something Gymshark does a lot of (they do have a small collection of shorts with liners, but the vast majority of their shorts are unlined). 

So I first put on the Arrival Shorts thinking they might be toward the end of my “gym rotation,” but honestly, I’ve been loving these shorts every time I wear them. 

They’re a lot simpler than my favorite workout shorts: the Vuori Kore. There’s just two hip pockets and that’s it. But truthfully, what else do you really need in a workout short? 

I’ll still say that Vuori makes my favorite shorts, but it’s worth noting that the Gymshark Arrival costs less than half of what the Kore costs. The material for the Arrival Short is really lightweight and dries quickly. Plus, it’s easy to move around in, so ultimately, you’re getting a similar product for a much more friendly price. 

I’m a big fan of the Arrival Short, and it’s my favorite product from the whole bunch. 

Crest Shorts

The Crest line of clothing is more like sweats, so they’re a better fit for lounging or if you’re hitting the gym in winter. 

The fabric is a 80/20 mix of cotton and polyester. Usually I don’t like workout out with this kind of fabric because it can get a bit hot, and I already struggle with massive butt-sweat issues. 

So I usually reserve my sweats for rest and recovery days—especially if I’m going to do some stretches and then hit the sauna afterward. 

I love the fit of the Crest Shorts. Most sweat shorts I’ve tried in the past usually flare out a ton in the thighs, but not the Crest. These still stay relatively narrow through the thigh, which is great for showing off my leg-day gains. 

Like the Arrival Short, the Crest is simple—two pockets at the hips and a secure button-snap back pocket for your phone or wallet. 

Crest Joggers

The Crest Joggers gave me the biggest curveball. I’ve tried joggers from all the major brands, and I probably have more joggers than anything else in my closet. 

These are quite slim. So if you have big quads, these joggers are going to highlight them. And if you have skinnier legs, then you won’t be swimming in fabric. 

I picked mine up in Light Grey Marl, which—as a color for sweatpants—has a long history of being the most attractive thing a guy can wear in the gym, apparently.

How true is it that women love a guy in grey sweats? I have no idea. I don’t have any data on the subject. 

But I can say that the Crest Joggers are really comfortable, and I’ve been enjoying wearing them on my rest days. 

They’re a bit too snug for me to wear during my workouts, and I think I prefer a bit more room through the thigh and calf for lounging, but they still get the job done, and the price is right.

I’m 32, but I feel like these joggers have a cut and styling that’d be more fit for a 22-28 year old guy. They look “younger” and “cool.” At this point, I’m not really either of those things. 

Arrival T-Shirt

As long as my search for the perfect gym shorts has been going on, my search for the perfect gym tee has been running in tandem. 

Alas, the Arrival T-Shirt from Gymshark is solid, but it’s not the one. 

It’s a comfortable fabric—stretchy, lightweight, fast drying. I really like that it’s a bit longer so it doesn’t bunch up around my hips like some gym tees do. 

But the seams around the shoulders don’t quite sit flat, so they look a bit cheap compared to other brands I’ve tried in the past. The issue is especially pronounced on the left shoulder, where there’s a bit of a “pinch” where the fabric rises up. 

The Arrival T-Shirt gets the job done, and I’ll still wear it every week, but I don’t think I’d get another one. The sewing quality and finishing just wasn’t there for me on this product. 

Crest Hoodie

The Crest Hoodie is a big win. Behind the Arrival Shorts, the Crest Hoodie is my next favorite piece. 

I’m a 6’2” 200lb guy and picked up the size Large in Olive. 

The fit is slim without being too tight. I like the raglan sleeves and the kangaroo pocket in front. Plus, the hoodie is attached in a more modern way that gives the sweatshirt a bit more refinement overall. 

This is a great piece, and it’s the gym-hoodie I’ve been looking for over the past 6 months. I’ve tried more expensive brands, but the Gymshark Crest Hoodie is my go-to for the gym, even when compared to more premium brands. 

What Do Other Reviewers Say?

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Gymshark has a loyal following, and next time you go to the gym, you’ll definitely see someone rocking the brand. 

In reading through hundreds of reviews online, I’ll boil it down to this: don’t expect a ton from their customer service—they’ll be able to help you, but don’t expect Amazon Prime levels of ease (which a lot of people do). 

Otherwise, folks didn’t seem blown away by the quality, but were overall very happy with what they got. The general sentiment was that the price is right, and the quality exceeds what you can get elsewhere for a similar price. 

Gymshark Alternatives

lululemon

lululemon is the big-dog in the space. And after doing a deep dive and trying tons of different lululemon products, I can say this: their clothes are incredible, but I’m not sure they’re worth that much more than Gymshark. 

lululemon puts a ton of time and effort into product development. Their workout shorts have gizmos, whizbangs, and more secret pockets than a pair of jeans designed by the Illuminati. But at the end of the day, I always use one hip pocket to carry my phone. 

Now, this also comes with a caveat: I don’t wear activewear clothes casually. 

If you regularly wear activewear as your daily go-to style, then I think spending more and getting higher quality is justified. 

But my activewear is limited to the gym, where I really only have a very specific use. 

So for the gym, Gymshark gives me everything I need for less cost. 

But if you wear activewear all day everyday, then bumping up for lululemon might be a better option for you. 

Vuori

Vuori makes the Kore short, which is my favorite workout short. It just looks so good and feels so comfortable. 

What’s true about the comparison between lululemon and Gymshark is also true with Vuori. 

If you’re on a tighter budget, then there’s nothing so substantial that Vuori has you can’t get from Gymshark for less than half the cost. 

But if you wear activewear daily and it’s your main style-staple, then stumping up the cash for the more premium end clothing is going to leave you with more confidence, better quality, and more refined fits. 

My Thoughts Overall

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