Athleta Review (2026): Is Athleta a Good Brand For Travel?

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A three-photo collage for an Athleta Review shows a young woman in wide-leg black pants with a blue tank, navy cropped pants with a denim jacket outdoors, and natural linen wide-leg pants with a white tee, all styled in a home office and on stone steps outside a modern building.

TL;DR: Athleta is worth it for travel clothing, but some items are better than others. The fabrics are light, breathable, quick-drying, and they’re mostly wrinkle-resistant. I also like that they have multiple inseam lengths as someone who’s tall. 

I started buying Athleta a little over a year ago, when I was newly postpartum and needed clothes that were stretchy and comfortable but still worked for leaving the house. 

Athleta had been on my list to try for years because of how often they’re mentioned in travel forums, and needing a new wardrobe was the push to finally try them. 

They’re best known for their travel pants, so that’s most of what I’ve tested, 11 pairs so far, plus three dresses and a wrap. Some were great, some were just okay. 

In this Athleta review, I break down how the fabrics differ, how the sizing runs, and which pieces I’d buy again.

Note: I bought every piece of clothing in this review with my own money. Nothing was gifted or sponsored by Athleta.  

Short on time? Here are my favorite Athleta picks right now

These are the items I’d buy again out of everything I’ve tested.

Pros

  • Light, breathable, quick-drying fabrics that suit travel well
  • Styles come in multiple lengths for different heights
  • Most fabrics resist wrinkles, either because they barely wrinkle or because the wrinkles fall out once you put them on
  • Zippered pockets on many styles and lots of pockets in general, which is rare in women’s pants
  • Many styles are UPF rated, mostly 40+ 
  • Most fabrics are stretchy, soft, and comfortable

Cons

  • Thin fabrics, so lighter colors are more see-through and underwear lines often show
  • Mostly synthetic fabrics, with only a few styles in linen or cotton
  • The built-in shelf bras in the dresses weren’t thick enough for me to go braless
  • Prices are high at full retail
  • Some styles aren’t as versatile because of details like side stripes or thick waistbands
  • Inseams vary by style, so you have to check each product page to get the right length

What is Athleta?

A folded black Athleta pant rests on a teal Athleta shipping bag printed with the Athleta logo and POWER OF SHE tagline on a warm wood floor.

Athleta launched in 1998 in Petaluma, California, as a catalog company selling athletic apparel designed for women rather than adapted from men’s gear. 

Founder Scott Kerslake built it around a mostly female team of runners, cyclists, and yogis who wanted clothes that fit and performed properly.

Gap Inc. bought Athleta in 2008 for about $150 million and opened their first store in Mill Valley, California, in 2011. The brand became a certified B Corp in 2018. 

Today it sells activewear, everyday clothing, swim, dresses, and a girls’ line, with a size range that runs from XXS through 3X in most styles.

Athleta Fabrics at a Glance

Athleta names its collections after the fabric, which makes the site a lot easier to shop once you catch on. Brooklyn is always Featherweight Stretch, Seasoft is always the sandwashed TENCEL blend, and so on. If you like how one style feels, look for others in the same collection.

CollectionFabricHow it feelsWhat I testedBest for
BrooklynFeatherweight Stretch, recycled polyesterThe lightest and airiest of the bunch, soft and coolingAnkle Pant, Wide Leg PantWarm weather, hot destinations
EndlessPrimaStretch, recycled polyesterMidweight and the least soft of the bunch, more synthetic to the touchEndless Pant, Cargo PantThe pair that goes with everything, outdoorsy trips for the cargo pant
PinnacleItalian Euroluxe, nylon and spandexSmooth, light, and very breathablePinnacle TrouserHot trips where you want to look more put together
VeniceSculptek Light, nylon and LYCRASmooth outside with a cozier interior, slightly warmerHigh Rise Jogger, Wide Leg PantLong travel days and cooler weather
SeasoftSandwashed TENCEL Modal blendSilky and smooth, with a synthetic feel that clings a littleMid Rise Straight PantLounging and long travel days
SkylineRecycled polyester, cotton, and spandex, no proprietary nameDenim-like structure with stretchBarrel Leg PantReplacing jeans on a trip
Retreat100% European Flax linenMidweight with a soft linen textureWide Leg PantBeach, resort, and cruise trips
TrekkieStretch ripstop, recycled nylonTechnical and slightly crinklyHigh Rise JoggerHiking
EssentialSUPIMA cotton with spandexSoft, stretchy, and very breathableV-Neck Midi DressHot, humid destinations 
Signature RibRibbed TENCEL ModalThicker than the Essential and holds its shape wellApron DressShoulder seasons
TranscendVitaFree with LYCRACloser to a legging fabric, very stretchyMaxi DressNice dinners, going out
PranayamaTENCEL ModalSoft and cozy, with noticeable weight to itRestore WrapFlights and cool evenings

Athleta Sizing and Length

Standing on a dry hilltop trail in the Berkeley Hills, California, a young woman in the Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant looks back over her shoulder toward the camera.
A young woman in a light blue ribbed top pulls the waistband of the Athleta Pinnacle Trouser in black to demonstrate the fit, taking a mirror selfie in a home office with a colorful wall map in the background.

The Brooklyn Ankle Pants in a regular length instead of tall (left) and the Pinnacle pants that are now too big on me (right). These were my first two pairs of Athleta pants that I bought right after having a baby.

I’m 5’10” and usually a size 8 or medium for bottoms, and I size down to a 6 or small in almost everything at Athleta. 

The stretchy pull-on pant styles have enough give that the smaller size hugs my body better and looks less baggy. The one exception I found was the Skyline Barrel Leg, which has a structured waistband and runs true to size, so I wear my usual 8 there.

Length is more about preference than a rule. Athleta makes most styles in petite, regular, and tall, and I prefer the tall in nearly everything, but a few were close calls. 

The Endless regular was only slightly short on me but honestly I could’ve pulled it off as a cropped pant, and the Retreat linen tall is slightly too long and will probably need to get hemmed by an inch. The regular, however, would’ve been a cropped look and I wanted a full length linen pant. 

My ideal inseam is 32 inches, and Athleta’s tall runs anywhere from 30 inches on the Skyline (meant to sit at the ankle) to 34.5 inches on the Venice wide leg. 

The inseam is listed on every product page, so it’s worth checking there rather than assuming tall means the same inseam across the line.

Athleta Review: My Overall Experience With Athleta Clothing

A young woman in the Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant in navy, a denim jacket, and white sneakers stands on wide concrete steps in front of a modern arched building entrance.
A young woman in the Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant in navy, a gray knit sweater, and yellow beanie sits on a sandy beach smiling at the camera while bottle feeding a baby.

I wore my Brooklyn ankle pants a lot last summer, whether it was exploring on a content day in Berkeley (left) or heading to the beach with my son (right).

The first two pairs of pants I bought from Athleta were the Brooklyn Ankle Pants in navy and the Pinnacle Trousers in black. I bought them in a store before I knew Athleta made tall sizes, so both run a little short on me. 

Both pants are stretchy and comfortable enough to wear all day, and they look like actual pants rather than athleisure. I haven’t taken either on a big trip yet, but they’ve come with me on plenty of all-day content shoots and sightseeing days in California. They were also my staple pants that summer after I had a baby since they’re so stretchy. 

They worked well enough that I bought 13 more pieces this summer to test the brand more in depth. 

After trying so many items, I can say that the fabrics are the best thing about Athleta. They weigh almost nothing, breathe in heat, dry after a sink wash, and come out of a packing cube looking fine. 

A few wrinkle in a suitcase, including the lighter fabrics that the Brooklyn and Pinnacle pants are made with, but the wrinkles fall out within an hour of wearing them. All of these features are why they’re so good for travel. 

With that said, almost every light color I tested was somewhat see-through, and underwear lines showed through more styles than not. 

That comes with fabric this thin, and it’s a pattern across the brand rather than a problem with one product. It’s the first thing I’d warn a new Athleta shopper about. Go darker than you think you need to and most of it is a non-issue.

Athleta Pants Review

Pants are the bulk of what I’ve tested, and they’ve been my favorite items from Athleta. 

The fabrics are great for travel and some even pass as regular pants instead of athleisure, which is nice for versatility. Here are my thoughts on each pair I’ve tried. 

Endless Pants Review

A young woman takes a mirror selfie in a home office wearing the black Athleta Endless High Rise Pant with a black and white striped tee and white sneakers.
A young woman takes a mirror selfie in a home office wearing the black Athleta Endless High Rise Cargo Pant with a gray ribbed crop tank and white sneakers.

I originally ordered the Endless Pant in a regular length to have more of a cropped look (left), but exchanged them for the tall length, which I ultimately thought looked better. And I tried the Endless cargo pant (right) in the regular length as well before realizing that I prefer all my Athleta pants in the tall length.

The Endless High Rise Pant fabric is actually my least favorite of Athleta’s fabrics. It’s the most synthetic to the touch, not as soft, and my first impression was that it’s a little drab. However, fabric aside, this is still one of my favorite travel pants to wear. 

It’s thicker than the Brooklyn pants so underwear lines don’t show as much, it’s the least wrinkly of the athletic-style pants, and it holds its shape all day without creasing. The straight ankle cut goes with pretty much everything, especially in black. 

And I love that it has zippered pockets. Those zip side pockets fit my phone and there are regular back pockets for everything else. Yay to normalizing practical pockets in women’s pants!

One thing to note is that those pockets add a little fullness through the hips, which might not work for some bodies. I like it, though, because combined with the high rise cut it makes my waist look more defined and almost gives my body more of a pear shape.

I also tried the Endless High Rise Cargo Pant in the same fabric, and it’s a slim cut rather than the baggy shape cargo pants usually have. 

The high rise form fitting waistband gives good tummy control, so in black it was the most flattering thing I tried over a postpartum stomach. There are zip pockets throughout plus two buttoned thigh pockets.

The Endless Pant is the one I’d pick if you’re only buying one pair of Athleta pants, since it dresses up and down easily and can work for a casual sightseeing day or a work trip. 

The cargo pant is more niche, but it’s the better pick for an outdoorsy trip like a national park road trip or a hiking weekend.

Skyline Pants Review

A young woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the Athleta Skyline High Rise Barrel Leg Pant in Slate, paired with a gray tank top and tan buckle sandals in a home office.
A young woman with short brown hair styles the pale yellow Athleta Skyline High Rise Barrel Leg Pant with a white scoop neck tank and tan buckle sandals in a home mirror selfie.
A young woman pairs the white Athleta Skyline High Rise Barrel Leg Pant with a bright orange fitted tee and tan buckle sandals, the contrast between the crisp white barrel leg and the bold top making the pant stand out.

I tried three different colors in the Skyline Barrel Pants because I liked them so much. The first two are the regular length, and the far right one is the tall length. I liked the tall length, but in the slate color (far left) the most, so that’s what I ended up ordering after I returned these.

The Skyline High Rise Pants were the first barrel leg pants I’ve tried and I wasn’t sure how the shape would look on me. After wearing them for the past two weeks, I can officially say I’m a convert.

They’re the most structured pair I tested from Athleta, with a working fly and belt loops, and they’re the closest thing here to jeans without the weight. 

They’re also super soft and stretchy, which isn’t a combination I expected from something this tailored, and they’re UPF 40+. The pockets are deep enough for a phone or a passport, though they don’t zip like a lot of the other styles do.

I tried three colors in these pants. Slate is a grey blue that’s richer in person and the most versatile of the three. Solstice is a soft pale yellow rather than a bright butter, so it’s a good color pop without being too much. 

I also tried the Bright White, but was not a fan because you can see the outline of the boxy front pockets through it and it was pretty see-through. 

The Skyline pants were a quick favorite for me, and they’re the pair I’d bring instead of jeans on a trip when I want something comfy and versatile without the athletic look.

Brooklyn Pants Review

A young woman in a home mirror shows the navy Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant cropped cleanly at the ankle, styled with a red and white striped tank and white perforated Mary Jane flats.
A young woman pairs the Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pant in Abalone with a white knit tank and white perforated Mary Jane flats, the warm beige grey pant anchoring a clean tonal outfit in a home mirror selfie.

My original Brooklyn pants in navy in the regular length (left) and trying them in abalone in a tall length (right), which I thought looked better on my frame. I just didn’t love how see-through the abalone color was.

The Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pants are made with the lightest fabric I’ve tried from Athleta. 

I bought these over a year ago in the navy color and wore them most weeks last summer, including a full content day in Berkeley that involved a steep 1.5-mile hike in hot weather. They’re always super breathable and comfortable and have kept their shape well. 

They’re also UPF 40+, dry fast if you work up a sweat, and the waistband sits higher than “mid rise” suggests. 

They do wrinkle easily, which I was confused about at first since they’re marketed as wrinkle-resistant, but those wrinkles come out easily once you put them on and wear them a bit. 

I tried the Abalone color in my recent order, and the lighter color is where I had the most issues with these pants. 

The Abalone is pretty see-through in the back, the side stripe stands out more so they look sportier, and they show dirt more easily. Go for a darker color to avoid these issues. 

A young woman pairs the soft sage green Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Wide Leg Pant in Cacti with a white textured knit tank and tan leather buckle sandals, the cool and warm tones balancing each other out.
A side profile mirror selfie shows the clean wide leg silhouette and full length of the Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Wide Leg Pant in Cacti, styled with a white knit tank and tan buckle sandals.

I wasn’t a big fan of the Brooklyn wide leg pants. The sporty stripe just looked weird on this cut, and I thought the ankle design was overall more flattering on me.

I also tried the Brooklyn Mid Rise Wide Leg Pant in Cacti green and liked the color, which is calm but fun and goes with more than I expected. 

The wide leg is a dressier cut, but the athletic side stripe looks a little odd with it, which is why I’d recommend sticking with the ankle pants. 

Both Brooklyn styles pucker a bit in the back under the waistband, and so does the Pinnacle (below). I think this is due to it being such light fabric with a stretchy waistband. It doesn’t look terrible, but just something to know before you buy.

Pinnacle Trousers Review

A young woman showcases the floor-length wide leg of the black Athleta Pinnacle Trouser, the deep black fabric contrasting cleanly against a light blue ribbed top and nude flats.
A young woman takes a side profile mirror selfie in a home office wearing the black Athleta Pinnacle Trouser, a light blue ribbed sleeveless top, and nude ballet flats.

I love the Pinnacle pants even though my original pair is too big on me now. It’s time to get another pair in my current size!

When it’s too hot for the Endless pants but I still want to look put together, I go with the Pinnacle Trousers (I personally love these in black). 

This is another pair I’ve worn for a while and they’re just as breathable as the Brooklyn, but less athletic-looking, which is nice for versatility. The zippered fly plus a waistband that’s tailored in the front and stretchy in the back keeps them looking more like regular pants. 

They wrinkle about as much as the Brooklyn fabric does, which means they come out of a suitcase creased and then work themselves out as you wear them. 

The leg is ultra-wide the whole way down and can look billowy, so they need the right top, but when you get the right pairing, they look chic. The billowy cut works here more than it does for the Retreat Linen Pants because the fabric is so thin. 

Similar to the Brooklyn, the back bunches a little below the waistband, though it’s not very noticeable, especially in a dark color. 

The missing belt loops are a strange omission on a pair aiming this hard to pass as dressy. Otherwise, these are what I’d bring for a hot trip when I still want to look somewhat tailored.

Venice Pants Review

A young woman in a home office mirror selfie wears the Athleta Venice High Rise Jogger in light beige, its tapered slim leg and wide waistband visible, paired with a white knit tank and white sneakers.
A young woman takes a home mirror selfie in the deep chocolate brown Athleta Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant, styled with a yellow floral smocked top with ruffle cap sleeves and tan buckle sandals.

The Venice pants are made with one of my favorite Athleta fabrics, it’s super cozy and soft, but these two pairs didn’t quite work for various reasons.

The Venice High Rise Jogger is the one pair I keep going back and forth on. 

They’re the softest thing I’ve tried from Athleta and feel like leggings without the tightness through the crotch, which is what you want for hours in a plane seat. The three zip pockets keep things secure on travel days, and they’re UPF 40+ and quick-drying.

The Abalone color I ordered is pretty see-through with visible underwear lines, and there was no darker option in my size and length at the time, so I never traveled with these. 

They’re thin enough that I’m not sure I’d buy them again for a trip, but they’re so soft and comfortable that I might try a darker color to find out. They’re thicker than the Brooklyn or Pinnacle pants and run a little warmer, so they’re better for shoulder seasons.

The side profile of the Athleta Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant in deep chocolate brown shows how the pant fits through the hip, with two zip pockets visible and the wide leg dropping straight below a yellow floral smocked top.
Up close on the Athleta Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant in deep chocolate brown, the wide waistband, front zip pocket, and deep side pocket show how the pant balances a polished look with practical storage.

I do love that the Venice pants come with a lot of zippered pockets, one small one in the front and two on the back.

I also tried the Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant in Woodland brown, and the color is beautiful. They’re flattering through the lower stomach and they don’t wrinkle much, which I noticed across the whole Venice line. 

But the thick waistband and wide leg give off a bit of a dancer look from the front, closer to wide-leg leggings than pants, so they’re harder to dress up. You can see panty lines on these too.

Between the two, the jogger is the Venice I’d buy. The Pinnacle is the better wide-leg option since it’s easier to dress up, unless you want the cozy feel of the Venice fabric.

Retreat Linen Pants Review

A young woman in a home mirror selfie wears the natural linen Athleta Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pant with a white tee, tan buckle sandals, and a woven bag over her shoulder.
A young woman shows the side profile of the Athleta Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pant in natural linen, the relaxed wide leg and drawstring waist visible in a home mirror selfie with a white tee and tan sandals.

I really wanted to love Athleta’s popular linen pants, but I actually regret keeping them. They’re just a lot of fabric, and I don’t love how billowy they are. They also poof a lot around the waist when you sit down.

The Retreat Linen High Rise Wide Leg Pant is the one pair I regret keeping, even though a lot about them works. I walked 10,000 steps in 78-degree weather and stayed comfortable in them the whole time. 

The linen is softer than the Quince linen I own and wrinkles less than any other linen in my closet, the thick waistband gives you actual tummy control standing up, and the front zip pockets are something I haven’t found on other linen pants.

The problem is how billowy they are. There’s so much extra fabric that it makes me look heavier than I am, the legs flap against each other when I walk, and the waist poofs out when I sit down. Even the tall runs an inch long on me, so I’m going to have to get these hemmed.

I still prefer my Quince linen pants for how they look, even though Quince offers fewer tall lengths, so they’re cropped on me. If you like an extra wide leg, these do it well. If you’re already unsure about that much fabric, skip them.

Seasoft Pants Review

Shown on a young woman in a home mirror selfie, the Athleta Seasoft Mid Rise Straight Pant in white fits relaxed through the hip and thigh from an elastic drawstring waist, falling in a straight leg to the ankle.
A woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the white Athleta Seasoft Mid Rise Straight Pant, showing its mid rise elastic drawstring waistband and wide straight leg, paired with a navy t shirt and white sneakers in a home office.

Although the Seasoft fabric is just as soft as the name suggests, I didn’t love how synthetic it felt and how it stuck to my body. It also wasn’t the most forgiving in this lighter color.

I run cold on planes, so my usual problem is pants that aren’t warm enough rather than pants that are too hot. The Seasoft Mid Rise Straight Pant sits between the two. 

They’re much thinner than actual sweatpants, so you get medium warmth without getting too hot, and the drawstring waistband and straight leg make them look like a nicer version of sweats. These are also a true mid rise, which I don’t love as much since I’m a high-waisted girlie.

The fabric is where I differ from most people. It’s soft, smooth, almost silky, but it has a synthetic quality that wasn’t for me, the kind that sticks to your body a little. 

They also felt thin rather than cozy for the long travel days they’re made for. There are just two regular side pockets but no back ones, and the light Bone shows underwear lines. These work better as lounge pants or road trip pants than plane pants.

Trekkie North Pants Review

A woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the black Athleta Trekkie North High Rise Jogger, featuring a high rise waistband, tapered ankle, and zippered hip pockets, paired with a mint green tank top and strappy sandals.
A close up mirror selfie shows a woman wearing the black Athleta Trekkie North High Rise Jogger, highlighting the high rise waistband and a zippered hip pocket, paired with a mint green tank top.

The Trekkie North Joggers were the biggest miss of the Athleta clothes I tried. I really don’t like these pockets.

The Trekkie North High Rise Jogger is the one pair of Athleta pants I’d steer you away from. The ripstop is very lightweight, which is the best thing about them, but they’re crinkly and technical looking. 

The pockets are stiff and poof out at your sides when you sit down, and they gap oddly at the knees because of how the fabric hugs the shins.

They’re UPF 50+, the highest rating of anything I tested, which is nice for outdoorsy trips. Athleta sells these as hiking pants, but I have much more comfortable hiking pants I’d point you toward instead, like my PrAna Stretch Zion Cargo Pants.

For a full ranking of the pairs I’d actually pack, including which trip each one suits, read my best Athleta travel pants guide.

Athleta Dresses Review

Athleta dresses are soft, stretchy, lightweight, and easy to dress up or down. They’re basics rather than statement pieces though, with no prints or that interesting of cuts. 

For a travel dress that can be a good thing since a basic goes with everything you packed, but they might come off as boring to some.

Each one has an internal shelf bra with removable pads, but the pads are super thin and my nips still showed through on all three, so I still needed to wear a bra. None of them have pockets either, which is disappointing for travel dresses.

Essential V-Neck Midi Dress

A woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the teal Athleta Essential V-Neck Midi Dress, showing its fitted sleeveless silhouette, v neckline, and midi length, paired with strappy wedge sandals.
A close up mirror selfie shows a woman wearing the teal Athleta Essential V-Neck Midi Dress from a side angle, highlighting its fitted silhouette, v neckline, and a side slit at the hem.

My favorite of the three is the Essential V-Neck Midi Dress. I tried this one in the navy and it was flattering the second I put it on. 

Ruching along the sides pulls it in where you want it, the deep V adds a little something, and the side slits give you airflow while keeping the shape intact. 

And even though it’s a fitted dress, the fabric felt forgiving, even over my tummy pooch. The SUPIMA cotton is the softest and most breathable of the three, so this is the one I’d wear on a hot day. 

The main downside to this one was that I had to smooth the fabric out more often since it tends to bunch while you’re moving around in it. 

Signature Rib Apron Dress

A woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the brown Athleta Signature Rib Apron Dress, showing its fitted rib knit silhouette, square neckline, and thin straps, paired with strappy wedge sandals.
A mirror selfie shows a woman wearing the brown Athleta Signature Rib Apron Dress from a side angle, highlighting its fitted rib knit silhouette, square neckline, and a slit at the side hem.

Not far behind is the Signature Rib Apron Dress, which beats the navy in a couple of specific ways. 

The ribbed fabric is thicker and heavier, so it holds its shape on its own instead of needing to be smoothed down every time you stand up, and it wrinkles less because of it.

The apron cut is my favorite part. Higher necklines front and back make it more modest than the V-neck, and the straps are thinner. 

There’s no ruching and there are no side slits, so the rib is the only thing that adds a little bit of personality, but it works. I also really liked the Woodland brown color, which was a nice pop with my skintone. 

The thicker knit and higher neckline make this the better pick for a transitional season when the Essential would be too light. 

Transcend Maxi Dress

A woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the teal Athleta Transcend Maxi Dress, showing its fitted bodycon silhouette, scoop neckline, and maxi length, paired with strappy wedge sandals.
A mirror selfie shows a woman wearing the teal Athleta Transcend Maxi Dress from a side angle, highlighting its fitted silhouette, side ruching, and a slit at the hem.

Color is the best part of the Transcend Maxi Dress. The Coastal Teal is beautiful and much richer in person than it looks online, and that’s most of what I liked about this dress.

This is meant to be the sexiest of the three, but the fabric feels closer to a pair of leggings than a dress, and it’s the tightest and least forgiving of the bunch. 

It hugs all the way to the knees, and on a postpartum body it highlights rather than skims. It also bunches as you move, so I spent the whole time straightening it while wearing it, which is disqualifying for a dress you’d want to wear all day on a trip. 

It’s rated UPF 40+, the only one of the three that is, which counts for something if you’re in the sun all day. Although the sexier cut feels like something you’d wear more in the evening anyway. 

Athleta Layers Review

The wrap is the only layering piece I’ve tested from Athleta so far.

Pranayama Restore Wrap

A woman takes a mirror selfie wearing the black Athleta Pranayama Restore Wrap draped open over a teal dress, showing its long relaxed silhouette and dropped shoulders, paired with strappy wedge sandals.
A cropped mirror selfie focuses on the black Athleta Pranayama Restore Wrap, its open front and long sleeves draping over a teal dress underneath.
A close up mirror selfie shows a woman wearing the black Athleta Pranayama Restore Wrap, highlighting its draped shawl collar and pointed open front hem, worn over a teal dress.

A wrap with pockets! Genius! I also love how versatile it is to wear casually or with a nicer dress for outdoor dining, and that the tall is long enough to belt if I wanted.

The Pranayama Restore Wrap is soft, stretchy, and thick enough to keep you warm on a cool evening or a freezing cold plane. 

I got this one in black, and it passes as a nice wrap rather than something you’d wear to the gym, although it’s versatile enough for that too.  

You can style it belted or open, with the thumb holes in or out, and when belted, it works as a long sleeve top on its own, since the tall hits just below my butt. 

It also has pockets, which is unusual on a wrap and a big win for travel. They don’t show from the outside and they’re exactly where you want them. The sleeves run long enough to bunch a little, which looks intentional and is a nice change as someone with long arms.

The fabric is thick, which makes it heavy for what it is, and that’s a real consideration when you’re packing carry-on only. 

It’s borderline whether I’d bring it on every trip, but that thickness is also why it’s so cozy. For a shoulder season trip where you want something warm on the plane and in the evenings, it’s worth packing.

FAQs About Athleta Clothing

A woman wearing a denim jacket, striped top, and navy Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pants stands on a stone path inside a glass conservatory, looking up at tall tropical plants and greenery.
A close up mirror selfie shows a woman with her hand in the pocket of the tan Athleta Venice High Rise Jogger, highlighting its ribbed high rise waistband and tapered leg.

Wearing my Brooklyn pants while sightseeing (left). They’ve become one of my favorite travel pants, especially for hot days. And showing you how thin the fabric can be (right), which is especially noticeable with lighter colors.

Is Athleta fast fashion? Is it a good brand?

Not by the usual definition. Fast fashion means cheap clothes made fast to chase trends and worn a handful of times. 

Athleta’s prices are well above that, the core lines like Brooklyn and Endless stick around season after season instead of getting swapped out, and the pieces I’ve worn longest have held up.

That said, it isn’t a slow fashion brand either. Athleta is a large company owned by Gap Inc. that puts out new collections regularly, and independent sustainability raters give it middling scores, mostly for a lack of transparency around textile waste and supply chain labor. 

It’s a certified B Corp and it uses Fair Trade Certified factories for some products, which is more than most brands at this price do, but it’s a step in the right direction rather than a fully good, sustainable brand. 

Is Athleta good for travel?

It’s one of the better brands for travel clothing, especially their pants. Most pieces are quick-drying, breathable, wrinkle-resistant enough to do well on a trip, and light enough that they pack down small. 

Seven of the 15 pieces I tested have a UPF rating, which is useful on a long sightseeing day when you’re in direct sun all day. 

Is Athleta good quality?

Mostly yes, with one caveat. Across 15 pieces the fabrics and construction have held up well. I’ve owned my Brooklyn ankle pants and Pinnacle trousers for over a year, wore them most weeks last summer, and they’ve kept their shape.

The most common complaint I see about the brand is pilling, usually on leggings and anywhere there’s a lot of friction. I haven’t experienced that myself yet, but I’ve only had most of these a few months to a little over a year, and haven’t tried any of Athleta’s leggings yet. 

The other quality issue is thinness. A lot of these fabrics are sheer in light colors, and the built-in shelf bras in the dresses are thin enough that I still wear a bra underneath.

Does Athleta run small?

Athleta actually runs big, and sizing down is usually the right call. I’m normally a size 8 and I wear a 6 in almost every Athleta pant. The exception is structured styles with a non-stretchy waistband, like the Skyline Barrel Leg, where I wear my usual size.

Athleta vs Lululemon, which is better?

It depends what you’re buying for. Lululemon is better for pure workout gear and has a stronger reputation for technical performance. Athleta is better for travel and everyday clothes, which is what I use it for.

Athleta is also cheaper and runs sales far more often. The size range at Athleta is wider too, XXS through 3X, with petite, regular, and tall inseams across most styles, although Lululemon also has different inseams in a lot of styles. 

For travel, I’d mostly reach for Athleta over Lululemon. 

What is Athleta’s return policy?

You have 30 days from the delivery date for online orders, or from the purchase date in store. 

The Give-It-a-Workout Guarantee is a unique part of their return policy. You can wear and wash an item and still return it within that window if it doesn’t work out, which most retailers won’t do. 

Final sale items can’t be returned at all, and damaged or defective items can be returned any time.

One other thing to note is that you can’t return Athleta to a Gap or Old Navy store even though Gap Inc. owns all three. 

When does Athleta have sales?

Athleta discounts something almost constantly, so you rarely need to pay full price.

The three worth planning around are Friends and Family, Black Friday, and the semi-annual sales. 

Friends and Family runs twice a year, usually March and September, and takes 30% off sitewide with no code needed. Anyone can shop it despite the name. Black Friday is the same 30% off nearly everything in stock.

The semi-annual sales happen in late June into early July and again from late December into January. 

These are marked-down items rather than a sitewide discount, so it depends on the piece, but I saw anywhere from 30% to 60% off during the last one. Sizes and inseams go out of stock quickly, though, so if you want a specific style in your size and length, shop the sale early. 

Final Thoughts: Is Athleta Worth It?

A woman wearing sunglasses, a striped tank top, and navy Athleta Brooklyn Mid Rise Ankle Pants stands on a dirt hilltop trail surrounded by shrubs, with a bay, distant bridge, and city skyline visible behind her.

After testing 15 items, I’d give Athleta an 8 out of 10. Most of what I tested is stuff I’d buy again, especially their pants.

The two pairs I started with are a year old and still in good shape. I don’t wear them much now, but only because I bought them newly postpartum and they’re a size too big, not because of any durability issues.

I’ve been wearing the pieces I bought and kept a month ago constantly, and the Pranayama Restore Wrap has turned out to be one of my favorite pieces I tested, along with the Skyline Barrel Leg Pants and the Endless Pants.

The downside to Athleta is that the fabrics are thin, so lighter colors are see-through and underwear lines show. The shelf bras in the dresses are thin and don’t have much support, so they won’t replace a bra. 

None of this makes the clothes bad or low quality, it just means you should buy darker colors or plan to wear a thong with any of their lighter pants.

Have you tried Athleta? I’d love to hear which pieces worked for you in the comments.

Mimi McFadden Headshot

Mimi McFadden

Mimi started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her travels abroad. 13 years and 45+ countries later, she accidentally became a packing expert. Now she helps women figure out what to pack, what to wear, and which gear is actually worth it. Outside of travel, you’ll find her hiking with her son, reading in her chaise lounge, and winning 3-point contests against her husband.

A woman in a denim jacket, red and white striped shirt, and navy Athleta ankle pants stands in front of a wide stone staircase and archway on a university campus. Text overlay reads "Athleta Review, I Tested 15 Pieces and These 5 Are Worth It."
A four photo collage of a woman wearing different Athleta outfits. Top left, navy ankle pants with a denim jacket and striped shirt on outdoor stone steps. Top right, a fitted teal maxi dress with a black open cardigan. Bottom left, cream linen wide leg pants with a white t-shirt. Bottom right, navy joggers with a striped tank top on a hillside overlooking a bay. Text overlay reads "Athleta, What I Wish I Knew Before Buying."

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Hi, I'm Mimi! I've spent 15+ years traveling carry-on only to more than 45 countries. In that time, I've learned a lot about what to pack (and what to leave behind). Now I write about packing lists, travel essentials, and the products I actually use and love on the road.

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