Z Supply Active: Honest Review

Z Supply makes some of the softest casual clothing I own. But soft and functional are different things when you are actually sweating.

Z Supply’s active line extends their comfort-first philosophy into workout and athleisure territory. I tested three pieces, a sports bra, leggings, and a cropped tank, over five weeks of mixed use including gym sessions, yoga classes, and general errand-running. The question was not whether these pieces feel nice. Z Supply always feels nice. The question was whether they perform when you are actually active. I have reviewed Z Supply across several categories for our Best Affordable Fashion Brands (2026) coverage, including the broader Is Z Supply Worth It? Honest Review After Four Months and Eight Pieces, and the active line is the one I had the most skepticism about.

Fabric and Feel

The active line uses a different fabric than Z Supply’s standard knits. It is a performance blend with moisture-wicking properties, stretchy and smooth against the skin. It feels premium in hand, somewhere between Lululemon and a mid-range Target activewear line. The fabric is opaque in all three pieces, even during deep bends and stretches. No see-through concerns with the leggings, which is the first hurdle any activewear needs to clear.

The feel is softer than most performance fabrics. If you have ever found activewear from Nike or Under Armour to feel plasticky or synthetic against your skin, Z Supply’s version is noticeably more comfortable at rest. Whether that softness is an advantage during a workout is a different question.

Performance During Workouts

I wore the leggings and sports bra through a mix of activities: treadmill runs, weight training, hot yoga, and outdoor walks. Here is where things get nuanced.

For low to moderate intensity, yoga, walking, light weights, the Z Supply active pieces performed well. The leggings stayed up, the sports bra provided adequate support for a B cup, and the fabric wicked moisture reasonably well. I did not feel overheated, and the pieces moved with me through a full range of motion.

For higher intensity, running and heavy lifting, the pieces showed their limits. The leggings slid down during sprints. Not dramatically, but enough that I was adjusting the waistband every few minutes. The sports bra is clearly designed for low impact. During running, the support was insufficient for anything above a B cup. The moisture wicking also plateaued during heavy sweating. The fabric absorbed rather than moved the moisture, leaving wet patches that took longer to dry than my Lululemon or Nike equivalents. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=z+supply+clothing&tag=tumbleweed03b-20

Sizing and Fit

I ordered small across all three pieces. The leggings fit true to size with a high rise that sat at my natural waist. The compression was light to moderate, more comfortable than compressive. The sports bra fit snugly without digging in. The cropped tank ran slightly large and had more ease than I prefer in an active top.

At 5 feet 6 inches, 135 pounds, the small was the right call for the leggings and bra. I could have sized down to XS in the tank for a more fitted look during workouts.

Durability After Five Weeks

I washed all three pieces after every workout session, totaling roughly fifteen wash cycles. Cold water, gentle cycle, hang dry. The fabric held up well. No pilling, no loss of elasticity, no fading. The waistband on the leggings maintained its grip. The sports bra straps did not stretch out. For a brand stepping outside its core category, the construction quality is solid. Z Supply Active on Amazon

Value for the Price

Individual pieces range from about $40 for the tank to $75 for the leggings. A full outfit of leggings, bra, and tank runs around $155 to $170 at retail. That is comparable to a single pair of Lululemon leggings. The value calculation depends entirely on your use case. For athleisure and light activity, the price is competitive. For serious workout gear, the performance gaps make it harder to justify over purpose-built brands that might cost the same or less per piece during sales.

I bought all three pieces at full price from Z Supply’s website, and for my use, primarily yoga and errands, I am satisfied with the investment. If high-intensity training is your primary activity, I would wait for a sale or redirect the budget toward a dedicated activewear brand.

Where Z Supply Active Fits In

This is athleisure that can handle light activity, not activewear that happens to look good. If your workout routine centers on yoga, Pilates, walking, or light gym work, Z Supply Active performs adequately and feels better against the skin than most activewear brands. If you run, do HIIT, or need serious support and moisture management, dedicated activewear brands are still the better choice.

The sweet spot is the person who wants one outfit that works for a morning yoga class, errands afterward, and a casual lunch without needing to change. For that use case, Z Supply Active is genuinely good. Z Supply Active on Poshmark

FAQ

Is Z Supply Active good for running?

Not ideal. The leggings slide during sprints, and the moisture wicking does not keep up with heavy sweating. For low to moderate intensity activities, it performs well.

Are Z Supply Active leggings squat-proof?

Yes. The fabric remained fully opaque through deep squats, lunges, and yoga poses. No see-through issues in any of my testing.

How does Z Supply Active compare to Lululemon?

Z Supply Active is softer and more comfortable at rest, but Lululemon outperforms it in moisture wicking, compression, and support during high-intensity workouts. Z Supply Active costs roughly half the price.

For the activewear and athleisure side — Lululemon, Athleta, Alo, Gymshark, and Fabletics covered brand-by-brand — see our Activewear + Athleisure hub.