Do you guys have any gems as far as getting some affordable, quality, no-brand (or minimal brand) clothing and equipment?
Looking for sweatpants/shorts/yoga pants
kettlebells, yoga mat, running shoes (are vibram five-fingers still a thing?), drawstring gym bags, bands for stretching, foam roller
I know there is a lot of nike/adidas expensive type brands, so maybe someone knows a good place to buy these things. I went to Uniqlo once and saw they had some decent looking and clean looking range of workout clothing, but I dont know if it will hold up over time.
I've been wearing these Superdry sweatpants for the past 3 years and they've gotten nasty and the seam has ripped at the crotch multiple times. But they've been really good to me and taken a lot of abuse. I'm looking for something that can take a beating, and a proper washing so I can also vigigar soak it when the sweat smell get into the fabric.
Some workout clothing I've run across have just been made to break down. I'd rather have a few really solid pieces for working out and pay a bit more, but I'd also like to avoid the designer stuff where you're paying 250 dollars for a pair of sweatpants. That shit is just bonkers.
Retail markup across apparel brands is usually stable (around 50-60%). Though the fabric and the even the assembly usually comes out of the same few suppliers (China dominates technical fabrics), you are generally paying for higher R&D and design costs, higher quality control and higher quality fabric the more money you spend on athletic apparel.
That being said, shop at TJ Maxx, Marshal's, and Saks Off 5th. They frequently have off-price Under Armour, Nike, Adidas, etc. for 20-30% off retail value. They sell overbuys and overstock from big name brands and small boutiques, so they're basically passing the savings on to you.
Same or similar quality stuff (unless it's made for TKX or Off 5th), it's just probably out of season or isn't being made at all anymore or doesn't fit the collection or there was some minor problem with the manufacturing or fabric, etc.
Avoid RBX, though. That shit is trash. C3 by Champion (made for Target) is excellent though. They copy all the big names but with cheaper fabrics and design.
And sign up for email promotions of your favorite brands or brands you know. Certain brands relatively frequently do up to 40% off during major shopping holidays. Father's Day, for instance, is an amazing time to shop for men's athletic apparel.
