A Former Lululemon Employee Says These Bestsellers Aren’t Worth Buying—and What She Recommends Instead

Here are the shorts, shoes and accessories you should be buying.

From jackets and leggings to socks and underwearthere’s enough Lululemon in my house that I know better than to tally up the dollar amount. Some things are better left unknown.

Still, Lululemon’s popularity isn’t just a marketing win. Many of the brand’s pieces perform well, hold up for years and have earned a permanent spot in my rotation. So when I recently got the chance to chat with a former Lululemon employee, I skipped the usual “best products” question and went straight for the juicy stuff: What isn’t worth the money?

“Overall, Lululemon makes some genuinely decent products, but not every item [is worth] its premium price tag,” said Sabrina Famuyiwawho worked at the brand’s Birmingham, Alabama, store for three years. “I’d prioritize pieces that offer a clear performance or quality advantage, while I’d skip many of the trend-driven accessories and basic apparel items that can easily be replaced with [more affordable] alternatives.”

Here are the Lululemon products she says you can confidently skip—and the ones she’d buy instead.

Skip This: Align High-Rise Pant

Buy This: Wunder Train High-Rise Tight, 25-Inch

$98 at Lululemon

Many shoppers are naturally drawn to Lululemon’s Align fabric: “The material is incredibly soft, comfortable and feels great against the skin,” says Famuyiwa. “The Align leggings are consistently one of the brand’s most popular products and are available in countless colors and styles. However, what many shoppers don’t realize is that the Align fabric is not as durable as some of Lululemon’s other performance fabrics.” She explained that they tend to wear out quicker if you’re wearing them for workouts.

If you’re primarily using your leggings for workouts, Famuyiwa recommends a more durable Lululemon fabric like Wunder Train. If the 25-inch length isn’t for you, the Miracle train comes in many other lengths (think: shorts, cropped leggings, etc.). And fitness trainers agree: they’ve shared with us in the past that the Wunder Train is their go-to.

Skip This: Hotty Hot Shorts

Buy This: Fast and Free High-Rise Short, 6-Inch

$78 at Lululemon

The teens and tweens in your life might love the hotty hot shortsbut for Famuyiwa, they don’t fit quite right. “The Hotty Hot shorts tend to ride up and become uncomfortable during wear. That said, body type plays a major role in how apparel fits, and my experience may differ from someone else’s,” she said. If this feels familiar, check out the Fast and Free High-Rise Short in either the 6-inch or 8-inch length. Famuyiwa says that the Fast and Free fabric, like the Wunder Train fabric, is more durable and one she recommends.

Skip This: All Yours Cotton T-Shirt

Buy This: Unisex Power Stride Crew Socks, 3-Pack

$48 at Lululemon

“The All Yours cotton t-shirt is comfortable enough, but it’s a fairly basic wardrobe staple that can be purchased elsewhere for a fraction of the price,” said Famuyiwa. But, she says, Lululemon socks are a staple she says are absolutely worth buying! “I like the Power Stride socks because they are comfortable, don’t slide and are perfect for running.”

Skip This: Everywhere Belt Bag

Buy This: Never Lost Keychain

$24 at Lululemon

The Everywhere Belt Bag is an accessory that Famuyiwa doesn’t think is worth the hype. “People purchase it because it’s trendy and recognizable as a Lululemon product, but similar belt bags can be found from other brands with nearly identical functionality,” she said. The Never Lost Keychainhowever, is an accessory she likes and recommends! “My keys are never lost because of how wide the wristband is.”

Skip This: Sports Bras

Buy This: Beyondfeel Running Shoe

$158 $119 at Lululemon

While sports bras are a Lululemon staple, Famuyiwa said she found their sizing range limiting. In the three years she was at Lululemon, “my size was either never available or never created.” Instead, a running staple she suggests is the Beyondfeel running shoe.

“The Beyondfeel running shoe is an underrated product,” says Famuyiwa. “Before trying them, I regularly dealt with shin splints while running. Since switching to Beyondfeel shoes, I’ve had a much better experience and don’t see myself running in anything else.” Podiatrists would agree that this running shoe could help with shin splints thanks to its max cushioning and extra 2 millimeters of foam in the forefoot.

Skip This: Define Jacket

Buy This: Wunder Puff Jacket

$348 $249 at Lululemon

“There are several products that I personally feel are more popular because of the brand name than their actual performance,” said Famuyiwa. And the Define Jacket is one of them. That being said, there is a jacket that she swears by. “If I had to recommend one Lululemon item that is absolutely worth the investment, it would be the Wunder Puff Jacket. It’s exceptionally warm and insulated with goose down. It’s one of the few products that consistently impresses me,” she said. “While it may not be suitable for people with down allergies, during my three years working at Lululemon, I never encountered any customer issues related to the jacket’s performance.” The Wunder Puff also comes in a cropped, long and vest version.

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