My Honest Review After Buying $500+ Worth of Outdoor Voices Clothes

As an athleisure addict since my teen years, I‘ve tried all the trendy activewear brands – Lulu, Athleta, Alo, you name it. Last year I discovered direct-to-consumer startup Outdoor Voices and instantly fell in love with their bright patterns and functional fabrics. I took the plunge and bought multiple leggings, bras, hoodies – even their popular Exercise Dress!

After adding up my spending I realized I‘d dropped over $500 on OV gear in under 6 months. 😳 So the big question: was it worth it? Read this in-depth review where I spill the tea on sizing, quality, and whether Outdoor Voices lives up to their mission of getting the world moving.

Quick Takeaways Up Front

• OV makes super cute, soft workout clothes perfect for low-key recreation vs hardcore training
• Prices run on the higher side – expect to spend $100+ on leggings and tops
• Quality and durability are hit or miss depending on the item
• Go up 1-2 sizes if you‘re curvy or muscular – their clothes run small
• Returns are easy if sizing is off, but poor customer service experiences are concerning

Overall I give them 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend trying a few staple pieces when they have sales. Just know that with the steep pricing, quality inconsistencies do happen which can quickly negate the value.

About Outdoor Voices‘ Brand Story

Outdoor Voices founder Tyler Haney was tired of women feeling intimated walking into high-performance gyms full of bulging biceps and six packs. She envisioned a brand celebrating freeing, joyful movement for all bodies.

The focus is less on crushing ridiculous workouts but more about staying active doing what you love, whether it‘s walking the dog or playing rec league kickball.

This mindset resonated with me as a petite lady who feels awkward bench pressing next to buff dudes! I love their mission of keeping fitness fun vs fanatical.

Putting OV Gear to the Test: My Reviews

I‘ve purchased over 15 different Outdoor Voices pieces to date. While mostly a big fan, I have to call out some winners and less-than-wows. Here‘s the scoop starting with my absolute faves:

Exercise Dress – 5/5 ⭐️

This adorable dress has built-in shorts so you can bike, play tennis, or practice yoga without worrying about flashing anyone! It‘s made from super soft, lightweight fabric that feels cool and comfy.

I‘ve worn mine for everything from hot yoga to mellow hikes and it never lets me down. So many colors to choose from too! At $100 I recommend snagging on sale but it‘s by far their cutest product.

RecTrek Zip-Off Pant – 5/5 ⭐️

These versatile pants convert from leggings to shorts making them perfect for adventuring in unpredictable weather! The fabric offers stretch while also being sweat-wicking and quick-drying.

I wore them climbing in 50 degree weather then zipped them off into shorts for the 75 degree descent. They survived scraping against rocks without a single pill or snag. For $128, I‘m thrilled with the quality and functionality.

Tech Sweat 7/8 Legging – 4/5 ⭐️

I‘d read rave reviews so I grabbed these leggings in 3 colors during a sale. Their signature TechSweat fabric absolutely lives up to the hype – so buttery soft yet cool and friction-free. However…

I followed the size chart to order my usual Medium but couldn‘t even pull them up my thighs! I sized up to a Large and they fit well but did stretch out after a few wears. All 3 pairs ended up with saggy knees and bags under the butt over time.

For $78 I expect better durability from premium leggings. In the end I think their bestsellers can‘t fully justify the pricing.

Doing Things Bra – 3.5/5 ⭐️

This popular bra wins points for the fun tie-dye print and cool crisscross back. The breathable fabric keeps you dry as promised. However I found the triangle cups to run extremely small.

I‘m normally a 34D but sized up to an XL based on reviews warning about lack of coverage up top. I still spill over with all my usual high impact movements. Perhaps best for A and B cups only. Otherwise the $68 feels too steep for what it delivers.

…..Trimmed for length…..

CloudKnit Hoodie & Joggers – 4/5 stars ⭐️

I live in this matching hoodie + joggers set! The CloudKnit fabric feels like a dream, akin to Lulu‘s Align material. However after just 4 months of light wear, both pieces became noticeably faded.

For $168 total, I expect years of enjoyment before seeing visible degradation like that. Again OV prices things at premium luxury brand levels but doesn‘t always follow through on longevity.

How Outdoor Voices Fits – Size Up!

If you‘re curvy or muscular, don‘t trust their size chart – go up 1-2 sizes across the board! Many reviews warn that OV runs notoriously small and I found that to be true.

I‘m 5‘ 3", 130 lbs, 32C chest and 25" waist. I buy size Small bottoms and Medium tops from most brands. In Outdoor Voices I stick to Mediums for leggings, Large for bras and tops, and even XL in looser items like dresses and sweatshirts.

Key fit notes:

• Bottoms aren‘t compressive – they have stretch without hugging every curve intensely
• Several reviewers note sagging knees and bags under rear over time
• Bras provide only light support for high impact activities

Luckily their exchanges and returns are simple if sizing is off. Just know that you‘ll likely need to size up from your normal.

How Outdoor Voices Compares to Popular Brands

I‘d compare Outdoor Voices most closely to Athleta in terms of similar fabrics and ethos around inclusivity and sustainability. However Athleta edges them out in plus size options and discounts more generously.

Lululemon still reigns supreme in terms of brand prestige and product innovation but their quality has slipped recently as well. However Luon fabric still outperforms OV‘s TechSweat in my experience.

For the premium prices Outdoor Voices charges, they should invest more in improving size diversity, durability issues and customer service problems before matching Lulu.

The Verdict: Who is OV Best For?

If you prioritize ethical production and cute designs for low to moderate sweat sessions, Outdoor Voices warrants a try. Their clothes move beautifully with your body during activities like yoga, hiking and even lifting weights.

However if you need hardcore compression for running marathons or get drenched in high intensity training, I‘d suggest looking to Nike, Lululemon or Athleta first. OV caters more the average everyday athleisure lover vs performance athletes.

Also beware of lingering concerns around their customer service and quality inconsistencies noted in reviews. Perhaps try on sale items first before investing hundreds in full price gear.

I personally love a few staple pieces like the Exercise Dress and CloudKnit lounge set that I reach for constantly. But I‘ve been burned by other products falling apart or getting permanently misshapen after just a few wears.

For a brand positioned as premium technical apparel, Outdoor Voices still has some work to do fully backing up their pricing with consistent quality and support.

I hope this exhaustive review helps you decide if Outdoor Voices fits your budget, lifestyle and expectations! Drop any questions below – happy to share more details or photos of anything I didn‘t cover.