This $17 Amazon tank looks identical to a popular Lululemon top—but is it as good?
I tried to find Lululemon quality at a fraction of the price
Credit:
Jamie Ueda and Lululemon
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If you know me, you know that I love shopping—especially for activewear. Maybe it’s just me but, there’s something about new workout clothes that motivate me to work out—or at least that’s what I tell myself. I can spend hours scrolling through my favorite retailer’s websites (including Lululemon, Carbon 38, Sweaty Betty, and Alo Yoga), fantasizing about all the things I would buy if I was given an unlimited amount of money. I have splurged on items from these places before, but unfortunately my Real Housewives taste is not supported by my “I live in NYC and most of my money goes to rent” budget.
This is where my hunt for dupes of my favorite high-end clothing for a lower price comes in. You can find almost anything on Amazon these days, including affordable workout gear that is similar to popular pieces you would find at pricier stores. Recently, I was excited to find almost a carbon copy of Lululemon’s popular “All Tied Up Tank” on Amazon—for less than half the price. I knew I needed to try it immediately. Here’s what I thought.
Why I love the Lululemon “All Tied Up Tank”
You can feel the breeze with this open back.
I was blessed with genes that make me sweat a lot, even in the best air conditioned gyms. With gyms still closed in NYC and many of my workouts being outside in 80-90 degree heat, I sweat even more. While I would love to wear just shorts and a sports bra to work out in this heat, I’m too self-conscious and prefer a little more coverage. This is why I love the “All Tied Up Tank” from Lululemon.
It’s a great compromise between coverage in the front and an opening in the back to help keep you cool. I love the open back because it feels breezy and helps manage sweat. It can be tied in the back for a body skimming look or left completely untied for a looser and flowier fit. It’s also great for outdoor workouts because it has a higher cut neckline to protect my chest from getting burned, and it’s made of a light and airy fabric.
What I don’t like about the Lululemon “All Tied Up Tank”
I wish I could buy these in all the colors.
There are only two things that bother me about this tank. The first is that it’s made out of 93% cotton and 7% spandex. The cotton is super soft and extremely comfortable, but the downside is that cotton holds on to sweat and takes forever to dry. However, it should be noted that this shirt is meant for yoga and not high impact activity, but I love it so much that I wear it for all my workouts. That being said, the shirt might not be the problem.
The second thing I dislike about the top is the price tag. When I find a top that works for me, I like to stock up and buy a few in different colors. These shirts are $44 each, which is comparable to other workout tanks, but for such a simple cotton blend tank with no performance properties like moisture-wicking, I’m not going to buy multiples at that price.
Is the Amazon dupe just as good?
Lululemon tank in black vs. Amazon tank in grey—nearly identical.
Recently, I found what looked like the exact same tank to as Lululemon’s “All Tied Up Tank” on Amazon by a brand called Bestisun. From the pictures, it looked exactly the same. However, I did notice that instead of it being nearly 100% cotton, this top was made of 95% rayon and 5% spandex, which means it wasn’t going to feel exactly the same as the Lululemon top. However, it does come in 19 different colors (the Lululemon top only comes in four colors), and the best part—it’s only $17. I ordered it immediately and was excited to test the difference between the two tops.
When I received my Lululemon look-alike top, I could immediately tell it was a little different, but not in a bad way. While the Lululemon top has a light soft cotton feel, the Amazon top is heavier but soft and smooth with more stretch thanks to the rayon and spandex combination.
When I placed one tank on top of the other, I found that they were cut nearly identically. They had the same size neckhole and the tank width and length were no different. The armholes were slightly larger on the Amazon tank, though, which made the fit at the sides not as streamlined as the Lululemon top. This also caused the fabric to flare out at the armpit leaving a gap between the fabric and my body. Another slight difference was in the seams. At first glance it’s not that noticeable, but on closer inspection the Lululemon tank had better seam construction. The pricier tank’s seams are sewn to lay flat against the body, making it look sleeker and feel more comfortable, whereas the seams on the Amazon tank are bulkier, which is not as comfortable and looks cheaper.
When I tried these tanks on, I almost couldn’t tell the difference. I wore both of these tops outside to work out. When initially putting them on, the Lululemon top felt slightly lighter, whereas the Amazon top felt heavier but softer. Both of these tops were not great for moisture management due to one being made of a cotton blend and the other predominantly rayon, both of which will hold on to sweat. However, I love the style and breeziness of these tops that it won't stop me from wearing them for sweaty workouts.
Which top is actually worth the money?
Get two of the Amazon tanks for less than the price of the Lululemon top.
The short answer: It depends on your budget. I personally believe in paying more money for the quality, workmanship, or style of a garment. That being said, if money were no object, I would pick the Lululemon tank to stock up on. I prefer the lightness of the material, the slightly better fit, and the more elevated look of the seams. However, because I would prefer to use my clothing budget for other splurge-worthy items, those things aren’t enough to justify the fact that I can buy two Amazon tank tops for less than the price of one Lululemon tank. For now, I’ll stick to the $17 Amazon top that is an almost-as-good budget version of the $44 All Tied Up Tank, and I highly recommend it.