When it comes to stylish and functional activewear, Fabletics and Ten Thousand are two popular brands to choose from.
But how do they compare when it comes to quality, style, value and more?
This in-depth brand comparison highlights the pros and cons of each to help you decide which deserves your hard-earned dollars.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Fabletics | Ten Thousand |
| Pricing | $24-$100 per piece for members | $38-$88 per piece |
| Quality | Decent quality with occasional issues | Premium Italian fabrics, lab tested |
| Style | Trendy prints and colors | Minimalist, monochrome |
| Fit | Flattering and curvy | Boxy and relaxed |
| Sizing | XS-3X, limited men’s | 28-40″ waists, XS-XXXL |
| Ideal Customer | Fashion lovers seeking deals | Serious male athletes wanting performance |
| Membership Model | Monthly subscriptions with credits | None, one-time purchases |
Overview Of Fabletics
Co-founded in 2013 by Kate Hudson and TechStyle Fashion Group, Fabletics offers affordable, subscription-based activewear.
Most pieces cost $24-$100.
Some key features of Fabletics include:
- Celeb-backed brand with trendy styles
- Monthly subscription plans or one-time purchases
- Mix & match outfit selections to suit your workout
- Quality performance fabrics like sculpting compression
- VIP perks include discounts and free shipping
- Focuses mainly on women’s apparel and accessories
Fabletics aims to provide stylish workout wear at non-designer prices through their flexible membership program and curated monthly collections.
Overview Of Ten Thousand
Founded in 2015 by Keith Nowak, Ten Thousand provides high-performance men’s training apparel free of logos and designs.
Prices range from $38 for shorts up to $88 for joggers.
Key features of Ten Thousand gear:
- Minimalist, sleek aesthetic
- Premium Italian fabrics with compression
- Antimicrobial fibers to minimize odor
- Laser cut, raw edge construction for comfort
- Engineered for a full range of motions
- Focused on men, plus some unisex pieces
With their meticulously designed, logo-free pieces, Ten Thousand caters to men wanting quality and comfort for training and everyday wear.
Comparison Between Fabletics And Ten Thousand
Quality and Performance
Both Fabletics and Ten Thousand use technical performance fabrics in their apparel engineered for sports and training.
But Ten Thousand triumphs in terms of quality and innovation.
Ten Thousand sources premium fabrics from Italy, then lab tests their properties and construction to maximize stretch, moisture wicking, breathability and motion.
Their improvement-driven approach results in buttery soft, durable gear that moves with you.
Fabletics relies more on a fashion-led design process. Most of their fabrics come from China and Turkey. They focus on appearance, compression fit, and comfort.
While reviews are generally positive, some notice issues with sheerness, inconsistent sizing and sagging elastic. The quality doesn’t feel as foolproof as Ten Thousand.
For the pinnacle of performance and quality, Ten Thousand is the clear winner. But casual fitness buffs may do just fine with Fabletics’ decent quality and trendy looks.
Also Read: Comparison Between Hylete And Ten Thousand.
Style and Fit
Fabletics and Ten Thousand take differing approaches when it comes to style and fit.
Fabletics’ specialty is stylish activewear catered to women’s preferences. Their clothes come in lots of bold colors, prints and details inspired by runway trends. Items are designed to flatter the female figure by molding, smoothing and accentuating curves.
The subscription model makes it easy to coordinate head-to-toe fashion looks.
In contrast, Ten Thousand sticks to a minimalist, monochrome aesthetic in their muted palette of greys, blacks and earth tones. Pieces have a boxier fit focused on unrestricted movement rather than shaping. For men seeking low-key gym essentials, their smart mix-and-matchability works well.
But those wanting flashier training gear may be underwhelmed.
Fabletics takes the prize for fun, fashion-forward activewear while Ten Thousand offers an understated athleisure uniform.
Pricing and Value Comparison
Both Fabletics and Ten Thousand aren’t super budget-friendly, but Ten Thousand does offer stronger value for money when considering cost per wear.
Fabletics VIP members pay $49/month for 2-3 pieces of their choice. With frequent sales, it’s easy to snag pieces for around $25-$35 making them an affordable fast fashion option. But some report questionable quality at these low prices.
Ten Thousand gear costs $38-$88. The premium fabrics, detailed construction, and extended sizing result in higher prices. But fans swear the performance and longevity are worth every penny.
Even at a higher initial cost, Ten Thousand can cost less per wear over time.
While Fabletic’s low membership prices seem more attractive up front, Ten Thousand provides a better long term investment if you want gear that outlasts the latest trends.
Also Read: Comparison Between ASRV And Ten Thousand.
Sizing Options
Inclusivity is where Fabletics falls far short of Ten Thousand’s stellar offering.
Fabletics focuses primarily on women’s sizes from XS-3X. Their size chart can be unpredictable and items often run small. For men, there’s a very limited selection only in standard sizing.
Meanwhile, Ten Thousand accommodates an exceptionally diverse range of body types. Their shorts and joggers come in waist sizes from 28-40 inches. Tops range from XS through XXXL. Thoughtful touches like raw edges eliminate distractions for shorter torsos.
Ten Thousand’s meticulous fit work benefits all body shapes.
For size diversity, Ten Thousand is miles ahead as a truly inclusive athletic brand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, Kevin Hart does not own Fabletics. The brand was co-founded by Kate Hudson, Adam Goldenberg and Don Ressler as part of TechStyle Fashion Group.
However, Kevin Hart did collaborate with Fabletics in 2020 to launch his own personal activewear collection. But he is not actually an owner of the overall Fabletics company.
Yes, it is possible to shop Fabletics as a non-member by making one-time purchases at regular prices or shopping their sale section.
However, signing up for their VIP membership (starting at $49/month) provides the best value since members get discounts of up to 85% off monthly picks along with free shipping and rewards points. But occasional shoppers can skip the membership and buy items a la carte.
Overall Lululemon products are more expensive than Fabletics. Lululemon’s technical athleticwear costs anywhere from $88 for a sports bra up to $168+ for outerwear. Fabletics membership prices are around $24-$49 for most pieces thanks to their frequent discounts.
But Lululemon is seen as higher quality with better resale value. For budget buyers, Fabletics provides similar casual styles for less.
In many ways Fabletics designs are inspired by Lululemon but made more affordable through cheaper fabrics and manufacturing. Pieces mimic Lululemon’s casual, comfortable athleisure aesthetic often using similar colors, details and silhouettes but with lower prices.
So, while not exact counterfeits, many do consider Fabletics items as being “dupes” or more affordable iterations of Lululemon’s coveted styles.
Also Read: Choose Between Rhone And Lululemon.
Verdict
Overall, Ten Thousand emerges as the winner when compared head-to-head with Fabletics.
The key advantages that make Ten Thousand the better brand for most athletes are:
- Significantly higher quality materials and construction
- Meticulously designed for optimal performance and motion
- Understated style focused purely on comfort and function
- Far more size inclusivity to accommodate all body types
- Provides strong value for money that holds up over years of wear
Fabletics puts up a good fight with their fun, fashionable designs catered to women and budget-friendly membership pricing. But the quality and fit inconsistencies make their value proposition less convincing long-term.
Ten Thousand keeps things simple by zeroing in on premium athletic essentials built to support training goals.
While their minimalist look isn’t flashy, the comfort and attention to detail is unmatched. And their inclusive sizing fills a major void in the activewear space.
For shoppers seeking high-performing activewear free of logos and trends, Ten Thousand is a clear market leader.
Their focus on innovation and inclusive quality provides the ideal athletic base layers to keep you going strong no matter your body or sport.