10 best women's gym hoodies to keep you cosy and chic pre-workout

We've tested dozens of styles and these came out on top.

woman wearing one of the best women's gym hoodies
(Image credit: Getty Images)

When it's as cold outside as it's been this month, going to the gym is most likely the last thing you feel like doing. Fun fact for you: here at team MC UK, we're firm believers in investing in the best gym wear to motivate ourselves to workout consistently, whatever the weather. Top of the must-wear list this week? Women's gym hoodies.

In our opinion, hoodies and sweatshirts are massively overlooked when it comes to fit kit. Much like the best oversized gym t-shirts, matching gym sets, running shorts and running trainers, a hoodie will quickly become a staple in your wardrobe. Why? Well, they're great for throwing on over your gym leggings and sports bra, plus can also see you go from gym to brunch with ease.

We've all tried our fair share of styles, and we've rounded up the top ten women's gym hoodies that you can buy. Wondering who tested them? We enlisted the help of Senior Health Editor and multi-marathon runner Ally Head, our Junior Shopping Editor Valeza Bakolli, Writer Grace Lindsay and Producer (and Pilates lover) Sofia Piza. For all the info on how we test the products that make it into our articles, don't forget to check out our guide.

Keep scrolling for our top gym hoodie picks...

Grace Lindsay and Ally Head testing some of the best women's gym hoodies

Writer Grace Lindsay and Health Editor Ally Head testing some of the best women's gym hoodies

(Image credit: Grace Lindsay and Ally Head)

What did we look for when testing the best women's gym hoodies?

  • The cut, design and fit - does it look good and work well with the rest of our gymwear?
  • The quality - does the hoodie wash well and will it last us for years to come?
  • The price - will we get our cost per wear?

Women's gym hoodies and sweatshirts: 10 to buy now

1. Best oversized women's gym hoodie

woman wearing adanola hoodie

(Image credit: Adanola)

Adanola ADA Oversized Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable price
+
Perfectly oversized
+
Chic design

Reasons to avoid

-
May shrink a little when washing - be sure to wash on a cold cycle!

"My love for this Adanola hoodie knows no bounds. Incredibly comfy and beautifully oversized, it's the perfect piece to throw on over my favourite leggings to take me from Barre to brunch. I have the matching sweatpants too, and combined they make the best travel outfit known to man. I also love the fact that it's available in sizes XS-XXXL." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor

2. Best hoodie for workouts

lululemon Scuba Oversized Half-Zip Hoodie

(Image credit: Lululemon)

Lululemon Scuba Oversized Half-Zip Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
Buttery soft
+
Washes well
+
Brilliant for workouts

Reasons to avoid

-
Only comes in 3 sizes

"A sell-out style with a cult-like following on TikTok, I wear lulu's Scuba hoodie on repeat - it's the perfect thickness, washes well, and crops at just the right length to be both flattering yet cosy." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

3. Best affordable women's gym hoodie

GYMSHARK POWER CROPPED ZIP HOODIE

(Image credit: Gymshark)

Gymshark Power Cropped Zip Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable price
+
Cropped fit pairs well with high-waisted leggings
+
Lightweight yet warm

Reasons to avoid

-
Contains polyester

"We included Gymshark in our roundup of the best activewear brands for a reason. Their kit is affordable, practical, and looks good, too. I really like this hoodie as the cropped fit means it can be worn with all of my high waisted gym leggings, and the fact that it zips up means I'm not constantly messing up my hair pulling it over my head. The material is lightweight enough that it can be worn for working out, but still manages to keep me warm." - Grace Lindsay, Writer

4. Best casual women's gym hoodie

free people Sprint To The Finish Hoodie

(Image credit: Free People)

Free People Sprint To The Finish Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
Super comfortable
+
Oversized fit
+
Perfect for lounging

Reasons to avoid

-
On the pricey size

"A more classic hoodie style, this Free People jumper is my favourite for days when I want to feel warm, cosy, and don't fancy wearing super tight gym clothes. It's not too thick, either, making it a great option to wear year-round" - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

5. Most elevated women's gym hoodie

pe nation hoodie

(Image credit: P.E Nation)

PE Nation Moneyball Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
Super soft
+
Elevated design

Reasons to avoid

-
On the pricey side

"Super soft, comfortable and high end, this PE Nation hoodie ticks all the right boxes, elevating any workout outfit or athleisurewear look." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

6. Best women's gym sweatshirt

alo yoga accolade sweatshirt

(Image credit: Alo Yoga)

Alo Yoga Accolade Crew Neck Pullover

Reasons to buy

+
Unbelievably comfy
+
High-quality material
+
Chic sweatshirt design

Reasons to avoid

-
It's quite pricey

"If you're on the hunt for a workout hoodie that is as snug as it is lightweight, look no further. The Accolade Crew Neck Pullover has quickly become my new winter staple both in and out of the gym.  It's made of diagonal French terry which makes it extra warm and comfortable. The pullover comes in sizes XXS to 2XL making it easy to find your perfect fit. I personally went for my usual size and found it to be an oversized fit that looks stylish whilst being completely functional." - Sofia Piza, Producer

7. Best sustainable women's gym hoodie

panagia women's gym hoodie

(Image credit: Panagia)

PANGAIA 365 Heavyweight Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
It feels incredibly luxe
+
Sustainable materials used
+
It comes in loads of colours

Reasons to avoid

-
It's very expensive

"PANGAIA have long set the benchmark for genuinely sustainable (and super comfortable) hoodies and tracksuit bottoms, and I was pretty blown away when I first received this hoodie last year. It is next level soft, great quality, and flattering, too." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

8. Best women's gym hoodie for running

tracksmith hoodie in green

(Image credit: Tracksmith)

Tracksmith Trackhouse Hoodie

Tracksmith Trackhouse Hoodie

Reasons to buy

+
Buttery soft
+
Great for running
+
durable

Reasons to avoid

-
It's an investment

"I love the Tracksmith brand and have raced in their shorts and singlets a few times. If you're a runner, you'll want to snap up their hoodie - it's an investment, but butter soft and really designed to last the long run. (Plus, you'll get nods of approval from other runners when you pull it on post-race)." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

9. Best affordable women's gym sweatshirt

Adanola sport Oversized Sweatshirt

(Image credit: Adanola)

Adanola AS Oversized Sweatshirt

Reasons to buy

+
Thick, warm and comfortable
+
Oversized fit
+
Comes in sizes XS-XXXL

Reasons to avoid

-
Cold wash or hand wash is preferred to preserve the shape

"If you've read any of my health roundups on site, then you'll know that I'm a huge fan of Adanola. I'm not ashamed to say that I have multiple hoodies and sweatshirts from the brand, as the quality and price are unbeatable. This sweatshirt is thick, warm and comes in a stylish oversized fit. Simply throw over your favourite cycling shorts for the perfect off-duty look." - Grace Lindsay, Writer

10. Best cropped quarter zip sweatshirt

Lululemon Scuba Oversized Funnel Neck Half Zip

(Image credit: Lululemon)

Lululemon Scuba Oversized Funnel Neck Half Zip

Reasons to buy

+
Buttery soft
+
Material holds its shape
+
Versatile cropped design

Reasons to avoid

-
Only comes in 3 sizes

"This is the perfect women's gym hoodie in my opinion. I've had mine for just over a year and it's still a dream. Not only is it still butter soft, but the cropped design means that it looks great worn with both gym leggings and jeans. I love the half-zip style and it also comes with thumb holes to keep your hands extra warm. A key thing that differentiates Lululemon quality from other competitor brands is that it washes really well, which is important if you're wearing it to sweat in." - Ally Head, Senior Health Editor

What should I look for in a gym hoodie?

Good question. The first thing to think about is the fit. Do you prefer a more oversized fit, or are you looking for something cropped? 

Once you've decided on that, you've then got to think about the fabric. Cotton will be super soft on the skin, but if you're planning to sweat a lot, then you may want to go for another option.

Finally, are you wanting something with a zip, or do you prefer a pullover style? If you plan on changing a lot, we recommend a zip up option so it's easier to take on and off.

So, now that you've read our guide to the best women's gym hoodies, which one will you be trying out for yourself? Trust us, your fit kit is about to get a serious upgrade.

Grace Lindsay

Grace Lindsay is currently Junior Beauty Editor at Who What Wear UK and previously was Marie Claire UK's E-Commerce Writer.  With over three years of experience in the fashion and beauty industry, she covers everything from the best make-up and skincare deals to how to shop the stand out trends of the season. When she's not typing away at her laptop, Grace can be found shopping her favourite vintage markets IRL, or catching up on her never-ending list of books to read.

With contributions from