I tried Amazon's $54 version of my favorite Spanx sweatsuit, and I wasn't expecting to be so impressed

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Of all the sweatsuits I've tried, Spanx's AirEssentials set is the gold standard. I'd heard it praised by both our own editors and Oprah before finally getting my own late last year.

I considered investing in a second Spanx sweatsuit since I loved it so much, but the $228 price gave me pause. Then, I stumbled upon a nearly identical alternative for $54. Amazon calls it the number one best-seller in women's tracksuits, so I couldn't resist seeing how it compared. I've now worn both sweatsuits while working from home, lounging, and running errands. And truthfully, I was not expecting to enjoy the Amazon sweatsuit this much.

What it's like to wear the $228 Spanx AirEssentials set

I remember the first time I put on Spanx's AirEssentials sweatsuit and quickly understanding the hype. The fabric felt luxurious, stretchy, and super soft. It's remains one of the comfiest things I've ever had on my body.

Though the pants come in petite and long inseams, Spanx recommends the regular length for someone 5-foot-7. So I selected the Wide-Leg Pants in a size Medium, with a Half-Zip sweatshirt in a size Small.

Both fit me impeccably. I wear the whole set with crisp, white sneakers and oversized sunglasses, and the finished look is downright fancy. That's a feeling I usually find difficult to achieve in sweats.

I machine washed mine with cold water and tumbled dried low per the manufacturer's instructions, and was pleasantly surprised to find zero shrinkage the next time I wore it. Another little bonus with the fabric is that it offers UPF 50+ protection.

How the $54 Amazon version compares

Meanwhile, the Amazon version is sold as a full set. I chose mine in a rich, dark brown color called Coffee. When I opened the zippered plastic bag it came in, it was exactly the hue I expected.

The stretchy, silky-soft, medium-weight fabric is also much more expensive-looking than I anticipated. And it feels just like the Spanx AirEssentials fabric.

I love how comfortable the top feels, and it looks equally stylish with leggings or jeans. However, I didn't love some of the details on the pants. The bulky, stretched-out elastic ties stood out to me as cheap-looking.

Sizing and fit

Besides its famous shapewear, Spanx is known for bottoms that lift your butt (such as with our team's favorite black work pants). Their sweatpants are no different, thanks to a curved seam in the back. The Amazon counterpart notably lacks this kind of detail. They don't look bad — just not quite as good.

While the Anrabess sweatsuit fits just fine, there's no question that Spanx's version fits me better. Spanx also wins in terms of size inclusivity with sets up to a 3X, while the Anrabess version only goes up to 2X.

The fact that the Spanx AirEssentials set is sold as separates is great for people like me who size differently in tops and bottoms. In the Anrabess set, I had to size up to a medium in the top to accommodate my larger lower half. This wasn't ideal, especially since the top has an oversized fit to begin with.

Materials and color options

The Anrabess sweatsuit is comprised of 50% rayon, 45% polyester, and 5% Spandex, while Spanx's version is 47% Tencel Modal, 46% polyester, and 7% elastane. The fabrics feel indistinguishable, which impressed me considering the price disparity.

Still, the Anrabess suit has to be line-dried, which is less convenient than tumble-drying the Spanx set. I also noticed the Anrabess set wrinkles more easily.

The Spanx set comes in 19 colors, while the Anrabess sweatsuit comes in 20. However, some Amazon customers were less satisfied with the lighter colors, which didn't look quite like the photos and showed water stains.

The bottom line

Price aside, I prefer the Spanx AirEssentials set for its size options, mix-and-match ability, and impeccable tailoring. However, Anrabess' version is better than you'd expect for just a quarter of the price. The fabric is indistinguishable from its more expensive counterpart, and it's a great choice for people who size similarly in tops and bottoms. However, the lack of inseam options are not ideal for shorter and taller people.