Nike's First Maternity Collection Is Finally Here, and I Put It to the Test

Updated on Sep 10, 2020 at 10:40 AM

POPSUGAR Photography | Sara Tan

I'd like to begin by apologizing to my workout clothes. For the past eight months, I have pushed my gear to its limits, and not in the way that you might expect. I can't help but feel bad for my once favorite leggings and trusty sports bra, which will undoubtedly never bounce back.

Here's the thing: I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant, and it's been incredibly difficult for me to find maternity activewear that fits comfortably while I lunge, spin, and squat while also looking stylish. As a result, I've resorted to squeezing into my prepregnancy workout gear as much as a pregnant woman can. My workout clothes have not only been stretched out to oblivion, but it has also left me pretty uncomfortable during my workouts. In fact, most of the time, you'll probably find me half-naked on my Peloton because nothing fits.

Lucky for me and my ever-growing bump, there is a solution: Nike (M), Nike's first dedicated maternity collection, which launches Sept. 17. The collection consists of four essentials — a sports bra, a pullover jacket, a tank, and a tight — all meant to adapt to a woman's changing body before, during, and after pregnancy. You might be thinking, Nike didn't already have a maternity collection? What took them so long? According to the brand, it really wanted to get this right. Over the last three years, Nike has worked with 30 female athletes, including Alex Morgan and Michelle Wie, who were either pregnant or postpartum, to develop this line and ensure their needs and wants were covered.

Nike didn't just want to create a maternity line that fit your bump. It wanted to bring their sport science to maternity apparel with an emphasis on performance and style. So, the team that worked on the line — which was also made up of moms and moms-to-be — collected data from more than 150,000 body scans of women around the world to see how a woman's body truly grows throughout pregnancy. In the process, it tested 70 materials before landing on the ones it'd use across the four styles. Not only was Nike committed to using fabric that supported and adapted to the body, but it was also committed to sustainability. The tight, tank, and pullover are made with majority recycled polyester.

While this all sounded great to me, I wouldn't be totally convinced until I tried the collection for myself. I'm no Serena Williams, but like I said, I have been keeping active throughout my pregnancy and decided to put Nike (M) to the test. Here's what I thought.

The Sports Bra

The most difficult part about finding the right sports bra during pregnancy is the fact that your boobs are constantly growing and changing in shape and size. The bra that I bought when I was 20 weeks pregnant no longer fits or supports me in the way that it did.

Nike definitely solved this issue for me with its new sports bra, which is made with three layers to provide an adjustable and comfortable fit. There's an elastic rib band slider on the back that allows you to adjust the size of the band throughout your pregnancy. It's moisture-wicking and water-resistant, too, meaning you won't have to worry as much about visible sweat, which is great because all pregnant women know that our bodies are producing more heat than ever. Most importantly, however, is that it's also a nursing bra. You can easily move the top layer of the sports bra to feed or pump after baby arrives.

Nike (M) Swoosh Bra

Nike (M) Swoosh Bra ($55), available Sept. 17

The Leggings

I've found that most maternity leggings are either too restrictive around my belly or too soft. Nike's tights are the perfect middle ground — stretchy but supportive, with a superwide waistband that allows you to wear it high to cover your entire belly or folded down to fit comfortably below. Because Nike didn't use any elastics on the tight, it truly feels like it moves and grows with your body instead of holding you in too tightly, like other leggings might. The tight is full-length, so it was a little long on me (I'm 5'2"), but I was able to scrunch the legs at my ankle, which didn't bother me during my workout.

Nike One (M) Tight

Nike One (M) Tight ($60), available Sept. 17

The Tank

The tank might not seem super impressive at first, but after wearing it all day, I realized how soft, stretchy, and breathable it was. It features an extended front and increased body length, so it can be pulled down to cover your entire bump. But even though it was a longer tank, it didn't move around during my workout, which I appreciated. It also features an easy scoop neck, which allows for nursing.

Nike (M) Tank

Nike (M) Tank ($45), available Sept. 17

The Pullover

The pullover might be my favorite piece from the entire collection because of how stylish and versatile it is. It's reversible, so you can wear it with its split hem facing the front or the back. Just like the other styles in the collection, the pullover is meant to grow with your bump, so it features a longer length for full coverage during pregnancy. But its ingenious design also serves as a cover-up for discreet nursing once you've given birth.

Overall, I was super impressed with Nike (M) and my only critique would be that I wish it would've come out earlier in my pregnancy. That said, I will be wearing it often after my baby arrives — that's for sure.

Nike (M) Pull Over

Nike (M) Pull Over ($85), available Sept. 17