In an endless sea of options for scrubs, you’re going to see a very large variation in price. Some scrubs are as cheap as $18 for a set of unisex pants and top, others can be twice that amount for just a top or pair of scrubs pants.

To the thrifty shopper (which I know you all are!), the choice seems obvious: go for the cheaper ones. Maybe not the cheapest of the cheap, but you might be thinking something along the lines of “as long as they get the job done, why waste my money on a fancy pair of scrubs that does basically the same thing?”

Well, quite frankly, the answer is that they don’t do the same thing. Here’s why it’s worth it to shell out a little extra cash for a nicer set of nursing scrubs.

The fit and styles

Cheap scrubs are just that: cheap. This includes how they are designed, and you’ll often see that inexpensive scrubs are made in unisex sizes, which is ridiculous considering that men and women are proportioned very differently.

Even if there are different options for men and women, the fact is that if scrubs are cheap then the manufacturer probably didn’t put very much time and effort into creating a fit that is actually flattering and gives you coverage.

Comfort

The number one most important question you have to ask yourself before you buy any set of scrubs is this: will I be comfortable in these scrubs for a 12+ hour shift?

Again, with cheap scrubs the answer is, probably not. Think flimsy cheap fabrics, scratchy tags and seams, and a subpar fit that gapes open during the most inappropriate times (such as when bending over to pick something up).

Performance fabrics are HUGE

The biggest reason to pay a little more for nice scrubs is the fabrics. Quality starts with the raw materials, and you can bet your bottom dollar that cheap scrubs are made with cheap fabric. Cotton is better than polyester, but ideally you should look for scrubs made with performance fabrics that actually provide some benefit for you, as the wearer.

It may seem ridiculous, but anything made with performance fabrics is going to be way more comfortable, less likely to shrink in the wash, and not rip or tear. Moisture wicking technologies are pretty impressive these days, and if you don’t think that matters then try to think back to the last high-pressure situation you were in and whether or not you were sweating bullets.

You’re actually not saving any money.

After all is said and done, you’re not actually saving yourself any money when you buy cheaply made scrubs. Though you might be spending half as much at the time of purchase, you get what you pay for and poor-quality scrubs are just that: poor quality. There is a pretty high likelihood that your cheap scrubs will only last through a few washes in the laundry before they get stained, shrink, or start to rip apart at the seams.

You do the math. Paying $18 every month to replace your cheap scrubs is actually almost three times more expensive than paying $80 one time for scrubs that will last a year or more.