Because no one enjoys fighting a wedgie while trying to get through a round of squats, wearing the best workout clothes is a must. Read on for some great tips on what to wear during exercise to get active while staying comfortable.
Best Workout Clothes | Make Shopping Easier with These Tips
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Workout Fabric Types
With the best workout clothes, you can say goodbye to bad fitness clothing. To help you choose the best pieces, let’s focus on the fabric first.
Now, seeing a big wet spot in the front of your pants or large sweat stains under your arm in the gym can be quite humiliating. Usually, the culprit is your clothes. Certain fabrics may create the basis for some great-looking clothes, but don’t hold up well during a high-intensity workout. Others can make you feel like you’re wearing a heater because they don’t allow the airflow you need to keep cool.
When shopping for the best workout gear according to fabric, you may want to consider the following:
1. Bamboo
Bamboo has a pulp that can become moisture-wicking fabric. In other words, it absorbs moisture so it lets you feel cool. Clothing made from this material keeps those embarrassing sweat stains at bay and repels UV rays when you’re exercising outside during the day.
Great For: Pretty much any exercise where you’re going to be working up a nice glistening sheen, as they say. It holds up well if you’re running a marathon or taking on a spin class.
2. Cotton
Worried about being a little smelly after those sprints in spin class? Cotton does a good job of keeping away the bacteria responsible for causing overpowering body odor. It does soak up moisture like a sponge, though, so it’s not what you’d want to wear when you know you’re going to work up a big sweat.
Great For: Yoga or any other low-intensity exercise. Try looking for cotton-blend clothing containing something like spandex to gain a little more stretch.
3. Nylon
There’s a reason it’s such a popular material for stockings. Nylon feels good, stretches easily, and fights nasty mildew and bacteria. It’s also one of the best moisture-wicking materials out there. If you’re a heavy exerciser, you’ll feel cooler since the material gets the sweat off your skin and into the fabric where it evaporates quickly.
Great For: Any exercise where you need to move in a lot of different directions.
4. Polyester
Many of the best workout clothes use this material due to its lightness and durability. It’s another great moisture-wicking material that keeps you cool and allows sweat to evaporate from your clothing.
Great For: Hardcore workouts where you want to keep cool and not feel constrained.
5. Polypropylene
Clothing made from this material provides you with the same benefits as polyester clothing. These synthetic fabrics share the same core material, which is plastic. The waterproof nature of polypropylene allows you to wear it when going for a run in the rain, giving it one advantage over polyester.
Great For: Wearing as a base layer beneath another workout gear if you’re looking to keep sweat off your skin. It keeps you dry by forcing sweat to pass through it and evaporate into the air. It’s also a great material for jackets or other outdoor gear.
6. Spandex
Some of the best workout clothes for the past few decades use spandex. Also known as Lycra, it can stretch to over 600 times its normal size. That, combined with its lightweight nature and moisture-wicking feature, makes it a popular choice for manufacturers.
Great For: Running, weightlifting, or any exercise where you’ll need to move and bend in different ways.
7. Wool
You’ll find this in clothing designed for outdoor activities like hiking. Wool holds up well against the elements and keeps you warm by trapping pockets of air against your body. It also keeps odor away, stops sweat from pooling on your clothing, and fights against chafing.
Great For: Doing outdoor workouts in more extreme weather? Look for wool socks for your runs if you want to keep your feet warm and dry.
What to Look For in Your Best Workout Clothes
No one wants to feel soggy and smelly once they’re done with a workout. You also want clothing that fits you properly. It’s uncomfortable feeling fabric bunching up into your pelvic region. Being in an awkward exercise position is bad enough without feeling your clothing ride up on you. Sometimes it’s the fabric you’re wearing. Other times, it’s the fit of the clothing you picked.
Here’s a rundown on some of the popular types of exercise clothing and how to choose them.
1. Workout Pants
Bend down and look at the back of your pants. They can be leggings, yoga pants, or any other style. Can you see your underwear through the fabric? Are they clearly visible peeping out of the top of your pants? That’s a big red flag your pants are too small. You also shouldn’t see lines in your skin when you take them off. Too-small pants can limit your range of movement during your workouts.
Baggy fabric in the knees or a hanging fabric from your pelvic region means your pants are too big. You also shouldn’t be constantly pulling them up because they keep sliding down. Try going down a size to see if that improves things for you.
If you want to bring items with you to the gym, such as powder drinks or keys, you can look for stylish leggings with pockets on the side, or zippers in the waistband.
2. CrossFit Shorts
CrossFit shorts are some of the best workout clothes when you’re doing lots of squats or leg kicks. What’s not so great is when they seem to ride up and not stay where you want them to. Again, this comes down to finding the right size and fit for your figure.
If you’re concerned about revealing too much, find shorts with a longer inseam, around 6 inches or so. If you do go with something shorter, do a bend test to see exactly where the shorts will be in the most extreme position.
Do an underwear check to make sure the material’s not telling the world what fun pattern you went with today. Also, look for shorts with flat stitching to prevent uncomfortable chafing. It’s also a good idea to go with something made of moisture-wicking fabric that fights off odor.
3. Workout Shirts
It may seem like a good idea to throw on a long-sleeved shirt when it’s cool outside, but things can quickly heat up and get uncomfortable if you’re not wearing something made from a breathable material. That old T-shirt you love so much can also end up clinging to you like a damp rag at the end of a hard workout.
Go with a workout shirt designed to keep sweat off your skin and let you remain cool. If you just can’t give up your favorite T-shirt, you can wear moisture-wicking tank tops to fight off moisture build-up.
Looser shirts can get in your way if you’re doing a lot of movements such as in yoga. Look for something that allows you more freedom without it falling into your face during downward-facing dog. Many brands offer a number of different top styles that fit you without being too revealing.
4. Sports Bras
If you find yourself wincing before putting your sports bra on, you’re likely wearing one that’s too small. Many women have trouble knowing what to look for that matches their active wear.
To pick a bra, you shouldn’t feel the straps digging into your skin. Try finding one that comes with adjustable straps you can customize to fit your body. The band should be flat against your ribcage and fit snugly without cutting into you. It may be too big if it’s constantly riding up in the back. Your cups should provide full coverage and not force you to constantly adjust them. Everything should be smooth without any wrinkles or bunching. It’s a good idea to try on a new sports bra and allow everything to settle for a few minutes before deciding to buy.
It’s extremely important your bra provides you with enough stability to exercise comfortably. Low-impact bras work fine for yoga or stretching, but you shouldn’t use them if you’re running or doing a lot of jumping. Those workouts call for a medium- or high-impact bra. If you find things to be too loose when you’re exercising, that’s a sign to go up in impact.
Make sure to change your sports bras frequently. If your bra’s not providing you with the same snugness and security as when you bought it, it’s time to replace it.
Fit and style matter when choosing the best workout clothes, but so do other factors. Account for weather conditions and the type of exercise you plan to do when picking out workout gear. When you pay attention to these tips, buying your next set of gym clothes is much easier.
What are your best workout clothes? Tell us your choices in the comments section below.