The right workout gear will get you in the right mindset for a demanding and challenging workout! You won’t have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions, such as your pants getting ripped down the middle, while performing your movements – and look and feel good while you’re at it, too!
Here are useful tips that you can do to choose the right workout outfit.
Get the Right Fit
Too loose and your body parts will not be fully supported and your risk of injury can increase, such as when the hem of your shirt gets caught in an exercise machine. Too tight and your body will suffer from inadequate blood circulation and your risk of wardrobe malfunction increases.
You should then get the right size for your body when choosing your workout gear. A simple yet effective way to do so: Wear the clothes, perform a squat, and sit on the floor. Then, perform a few more exercises that involve bending, running, and lifting.
If the clothes ride up, flaps with every movement, or clings to your body too tightly, then these aren’t the right ones. Choose a larger or smaller size, as needed.
The type of physical activity you will be doing will also influence your choice in fit. If you’re planning on a Pilates class at a YogaWorks studio, for example, you should buy yoga-suitable clothes. These are definitely different from the workout clothes used in weightlifting.
Choose Workhorse Fabrics
The best workout clothes are made of fabrics with moisture-wicking property. This means that the fabric pulls away, so to speak, sweat from the skin. The result: You don’t have to deal with excessive sweat stains on your clothes and your body will not smell so bad after a strenuous workout.
We recommend workout clothes that contain polypropylene, among other moisture-wicking fabrics, for this reason. You should ideally avoid cotton shirts and pants when working out because these absorb sweat – as you exercise, the clothes become wetter and heavier.
Other fabrics that should be avoided include those made from plastic or rubber as a base. These materials prevent sweat from evaporating from the body thus resulting in higher than normal body temperature during a workout.
When choosing the fabrics, you should also consider the weather, even when you’re working out in the gym. You should wear summer gear, for example, that allow your skin to breathe during the hot and humid days. You can wear your thicker workout clothes in the winter.