What to Wear to the Gym?
Whether you're getting ready to make exercise a part of your life or you just want to update your existing gym clothes, you may be wondering what to wear to the gym.
Whatever the activity, your clothing should help you achieve your goals, not get in the way of them. Since going to the gym is one of the best ways to strengthen your physical and mental health, it makes sense to always get the most out of every session.
The good news is that you can keep you looking and feeling your best while exercising by following a few simple tips. Read on for our essential guide to what to wear to the gym.
How Proper Clothing Improves Your Workout
You dress differently when you're giving a presentation at work, you dress differently when you watch the game on Sunday, right? Because the right clothes can improve your experience. No matter what you do, they can make you feel confident and help you feel more comfortable.
Going to the gym is no different. Proper workout clothing can improve your gym experience in several important ways:
- Comfort – Mobility is key when it's time to challenge your body. Proper sportswear should be comfortable and flexible, inviting you to use your full range of motion. It should also help prevent chafing and wick away moisture to keep you dry as you sweat.
- Performance – High-quality sportswear paves the way for your body to perform. This helps you perform at your best every workout. Plus, when you look good, you feel good. Positive self-image can increase your confidence and, in turn, your performance.
- Injury Prevention – Some activewear, such as compression clothing, support muscles, absorb vibrations and promote blood flow. This can potentially reduce your risk of injury and increase your endurance during challenging workouts.
The best way to try out new activewear options is to see how you feel as soon as you put them on. Ask yourself:
- Do I like the way these look at me?
- Do I feel supported and able to move freely?
If your answer is yes, you've probably made a solid choice.
Gym Wear Basics
Now that we've covered how quality activewear can enhance your workouts, let's go over some essential items you'll want to grab before your next sweat session. Activewear is a huge industry and the options can seem endless. That's why it's important to take a targeted approach when preparing your gym wardrobe.
Ultimately, there are three basic clothing categories you should consider when getting started.
tops
When choosing training tops, choose ones that are made of tough but soft fabrics and have a loose and comfortable fit. Make sure they allow for your full arm and core movement.
You should also:
- Choose breathable fabrics – Breathable fabrics are fabrics that remove moisture from your body. This helps sweat evaporate quickly, keeping you cool and dry. Polyester and spandex are excellent fabric choices when it comes to choosing the ideal activewear.
- Avoid cotton – It may be comfortable, but cotton is the opposite of breathable. Instead, it absorbs moisture and locks it into your skin. The more you push yourself, the wetter and heavier cotton shirts get. It's not ideal.
- Prioritize versatility – A solid fitness program will consist of a variety of activities, some indoors, some outdoors. Therefore, it is wise to choose active clothing that can cover you. several different foundations. This way, you don't have to think too much about what to wear while getting ready.
Quality sports bras are also a must for women. When buying a sports bra, keep in mind that it should fit a little tighter than a regular bra, but not so tight that it makes breathing difficult.
If you hit the gym regularly, aim to have five solid options for tops. Laundry days and rest days may overlap.
bottoms
When it comes to bottom wear, the right choice will depend on the activity. For example, when you're running, you'll want lightweight, chafing-free shorts. You may want to choose tapered runners that won't bunch up when squatting or lunging to lift.
Regardless of the type of workout, gym bottoms should be as follows:
- Flexible – Don't let your pants restrict your movements. The name of the game here is stretchy, stretchy fabric.
- comfortable – Loose bottoms tend to get in the way or ride up as you do your exercises. Instead, choose tighter (but not restrictive) bottoms that you can set and forget.
- Functional – Convenient features like zippered pockets can make life easier by providing a secure space for your phone or AirPods case.
Make sure you have a variety of bottoms for all types of exercise. Three pairs of shorts and a few joggers (or a pair of yoga pants) are a solid starting point.
Shoe
Shoes play an important role in training success. Because your feet are your foundation. They also absorb tons of impact while you're running or doing a HIIT workout. Treating them right will make you feel capable and energetic.
Like tops and bottoms, different workouts require different types of shoes. You'll want to have a few options, such as:
- running shoes – These support and cushion your feet during repetitive movements, protecting you from ankle or heel injuries. You can increase your endurance over time by taking care of your feet during cardio.
- cross training shoes – When lifting weights or doing a HIIT workout, you want a solid foundation and a stable heel. Compared to running shoes, cross training shoes are slightly heavier and generally more “conservative”.
- court shoes – Sometimes you may want to sweat it out on the tennis or basketball court. Go to these activities in court shoes. They're denser than running shoes and offer superior lateral support (so you can easily turn without spraining your ankle).
It's easy to let your feet become an afterthought when organizing your gym wardrobe, but investing in quality shoes will give you a solid foundation of support for any fitness activity.
Accessories
Don't forget the extras! Polishing up your workout wardrobe with some useful accessories can further boost your confidence and make you even more excited to head to the gym.
While personal taste comes into play when choosing add-ons, there are a few popular items you might consider getting:
- hair bands – During the final stages of a cardio workout, you don't want to wipe sweat from your eyes every ten seconds. An absorbent headband can keep sweat away (and look pretty stylish).
- compression socks – Compression socks provide steady, gentle compression that can help blood flow back to your heart, reduce foot and ankle pain, and reduce the likelihood of varicose veins and blood clots.
- weightlifting gloves – Pumping iron can be hard on your hands. A nice set of weightlifting gloves can prevent blisters, support your wrists, and reduce the chance of a slip accident. After all, using chalk for comprehension can be complicated. Gloves provide a much cleaner option.
- Headphones – Nothing gets you more excited than playing your favorite tunes. Providing crisp and clear sound, a set of over-ear bluetooth headphones can enhance your entire gym experience.
Investing in a sturdy gym bag, a quality gym towel, and an insulated water bottle can also enhance your gym experience and help you focus on the workout, not the logistics of your gym clothes and accessories.
Other Tips for a Heavy Lift Wardrobe
Building your workout wardrobe is an ongoing process, and don't hesitate to continue updating your arsenal as your workouts change or intensify. Also, if you find that a product is no longer serving you, don't be afraid to try something new.
Anything that makes you feel strong, confident, and ready to do your best is the right choice.
While looking good is a big plus, always remember to prioritize functionality over fashion when deciding what to wear to the gym. There are plenty of versatile options that blend both, but the goal of workout clothing is to eliminate any impediments to mobility and effort; so make sure yours does this too.
Activate Your Gym Clothes at Chuze Fitness
A top-notch gym wardrobe can help set you up for success. After all, fitness is about getting into a flow; Sturdy clothing choices pave the way to enter the zone.
Beyond the clothes, a great atmosphere also makes it easier to focus on and stick to your exercise plan.
On: Chuze FitnessWhether you're a seasoned fitness veteran or ready to take your first step into fitness, we believe a great gym environment is something everyone deserves. That's why we add a luxury feel to our gyms at a corner store price. You can also make new friends and enjoy our group lessons or benefit from our high-end services. privilegesLike red light therapy and infrared saunas.
The success you are working for awaits you. Give it a try membership Today!
Sources:
UPMC Health Beat. Do Compression Garments Help Athletes? https://share.upmc.com/2022/03/compression-clothing/
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. Shoes – Training Shoes, also known as Cross-Trainers. https://www.aapsm.org/aerobicshoes.html
WebMD. Compression Stockings: Benefits and Side Effects. https://www.webmd.com/dvt/choose-compression-stockings
Reviewed by:
Ani is the Vice President of Fitness at Chuze Fitness and oversees the group fitness and team training departments. He has a career spanning over 25 years in club management, personal training, group exercise and instructor training. Ani lives in San Diego, CA with her husband and son and loves hot yoga, snowboarding, and all things healthy living.