What to wear to the gym
Whether you’re getting ready to make working out a part of your life, or you’re just looking to upgrade your current athletic gear, you may be wondering what to bring to the gym.
No matter the activity, your clothes should help you achieve your goals, not get in the way of them. And since hitting the gym is one of the best ways to boost your physical and mental health, it makes sense to get the most out of every session, every time.
The good news is that following a few simple tips can make you look and feel your best when you exercise. Read on for our essential guide on what to wear to the gym.
How the proper habit elevates your workout
You dress one way when you give a presentation at work and a different way when you watch the game on Sunday, right? That’s because the right outfit can enhance your experience. They can put you in a confident state of mind and help you feel more comfortable, regardless of what you are doing.
Going to the gym is no different. The right workout attire can elevate your gym experience in several key ways:
- Comfort – When it’s time to push your body, mobility is crucial. Appropriate gym clothing should be comfortable and flexible, inviting you to use your full range of motion. It should also help prevent irritation and wick away moisture to keep you dry while you sweat.
- Performance – High quality gym clothing clears the way for your body to perform. This helps you bring your best to every workout. Plus, when you look good, you feel good. A positive self-image can boost your confidence and, by extension, your performance.
- Injury prevention – Some active clothing, such as compression clothing, supports the muscles, absorbs vibrations and encourages blood flow. This can potentially reduce your risk of injury and boost your endurance during hard workouts.
The best way to try out new gym clothing options is to see how you feel as soon as you put them on. Ask yourself:
- Do I like how these look on me?
- Do I feel supported and able to move freely?
If the answer is yes, you’ve probably made a solid choice.
Gym Wear Essentials
Now that we’ve covered how quality activewear can level up your workouts, let’s go over some of the key 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 assembling your gym wardrobe.
Ultimately, there are three core clothing categories that you need to consider when starting out.
Tops
When choosing workout tops, look for those made of tough but soft fabrics with a loose and comfortable fit. Make sure you allow your full range of motion of the arm and core.
You should also:
- Choose breathable fabrics – Breathable fabrics are those that move moisture away from your body. This helps sweat to evaporate quickly to keep you cool and dry. Polyester and spandex are both excellent fabric choices when it comes to choosing the ideal gym wear.
- Avoid cotton – It can be comfortable, but cotton is the opposite of breathable. Instead, it absorbs moisture and keeps it trapped against your skin. The more you push, the wetter and heavier the cotton shirts will be. Not ideal.
- Prioritize versatility – A solid fitness program will consist of a variety of activities, some indoors and outdoors. For this reason, it is smart to choose active clothing that can cover you a few different bases. That way, you don’t have to think about what to wear while getting ready.
For women, quality sports bras are also a must. When shopping for sports bras, remember that they should be a little tighter than a normal bra, but not so snug that it becomes difficult to breathe.
If you are a regular gym goer, aim to have five solid options for tops. Laundry days and rest days may overlap.
Bottoms
When it comes to background, the right choice will depend on the activity. When running, for example, you want light, non-chafe pants. For lifting, you may want to go with tapered joggers that don’t stretch like squats or dips.
Regardless of the type of training, the gym pants should be:
- flexible – Don’t let your pants restrict your movement. Stretchy and flexible fabric is the name of the game here.
- Council – The baggy bottom has a tendency to get in the way or ride up while you do your exercises. Instead, choose tighter (but not restrictive) backgrounds that you can set and forget.
- Functional – Convenient features like zipper pockets can make life easier by offering a safe place for your phone or AirPods case.
Make sure you have a variety of backgrounds for all types of workouts. Three pairs of shorts and a pair of joggers (or pairs of yoga pants) is a solid starting point.
Footwear
Footwear plays an essential role in the success of the workout. That’s because your feet are your foundation. They also absorb a ton of impact when running or doing HIIT training. Treating them well will keep you feeling capable and energized.
Just like tops and bottoms, different workouts require different types of shoes. You want to have several options, such as:
- Running shoes – These support and cushion your feet during repetitive movement, protecting you from ankle or heel injuries. By taking care of your feet during cardio, you can increase your endurance over time.
- Cross-training shoes – When lifting weights or HIIT training, you want a firm base and a firm heel. Compared to running shoes, cross-training shoes are a little heavier and more “grippy” in general.
- Court shoes – Sometimes, you may want to sweat on the tennis or basketball court. For these activities, go with court shoes. They are denser than running shoes and offer superior lateral support (so you can pivot easily without spraining an ankle).
When curating your gym wardrobe, it’s easy to let your feet become an afterthought, but investing in quality footwear will give you a solid foundation of support for any fitness activity.
Accessories
Don’t forget the extras! Cleaning up your workout wardrobe with some useful accessories can also boost your confidence and make you even more excited to hit the gym.
While personal taste comes into play when choosing add-ons, there are a few popular items you may want to consider getting:
- Hair bands – During the final stages of a cardio burst, you don’t want to be wiping the sweat from your eyes every ten seconds. An absorbent headband can keep sweat at bay (and still look pretty stylish).
- Compression socks – Compression socks provide a stable and gentle stretch that can help blood flow to your heart, reduce foot and ankle pain, and reduce your chances of developing varicose veins and blood clots.
- Weightlifting gloves – Pumping iron can be hard on your hands. A good set of weightlifting gloves can prevent blisters, support your wrists, and reduce the chance of a slipping accident. After all, using chalk for grip can be messy. Gloves provide a much cleaner option.
- Headphones – There is nothing that gets you hyped for a workout like playing your favorite tunes. A set of over-ear bluetooth headphones that provide clear and crisp audio can improve your entire gym experience.
Investing in a sturdy bag, a quality gym towel and an insulated water bottle can also enhance your gym experience and help keep you focused on the workout, not the logistics of your gym outfit and the accessories.
Other tips for a heavy lifting cabinet
Building your workout wardrobe is an ongoing process, and you should feel free to keep updating your arsenal as your workouts change or intensify. Also, if you feel that an item no longer serves you, don’t be afraid to try something new.
Whatever makes you feel strong, confident and ready to bring your best is the right choice.
While looking good is a big plus, remember to always prioritize function over fashion when deciding what to wear to the gym. There are plenty of versatile options out there that mix the two, but the goal of workout wear is to remove all barriers to mobility and exercise, so make sure yours does just that.
Activate your Activewear at Chuze Fitness
A top-notch gym wardrobe can help set you up for success. After all, fitness is all about getting into a flow; solid clothing choices clear the way to enter the zone.
Beyond the outfit, a great atmosphere makes it even easier to lock in and stay committed to your workout plan.
To Chuze FitnessWe believe that a great gym environment is something everyone deserves, whether you’re a veteran iron-pumper or ready to take your first foray into fitness. That’s why we infuse our gyms with a sense of luxury that comes at corner store prices. In addition, you can make some new friends and have fun in our selection of group classes, or take advantage of our high-end. advantagessuch as red light therapy and infrared saunas.
The success you are looking for awaits. Try a belonging today!
Sources:
UPMC Health Beat. Does compression clothing help athletes? https://share.upmc.com/2022/03/compression-clothing/
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. Footwear – Training Shoes aka 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 had a career spanning over 25 years in club management, personal training, group exercise and instructor training. Ani lives with her husband and son in San Diego, CA and loves hot yoga, snowboarding and all things wellness.
