What to wear to the gym
Whether you’re getting ready to make exercise a part of your life or are simply looking to upgrade your current workout attire, you may be wondering what to wear to the gym.
No matter what activity you do, your clothes should help you achieve your goals, not get in the way. And since going to the gym is one of the best ways to improve your physical and mental health, it makes sense to make the most of every session, every time.
The good news is that if you follow a few simple tips you can look and feel your best when you work out. Read on for our essential guide to what to wear to the gym.
How the right clothing improves your training
You dress one way when you’re giving a presentation at work and a different way when you’re watching the game on Sunday, right? That’s because the right clothes can enhance your experience. They can make you feel confident and help you feel more comfortable, no matter what you’re doing.
Going to the gym is no different. The right activewear can enhance your gym experience in several key ways:
- Comfort – When it comes time to put your body through its paces, mobility is key. The right sportswear should be comfortable and flexible, allowing you to use your full range of motion. It should also help prevent chafing and absorb moisture to keep you dry while you sweat.
- Performance – High-quality sportswear facilitates your body’s performance, helping you to give your best in 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 sports garments, such as compression clothing, support muscles, absorb vibrations and stimulate blood flow. This can potentially reduce your risk of injury and increase your endurance during tough workouts.
The best way to try out new gym clothing options is to see how you feel when you put them on. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I like how they look on me?
- Do I feel supported and able to move freely?
If the answer is yes, you have probably made a good decision.
Basic clothes for the gym
Now that we’ve covered how quality activewear can enhance your workouts, let’s go over some of the key items you’ll want to stock up on before your next workout. Activewear is a huge industry, and the options can seem endless. That’s why it’s important to take a targeted approach when putting together your gym wardrobe.
Ultimately, there are three main categories of clothing you’ll need to consider when starting out.
Upper parts
When choosing workout shirts, look for ones made from durable yet soft fabrics, with a loose and comfortable fit. Make sure they allow for a full range of motion in your arms and abdomen.
You should also:
- Choose breathable fabrics – Breathable fabrics are those that wick moisture away from the body. This helps sweat evaporate quickly to keep you cool and dry. Polyester and spandex are two great fabric options when it comes to choosing the ideal gym clothing.
- Avoid cotton – It may be comfortable, but cotton is the opposite of breathable. Instead, it absorbs moisture and traps it against your skin. The harder you work, the wetter and heavier cotton t-shirts will become. Not ideal.
- Prioritize versatility – A solid exercise program will consist of a variety of activities, some indoors and some outdoors. For this reason, it is smart to choose sportswear that can cover A few different bases. That way, you don’t have to think too much about what to wear while you’re getting ready.
For women, quality sports bras are also a must. When purchasing a sports bra, remember that it should fit a little tighter than a regular bra, but not so tight that it makes it difficult to breathe.
If you hit the gym regularly, try to have five solid t-shirt options. Wash days and rest days can overlap.
Lower parts
When it comes to pants, the right choice will depend on the activity. If you run, for example, you’ll need lightweight shorts that won’t chafe. For weightlifting, you might prefer fitted sweatpants that won’t bunch up when you do squats or lunges.
Regardless of the type of training, gym pants should be:
- Flexible – Don’t let your pants restrict your movement. The important thing here is that they are made of flexible and elastic fabrics.
- Tight – Baggy pants tend to get in the way or ride up while you’re working out. Instead, choose tighter-fitting (but not constricting) pants that you can put on and forget about.
- Functional – Convenient features like zippered pockets can make life easier by offering a secure place for your phone or AirPods case.
Make sure you have a variety of bottoms for all types of workouts. Three pairs of shorts and one pair of sweatpants (or yoga pants) is a good starting point.
Footwear
Shoes play a key role in successful training, as your feet are the foundation of your physical activity. They also absorb a lot of impact when running or doing HIIT workouts. Taking good care of them will keep you feeling capable and energized.
Just like tops and bottoms, every workout requires a different type of shoe. It’s a good idea to have a few options, such as:
- Running shoes – These provide support and cushion your feet during repetitive movements, protecting you from ankle or heel injuries. By taking care of your feet during cardio exercises, you can increase your endurance over time.
- Cross training shoes – When lifting weights or doing HIIT training, you need a firm base and a fixed heel. Compared to running shoes, cross training shoes are a bit heavier and have more grip overall.
- Court shoes – Sometimes, you might want to sweat it out on the tennis or basketball court. For these activities, wear tennis shoes. They are denser than running shoes and offer superior lateral support (so you can easily turn without twisting your ankle).
When it comes to organizing your gym wardrobe, it’s easy to let your feet take a backseat, but investing in quality footwear will give you a firm base of support for any physical activity.
Accessories
Don’t forget the extras! Rounding out your workout wardrobe with some useful accessories can boost your confidence even more and make you want to hit the gym even more.
While personal taste plays a role when choosing accessories, there are some popular items you may want to consider purchasing:
- Headbands – During the later stages of an intense cardio workout, you don’t want to be wiping sweat from your eyes every ten seconds. A sweat-absorbent headband can keep the sweat at bay (and look pretty stylish, too).
- Compression stockings – Compression stockings provide gentle, constant compression that can help blood flow back to the heart, reduce foot and ankle pain, and decrease the chances of developing varicose veins and blood clots.
- weight lifting gloves Lifting weights can be hard on your hands. A good pair of weightlifting gloves can prevent blisters, support your wrists, and reduce your chances of a slipping accident. After all, using chalk for grip can be a mess. Gloves offer a much cleaner option.
- Headphones – Nothing gets you more excited to work out than listening to your favorite music. A pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones that deliver crisp, clear sound can enhance your entire gym experience.
Investing in a sturdy duffel bag, a quality gym towel, and an insulated water bottle can also enhance your gym experience and help you focus on your workout, not the logistics of your gym attire and accessories.
Other tips for a heavy-duty wardrobe
Building your workout wardrobe is an ongoing process, and you should feel free to update your arsenal as your workouts change or intensify. Also, if you feel like a piece of clothing is no longer working for 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 huge plus, always remember to prioritize function over fashion when deciding what to wear to the gym. There are plenty of versatile options that combine both, but the goal of activewear is to remove all barriers to mobility and exertion, so make sure yours does just that.
Activate your sportswear at Chuze Fitness
A top-notch gym wardrobe can help you achieve success. After all, fitness is all about getting into a groove; choosing the right clothes clears the way to getting into a groove.
Beyond clothing, a pleasant environment also makes it easier to focus and commit to your training plan.
In Chuze GymWe believe that a fantastic gym environment is something everyone deserves, whether you’re a weightlifting veteran or ready to take your first foray into fitness. That’s why we infuse our gyms with a luxurious feel that comes at a corner-store price. Plus, you can make new friends and have fun in our selection of group classes, or take advantage of our high-end fitness center. benefitssuch as red light therapy and infrared saunas.
The success you are dressed for awaits you. Try a affiliation today!
Sources:
UPMC Health Rhythm. Does compression clothing help athletes? https://share.upmc.com/2022/03/compression-clothing/
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. Footwear – Training shoes also known as Cross-Trainers. https://www.aapsm.org/aerobicshoes.html
MD website. 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. She has over 25 years of experience in club management, personal training, group exercise, and instructor training. Ani lives with her husband and son in San Diego, California and loves hot yoga, snowboarding, and all things wellness.
