5 Tips for Buying Athletic Gear

Buying workout clothes can be more complicated than it might appear on the surface. There’s a reason why everyone these days is wearing stylish, skin-tight activewear made with performance fabrics. The reason is that these clothes actually provide the support you need to perform at your best. So what do you need to know before you go shopping for activewear? You need to make sure any workout clothes you buy fit well so you can move comfortably during your workouts. You should choose pieces you can layer to stay warm in bad weather. Get the right gear for the right activity so you’re less likely to injure yourself and choose the right performance fabrics to get the most from your workout. Before you buy leggings, remember to do the squat test to make sure they don’t become see-through when you bend over. 1) Make Sure It Fits Well A proper fit is probably the most important thing you need out of an activewear garment. When activewear fits properly, you’ll enjoy your full range of motion and stay comfortable. You’ll be less likely to have wardrobe malfunctions in the middle of a fitness class. When you move into yoga poses or do squats, all of your body parts will remain inside your clothes where they belong. Always try on activewear before you commit to it. If you’re shopping online, make sure the retailer will accept returns so you aren’t stuck with a garment you can’t use. When you try on your activewear for the first time, put it through a full range of motions so you can make sure it’s comfortable and stays in place, no matter how much you move. Try jogging in place, doing some calisthenics, or performing lunges and squats while wearing the garment to ensure a good fit. Activewear should fit your body type, so buy from brands that sell petite and tall sizes if you need to. 2) Choose Pieces You Can Layer Layering up is important if you’re the type who likes to exercise outdoors in all weather. Snug-fitting pieces are the easiest to layer. Wear a moisture-wicking fabric closest to your skin, then add a fleece layer for warmth and a windproof and waterproof layer for added protection. Inner layers should fit snugly to keep you warm, while outer layers should be loose to fit over the other layers. 3) Tailor Your Gear to Your Activity It’s important to wear the right clothes for the right athletic activities. For example, if you’re going on a bike ride, you need to wear bike shorts to protect your legs from chafing. If you’re doing yoga, a strappy top, and a low-impact sports bra might be fine, but if you’re doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT), you’re going to need a high-impact bra. Wear those garments if you’re doing a sport requiring specialized garments. They’re designed the way they are for a reason, and that reason is usually to support performance and prevent injury. 4) Choose the Right Fabrics, Especially for Outdoor Gear Performance fabrics can make a huge difference to your performance during a workout. Most performance fabrics have sweat-wicking and fast-drying properties, so they’ll pull moisture away from your skin and allow it to evaporate quickly. You’ll stay nice and cool during your workout. Antimicrobial properties can also help keep you comfortable and safe during your workouts. Many performance fabrics are treated with zinc ions or other chemicals that kill bacteria and other microbes, including viruses, on contact. Antimicrobial properties keep the fabric from stinking of body odor and help the fabric last longer. It’s especially important to buy antimicrobial outdoor gear, because you might not wash your outdoor gear, like jackets, as often as you do your other clothes. Plus, antimicrobial outdoor gear can help protect you against viral infections like COVID-19. 5) Do the Squat Test Before You Buy Leggings If you’ve ever bought a pair of leggings, you know that you can’t always tell from looking at them on the rack whether they’re going to remain opaque while you do movements like lunges, bends, and squats. Before you buy a pair of leggings, put them on in front of a mirror and squat to see if the fabric becomes see-through around the glutes. If you’re having trouble looking at your own rear end in the mirror, take a picture over your shoulder or squat down, bend over, and put the camera between your legs for a rear-end mirror selfie. When it’s time to buy athletic gear, you need to make sure you’re buying workout clothes that will provide the support and protection you need for all your physical activities. That way, you can focus on your workout – and not on your wardrobe.