What to wear to the gym: essential tips

What to wear to the gym

Whether you’re getting ready to make exercise part of your life or just looking to upgrade your current workout attire, you may be wondering what to wear to the gym.

No matter the activity, your clothes should help you achieve your goals, not get in your way. And since hitting the gym is one of the best ways to improve 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 better when you exercise. Read on for our essential guide on what to wear to the gym.

How the right outfit improves your training

You dress one way when you give a presentation at work and another way when you watch the game on Sunday, right? This is because the right clothing can enhance your experience. They can put you in a confident state of mind and help you feel more comfortable, regardless of what you’re doing.

Going to the gym is no different. The right workout clothes can improve your gym experience in several key ways:

• Comfort – When it comes time to push your body, mobility is crucial. The right clothes for the gym should be comfortable and flexible, and invite 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 sportswear paves the way for your body to function. This helps you give your best in every workout. Plus, when you look good, you feel good. Positive self-image can boost your confidence and, by extension, your performance.
• Injury prevention – Some sports clothing, such as compression clothing, supports muscles, absorbs vibrations and stimulates blood flow. This can potentially reduce your risk of injury and improve your endurance during intense workouts.

The best way to try new gym clothing options is to see how you feel as soon as you put them on. Ask yourself:

• Do I like how they look on me?
• Do I feel supported and able to move freely?

If the answer is yes, you’ve probably made a solid decision.

Gym Clothing Essentials

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. Sportswear 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 getting started.

Tapas

When choosing sports shirts, look for shirts made of sturdy but soft fabrics with a loose, comfortable fit. Make sure they allow full range of motion in your arms and core.

You should also:

• Choose breathable fabrics – Breathable fabrics are those that move moisture away from the body. This helps sweat evaporate quickly to keep you cool and dry. Polyester and spandex are great fabric choices when it comes to choosing the ideal gym clothes.
• Avoid cotton – It may be comfortable, but cotton is the opposite of breathable. Instead, it absorbs moisture and keeps it trapped against the skin. The harder you work, the wetter and heavier cotton shirts will become. It’s not ideal.
• Prioritize versatility – A solid fitness program will consist of a variety of activities, some indoors and some outdoors. For this reason, it is smart to choose sports clothing that can cover some different bases. That way, you won’t have to think too hard about what to wear while you get ready.

For women, quality sports bras are also a must. When shopping for sports bras, remember that they should fit a little tighter than a regular bra, but not so tight that it’s hard to breathe.

If you regularly go to the gym, try to have five solid top options. Laundry days and rest days can overlap.

Funds

When it comes to pants, the right choice will depend on the activity. When running, for example, you’ll want lightweight shorts that don’t chafe. For lifting weights, you may want to wear tapered sweatpants that don’t wrinkle when you bend or lunge.

Regardless of the type of training, gym pants should be:

• Flexible – Don’t let your pants limit your movement. Stretchy and flexible fabric is the name of the game here.
• Tight – Baggy pants tend to get in the way or ride up while you perform your exercises. Instead, choose tighter (but not restrictive) pants that you can put on and forget about.
• 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 pants for all types of training. 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 training success. That’s because your feet are your foundation. They also absorb a lot of impact when running or doing HIIT training. Treating them well will make you feel capable and full of energy.

Just like t-shirts and pants, different workouts require different types of footwear. 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. 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 stationary heel. Compared to running shoes, cross-training shoes are a little heavier and grippier overall.
• court shoes – Sometimes, you might want to sweat on the tennis or basketball court. For these activities, wear court shoes. They’re denser than running shoes and offer superior lateral support (so you can turn easily without twisting your ankle).

When selecting your gym wardrobe, it’s easy to let your feet become an afterthought, 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 comes into play when choosing accessories, there are some popular items you may want to consider purchasing:

• Headbands – During the later stages of a cardiovascular blast, you don’t want to wipe sweat from your eyes every ten seconds. An absorbent headband can keep sweat at bay (and look super stylish, too).
• Compression socks – Compression socks provide gentle, consistent compression that can help blood return to the heart, reduce foot and ankle pain, and decrease the chances of developing varicose veins and blood clots.
• weightlifting gloves – Lifting weights can be hard on your hands. A good pair of weightlifting gloves can prevent blisters from forming, provide support for your wrists, and reduce the chances of a slipping accident. After all, using chalk to grip objects can be tricky. Gloves offer a much cleaner option.
• Headphones – There is nothing that gets you more excited about a workout than listening to your favorite songs. A pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones that deliver crisp, clear audio can enhance your entire gym experience.

Investing in a sturdy duffel bag, a quality gym towel, and an insulated water bottle can also improve your gym experience and help you stay focused on the workout, not the logistics of your gym attire and accessories.

Other tips for a closet with heavy objects

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 like an item no longer works 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 many 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 set you up for success. After all, fitness is about flow; Solid clothing options clear the way to get in the zone.

Beyond the clothes, an amazing environment also makes it easier to focus and stay committed to your training plan.

In Chuze GymWe believe that a fantastic gym environment is something everyone deserves, whether you’re a seasoned weightlifter or ready to make your first foray into fitness. That’s why we infuse our gyms with a luxurious feel that’s priced like a neighborhood store. Plus, you can make new friends and have fun with our selection of group classes, or take advantage of our high-end range. benefitssuch as red light therapy and infrared saunas.

The success you are dressed for awaits you. Try a affiliation 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, also known as ellipticals. 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 over 25 years of career 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.