Workout Clothes

Looking Good While Exercising Comfortably

Although you might have only considered how good you would look when you purchased your last set of workout clothes, they are an important piece of exercise equipment.  Getting the wrong type of outfit or one that doesn't fit properly may lead to all kinds of problems including chaffing, blisters, blood flow restriction, and skin irritation - not exactly a big incentive to keep exercising.  This section will provide some advice on what to look for when you select workout clothes.

How the Right Clothes Help You Exercise

Sure, looking good is important.  But there's more to selecting your workout clothes than colors, patterns, and styles.  Your workout clothes should also provide the following important functions.

• Keep you dry.  Many modern fabrics are designed to wick perspiration away from your skin and up to the surface of the fabric helping to keep you dry (relatively speaking).  Of course, if you're exercising so hard that you're completely drenched or if you're in an area with high humidity, then no amount of wicking fabric is going to be able to do much.
• Help regulate body temperature.  If you tend to exercise outside, your exercise clothes should help keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  It does this by forming an insulating layer of air next to the skin that acts as a temperature buffer.
• Protect your skin and feet.  Your workout gear should help protect your skin and feet from any chaffing or rubbing that may occur as you exercise.  It should also help protect you from the elements if you exercise outdoors.
• Provide support.  Underwear, either for men or for women, basically has one function:  to provide support.  This is especially important during high impact cardio activities such as jogging, running, step aerobics, or any other activity where you're moving around a lot.
• Prevent slipping.  Your clothes, and especially your shoes, should prevent you from accidentally sliding off of an exercise machine or from slipping on the floor. Both of these situations can cause you to loose your balance and possibly lead to injury.

As you can see, the wrong type of clothes can make your workout miserable while the right type can help make it more comfortable, safe, and effective.  They really are an important part of your exercise gear and they deserve some care in their selection.

What to Look For in Workout Clothes

Now that you understand the impact of what you wear on the quality of your workout, let's discuss some of the things you should look for when selecting workout clothes.

• If most of your exercising is done indoors or if your exercise periods are relatively short (less than 30 minutes or so), you can get by with all natural fabrics like cotton or cotton blends.  There's a lot of controversy here with a lot of fitness professionals not recommending natural fibers at all.  Here's why:  Natural fibers like cotton are very absorbent so they readily soak up all your perspiration, which is good.  However, they don't wick well which means that all the moisture that is absorbed stays in direct contact with your skin, which is bad.  As any baby can tell you, wet clothes are uncomfortable, cold, and can cause skin irritation.  Again, this is only an issue if the moisture stays in contact with your skin for long periods.  If you don't sweat very much or if your workouts are relatively short, then a plain cotton T-shirt is probably a better, not to mention a lower cost, choice. 
• If most of your exercising is done outdoors or if you exercise for longer than 30 minutes at a time, then you should definitely check out some of the modern wicking fibers such as DryMax, CoolMax, Dry-Fiber, or any of the other major brand names.  These fabrics will definitely help keep you comfortable during long exercise periods by wicking moisture away from your skin.  The down side is that these fabrics are significantly more costly than natural fibers.
• Buy the best shoes you can afford for the type of exercise you are doing the most of.  Shoes not only protect your feet, they provide balance as well as a non-slip surface, they absorb shock and provide support for the ankle, arch, and sole of the foot.  Let me say it again:  buy the best workout shoes you can afford.
• Your workout clothes should fit properly and not be so loose that you're constantly pulling them up and adjusting them, or so tight that they're cutting off your circulation.  You should spend your time in the gym exercising, not constantly adjusting your clothes.
• Underwear should provide enough support without being too tight or restrictive.  If you sweat a lot or if you normally exercise for long periods, then you should definitely check out underwear made with wicking fabrics.  There's nothing worse than trying to workout in wet underwear so give this some careful consideration.
• Make sure your workout clothes are made with quality materials and workmanship.  The cheap stuff may have been a great bargain but it won't last long with repetitive use.

When you get your new workout clothes home, they should be thoroughly washed in order to remove any residual dyes, chemicals, or starches.  They should also be washed after you exercise in order to prevent odor-causing bacteria from growing. Some of the wicking fabrics may require special care or temperatures so make sure to read and follow the manufacturer's label.

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