What to wear to the gym
Whether you’re getting ready to make exercise a part of your life or just looking to upgrade your current workout attire, you might be wondering what to wear to the gym.
Regardless of the activity, your clothing should help you achieve your goals – not hinder them. And since the gym is one of the best ways to boost your physical and mental health, it only makes sense to get the most out of every session, every time.
The good news is that by following a few simple tips you can look and feel your best when you exercise. Read on for our essential guide to what to wear to the gym.
How the right outfit elevates your workout
You dress one way when you give a presentation at work and another when you watch the game on Sunday, right? This is because the right clothes can enhance your experience. They can bring you a sense of confidence and help you feel more comfortable, no matter what you’re doing.
Going to the gym is no different. The right workout clothes can enhance your gym experience in several key ways:
- Comfort – When it’s time to push your body, mobility is vital. The right workout clothes should be comfortable and flexible, inviting you to use your full range of motion. It should also help prevent chafing and wick away moisture to keep you dry as you sweat.
- Implementation – High quality workout clothes pave 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 activewear, such as compression garments, support muscles, absorb shock and encourage blood flow. This can potentially reduce your risk of injury and boost your endurance during hard workouts.
The best way to try out new workout clothes is to see how you feel right after wearing them. Ask yourself:
- Do I like how these look on me?
- Do I feel supported and can I 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 enhance your workouts, let’s look at some of the essentials you’ll want to pick up 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 main categories of clothing to consider when starting out.
Optimal
When choosing gym tops, look for ones made from tough yet soft fabrics with a loose and comfortable fit. Make sure they allow full range of motion for your arm and core.
You should also:
- Choose breathable fabrics – Breathable fabrics are the ones that pull moisture away from your body. This helps sweat evaporate quickly to keep you cool and dry. Polyester and spandex are both great fabric choices when it comes to choosing the perfect workout clothes.
- Avoid cotton – It may be comfortable, but cotton is the opposite of breathable. Instead, it absorbs moisture and keeps it trapped in your skin. The more you push yourself, the wetter and heavier the cotton shirts will become. Not ideal.
- Prioritize flexibility – A solid fitness program will consist of a variety of activities, some indoors and some outdoors. For this reason, it’s smart to choose activewear that can cover up some different bases. That way you don’t have to overthink what to wear as you get ready.
For women, quality sports bras are also essential. When shopping for sports bras, remember that they should fit a little tighter than a regular bra, but not so snug that it’s difficult to breathe.
If you’re a regular at the gym, aim to have five consistent top choices. Laundry days and rest days may overlap.
Below
As for the bottoms, the right choice will depend on the activity. When running, for example, you’ll want a lightweight pair of shorts that won’t wrinkle. For lifting, you may want to go with tapered joggers that won’t bunch up as you squat or dip.
Regardless of the type of training, the bottom of the gym should be:
- Flexible – Don’t let your pants restrict your movements. Stretchy, flexible fabric is the name of the game here.
- Comfortable – The wide bottom has a tendency to get in the way or ride up as you perform your exercises. Instead, opt for tighter (but not restrictive) pants that you can set and forget.
- Operating – Convenient features like zippered pockets can make life easier by offering a safe spot for your phone or AirPods case.
Make sure you have a variety of bottoms for all types of workouts. Three pairs of shorts and some joggers (or yoga pants) is a solid starting point.
Footwear
Footwear plays an essential role in training success. This is because your feet are your foundation. They also absorb a ton of impact when you’re running or doing a HIIT workout. The right treatment will make you feel fit and full of energy.
Just like tops and bottoms, different workouts call for different types of footwear. You’ll want to have a few options, including:
- Running shoes – These support and protect your feet during repetitive movements, protecting you from ankle or heel injuries. By taking care of your legs during cardio, you can increase your endurance over time.
- Cross-training shoes – When lifting weights or HIIT training, you want a stable base and a stable heel. Compared to running shoes, cross-training shoes are a bit heavier and grippier overall.
- Court shoes – Sometimes, you might want to sweat it out 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 rotate easily without twisting the 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 base of support for any fitness activity.
Accessories
Don’t forget the extras! Sprucing up your workout wardrobe with a few useful accessories can further 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 might want to consider picking up:
- Headbands – In the latter stages of a cardio burst, you don’t want to be wiping sweat from your eyes every ten seconds. An absorbent headband can keep sweat at bay (and look pretty stylish too).
- Compression socks – Compression stockings provide a steady, gentle pressure that can help blood flow back to your heart, reduce leg and ankle pain, and reduce your chances of developing varicose veins and blood clots.
- Weight lifting gloves – Pumping iron can be hard on your hands. A nice set of weightlifting gloves can prevent blisters, support your wrists, and reduce the chances of a slip accident. After all, using chalk for grip can be messy. Gloves provide a much cleaner option.
- Headphones – Nothing gets you pumped for a workout like listening to your favorite songs. A set of bluetooth headphones that deliver clear, crisp sound can enhance 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 you focus on your workout—not on the logistics of your gym apparel and accessories.
Other Tips for a Heavy Lifting Wardrobe
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 is no longer serving 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 huge 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 combine both, but the goal of the workout is to remove all barriers to mobility and effort—so make sure it’s yours.
Get your Activewear on at Chuze Fitness
A top-notch gym wardrobe can help set you up for success. After all, fitness is about getting into a flow. Solid clothing choices pave the way for you to get in the zone.
Beyond the clothes, a great atmosphere also makes it easy to lock in and stay committed to your workout routine.
At Chuze Fitnesswe believe that a fantastic fitness environment is something everyone deserves, whether you’re a veteran lifter or about to make your first foray into the gym. That’s why we infuse our gyms with a sense of luxury that comes at a corner store price. In addition, you can make some new friends and enjoy our group lessons or take advantage of our high-end privilegessuch as red light therapy and infrared saunas.
The success you are dressed for awaits you. Try a membership today!
Sources:
UPMC Health Beat. Do compression garments 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.
Reviewed by:
Ani is the VP of Fitness at Chuze Fitness and oversees the group fitness and group training departments. He has had a 25+ year career in club management, personal training, group exercise and instructor training. Annie lives with her husband and son in San Diego, California and loves hot yoga, snowboarding and all things wellness.
