How To Pick The Right Fitness Wear

Don’t underestimate the power your clothes have to help you transform how you look! Choosing the appropriate fitness gear can impact the way you move, feel, and the success of your workout. Check out these quick tips on how to maximize your hard work with the proper clothing.

Comfort is key. The clothing you wear during your workout should not distract you or cause you discomfort. Chafing, riding, bunching, bagginess, and looseness can cause you to restrict how you move and cause you to compromise your form. You should feel comfortable enough to withstand an entire workout without disrupting your flow. Remember, everyone’s comfort level is different and it may take you time to figure out what works best for you. Being self-conscious about how you look diverts your attention from how incredibly awesome you feel during your burn.

Functionality is fundamental. With so many innovations in workout gear, you’re bound to find exactly what you need for your workout. Whether you’re looking for clothing that doubles from workout to coffee date, hidden pockets for your keys, to media pockets for your music, functionality provides you with a multitude of options to tailor your clothing needs to your workout.

Support is super essential. You can easily avoid any workout related injuries just by listening to your body. Ladies, does your back hurt because you aren’t giving yourself the proper support? Guys, does an old basketball injury still cause you discomfort in your knee? Perhaps your orthotics don’t exactly fit in your shoes the way they should. Either way, there is something out there that can help you focus on relieving aches and discomfort, allowing you to feel stress free and at ease.

Fabrics can prevent funkiness. Choosing the right fabric can make all the difference when you’ve been pounding the pavement. A lightweight and absorbent top can help wick away sweat, keeping your body temperature cool without weighing you down. Cotton (particularly 100% cotton) retains moisture and traps sweat, creating a feeling of drag and heaviness. Look for clothing that is breathable and can help prevent overheating. Synthetic blends of polypropylene, Lycra, Spandex, polyester, nylon, and wool are all moisture-wicking (many companies have their own synthetic blend materials).

In addition to staying cool, the right fabric can prevent fungal infections, yeast infections (on the skin in both men and women), and UTIs. Your best bet to avoid any of these irritating infections is to change out of your sweaty clothing as soon as you can.

Style yourself for the season. While you change out your closet, switch out your fitness wardrobe! This shouldn’t be too hard, seeing as how much you love a particular season. For the spring summer, allow yourself to get some fresh air with cropped pants, shorts, and tanks. During the fall, stock up on lightweight long sleeved tops and vests. For those cold days, make sure to wear a hat, gloves, and a wind resistant jacket. Pack on the layers strategically, helping you regulate your body temperature according to your activity. Your base layer should wick moisture, your middle layer should insulate your body heat, and your outer layer should repel wind and water while allowing your perspiration to escape.

Combine fitness with flair. You should enjoy what you wear and feel good in it. Therefore, your style should reflect your inner you. Wear colors that match your mood, make a fashion statement, take a risk, and show off your sexy features. No one said that you have to wear your college gym shorts to group fitness class. And although working out is not a fashion show, you still have the right to look good while you sweat.

Interested in finding out more about new trends in fitness wear? Here are a few to get you started:

W8FIT – Designed with the intention of adding resistance to your workout without the discomfort, W8FIT creator Maya Kaminsky came up with the idea of adding weights to her workout clothing. By doing so, women can easily intensify their exercise by increasing the weighted amount and the amount of calories burned. Definitely an effective way to amp up any workout, W8FIT defines functionality.

Omni Shade by Columbia – Why limit your time outdoors when you can guard yourself from the sun’s rays with your clothing? Omni-shade clothing blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays with woven fabrics and UV reflector technology. Great for day hikes and available for the whole family.

Nike ID – Customize your shoes (or any other fitness gear) to meet your level of desired comfort and style. Want your kickball team to have matching shoes? How about your group fitness cohort to sport the same colors? With this type of flexibility, you can modify your shoe to reflect who you are. You can also add in the Nike+ technology to track your distance, pace, and time.

Compression Tights – Formerly used to alleviate pain, athletes are now using compression fabrics worldwide. By aiding in circulation, compression fabrics allow your body to feel lighter during exercise. Compression fabrics prevent muscle strain and injury while wicking away sweat and keeping your muscles warm. You can find compression socks, tops, shorts, and pants.