What to Wear to the Gym

Whether you’re getting ready to make working out a part of your life, or you’re just looking to upgrade your current athletic apparel, you may be wondering what to wear to the gym.

Regardless of the activity, your clothes should help you achieve your goals—not hinder them. And since hitting the gym is one of the best ways to boost 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 help you look and feel your best when working out. Read on for our essential guide to what to wear to the gym.

How the Right Clothing Increases Your Workout

You dress one way when giving a presentation at work and another way when watching the game on Sunday, right? That’s because the right clothing can enhance your experience. They can put you in a confident state of mind 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 important ways:

• consolation – When it’s time to push your body, mobility is important. Appropriate gym wear 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 while you sweat.
• Performance – Quality gym wear clears the way for your body to perform. It 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 active clothing, such as compression clothing, supports muscles, absorbs vibrations, and encourages blood flow. It can potentially lower your risk of injury and boost your endurance during tough workouts.

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

• Do I like the way they look on me?
• Do I feel supported and able to 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 elevate your workouts, let’s discuss some of the key items you’ll want to grab 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 building your gym wardrobe.

Ultimately, there are three main clothing categories that you will need to consider when starting out.

Tops

When choosing workout tops, look for ones made from tough yet soft fabrics with a loose, comfortable fit. Make sure they allow your full range of arm and core movement.

You should also:

• Choose breathable fabrics – Breathable fabrics are those that draw 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 gym 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 longer you push yourself, the wetter and heavier the cotton shirts will become. Not perfect.
• Prioritize versatility – A solid fitness program will consist of a variety of activities, some indoors and some outdoors. For this reason, it’s wise to choose activewear that can cover up several different bases. That way you don’t have to overthink what to wear while you’re getting ready.

For women, quality sports bras are also a must. When shopping for sports bras, remember that they should fit tighter than a normal bra, but not so tight that it becomes difficult to breathe.

If you’re a regular gym goer, aim to have five solid options for tops. Wash days and rest days may overlap.

Bottoms

When it comes down to it, the right choice depends on the activity. When running, for example, you’ll want lightweight, non-chafe shorts. For lifting, you may want to go with tapered joggers that won’t bunch up while you squat or float.

Regardless of the type of workout, gym bottoms should:

• Flexible – Don’t let your pants limit your movement. Stretchy, pliable fabric is the name of the game here.
• tight – A plump bottom tends to get in the way or ride up while you do your exercises. Instead, choose tighter (but not tight) bottoms that you can set and forget.
• Functional – Convenient features like zippered pockets can make life easier by offering a secure place for your phone or AirPods case.

Make sure you have a variety of bottoms for all types of workouts. Three pairs of shorts and a pair of joggers (or pairs of yoga pants) is a solid starting point.

shoes

Footwear plays an important role in the success of the workout. That’s because your feet are your foundation. They also absorb a ton of impact when running or doing HIIT training. Treating them right will keep you feeling competent and strong.

Just like tops and bottoms, different exercises require different types of footwear. You want to have several options, such as:

• Running shoes – They support and support 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 solid foundation and stationary heels. Compared to running shoes, cross-training footwear is a bit heavier and “grippy” in general.
• Court shoes – Sometimes, you might want to sweat it out on the tennis or basketball court. For these activities, go to court shoes. They are denser than running shoes and offer superior lateral support (so you can easily pivot without spraining the ankle).

When curating your gym wardrobe, it’s easy to let your feet do the thinking, but investing in quality footwear will give you a solid base of support for any fitness activity.

Accessories

Don’t forget about the extras! Polishing off your workout wardrobe with some useful accessories can boost your confidence even more and make you more excited to hit the gym.

While personal taste comes into play when choosing add-ons, there are a few popular items you might consider picking up:

• Headbands – In the latter stages of a cardio blast, 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 squeeze that helps blood flow back to your heart, reduces foot and ankle pain, and lowers your chances of varicose veins and blood clots .
• Weightlifting gloves – The pumping iron can be hard on your hands. A good set of weightlifting gloves can prevent blistering, support your wrists, and reduce the chances of a slip accident. After all, using chalk for grip can be messy. Gloves provide a cleaner option.
• Headphones – Nothing gets you hyped for a workout like cranking out your favorite tunes. A set of over-ear, bluetooth headphones that deliver clear, crisp audio can enhance your entire gym experience.

Investing in a durable duffle bag, a quality gym towel, and an insulated water bottle can also enhance your gym experience and help keep you focused on the workout—not the logistics of your outfit and gym accessories.

Other Heavy Lifting Wardrobe Tips

Building your workout wardrobe is an ongoing process, and you should feel free to keep updating your arsenal as your workouts change or intensify. Additionally, 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 big 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 are a mix of both, but the purpose of exercise wear is to remove all barriers to mobility and exertion—so make sure yours does just that.

Activate Your Activewear 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 options pave the way to getting into the zone.

Beyond clothing, a good environment also makes it easier to lock in and stay committed to your workout plan.

In Chuze Fitnesswe believe that a fantastic gym environment is something everyone deserves, whether you’re a veteran iron-pumper or ready to make your first foray into fitness. That’s why we give our gyms a luxury feel at corner store prices. Plus, you can make some new friends and have a blast with our selection of group classes, or take advantage of our high-end perkssuch as red light therapy and infrared sauna.

The success you dress for awaits. Try a membership now!

Source:

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 aka Cross-Trainers. https://www.aapsm.org/aerobicshoes.html

WebMD. Compression Stockings: Benefits and Side Effects.

Reviewed By:

Ani is the Vice President of Fitness at Chuze Fitness and oversees the group’s fitness and team training departments. He has had a 25+ year career in club management, personal training, group exercise and coaching training. Ani lives with her husband and son in San Diego, CA and loves hot yoga, snowboarding and all things wellness.