{"id":522660,"date":"2026-03-08T14:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T14:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/522660\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T14:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T14:10:09","slug":"is-your-gym-kit-holding-you-back-what-to-wear-to-work-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/522660\/","title":{"rendered":"Is your gym kit holding you back? What to wear to work out"},"content":{"rendered":"

You might not put much more thought into what you chuck into your gym bag than what passes the sniff test, but kit can be crucial. The right clothes and footwear can help you feel not just comfortable and supported but boost motivation, help you move more freely and enable your instructor see what you\u2019redoing right and wrong. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not one size fits all<\/p>\n

\u201cI really dislike zips or heavy seams in leggings for Pilates,\u201d says the trainer Louisa Drake. They might be useful for higher-impact exercise, as the heavier fabric helps hold muscles in place and prevent fatigue, \u201cbut they tend to dig in when you\u2019re rolling on your spine or lying supine\u201d. <\/p>\n

Aimee Victoria Long, a personal trainer, says high-waisted leggings with a degree of compression can \u201cmake or break\u201d an HIIT workout: \u201cThey should feel supportive without digging in, and not slip down through squats and lunges.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u2022 The best new workout kit for spring, from \u00a39<\/a><\/p>\n

Baggy or tight?<\/p>\n

Workout clothes don\u2019t have to be skin-tight, but most personal trainers agree that, no matter the discipline, it\u2019s best to wear something fitted. In Pilates and yoga, when you\u2019re bending over, a loose top can fall down and block your view, so you can\u2019t see what shape you\u2019re holding. Tighter clothes also give your instructor a clear sight of the line of your body, so they can assess posture, joint alignment and movement. \u201cLoose or baggy clothing hides key details and it can interfere with lifts such as pull-ups or chin-ups,\u201d says Lucy Joslin, a calisthenics instructor. <\/p>\n

Seasoned joggers will be painfully aware of the following point: the more easily fabric can move and rub your skin, the more you\u2019re likely to chafe. <\/p>\n

Get the fabric right<\/p>\n

Drake recommends softer, more flexible fabrics such as nylon for lower-impact activities, while Long advises moisture-wicking blends that include nylon and Lycra for higher impact: \u201cSkip cotton \u2014 it holds sweat and can cause chafing,\u201d she says. Or try bamboo \u2014 a breathable, sweat-wicking fabric that is more sustainable.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The best buys for updating your workout kit<\/a><\/p>\n

The shoe that fits\"NINTCHDBPICT001062246700\"<\/p>\n

Yes, trainers are expensive but sadly you do need different pairs for different types of exercise. \u201cRunning shoes are designed for forward motion and cushioning, which makes them unstable for weight-lifting,\u201d says Joslin. \u201cTraining or gym shoes have flatter, firmer soles that provide better stability for strength work, balance and lateral movements such as side lunges.\u201d Make sure you replace worn-out pairs. For running, a good rule of thumb is to change them every 300 to 500 miles.<\/p>\n

Get a grip\"Trampoline<\/p>\n

You might think they\u2019re a con to get you to spend more at the studio, but grippy socks, with rubber sticky spots on the sole, can stop you slipping and improve performance. \u201cThe grip encourages your foot to engage, which improves your subconscious awareness of body position,\u201d Drake says. \u201cAnd it helps when you use the small stabilising muscles of the foot, ankle and lower leg \u2014 vital for Pilates and barre.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gloves off\"Woman<\/p>\n

You might have seen classmates in fancy fingerless gloves for Body Pump barbell workouts but, Joslin says, there\u2019s really no need. \u201cGloves can be useful for comfort, but hands and chalk are better for weight training and calisthenics,\u201d she says. \u201cDeveloping calluses improves grip strength, resilience and connection with the bar, while chalk gives you better grip and makes it easier to feel what you\u2019re doing.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u2022 Workout wear for women: fitness pros reveal their best gym kit<\/a><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t wash your kit too often<\/p>\n

Think about your gym kit as you would your hair: if you\u2019ve barely broken a sweat, it will be fine for another day. However, if you\u2019re drenched, washing your kit will help prevent skin conditions such as acne and folliculitis as well as stop you smelling. But the more you wash wicking fabrics, the less effective they become. To stop the technical fibres breaking down, avoid fabric softeners and wash at 30C.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You might not put much more thought into what you chuck into your gym bag than what passes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":522661,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[49,48,407,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-522660","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-fitness","11":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=522660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522660\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/522661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=522660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=522660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=522660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}