Imagine:
Activewear sets that are soaked in sweat
Leggings that you need to pull up because they have lost their stretch
Sports bras that have lost their support and sturdiness
Does any of this sound eerily familiar?
We wouldn’t be surprised if it does! Many of us have had the misfortune of buying poor-quality gym clothes or wearing ordinary clothing while exercising, which results in the aforementioned uncomfortable developments.
So, what can you do about it?
The answer lies in investing in premium-quality activewear sets that are essential for working out at the gym while feeling like a boss babe!
Fabric type
90% Polyester, 10% Spandex
Care instructions
Machine Wash
Closure type
Pull On
Neck style
V-Neck
The best gym clothes can help you feel confident in your body and motivate you to ace your workout. They can help you get into the right frame of mind needed for an intense workout session. On the other hand, the workout that you have been actively looking forward to can quickly turn into a nightmare if you wear uncomfortable, sweat-soaked clothes while performing it.
With that said, choosing the right workout clothes isn’t always as easy as it’s chalked up to be. You can’t just want randomly into the store and pick the first bright-hued pair of sports bra and leggings that catch your eyes. Ideally, you should look at the material, quality, and features of the activewear you like before spending your hard-earned money on it.
However, with so many choices, it can be a bit challenging to find the right fit for yourself, which is why you can benefit from learning a little about workout clothes and the essential activewear you need to enrich your workouts in 2021.
So, without any ado, let’s head on an educational journey that will help you choose a glorious set of activewear to up your workout game!
Materials That Are Well-Suited for Activewear Sets
Here are some materials that are popularly used for activewear sets and workout clothes:
Polyester
Polyester is a versatile material that you can choose for any type of workout and during any season. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it the mainstay among fitness fabrics. You will easily find it at all athletic wear stores as it’s an incredibly durable, moisture-wicking, and wrinkle-resistant material. It’s also super lightweight and breathable, which enables your sweat to evaporate through the fabric so that you can remain dry.
Despite its lightness, polyester is an excellent insulator, which is why you can also wear tees, tanks, and shorts made of polyester during winters. The one drawback of this synthetic material is that it can hold onto odor and foster fungi and bacteria growth if washed improperly. So, make sure to carefully wash your polyester workout clothes soon after a sweaty workout session instead of letting them sit in your pile of laundry for days on end.
Spandex
Spandex workout clothes are ideal for wearing during workouts that require a high range of motion, such as weightlifting and
Even though spandex isn’t the most breathable material on our list or the best at wicking moisture, its primary benefit is its elasticity. It can stretch up to eight times its actual size, which ensures that you can easily perform all sorts of
However, when you use spandex activewear sets, make sure that you don’t throw them in your dryer r iron them. Otherwise, they will lose their stretch. To ensure that your activewear remains in top shape, wash it on a cold setting and air dry it.
Polypropylene
You should wear polypropylene activewear when you’re exercising outside in high humidity or sleet. Polypropylene is a kind of plastic and polypropylene fabric is essentially a thin, flexible form of said plastic. This material is almost waterproof, which makes it an excellent choice for an outer layer or a base.
Polypropylene is often used in sports undergarments, rain jackets, socks, and skin-tight base layers. It’s an incredibly durable and wrinkle-resistant material that will keep you dry when exercising in misty, humid conditions. It will also keep you warm when exercising outside in cold weather.
Mesh
Activewear made of mesh is ideal for warm weather. While you might not find an outfit that is made entirely of mesh, it is a fantastic element to add to an outfit to promote breathability and coolness. Whenever you need extra airflow, simply opt for a garment with mesh cutouts made from nylon or polyester. If you live in a particularly warm and humid part of the world or tend to sweat a lot, selecting a workout set with mesh cutouts can help you enhance your workout as it will help the moisture evaporate from your skin.
Nylon
Nylon is another material that is suitable for all workouts and weather conditions. It’s a common fabric most often used in pantyhose. It’s soft, stretchy, and resistant to mold and mildew. The best part about nylon is that it flexes with you as you move during your workout and also offers exceptional recovery. It means that nylon can return to its pre-stretched shape and size, which ultimately extends the longevity of your outfit.
This fabric has the amazing tendency to wick sweat from your skin and through the fabric to the outer layer so that it can evaporate into the air. It ensures that your skin and the fabric remain dry. You can find nylon in a wide variety of activewear items, including performance underwear, sports bras, T-shirts, leggings, shorts, and cold-weather sportswear.
Merino Wool
Merino Wool works wonderfully well as a cool-weather fabric for outdoor workouts. It promotes sweat-wicking while keeping you warm. It’s also softer and thinner than regular wool, which means you can use it on relatively warmer days as well. The best part about Merino Wool is its versatility.
When it’s cold outside, the crimps in its fibers trap the warm air emitting from your body. However, when it’s warm outside, and you start sweating, the fibers wick the sweat away from your body and through the fabric. Typically, merino wool is blended with polyester to enhance its softness and breathability so that you can wear it easily during the summer season.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a pricy yet environmentally-friendly alternative to nylon and polyester. It’s largely used in paper, toilet tissue rolls, furniture, single-use cutlery, décor, and more. In recent years, it has successfully made its way into activewear. Bamboo pulp yields a lightweight, breathable natural fabric.
Just like merino wool, bamboo is also blended with some other fabrics to create the best workout clothes. Since it’s a premium fabric, you will have to pay a higher price for bamboo activewear. With that said, it does come with numerous beneficial features, such as odor resistance, moisture-wicking ability, and temperature regulation. Plus, bamboo activewear is super luxurious and unbelievably soft.
Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a unique fabric that you can wear in windy, cold, or humid weather conditions. It’s widely used in shoes, outerwear, and cold-weather accessories, such as hats and gloves. Gore-Tex isn’t a typical fabric, but its’ actually a fabric membrane. It’s windproof and waterproof on top of being breathable. Gore-Tex essentially coats fabrics and repels liquids while allowing your sweat to seep through the fabric and evaporate. Many popular brands use Gore-Tex to waterproof and windproof their activewear.
Now that you know all about the materials that you should choose if you want the best workout clothes, let’s take a look at some must-have activewear items in 2024!
Best Activewear Items in 2024
Here are some essential activewear items that will enhance your workouts in 2024:
A Comfortable Sports Bra
A sports bra is an absolute must-have in terms of activewear. It’s the ideal piece of clothing that you can own to enhance your workout. After all, it’s designed to offer functionality and comfort to you while you sweat it out at the gym. They look super cute as well and come in different colors, shapes, and fabrics! Plus, you can easily pair them with some sleek, seamless leggings to create your unique activewear sets.
The racerback design of a sports bra prevents the straps from sliding down while you move and keep you cool when you build up a sweat. Its supportive cups are excellent for keeping your chest in place to keep any discomfort and pain at bay. Sports bras are also designed to restrict any movement and lessen the impact on your shoulders by redistributing the weight across your back.
Stretchy Leggings
Leggings have been a favorite activewear item for a few years now. Earlier, people used to associate leggings with field athletes,
With the increase in their demand, new types of leggings keep cropping up in the market. The most popular types are seamless leggings and moisture-wicking leggings, both of which rank pretty high in the list of the best workout clothes. Additionally, the fabric, color, and pattern options have also grown.
It’s fair to say that leggings have slowly become a fashion staple. The best part about leggings is their versatility as an activewear item. They are excellent as part of a workout kit due to their flexibility and fit. Plus, since they are seamless, you can easily wear them without worrying about chaffing due to uncomfortable seams. You can also wear them while running errands or going about your day.
Convenient Joggers
If you’re a fan of leggings but don’t like the fact that they come without pockets, you will be immensely pleased with joggers. This activewear item comes in super soft fabric and features a stretchy waistband and – wait for it – pockets! Joggers offer the easy comfort of leggings but with a more spacious silhouette that makes them less restrictive.
They are also the ideal activewear for people who love the comfort of sweatpants but aren’t huge fans of their look. They come in a wide array of fabrics, colors, and drawstring waists. Just like leggings, you can rock your joggers in the gym and dance studio. Their comfortable fit and soft fabric will surely enhance your workout.
You can also wear them as part of an activewear set. Pair them with a cute top and block heels for a casual lunch with your friends, or throw them on with some joggers for a quick shopping run. You can wear your comfortable joggers throughout a working day as well as for a weekend brunch.
Moisture Wicking Undershirts
Another essential activewear item that you need to invest in is a high-quality, durable, moisture-wicking undershirt. If you’re worried about unsightly sweat stains showing through your clothes, you’re bound to love this piece of activewear.
After all, when you are in the middle of a grueling workout, the last thing you need to worry about is sweat stains. Undershirts for gym-going women come with underarm guards and a wicking feature that allows them to eliminate your sweat so that it doesn’t hold you down and you can confidently continue working out. They also come in many materials, including polyester and cotton.
This piece of breathable clothing will draw the moisture away from your body so that you remain dry during an intense workout session and don’t experience any chafing. The breathable, dry nature of your shirt will also keep mold and bacteria at bay. Plus, these shirts are designed to last for a long time without losing their shape.
Activewear Sets
If you want something practical and essential, you can invest in high-quality, durable, and breathable activewear sets that typically include a sturdy sports bra, sleek leggings, and a racerback top. The benefit of such a set is that you can wear it to the gym or throw it on for a casual hangout with your friends. It’s uber-comfortable and easy to work out in. Just make sure that you choose a workout set that has a moisture-wicking feature so that you don’t have to deal with sweaty clothes that get in the way of your workout and lead to chafing.
The Bottom Line
As a gym-goer, it can be overwhelming to find the right activewear sets as the market is saturated with clothes marketed as essential parts of workout kits. However, if you make sure to choose the right materials and features, you will ultimately get your hands on the best workout clothes out there. The key is to find workout clothing that fulfills your needs, makes you feel comfortable in your body, and helps you take your workout game to the next level.
