Choose the right workout clothes based on fabric, fit and comfort with Under Armour

While many people want to look good while working out, your workout clothes should be less about fashion and more about comfort and fit. What you wear can affect the success of your workout. Certain forms of exercise, such as cycling and swimming, will require specific items of clothing. For regular exercise, it’s best to wear something that fits well and keeps you comfortable. Choose the right workout clothes based on fabric, fit and comfort.

Choose a fabric that provides absorbency.

Look for a synthetic fiber that allows your skin to breathe by wicking sweat away from your body. This will help keep your body cool while exercising. Polyester, Lycra, and spandex work well. Look for clothing made from polypropylene. Some lines of exercise clothing will contain COOLMAX or SUPPLEX fibers to help manage your body temperature.

If you don’t expect to sweat a lot, wear cotton. Cotton is a soft, comfortable fiber that lends itself well to light workouts like walking or stretching. When cotton sweats, it can feel heavy and cling to your body, so it wouldn’t work well for more intense or aerobic activities.

Choose good branded clothing with specific exercise technology (not just generic polyester).

So that the clothes fit well

• Pay attention to customization. Depending on your own body and personal style, you may prefer workout clothes that are loose and cover most of your body. Or maybe you want to wear fitted clothes that allow you to see your muscles and curves while working out.
• Tight-fitting clothes are great for working out—just make sure they’re not too tight.
• Make sure your clothes don’t pull your belly in and restrict your movement.
• Match your outfit to a specific activity. If you run or ride a bike, don’t wear long pants that you could trip over or get stuck in the pedals. For yoga and Pilates practitioners, avoid clothing that won’t move with you through different positions.

Adapt the shoes to your training

• Hiking: The right hiking shoes should have a strong sole and tread for traction on the trail. Dietrick says the larger tread is designed to create stability over varying terrain. The higher ankle cut prevents the ankle from rolling on rocks and dirt and prevents dirt from entering the shoe.
• Outdoor boot camp/circuit training: You can find these training shoes in the cross training section. Boot camp and circuit training that involves sharp cutting and changing direction should have lateral (side-to-side) support. The sole should be flat from heel to toe, the tread should be medium (partially visible from the side view) and the fit should be higher, around the ankle bone.
• “Most cross-training shoes have support and don’t collapse when doing a lateral movement. For example, an agility drill that requires you to change direction,” says Dietrick.
• Running: “Running shoes are designed to cushion and dissipate forces when you land,” says Karp. Look for shoes with good cushioning. Next, wiggle your toes. “There should be a toe-width distance between the toes and the end of the shoe, because feet swell a little when you run,” says Karp.
• Also pay attention to the increase in the heel of running shoes. The heel should be slightly higher than the toes to facilitate forward movement.
• Walking: Walking is low impact, so your shoes don’t need extra cushioning to reduce a lot of force like running. If you walk outside, choose a medium tread. If you walk indoors, a flat sole is fine. A heel increase is not necessary for a walking shoe.