We discuss 5 gym garments that you should consider and why wear gym clothes to reap the most benefits from your workout sessions. Gym clothing can greatly affect your confidence and performance.
This article is written for us in collaboration with Elite Sports. All images are the copyright of Elite Sports.
Are you someone who likes to workout in worn-out T-shirts and shorts? Do you consider gym fashion overrated? Is going to the gym every day a struggle for you?
Wearing gym clothes has a positive impact on your mood, confidence and energy level. While worn-out or baggy clothes make you self-conscious, and also hinder you from performing exercises correctly.
Similarly, ill-fitted shoes or tight workout clothes can restrict your moves. Incorrect body posture can put extra strain on your muscles increasing risk of injury. On the other hand, gym clothes do not restrict movement, allowing you to perform complex exercises easily.
Moreover, high-quality fabrics are used to craft workout apparel with sweat-wicking fabrics to help prevent chafes and blisters. Some gym articles are designed for specific workouts.
For example, compression garments such as leggings, shorts and socks are especially designed for high-impact running workouts. These compression garments help to regulate blood pressure and muscle endurance during exercise. Furthermore, gym clothes are made from breathable fabrics that will keep your body cool, comfortable, and active during intense workout. Gym wear helps by absorbing sweat and helps with your body’s moisture management.
Now that we have looked at the benefits of wearing workout attire, let’s look at some essential workout articles that you should invest in.
What To Wear To The Gym
Fitness enthusiasts sometimes do not prioritize what to wear to the gym. In the name of comfort, most men and even women tend to neglect their gym wardrobe, failing to realize that proper workout gear and clothes can boost their motivation levels and improve their athletic performance.
I’m sure most of us are familiar with the term “dress for success” and believe it or not, it applies to athletic clothing too. So, here’s some gym clothes you should consider based on your type of workout;
- Gym Gloves
- Gym Bands
- Gym Belts
- Gym Leggings
- Gym Hoodies
Why Wear Gym Gloves?
A good pair of gloves provide stability and support to your hands and wrists. You don’t have to be a wrestler or a boxer to own a pair of high-quality gym gloves. Gym gloves are an essential addition to your workout gear. Whether you perform pull-ups, lift weights, or use a rowing machine in the gym, workout gloves will keep your hands safe from calluses, injuries, and strains.
Once you start using gloves, your grip will improve greatly. A weak grip can be dangerous when lifting heavy equipment such as dumbbells. Moreover, gym gloves absorb sweat, alleviating the risk of weights slipping out of your hands.
Make sure you buy a pair of gym gloves with a wrist strap. This small detail provides immense wrist support during weight-lifting, allowing you to lift heavy weights easily.
Why Wear Gym Bands?
Just like gym gloves, gym bands are an essential workout accessory that every fitness enthusiast should own. Gym bands offer much-needed support to your wrists during weight lifting and resistance training. Wearing gym bands during simple floor exercises such as push-ups can greatly increase the strength of your wrists.
Gym bands support wrist joints during strength training preventing bone and muscle damage. Moreover, gym bands contribute to improved grip, allowing you to lift heavier weights.
Why Wear Gym Belts?
Correct body posture and lifting form are crucial during weight-lifting and other gym workouts. Incorrect moves and posture can put unnecessary strain not just on the target muscles, but also on your spine and core muscles.
Whether you are into serious heavy-weight lifting or perform regular bodyweight exercises, make sure you wear a gym belt to reduce stress on your lower back muscles and hyperextension of your core muscles.
During weight lifts, gym belts tend to divert pressure from the spine to the abdominal cavity. This pressure in the abdominal cavity pushes at your spine from the inside, and the abdominal and lower back muscles put pressure on the spine from the outside.
Consequently, your spine becomes stable and does not endure increased stress levels during weight lifts. You can protect your spine from damage by wearing a gym belt. A stable spine and correct body posture will increase your strength, stamina, and muscle development.
Why Wear Gym Leggings?
Fitness aficionados love wearing gym leggings for their many benefits. Gym leggings not only make you look chic and athletic, but they also help improve your gym performance. Leggings are highly functional gym wear and aid in the biomechanics of a workout move. Whether you prefer athletic, weight lifting, resistance training, HIIT, or cardio, your gym leggings will never feel uncomfortable.
In addition to comfort, gym leggings support your muscles and protect them from strain during intense workout sessions. Quality compression wear such as leggings also increase the oxygen supply to your muscles by improving blood flow, boosting athletic performance. Furthermore, gym leggings are made of lightweight fabrics that are more comfortable than regular gym clothes. They are crafted with soft, flexible and specialty fabric to reduce rashes and chafes that result from friction.
Why Wear Gym Hoodies?
Gym hoodies not only help your muscles warm-up faster, but also insulate the heat to prevent your body from cooling down during rest pauses and breaks.
Gym enthusiasts are well-aware of the importance of warm-ups before exercise. Warm-up sessions increase the temperature of muscles, relaxing and preparing them for demanding exercises.
Furthermore, gym hoodies are highly comfortable activewear, allowing you to stay warm during workout sessions in winters. When you wear hoodies during cardio and aerobic exercises, you sweat more. Hoodies help you torch more calories by increasing blood circulation, heart rate, and body temperature.
But try not to pull this hack in the summer as you may feel dehydrated and exhausted.
Hoodies can also provide storage, so you can keep your phone, keys, headphones, and wallet safety during workouts.
You can also use your hoodie to signal that you do not want to socialize in the gym.
How Often Should I Replace My Gym Clothes?
The question is when exactly should you replace your gym clothes? The answer is highly subjective and depends on how frequently you wear your workout clothes. If you wear your gym clothes every day, you may have to replace them between 3 to 6 months. On the other hand, if you exercise twice or thrice a week, then your clothes may last you a year.
Generally, you should replace the gym clothes when elastic bands become loose, the fabric becomes too stretchy, the clothes develop prominent holes and other signs of wear.
From hygiene to loose elastic strands and faded colors, there are a number of reasons to throw out your old gym clothes. Workout shirts or clothes are made of durable synthetic performance fabrics and can last you a long time. But they are not imfmune to wear.
You can increase the shelf life of your workout clothes by following the care instructions properly, hand washing your clothes, and using gentle detergents. However, you would still have to replace them.
Why Wear Gym Clothes Summary
Knowing what to wear to the gym is choosing the right choice of workout clothes is just as important as working out and joining up with the right diet plan. Your gym clothes have the power to increase your type of workout performance and will help you achieve your fitness goals. Curating a gym wardrobe that works best for you also serves as a great investment. Make sure you stock up on the essential gym and compression garments mentioned above for maximum comfort, improved confidence, better support and endurance.
Knowing when to replace your gym wear will help you to maximize the benefit of your workout, tackle moisture management and avoiding bodily injury.
