While you might be used to working out in an old T-shirt and shorts, you might want to consider upgrading your workout wardrobe. Specialty fabrics can keep you drier and allow for greater flexibility in activities like kickboxing, yoga and Pilates. Even more important, the right sports bra can actually keep you from experiencing breast pain.
Types
Your workout apparel should be lightweight, breathable and moisture-wicking. Fabrics that wick moisture help air circulate through the garment to dry sweat and keep you comfortable. Specific types of workout apparel available in these specialty fabrics include sports bras, tops, skirts, pants, leggings, jackets, hats, gloves, windbreakers, socks, shoes and underwear.
Expert Insight
When it comes to sports bras, many women make poor choices that could end up causing breast pain. According to the Research Group in Breast Health at Britain's University of Portsmouth, bras without adequate support allow delicate breast ligaments to stretch painfully during exercise. The group notes that breasts can move approximately 8 inches during exercise. The traditional over-the-head crop-top style of sports bra, they warn, does not provide enough support for your breasts' side-to-side movement. Wendy Hedger, a scientist on the team, advises women to choose sports bras that fasten in the back, just like their regular bras. Although women rarely buy them, she notes, these styles give more support.
Weather-Specific Apparel
Depending on where you live, you may need additional gear to stay warm and dry on cold, rainy days. Workout gear retailer REI advises you to dress in layers. It recommends a base layer of briefs, sports bra, tights and/or a T-shirt made of moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics or merino wool. A lightweight fleece vest or jacket acts as a middle layer, insulating you with a layer of warm air close to the body. If it's raining, it suggests you add a waterproof shell as a top layer.
Footwear
If you do a particular workout activity more than three times a week, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests you buy a specialized shoe. For running, it suggests a lightweight shoe with a flexible sole, cushioning and a stable heel. For sports like tennis or basketball, it notes that padding is less important than the sole; you want a flexible yet supportive sole that allows for quick movement with full traction. Sports such as golf, soccer, cycling and track sports require special shoes with spikes, cleats, studs or grooves.
Hygiene and Clothing Care
Cleanliness is a growing area of concern in terms of workout apparel and gym facilities. According to Dr. Glenn Braunstein of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, gyms are a breeding ground for a host of infection-causing germs. If you come into contact with these germs at a gym or sports facility and don't wash your workout clothes immediately, you run the risk of coming into repeat contact with them. Braunstein advises you to shower immediately after a workout and wash your workout wear in hot water as soon as you can after a workout.
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