The Best Clothes to Work Out In

I have spent the past twenty-five years up in front of groups of people as I teach fitness classes, pilates, and personal training. I always do my very best to dress for the job, and in this case, that is fitness! Take advantage of my years of knowledge, and learn what the best clothes to work out in are. 

What To Look For In Fitness Wear:

1. Price – You won’t catch me buying workout wear at full price! I head straight to the sale racks or the We Made too Much tab on the Lululemon website. The Lululemon price point is higher than other brands but they remain my go-to for a number of reasons, that I’ll get into below. For a lower price point, Costco is my favourite. 

Check out my full list of favourite workout wear.

2. Fit – When you are looking for the best clothes to work out in, think first about the fit. You are going to be squatting, bending, twisting, and crawling, you want the clothes that you are wearing to fit well. Pants that fall down, tops that ride up, and straps that fall off are a distraction. Make sure to move around in various ways when trying on new workout wear before you commit. Some items look amazing on the rack, but as soon as I put it on, I know that it’s not going to work for me.

3. Sports Specific Features – For years I only purchased workout wear that fit well and had an affordable price point. As I get older, though, I feel like I have become pickier about what I wear for each specific activity that I am doing.

• Running: It is important for me to have the little opening on my waistband to put fuel for long runs, as well as a zipper pocket to fit my phone, small wallet, or keys into. On colder days, I like a top that has the thumb-hole in the sleeve cuff to keep the warmth in. And when I get too warm, I need zipper pockets for my gloves or toque to go into. 
• Pilates: I like pants that aren’t too sheer, stay up at the waist, and tops that don’t ride up. Pilates is all about controlled movement, so having to stop mid-exercise to hike up my pants or push my shirt out of my face takes away from what I should be focusing on. Oh, and on colder days like we have been having, I love my Toe Sox!
• Cycling: For indoor cycling, I find that cropped leggings or longer shorts work best. I don’t have to worry about extra fabric getting in the way of my legs and the bike. On top, I go for loose-fitting tops that breathe.   

Again, I find that Lululemon tends to do an excellent job of adding in appropriate extra features for the activity that they have made the item of clothing for.

4. Looks – Did you know that my early education and first career were in Interior Design?  Colour, texture, lines, and pattern draw me in when I’m looking for something new. I assume most people are first drawn to an item because of how it looks. When you love what something looks like, you are more likely going to love to put it on. “Look good, do good,” as my daughter says. 

For me, finding the best clothes to work out in is super-important. After all, I wear workout clothes to my job and to exercise in! So when I have time off from teaching, I like to put on “real clothes”, the opposite of most people. What about you? Do you have a favourite brand or type of clothes to workout in? Let me know in the comments. You never know – maybe you’ll help me find a new favourite.