Should I Invest In Workout Attire?

Too many of us make excuses to help us procrastinate and get out of working out. A friend of mine recently told me she hasn’t started working out because she doesn’t have the time (or money) to buy workout attire like clothes and shoes. How important is workout attire? What parts are optional and what items are essential? 

Shoes: The Bare Minimum

Whether or not you decide to go all out and invest in high-quality workout attire, you need to buy appropriate shoes. Try working out in your day shoes (even if they aren’t heeled) and you’ll never find yourself asking, “are no bulls worth it?” Athletic footwear is specifically designed with physical activity in mind. Studies have shown that wearing appropriate footwear during a workout or sports activity reduces the risk of injury and allows better maneuverability as well. In some cases, your shoes can actually help you perform better—the claim that Air Jordans help basketball players jump higher being the most widely known case of shoes helping athletes perform better. The same goes for runners, football players, soccer players, and any others that participate in rigorous physical activity.

Clothes: It’s More About Comfort

Have you ever tried to go for a run in jeans? Not skinny jeans, but old-style denim. It’s not just uncomfortable, but it will probably wear you down pretty quickly. Choosing the correct outfit for any workout or sporting activity is mostly about making yourself more comfortable and avoiding fatigue caused by discomfort. Here are a few examples:

• Running In Very Hot Weather

Regardless of the weather, runners will experience an increase in their body temperature during their run. If you aren’t wearing appropriately light clothing while out for a run, you’re at risk of getting a heat stroke.

• Cyclists Suffer From Chafing

Ever wondered why bicycle shorts are so tight? Cycling for long periods of time requires rubbing your upper thighs against each other repeatedly. Over time, this causes chafing. To prevent this occurring, cyclists wear tight shorts or form-fitting pants.

• Waterproof Clothing For Skiing

Snow melts incredibly quickly against our warm body temperature. Getting wet when you’re in weather conditions perfect for skiing is extremely uncomfortable and could also lead to hypothermia. This is why skiing attire or snowboard jackets are made waterproof. 

Other Parts Of Athletic Wear

While clothes and shoes are the basics of any outfit, there are many accessories that are sometimes necessary when participating in sports. For example, American football players need to wear helmets and jockstraps for protection. Skiers need to wear big sunglasses to avoid the glare from the sun reflecting over white snow. Cyclists wear helmets to protect them from head injuries in case of accidents. Weightlifters often wear a powerlifting belt and special gloves to prevent back injuries or chafing in their hands. 

These types of accessories are necessary for some times of workouts or sporting activities. Make sure that you have all the necessary gear before you start any type of physical activity to protect yourself from injury. Some forms of physical activity (such as walking) are less demanding, whereas others (such as scuba diving) will require extensive attire and gear.