Functional Yet Fashionable Gymwear

When it comes to working out, people often have the mentality of “I’m only here to work out, not to look good.” However, that simply is not the case. Working out is a process to feel even better and boost your self-confidence, so why not do all of that while you exercise as well? Here are some quick style tips to keep in mind the next time you decide to hit the gym.

Quality of Materials Matters

Normally, when most guys go to the gym, they just throw on an old high school PE shirt and proceed with their workout. However, it is better to invest in actual athletic clothing because it is made with proper materials suited specifically for exercising. For example, a lot of performance clothing is made of an elastic polyester material with wicking fabric. This combination of elasticity and sweat protection allows for maximum comfort as well as range of movement. Wearing a normal cotton shirt absorbs too much sweat and often leaves sweat marks on gym benches, which is no fun for anyone. Brands such as Nike, Adidas and plenty of others offer great looking, athletic options.

Less is more

The saying “less is more” goes a long way at the gym. Though it is important to look fashionable, there is still a fine line between looking normal and going over the top. An example of doing too much is wearing an unnecessary amount of accessories, such as: compression pants, sweat bands, head bands, and bright neon matching outfits. Doing this makes you stand out too much and sometimes can come off as obnoxious. Furthermore, these extra accessories do not add much functional value to your workout, so it is better to just stick to the basics when it comes to working out.

Wear Form-Fitting Clothes

An important thing to keep in mind when dressing for the gym is to wear clothes that fit your body correctly. Otherwise, if you wear really baggy clothing, how are you going to show off the hard-earned gains you’ve been making? You should wear clothing that compliments your features well. Athletic clothing usually does a good job at molding to the shape of your body.  For example, if you have nice arms, you could wear a tighter fitting shirt to make your arms look like bowling balls. Doing so will significantly boost your self-confidence and when you feel better about yourself, you’ll inevitably have a better workout.

Proper Footwear

Something that is commonly overlooked when guys work out is their footwear. It is NOT okay to wear boat shoes or slides or flip flops to the gym. These shoes don’t have enough sole thickness to safely support heavy weights, which ultimately increases the risk of injury. There are shoes specifically made for athletic purposes such as running shoes, or weightlifting shoes. Weightlifting shoes have an increased heel which allows greater range when doing exercises such as squatting or deadlifting. At the very least, invest in some sneakers like Vans if you don’t want to get actual running shoes. Anything but slides.

Good Athletic Clothing Brands

There are a few brands that do an excellent job at producing performance clothing, some of them including Lululemon and of course, Nike. Yes, Lululemon is more known for women’s leggings but they have an excellent selection of men's’ products as well. The menswear section surprisingly offers very nice fits and is very breathable. Though the price can be a little steep, you do get what you pay for, which is quality workout apparel. Nike, on the other hand, has been in the industry forever and is without a doubt a reliable source for fitness gear. It’s Dri-fit technology and Pro Combat line are very good when it comes to making your muscles pop and keeping you dry.

Words by Steven Liang