Choosing what to wear for exercising can be difficult, as the best fabric will be dependent on the type of exercise that you are going to be doing.
Activities such as yoga will need stretchy fabrics so you can move freely without feeling restricted, whereas running outdoors may require clothing that is breathable but still keeps you warm.
What qualities should activewear fabrics have?
Moisture Wicking:
Fabrics with moisture wicking qualities will not absorb or retain moisture, and instead wick it away from your skin and carry it to the exterior layer of the fabric where it can evaporate. This helps you to regulate your body temperature, and can also stop chafing. It will also keep you warm and dry in cold weather, and cool in hot weather.
Breathable:
Lightweight and breathable fabrics allow air to flow through easily, which will help sweat to evaporate quickly. Breathable materials will also stop your body from overheating and reduce the growth of bacteria that make your clothes smell.
Quick Drying:
Fabrics that dry quickly are good to wear when exercising in the rain or if you know that you will be sweating a lot. This is because trying to exercise in soaked clothes can feel heavy, uncomfortable and the clothes may stick to your body.
Stretchiness:
When exercising, you want your clothes to move with you, as otherwise it will be hard to execute movements properly. The best activewear will be made from materials that do not restrict movement or limit your range of motion, but instead fabric that lets you move freely and comfortably.
Compression:
Activewear with compressing properties are usually form fitting but flexible, and are made to be tight to your body. This can be beneficial if you have tired and sore muscles that need to recover, as the snugness of the fabric can lessen inflammation and improve blood flow, which help to heal and rebuild muscle.
Protective:
If you mainly work outdoors, you will need activewear that will protect you from the weather conditions that you may face. Ideally, you want fabrics that are water-resistant or waterproof, as well as moisture wicking and breathable. Certain materials can also have UV protecting properties or reflectivity.
What fabric is the best?
Cotton:
Cotton is a material that does not absorb sweat, so it was originally thought to not be a good option for activewear. However, cotton gym wear has recently come back into fashion, as it has better odour management than other materials, so it does not hold onto the smell of sweat. Despite this, it still lacks compared to other materials in terms of its absorbency.
Spandex/Lycra:
Spandex is one of the most commonly used materials when making activewear. This is because it is very stretchy, which makes clothing great for moving around. Spandex can also absorb sweat, is breathable and dries quickly.
Polyester:
Polyester is cloth that is made out of plastic fibres, which means that it is lightweight, long lasting and breathable. The fabric is non absorbent, so your sweat will not be absorbed by your clothes and will instead dry on the exterior of the material. It has good insulating properties too, making it great for exercising in a variety of environments. High strength polyester can also withstand the range of repetitive movements made when exercising, and despite its cheap price it can last much longer than other materials.
Bamboo Fibre:
Fabric made from bamboo pulp is naturally light and moisture wicking. Bamboo fibres are ideal for wearing during outdoor activities as they are thought to provide good UV protection. This fabric can generally be used in the place of cotton, and it is more breathable and stretchier than cotton. It can also be woven into other fabrics relatively easily, making clothing that is thinner than cotton items but still retains a similar or improved level of malleability.
Nylon:
Nylon is mainly used in sportswear to make jackets and tracksuits. This material is stretchy, dries quickly and is breathable. The main benefit of nylon is that it enables cool air to reach the skin while it wicks sweat away from your skin to the surface of the fabric, where it will evaporate away. This helps to keep you feeling comfortable and control your body temperature.
Gore-Tex:
When participating in outdoor activities such as running or cycling, gore-tex is often used in gear, such as running shoes or jackets, for these exercises to protect you from the elements. Even though gore-tex is not technically a fabric itself, it is a synthetic membrane used to coat regular fabrics to make them waterproof and windproof. It also still remains breathable and insulates, making it ideal for garments that need to be durable but resistant to harsh weather.
Merino Wool:
Wool is often seen as a fabric that is only worn in cold weather to keep you warm, but it is a great fabric to wear in warm weather too. Merino wool is good at wicking away sweat, and it is also thinner and softer than normal wool. The crimps in the wool fibres will trap the warm air emitted by your body to keep you warm when it is cold, and they can also wick sweat away from your body in warm weather. Most activewear that contains merino wool will not be solely made from this fabric, and is instead usually a blend of merino wool with other materials like polyester to improve the breathability, softness and price.
Mesh:
Most activewear clothes with mesh will not be made entirely from mesh itself. Mesh is normally used to add breathability and coolness to garments, especially those worn in warmer weather. It is often made from polyester or nylon, and the mesh cutouts in clothing can help moisture to evaporate from skin.
Overall, the type of fabric that will work best will depend on the kind of exercise that you are doing. Outdoor exercising will benefit more from protective fabrics such as gore-tex or merino wool. Similarly, fabrics like spandex or nylon are better suited to activities where you need a full range of motion for stretching and moving around.
