Have you ever had the experience of wearing a cotton T-shirt in the gym halfway through, and the clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to the body, which was stuffy and heavy; when running outdoors, ordinary sportswear is either not breathable and stuffy and causes prickly heat, or it is poorly windproof and shivering. In fact, a suitable training uniform is by no means “casually worn”, it is an important equipment to improve sports performance and protect the body. Today, we will teach you step by step to choose the right training clothes from functional technology, scene needs to version design.
1. Functional technology: Choose the right “black technology” to make exercise easier
The core value of training clothing is hidden in fabric technology. Different technologies solve the most common pain points in sports – sweating, stuffiness, and restraint. You must recognize the following key technologies.
Core technology | Solve pain points | Practical case |
|---|---|---|
Quick-drying fabric | Sweat retention and clothing stick to the body | Under Armour’s HeatGear fabric, which quickly guides sweat to the surface of the fabric through a special fiber structure, dries 3-5 times faster than cotton T-shirts. |
Four-way elasticity | Limited movement and tearing fabric | Luon fabric, which is commonly used in Lululemon training clothes, has a horizontal and longitudinal stretch rate of more than 20%, and there is no sense of restraint at all when doing large-scale movements such as squats and lunges, and professional fitness coaches almost have one piece on hand. |
UPF50+ sun protection | Outdoor training tanning, sunburn | The fabric that meets the UPF50+ standard can block more than 98% of ultraviolet rays, which is more worry-free than wearing sunscreen. The training clothes of a certain national trend brand I wore when I ran a marathon in the summer showed no signs of redness on my skin after being exposed to the sun throughout the whole process. |
Antibacterial and anti-odor | Clothes smell after prolonged exercise | The Adidas Alphaskin series uses silver ion antibacterial technology, even if you wear it twice in a row, the clothes will not have a noticeable sweat smell, especially for people who go directly to appointments after exercise. |
In addition, breathable mesh is usually designed on sweaty areas such as armpits and back to accelerate air circulation; seamless technology can avoid abrasions caused by stitching against the skin; Constant temperature 37.5™ technology adjusts the temperature of the fabric to keep the body in a comfortable state, and these details can greatly improve the wearing experience.
2. Scenario segmentation: Different sports have very different needs
The core principle of training clothing is “scene matching”. The same sports, yoga and fighting have completely different requirements for clothing, and it is easy to step on the pit by blindly following the trend and buying explosive models.
- Gym training clothes: The core requirement is breathability and good elasticity. It is recommended to choose a combination of short sleeves + leggings, a quick-drying model with breathable mesh for the top, and a high-waisted abdominal tucking design for pants, which can support the core and be more stable when doing deadlifts and squats. The fitness experts around me love to wear the Nike Pro series, which is very cost-effective.
- Yoga Pilates clothing: The focus is on softness, close-fitting, and unrestrained. The fabric should be a skin-friendly cotton blend to avoid overly tight designs affecting breathing. Label-free and frictionless details are important to prevent the label from getting on the skin when doing downward dogs and other movements.
- Outdoor cross-country training: It is necessary to take into account wind protection, sun protection, and wear resistance. It is best to choose clothes with reflective strips to ensure night safety; the fabric should be wear-resistant and anti-pilling, and cope with the scratch of branches in the mountains.
- Combat gi: The core is strong and tear-resistant. The fabric must be thick and wear-resistant, and the flatlock stitching process can improve the firmness of the garment and avoid tearing in actual combat. The waist is usually designed with a wide belt to facilitate the fixed fit.
For example, running, cycling, water sports and other scenes also have exclusive training clothing designs, such as the tight version of cycling clothes to reduce wind resistance, and the quick-drying characteristics of water sports clothes to improve practicality.
3. Fit structure: Wear the right fit, comfortable and good-looking
The fit not only determines wearing comfort, but also affects athletic performance and aesthetics. At present, there are three main types of mainstream training clothes, each with its own suitable people and scenarios.
Tight-fitting compression fit
Features: Fits snugly against the skin and has a compressive feeling.
Advantages: It can promote blood circulation and reduce muscle vibration, making it suitable for high-intensity training and long-distance running.
Suitable for: professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts.
Slim and shaping fit
Features: The fit is not tight, highlighting the curves of the figure.
Advantages: Comfort and aesthetics, suitable for most sports scenarios.
Suitable for: ordinary sports enthusiasts, daily fitness enthusiasts.
Loose street fit
Features: loose fit and large activity space.
Advantages: Breathable and cool, suitable for street fitness, dancing and other scenes, and can also cover body flaws.
Suitable for: young people who pursue trends, novice sportsmen.
In addition, layering is a popular trend in recent years, such as wearing short-sleeved training clothes + light vests in spring and autumn, and using a three-layer dressing system (inner layer sweat-wicking + middle layer warmth + outer layer windproof) in winter, which is both practical and fashionable. The design of the detachable sleeves is also very thoughtful, and a piece of clothing can be worn in both short and long sleeves.
4. Seasonal temperature difference: Exercise all year round, and the equipment is not idle
The core needs of training clothes in different seasons vary greatly. Learn to choose the right equipment according to the season so that sports are not affected by the weather.
Summer: The focus is on coolness, breathability, and sun protection. Give preference to short-sleeved mesh styles, lightweight fabrics, and UPF50+ sun protection to avoid sunburn.
Spring and autumn: the main focus is flexibility and moderate warmth. The spring and autumn two-piece set is a cost-effective choice, you can take off your jacket when it is hot, and put it on when it is cold; The seasonal transition vest is also very practical and can protect the core from the cold.
Winter: The core is warmth, windproof, and breathable. The inner layer is heat-reflecting and sweat-wicking clothing, the middle layer is worn with fleece warm clothing, and the outer layer is equipped with a windproof soft shell; if the outdoor temperature is extremely low, you can prepare a piece that can store light and light down, which is convenient to put on and take off at any time.
There are also all-season universal pants, the fabric uses constant temperature technology, can adapt to different temperatures, and is very cost-effective, especially suitable for lazy people or sports enthusiasts who often travel on business.
5. Accessories: detailed equipment to enhance the sports experience
Many people only focus on the training clothes themselves and ignore the importance of matching accessories. The right accessories not only improve athletic performance, but also protect the body from injury.
Accessory type | core role | Key points of purchase |
|---|---|---|
Training gloves | Anti-slip, anti-callograph, protect the palm | Choose a style with a non-slip texture in the palm, and the design of the ventilation hole is very important |
Wrist and knee pads | Supports joints and reduces sports injuries | It should have good elasticity, fit the joints without loosening, and be suitable for weightlifting, squats and other movements |
Headband with antiperspirant band | Absorbs sweat and avoids flowing into the eyes | Choose sweat-absorbing cotton or quick-drying fabrics with moderate elasticity and no headaches |
Sports arm bag | Store your phone, keys, and other personal belongings | The fit arm does not shake, and the waterproof design is more practical |
6. Sustainability and certification: The environmental movement starts with equipment
Nowadays, environmental protection has become a new trend in the sports industry, and more and more brands are starting to launch sustainable training clothing. These garments are not only environmentally friendly, but also of good quality.
Common eco-friendly technologies include the use of recycled polyester (made from recycled plastic bottles), organic cotton blended fabrics, and the use of plant-based dyeing processes and water-reducing dyeing techniques to reduce chemical and water consumption. Eco-friendly training uniforms such as BLUESIGN certification and GRS global recycling standards are important indicators for measuring eco-friendly training clothing, and products that pass these certifications have a lower environmental impact during the production process.
Many brands have also launched closed-loop recycling programs, where consumers can send old training uniforms back to the brand, which will recycle and reuse them; The construction of zero-plastic packaging and carbon-neutral factories also allows the concept of environmental protection throughout the entire production process. Choosing this type of training clothing can not only meet the needs of sports, but also contribute to environmental protection.
7. Brand and trend: take into account quality and personality
There are many brands of training clothes on the market, and different brands have their own advantages and styles, so you can choose according to your needs and budget.
- International brands: The Nike Pro series is known for its elasticity and durability, Adidas Alphaskin has a good reputation for its antibacterial and anti-odor functions, Under Armour HeatGear is suitable for high-intensity training, and Lululemon is the first choice for yoga and daily training.
- Guochao brand: The national tide training clothes that have risen in recent years incorporate Chinese elements in the design, which is very cost-effective, such as co-branded limited editions are deeply loved by young people, and the design of street functional style and gradient tie-dye makes the training clothes not only practical but also good-looking.
If you don’t like overly ostentatious designs, minimalist solid colors and low-key hidden styles with LOGO are good choices, and they are also suitable for everyday wear.
Procurement perspective: the core logic of training clothing purchase
Hello everyone, I am Yigu, a purchasing agent. From a procurement perspective, the purchase of training clothes should balance the three cores of “performance, cost, and scenario”. When purchasing professional sports teams, they will give priority to brands certified by BLUESIGN, GRS, etc., which not only ensure the safety of fabrics, but also meet environmental protection requirements; the fabric will focus on testing indicators such as quick-drying rate and elasticity recovery to ensure that it can cope with high-intensity training. For example, there is no need to buy professional competitive models for daily fitness, and it is enough to choose cost-effective quick-drying + stretch basic models. In addition, it is also important to pay attention to the brand’s after-sales service, such as whether it supports returns and exchanges, and whether the washing instructions are clear, which can avoid subsequent troubles.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about training clothing purchase
- Q: Can the quick-drying training clothes be machine washed? A: Yes, but be careful that the water temperature does not exceed 30°C, avoid washing with sharp clothes, and do not use fabric softener, otherwise it will affect the quick-drying effect.
- Q: Will tight training clothes affect blood circulation? A: No. The regular brand of tight training clothes adopt a gradient compression design, which can promote blood circulation, but if you feel uncomfortable when wearing it, it means that the size is small and needs to be replaced.
- Q: How to wash winter training clothes to keep warm? A: It is recommended to wash by hand or machine in gentle mode, use neutral detergent, dry naturally after washing, and do not expose or dry to avoid damaging the warm fibers of the fabric.
- Q: Is there a difference between recycled polyester training clothes and ordinary fabrics? A: There is no difference in performance, even more wear-resistant, and more environmentally friendly. The feel and quick-drying effect of recycled polyester fabric training clothes are almost the same as ordinary polyester fabrics, so you don’t have to worry about quality.