How to find sportswear and shoes for any season

Fabric and special technologies

Previously, cotton was recognized as the best fabric for sportswear. Now it is also used in production, but, as a rule, in combination with polyester.

The fact is that cotton quickly gets wet from sweat and retains moisture on the surface of the fibers, so you can catch a cold after an intense workout.

16 times less water droplets are retained on the surface of polyester fibers (PE, PL, Polyester), so synthetic clothing dries faster. Elastane (EL, Elastane, Spandex) provides good breathability, stain resistance and fade resistance.

Also, in the production of sportswear, microfiber polyamide (PA) is used, also known as Meryl or Tactel. This fabric does not stick to the body and is breathable.

Sportswear often uses a two-layer fabric structure. They take two different synthetic threads (for example, polyester and elastane or cotton and polyester) and create a special structure when the weave is thicker inside the fabric and thinner outside. Due to this, moisture is removed from the body, removed to the surface, evenly distributed over it and evaporates quickly.

Well-known brands are constantly developing new technologies, but their essence is usually not disclosed. Manufacturers limit themselves to mentioning functions and do not go into details. Here are some examples:

Climacool - the fabric removes moisture and heat to the surface, provides micro-ventilation.
Climalite is a blend of polyester and elastane, a lightweight, breathable fabric that wicks moisture away from the skin. It's really cool in such clothes, it dries quickly.

How to choose sportswear: the Climalite T-shirt

Quik Cotton is a double weave cotton and polyester fabric. The percentage may vary. For example, 63% cotton and 37% polyester.
Speedwick is a moisture-wicking synthetic fabric made from polyester and elastane. Feels like cotton.

How to choose sportswear: clothes made with Speedwick technology

ActivChill is Reebok's pentagon-shaped weave technology. The fabric is breathable and provides good ventilation

In addition, sportswear made from synthetic fabrics is very practical. After many washes, T-shirts, leggings and shorts do not lose their shape and color, they do not need to be ironed. If you train often - every other day or every day, this will be a big advantage.

Style and compression

Previously, I associated sportswear with rather spacious things: stretched T-shirts and wide trousers that do not press or press anywhere. Now the views on this issue have changed.

Loose clothing is great for the home, but when you play sports, the flapping sails around you will get in the way. This has a bad effect on aerodynamic properties and interferes with stretching. And if, for example, you roll your body on a spiked massage roller, the edges of the T-shirt roll up under it and this is very annoying.

Choose clothes that are snug but not tight. If you choose synthetic fabrics, you don't have to worry about the wet T-shirt sticking to your body and getting in the way.

In addition to special fabrics and technologies, mesh inserts are often used in sportswear: in the armpits, on the back, on the chest. Meshes provide extra ventilation.

Compression clothing is suitable for intense exercise. She not only looks good, but also helps you cope with unusually hard workouts. Intensive running, strength exercises with heavy lifting, preparation for a competition, as well as a tendency to edema and varicose veins are all indications for the use of compression underwear.

Light uniform squeezing of the limbs helps the vessels withstand heavy loads. In addition, the compression garment reduces muscle soreness after exercise and helps you recover faster.

Nevertheless, compression items should be left in case of unusual excessive loads. Constant wearing of such clothes reduces vascular tone.

Underwear and socks

Cyclists and track and field athletes should consider compression underwear. It has no seams, so you can avoid chafing and discomfort during your workouts. In addition, the compression panties evenly squeeze the muscles of the hips and buttocks, reducing post-workout soreness and speeding up recovery.

Choosing the right sports top is especially important for women. During running and jumping, the ligaments of the chest stretch, so that it quickly loses its shape. Age, pregnancy and feeding do not spare your bust anyway, help him at least during sports.

Sports bras are made from the same synthetic materials as clothing, but they are usually much denser. So it is unlikely that it will be possible to avoid underwear wet from sweat (especially under the shirt, so the moisture evaporates not so efficiently).

There are several options for sports bras: from an elastic fabric without cups and with a division into cups. The first option will simply press the bust against the chest and fix it. I like these bras, although they feel like you have no breasts at all.

The second option - with cups - is suitable for girls with a large size.

For the top to support the chest well and not squeeze the shoulders, it should have fairly wide shoulder straps and a wide elastic band at the bottom. Supports the chest of a model with a T-shaped and V-shaped backs. Mesh inserts can slightly improve breathability, but still don't rely on your bra to stay dry after an intense workout (that's my experience, maybe someone's wrong).

There are also special socks for sports. They differ from ordinary socks in materials and some features of the cut. Like clothing, sports socks are not made from 100% cotton, but either from a combination of cotton with polyamide or polyester, or polyester and elastane. This means that they better allow air to pass through and remove moisture, last longer and do not lose their shape.

Sports socks have a tighter elastic so they won't slip during workouts, and a thinner and flatter seam in the toes. To follow the shape of the leg, the socks are divided into right and left.

Features of sports shoes

The choice of footwear depends on the sport. If you are heading to the gym to work with a barbell and dumbbells, you should not take sneakers with a reinforced, springy sole. It should be low (no more than 2–2.5 cm) and without noticeable thickening on the heel. It is also advisable to choose shoes with a corrugated (so that the sneakers do not slip) and flexible enough (so that the foot is comfortable) soles.

If you're looking for a running shoe, consider the springy thickened outsole. When choosing running shoes, you need to pay attention to several parameters:

foot structure;
the surface on which you will run;
the intensity and type of running.

To determine the structural features of the foot (the degree of pronation), conduct a test with a sheet of paper and water. Wet your foot and leave a wet print on the sheet.

How to choose sports shoes: the degree of pronation

If you are over-pronated and / or overweight, consider a shoe with good cushioning and instep support. The latter will soften the impact of the foot on the ground while running and protect the knees from injury. But if you have neutral or hypopronation, you should not buy shoes with an instep support: the risk of twisting your foot increases.

The greater the weight of the athlete and the less prepared his ligaments and muscles, the more he needs foot support and cushioning. Modern running shoes use different materials for cushioning: gel, foam, plastic inserts.

A high heel reduces the risk of injuries to the Achilles tendons, but the hard parts of the heel should not press on the foot or dig into the leg: all this is fraught with pain and calluses after training.

The front of your running shoe should be flexible. In some modern sneakers, it is made entirely of synthetic breathable fabric. It seems that you are running in socks with springy soles. It is very convenient.

How to Choose Athletic Shoes: Soft-toed Sneakers

Other sneakers have stiffeners in the forefoot, but the upper is mostly made of mesh fabric, which is great for breathability.

How to Choose Athletic Shoes: Mesh Sneakers

Do not buy shoes close to each other: there should be about 3 mm between the toe and the toe of the sneaker. While running, the foot increases in size. And if your finger rests on the shoe, you can damage your nail.

When choosing shoes, you need to remember what kind of surface and what time of year you will be running. For summer jogging on tarmac, stadiums, or a treadmill in the gym, sneakers with a soft, thin sole and a fabric or mesh upper are suitable.

For trail running, such as forest paths, you need stiffer shoes with deeper tread to protect your foot. Off-road and trail running shoes have extra protection at the toe to keep you away from branches and sharp rocks, as well as deep tread and spikes.

Running shoes for fall, winter and spring are also heavier: the mesh upper is replaced by a denser, waterproof one.

Basic set for summer or gym

So, if you decide to practice outdoors in the summer or early fall, you will need a basic set of things for different weather:

If it's sunny and hot:

T-shirt and shorts made of synthetic breathable materials;
lightweight sneakers;
headdress;
Sunglasses.

If it's raining and cool:

lightweight long-sleeved T-shirt;
shorts or leggings;
sneakers with waterproof upper;
a hat with a visor so that the rain does not interfere with seeing.

Basic set for spring and autumn

Running in light clothes in rainy weather is dangerous: you can catch a cold. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that after serious exertion, the immunity decreases slightly.

In warm weather, you can wear leggings, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a windbreaker. Sports windbreakers are sewn from a membrane fabric, thanks to which sweat does not accumulate under the jacket, but is brought to the surface. At the same time, the outer layer of the jacket is waterproof and retains warmth. The hood will be a plus. If not, you need a light sports hat.

Thermal underwear is useful for late autumn and early spring. It is sewn from polypropylene or polyester, using a special weaving, due to which moisture is transferred from the surface of the body to the fabric. The seams of the thermal underwear are on the outside, so you can not be afraid of abrasions.

Basic set for winter

The bottom layer is thermal underwear or synthetic sportswear that wicks moisture away from the body.

The upper layer is a jacket made of membrane fabric, which, thanks to micropores, allows water vapor to pass from the inside, but not drops of water from the outside. Vapors from the body penetrate through the first layer of clothing and emerge to the surface in the form of vapor.

This technology is used in the clothing of the famous Columbia brand. Omni-Tech branded jackets feature a waterproof and moisture-wicking membrane.

Also, the jacket may have additional ventilation in case the membrane cannot cope with the fumes. If you sweat a lot while exercising, consider this option.

There are several types of membrane jackets:

Single layer … The membrane is applied to the fabric and protected with a polyurethane coating. These jackets are suitable for spring, they are very lightweight.
Double layer … In such jackets, the membrane is also applied to the fabric, but does not have a polyurethane protective coating. Instead, a mesh lining protects the membrane. These jackets will last longer.
Three-layer … In such jackets, the membrane is located between two layers of fabric: the outer layer and the lining. This is the most durable option.

One of the most famous membranes is Gore-Tex. This material is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with a thin PU film and is highly waterproof. Clothes and shoes with this membrane are excellent for air permeability and moisture removal, but they are also quite expensive.

A more modern membrane is eVent. Together with a protective PU layer, which reduces vapor permeability, an oil substance is used here, due to which the pores of the membrane conduct evaporation better. Pore-free membranes such as Triple-Point and Sympatex are very good at protecting against precipitation, but rather poorly at removing body vapors in high humidity.

The ability of a jacket to wick away sweat is greatly influenced not only by the type of membrane, but also by what you wear under it.

Under jackets with a membrane, it is worth wearing clothes that wick moisture away: sportswear made of synthetic materials or thermal underwear.

If you put a thick cotton sweater down, it will get wet. Sweat will not be effectively transported to the surface of the jacket, and you will exercise in wet clothes.

Another well-known technology for winter clothing is Omni-Heat. These are the dots in aluminum on the lining of the garment that are easy to recognize for Columbia jackets. The aluminum dots retain body heat and the space between them prevents overheating.

Sports jacket labels sometimes indicate the temperature at which you will feel comfortable exercising. For example, here is a jacket for -10 ° C and an option for 0 ° C.

Additional attributes

Sports hats are made from a combination of wool with synthetic materials: polyester, acrylic, polypropylene.

Hats for warmer weather do not have additional insulation. They are lightweight and wick away moisture well. For severe cold weather, it is better to take a hat with fleece insulation. Also, in frost and strong winds, you may need a balaclava - a woolen mask that covers your face.

If you don't want to train with wet hair, consider a Windstopper beanie. It is a pore membrane applied to the lining fabric. It passes water well in a vaporous state. In addition to the lining and membrane, these hats have a top layer that protects from wind and cold, but allows steam to pass through. As a result, you will not be left with wet hair, but at the same time your head will be warm.

An equally important attribute of winter training is wool and synthetic gloves. There are options with non-slip inserts and a special material on the fingers for using smartphones.