Style Tips: 5 Tips to Find the Best Workout Clothes

Sometimes motivating to workout can be difficult.  It can be super easy to find excuses not to exercise but lacking proper attire should not be one of them.  If you have delayed adding exercise to your daily routine because you don't know what you should look for in workout clothes, well today you are one excuse short.  Here are the 5 Tips to Find the Best Workout Clothes...

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When shopping for workout clothing you should look for clothes that are anti-microbial and will help regulate your body temperature. Synthetic anti-microbial fabrics contain a number of chemicals you should avoid.  As someone who is really not a fan of germs (and the germs sweaty strangers have), knowing that the bamboo gym clothes I choose to wear are naturally anti-microbial puts my mind at ease.  Bamboo clothing is also great because it's like wearing a thermostat.  If your body is overheating it will help you stay cool and if your body is cold it'll help keep you keep warm (something particularly great when stepping out into the cold air after a workout).   Bamboo is also a fiber that you can feel safe about wearing.  It requires no pesticides or harsh chemicals to grow so you can rest assured that the bamboo clothes you workout in won't expose you to any cancer causing or endocrine disrupting chemicals. 

Quality
I've found that expensive workout clothes don't equate to quality.  When shopping for workout clothes you want clothes that won't rip or tear, will allow for movement without becoming transparent (we've all been embarrassed for the guy or gal in yoga that bends over and ends up baring it all because their yoga pants become transparent), hold up after multiple washes, and won't expose you to chemicals or toxins (many synthetic fibers and dyes will do this).  A great, and easy way, to discover new workout brands is to ask friends what they like and what brands you should avoid.

Wicking
When you workout you want to avoid clothes that will stick to your body.  A good workout will raise your body temp and get you perspiring.  The feeling of sticking clothes is an icky one (not to mention it looks pretty gross - we've all seen that guy at the gym with a transparent white t-shirt and wish we hadn't).  Workout clothes made from organic bamboo and coconut fiber naturally wick away so you won't have to peel your clothes off of yourself.  When shopping for active wear you should always look for clothes with great wicking ability.

Comfort
To ensure the best workout possible you'll want to be as comfortable as possible.  Different types of workout activities will require different types of clothing.  For instance, spin classes require either tight form fitting active wear, long pants, or long shorts.  The reason for this is that when you're on a bike, the wrong type of shorts will ride up leaving you constantly adjusting to avoid exposure.  To ensure you get the most out of your workout and are not distracted by your attire, do a little homework to see what other people wear and jump on the bandwagon.

Size and Style Fit
Yes, it's environmentally conscientious to wear a random old fundraiser or event shirt to the gym.  However does the shirt make you feel good about how you look as you workout?  If the answer is "no" you probably should just recycle the shirt.  There is nothing wrong with helping the onset of the serotonin-induced-happy-feeling we get from working out by wearing well fitting and good looking active wear (just avoid going overboard on your gym style or you might look like you're at the gym to seek attention rather than workout).  Also, avoid the yearning to buy and throw on extremely baggy sweats.  Over sized workout clothes don't function with your body properly and actually may hinder your workout.  Buy and wear workout clothes that are your actual size.  

Do you have a favorite active wear brand that protects your health, the Earth, human rights?  Let us know here - we'd love to check them out. 

Tags: eco-friendly, organic, ethical, how-to buy workout clothes, how-to buy exercise clothes, healthy living, safe, healthy, pesticide free, gym clothes, workout

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