How to choose workout underwear. Basic principles for men and women

It’s easy to get lost among the large range of sportswear. Our tips will help you find the best value for money option.

Anton Karpov

Expert of Sportmaster store, ambassador of “Undiscovered Lands” races

Recently my wife had a mishap: she bought beautiful shorts for tennis, in which she decided to run 10 km. After 5 km instead of pleasure came suffering: the seam of the shorts rubbed her thighs badly. This is a vivid example of the fact that not every sportswear is suitable for a particular sport. And it is even better to combine everything with special sports underwear, which will make training more comfortable and reduce the risk of chafing.

Basic principles of choosing underwear for men and women

Take into account the specialization of the brand

“Sports” clothing can be divided into two categories: sportswear and lifestyle clothing. The first is clothing in which you can actually do sports. It is more comfortable, has its own molds, materials, features. The second is something that mimics sportswear. Today, many people mix both, as it is convenient and practical.

I recommend choosing clothes for sports from brands that specialize in sports. As a rule, they have separate lines for fitness, yoga, running, cross-fit, as well as special molds and materials.

And I advise you not to save on underwear, because such a thing reduces the risk of discomfort, prevents chafing, absorbs excess moisture and makes training even more comfortable.

Choose the right size

Underwear should not be tight or constrictive – this is bad for the blood vessels. Therefore, it is important to choose your size, not more and not less. The outer elastic band of men’s underwear should be soft and elastic: it should also not slip, squeeze anything, twist. Underpants must necessarily have a small lining, which will absorb sweat.

Pay attention to the material of the product

If we talk about materials, then it is synthetic or natural materials with the addition of synthetic – viscose, elastane. Recently, bamboo is popular, which is considered environmentally friendly and soft. Such fabric provides air exchange, absorption and removal of moisture – something that is important during intensive training.

The same principles apply when choosing summer clothing. We’ve put together five sporty and comfortable looks for hot weather.

Pay attention to the inner seams: they should not be stiff and large. Universal models of shorts for men – boxers, slip shorts, briefs-shorts. Plus many sports models of shorts, for example, “marathon shorts” include briefs.

If we talk about girls, the same criteria apply to the choice of underwear. For short training sessions, the material is not fundamental, but for long sessions it is better to make a choice in favor of synthetics with the addition of natural materials.

How to choose a sports top

Masthead when doing sports is a sports top. The right bra supports and fixes your breasts so gently that you forget about it (at least, that’s what my wife says). Bra eliminates the unpleasant sensations that occur during rhythmic movements, and reduces the risk of stretch marks.

Choose a bra should depend on the season (dense or lightweight models), breast size and activities. Specialists distinguish three types of bra:

• light support (for small breasts and for static activities, when you do not need to move a lot: yoga, Pilates);
• medium support (breast size B, more mobile training – bicycling, strength training);
• high support (for owners of size C and more and sports where a lot of jumping – running, athletics, tennis, volleyball, cross-fit).

In the previous material sorted out with a mammologist, how to choose such a top correctly and when it is not necessary.

When choosing a bra, pay attention to the width of the straps, support, waistband, the presence of fasteners. Most often, sports tops have wide straps and waistband (for more comfortable support), as well as inconspicuous hooks or zippers.

If you have a chest of medium size and more – I advise you to choose a model with cups that will additionally support the chest. On the sconces of large sizes there are bones: they should be strictly under the breast. During the fitting, do a few jumps and wide swings to check how comfortable you are.

Sports bras are made of different materials. Products with light support can be made of linen or cotton, for intensive loads – with a mixture of synthetics and natural materials. If you are active and train a lot, it is better to choose a bra made of synthetics, as they absorb and remove moisture well, are easy to wash and dry quickly.