What to Wear to the Gym

Going to the gym offers serious benefits. From improving your physical and mental health, to boosting your self-confidence, through to the sense of community on offer. But if you’re new to this kind of training, you might be unsure about what to wear to the gym. There’s a lot of training gear out there - but with a little bit of learning, you’ll soon know exactly what you need to get started.

Let’s learn more about the features of essential gym wear and accessories. We’ll also look into the main items of clothing and footwear you’ll want to choose.

What is gym attire?

Whether you’re crushing the weights, cranking through the gears in a spin session or working your cardio in a HIIT class, you’ll want gear that:

Wicks sweat: Proper gym clothes are made from sweat wicking fabrics such as polyester or nylon. The fibres in these fabrics allow the sweat to pass from your skin to the outside of the fabric, where it can then evaporate. The ability to wick sweat means the materials stay light, fresh and dry - so they don’t chafe against your skin.
Breathable: Gym clothes and shoes are designed to be breathable, allowing air to circulate, keeping you cool. They often come with mesh panels or laser-cut holes to facilitate airflow too.
Lightweight: You don’t want to be held down by your clothes when you’re grinding. Gym clothes tend to be made from super lightweight materials.
Odour control: This is gear built for the time of sweat. Proper gym clothing should provide anti-odour features that prevent the buildup of bacteria that cause bad smells.

Use technology: More advanced gym gear uses innovative tech and fabrics to help you train better.

What to wear to the gym: do’s and don’ts

When you’re thinking about what shoes and what clothes to wear to the gym, the following do’s and don’ts can help you make the right choice.

Choose gear suited to your main activities: While most gym gear is generally suitable for all parts of the gym, make sure what you buy matches your main training needs. For instance, if you lift weights, then you’ll want to wear weightlifting shoes (rather than, say, running shoes).
Put comfort first: When you’re training, you want to focus all your attention on your workout. Choose gear you know you’ll feel comfortable in - both physically and mentally. Know you get hot? Choose something super breathable like a tank top. Not sure tightfitting is right for you? Loose fitting gear works just as well.
Think safety and practicality: If used correctly, gym equipment should be safe for most people. But take sensible precautions with your gear. You want shoes with laces that don’t come loose. If you’re using machines, you don’t want unnecessarily baggy gear getting in the way.

Don’t

Put ‘style’ over substance: Looking and feeling good in your gym gear is great, and wearing matching sets or brands you love is totally fine. But functionality should always come first. Choose gear that’s tough, that’s built using quality fabrics and that helps you train better.
Wear unsuitable or low quality gear: If you’re just trying out the gym to see if it’s for you, then an old polo shirt and some jogging bottoms might be fine. But if you’re training regularly, you need gear that actually supports your exercise. Wearing unsuitable clothes will make you hot, damp, and start to chafe. That’s only going to make your sessions less enjoyable.

What clothes to wear to the gym?

Under Armour performancewear is built using technical fabrics that wick sweat fast, are breathable, lightweight, and are seriously durable. We also build game-changing gear using breakthrough tech like UA Vanish (a mineral infused fabric that reflects your body’s energy back at you), super soft UA Meridian or UA HeatGear® for warm weather workouts.

Here’s some of the most essential gym wear for women and men:

A man wearing a green t-shirt exercising indoors

1. Gym tops

T-shirts, long-sleeve tees and tank tops are gym clothes essentials. Sleeve length is pretty much a matter of personal choice. If you find you get hot when grinding, a shorter sleeve or tank top lets air circulate even easier. If you feel the cold between sets, a long sleeve is the way to go. Here are some of our best gym tops for men and women:

Gym Tops & T-shirts

2. Gym leggings

A quality pair of gym leggings will be a game changer for your workouts. Leggings give you complete flexibility and range of motion, they offer support and compression for your muscles and, since they fit close to your legs, offer exceptional sweat wicking qualities. Gym leggings come in different lengths (full length & capris) and thicknesses for different weather conditions (meaning different levels of insulation/breathability). Here are some of our best gym leggings for women and men:

Gym Leggings

A woman wearing grey shorts and a sports bra jumping rope indoors

3. Gym bottoms

When it comes to gym bottoms, you’ve got two main choices: shorts and joggers. Shorts offer maximum breathability and are incredibly versatile. There are many different kinds of gym shorts, with different lengths and thicknesses, plus 2-in-1’s which have a compression layer below with a looser layer on top. Joggers give you more coverage - which can be beneficial when travelling to your club in colder months. For some kinds of training - such as weightlifting - joggers can also help keep you warm between sets. Variations on gym trousers (such as cargo pants) also give you more pockets for storage. Here are some of our best gym bottoms for women and men:

Gym Bottoms & Shorts

4. Sports bras

A well-fitting, supportive and comfortable sports bra is essential gym wear. There are three categories of gym bras:

High-impact sports bras: For cardio classes, HIIT sessions, treadmill workouts and more.
Mid-impact sports bras: For things like Pilates, strength training or light cardio such as cycling machines.
Low-impact sports bras: For things like yoga, barre classes and some kinds of strength training.

Sports bras need to be highly breathable, offer firm support and they should be seamless to avoid rubbing. Here are some of our best sports bras:

5. Gym underwear

People often train in regular cotton underwear. But this isn’t ideal - cotton retains sweat when you exercise hard, which equals overheating and chafing. Gym underwear is highly breathable, wicks sweat and stays dry. It should also be seamless to avoid rubbing or friction on sensitive areas. Our best gym underwear for men and women includes:

6. Gym layering

Layering your gym gear has loads of practical advantages. Feeling too hot or too cold? Add or remove a hoodie, jacket or pair of joggers. Layering also means you have something to travel to and from the gym in. We build the ultimate layering gear, including hoodies, crews, joggers, full-zip fleeces, jackets and more. Our layering gear uses super soft, flexible and sweat-wicking fabrics to keep you dry and fresh. Plus it’s loose-fitting for easy on and off between reps. Our tracksuits for men and women give you the perfect gear for gym layering:

What shoes to wear to the gym?

Training shoes are footwear that’s built specifically for the kinds of activities you’ll do in the gym. There are three main types you’ll want to choose between:

1. Cross-training shoes

They provide a combination of cushioning and stability - meaning they’re suited to both cardio workouts (e.g., HIIT classes or spin) and some kinds of strength training. Here are some of our most popular cross-training shoes:

2. Weightlifting shoes

Weightlifting shoes prioritise maximum ground contact, they have grippy and stable soles, and a little bit of elevation below the heels to provide maximum range of movement for things like deadlifts. Here are some of our most popular weightlifting shoes:

3. Running shoes

If you mainly go to the gym to use the treadmill, then running shoes are ideal. They place most cushioning in the heel area to protect your joints from repetitive foot strikes. Here are some of our most popular running shoes:

Learn more: How to choose the right gym shoes

What accessories do you need for the gym?

Some gym accessories are pretty much essential (think socks or water bottles), while others depend more on your personal choice or when you use the gym. For example, a gym bag is really handy if you tend to hit the gym straight after work so need something spacious to carry all your gear in.

1. Gym socks

Gym socks are built using breathable, sweat wicking yarns, which helps prevent overheating, friction and blisters. They’ll also offer extra cushioning in the sole area.

Here are some of our best gym socks for men and women:

2. Water bottle

Do not underestimate the importance of hydration when training. Choose a gym bottle with a large volume, easy access, and ergonomic design which makes holding it while training comfortable. Here are some of our best gym water bottles:

Gym Water Bottles

3. Gloves, wristbands and sweatbands

Gym gloves keep your palms dry and cool when lifting weights, while wristbands and sweatbands keep sweat out your eyes and off your hands.

Here are some of our best gym gloves and sweatbands:

Performance gear to take your training to the next level

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to gym gear - and it can seem like a lot to start with. But begin with a few pieces of essential gym wear, then you can add extra gear as you learn more about what you need for your preferred type of training. By knowing what to wear to the gym, you’ll be able to invest in gear that actually helps improve your workouts and means you’ll get back more from every session.

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