Gear...... a different perspective

Sal

I read this today and thought it was worth sharing.

https://www.theguardian.com/li.....-in-an-old

I have quite the collection of active wear and gear. I love most of it and having nice kit motivates me. I have Specialist shoes and sports bras and socks and leggings and tops for hot weather and cold. It's well worn and achieves a very low cost per wear, but it is expensive to set your self up... And I am very pro movements that allow people from low socio-economic communities or women who have low body confidence to participate in sports.

Some people wear gear all day after exercising - so by that maybe we could wear "clothes" all day including exercising?

For me the specific footwear and the bra are non negotiable. And if hiking in weather the appropriate gear for the conditions is also a must have. But I could play pickleball in a skirt and blouse, or potentially do my early morning walks in trousers and a sweater?

Interested in other people's thoughts on this - are we being manipulated into a whole lot of kit we don't need?

2 months ago

Inspiration

38 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Jenny H

Veteran

I am all for the idea of not wearing expensive workout gear.

I do wear sports bras every time I workout and I don't plan to change that. But I mostly wear tops that I have downgraded from my regular wardrobe to work out (tees and tanks). As for bottoms, all of mine are quite old-- and not what other people at my workout classes are wearing at all. I have three pairs of skorts (the kind that look like skirts), most of which I bought at thrift stores. And I have several pairs of boot leg yoga pants. None of these items were expensive to begin with. But they get the workout job done quite well and I actually feel pretty good in them.

2 months ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh interesting Sal. I work out at home and wear a boring outfit of leggings, sports bra and tank top. I do think some technical fabrics and items are important for certain activities, but am not very excited about fancy gym outfits (as I think of them ) myself. I haven't read the article yet, but I am guessing we are all being manipulated into a whole lot of a lot of things we don't need.

2 months ago

Kate

Veteran

My workout as such is walking, and no fancy kit is needed for that, just a decent pair of sneakers or boots in winter.

I'm not a gym rat, but since February I spent two days every week through June doing PT for a rotator cuff tear caused by a fall I took the end of November when on vacation in Iceland. My husband and I were hiking up an snowy hill, I hit ice, slipped and went down.

Granted, all my work at the gym was upper body work, but I went in what was comfortable to me that I really liked, which included jeans, skirts (when it got hot), a regular selection of my Everlane utility barrel jeans, and cropped tees and shirts. While I wasn't the only one who eschewed gear, we were a small band.

My shoulder is now back in action and thankfully I can sling my suitcase up on the rack above the seat when I travel by Amtrak—which I do frequently. It was my one non-negotiable goal for recovery!

2 months ago

Dee

Veteran

Have you ever seen the show Portlandia and the “Get the Gear” episode? It’s hilarious as they decide to take a simple hike and all the gear they figure they need in order to do it.
I do have a bit of “gear” for hiking, so I’m guilty of this too but I also wear plenty of regular clothes to hike in as well.
It’s the cycling gear that always surprises me. I just wear regular clothing for this, but most people where I live are all geared up like they are doing the Tour de France.

2 months ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

While I totally agree with the principles of wasting less and making more of our possessions multi purpose, I find it impossible to run (my main chosen exercise) in anything but athletic wicking fabrics and mostly specific for the current day’s weather. To accommodate laundry turnaround, I have an assortment of tanks, short and long sleeved shirts, and different weight top layers for colder weather. Plus running shorts, capri and full length tights, wind pants, hats, gloves and ear warmers. And of course, tight supportive sports bras, which I can’t and won’t wear except running or working out.

i have tried to run in denim or other bottoms, plain cotton tops, non athletic jackets and I can’t move and/or I’m overheated or freezing.

i wish the situation were otherwise. I don’t stick to pure gear for hiking or walking, but do wear some of my running tops sometimes.

I feel like I’m being contrary here and perhaps arguing an unpopular stance. But that’s my take.

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